Opening the gates - at last!

I've just been looking at the regulations for travel to DS1 and family in the West of USA. It would require three flights to get from here to him. There has to be a supervised test the day before flying. We are normally on our way by the day before and stay near the airport the day before we fly. Like others, I just don't think I can face all that. I think it can be done at the airport but the timing would be difficult and would we need to retest when we took the onward flight in the US? Both DH and I have aged over the last few years and we always found it stressful before, but I really want to spend proper time with them all. I think I will hang on a bit and see if testing rules ease.

I went to Australia in 2019, it had been a lifelong dream and I loved it, it was just fantastic, both the landscapes and the people. It was a shockingly long way though, I already hate flying and even with vaccinations etc, I need to be careful about Covid.
I still dream about going to Brisbane and travelling up to Cairns. I'm not rushing into anything but perhaps at the end of this year, I might think about it depending on how the year has gone. It may be the last flight I do as I already felt guilty about flying because of climate change (not that I've flown that much!).

I can’t stand the condescending and threatening attitude some airport staff have. Not all, of course and some are very helpful but there is a significant number of rude and officious ones. Darwin is famous for them, I have to say. Wouldn’t it be nice if they were all helpful and friendly because many travellers are nervous, stressed or just plain worn out.

After visiting DD in Sydney two years ago we were confined to a hotel in Perth, banned from catching our return flight because HK stopped allowing transit passengers to land.

We won’t be returning until December because they are coming here for a wedding in May.
Wish I could afford first class!

Of course I'm going to go - my son lives over there! We've already had to miss his wedding due to their rigid restrictions.

My son and family in Oz are coming to visit us in summer, to see all the family, daughter and family in Dubai will come at the same time...then next year hopefully we will go to Australia again...I went to Dubai in August and the trip was fine...going again in April.....

My sentiments exactly BlueBelle! Glad I’m not the only one. Perhaps we’ll go together?

I would never have gone long haul had it not been to visit my DS and family. It was hard going but worthwhile like labour. Now after this long forced break, I’m not sure I can summon up the energy and enthusiasm to go again, which is sad. I’ve really aged in these last few Covid years.

I do not mind flying I HATE airports and the horrible time you spend among that horrible garish airconditioned plastic environment, relentless shops full of overpriced tat and disgusting food.

Thankfully I have no need to travel long distances to visit family and friends and once across the Channel there are so many places that can be reached by train and by driving.

On those rare occasions when I do fly, I use smaller regional airports. I haven't travelled by plane now for getting on for nearly 10 years and it is not a second too long.

BlueBelle I think lockdowns and all that has happened in the past two years has had a profound effect on us all. Once we were “released”, I was nervous about driving in the dark, due to being out of practice but worked through that in order to restart my social life.

Travelling long haul is out of the question for me now. DH refuses to go through the humiliation of security checks and long waits at airports. Whilst I’d happily travel solo, I can’t lift heavy luggage from the carousel.

I’m very pleased for those who wish to travel that the possibility is now available and I have wonderful memories of past trips to Australia and New Zealand.

I’m with you BlueBelle. Before the pandemic we were visiting family in Australia every year but the thought of travelling again now seems such an effort. I’m hoping that family will be more inclined to come here and I’ll help with fares.

My son is asking me to visit him in NZ next year and I am so divided in my mind of course I want to see them all and his new house that he’s worked so hard on but I don’t want to fly all that way nothing to do with CoviD fear just the dreadful length of journey
I normally stay for three weeks when I go but the older I get the more I don’t like being away from home for any length of time I never ever thought I d get like this I thought I d be travelling as a gay bright jolly 90 year old

Always been too far for me. I'm not sure I'll ever fly again, despite having lived in many countries in the past.

I think if we're to save the world we need to drastically change our lifestyle. Much less flying.

Some travel expert once recommended that if you're going long haul, you should spend one day there for every hour of your flight. We did this, and more, a couple of times when visiting son in New Zealand.

Correct Nanna8, I've been 'doing' UK for many years and still much to see.

We found when we had visitors from the uk they needed to stay for several weeks to make that looong trip worthwhile! Last time we went to the uk, in 2019, we only stayed a week and I regret that now. We went round Europe and Denmark for three weeks and if I had my time again I reckon at least 3 weeks in the uk would have been much better. So much to see.

Ive never liked flying, seldom in a plane, so it won't really affect me. It is good news though as I have friends who have family in Australia, so it will be lovely for them to be reunited with family and friends so far away.

We visited Australia in 2019, just before Covid struck. I’m so glad I went then as I’m not sure if I’d want to go through all the uncertainty of visiting. Not that I wouldn’t want to return, as we had a wonderful time!

We hope to visit our son in the US, we won’t stop doing that until we’re too doddery, which I hope won’t be for years yet.

I feel that much older now to make the journey but TimTams could persuade me.

We got ushered to the front of the queue at immigration last time - we must have looked old and tired!

In all probability I will not be travelling internationally again. I never liked the way you are treated at airports and I dont do queues. I hate long flights.