Holidays are illegal

I wish some sympathy could be shown to those of us who will keep scrupulously to the rules, but are desperate to travel abroad....... to see children and grandchildren we've not seen in 2 years. I'm not attempting to book flights until this country and my destination country say it's OK, but if I'm legally allowed to travel this summer then I shall. Why does it annoy people that others are booking holidays, in the knowledge they may not be able to take them if we're still in lockdown? The lack of empathy for anyone who is finding this harder than you, who may gain something from having hope is so disappointing. Too many "it doesn't bother me, so it shouldn't bother you" sentiments.

My sister is due to arrive in the UK from Australia on monday. I didnt think she could do that but she assures me she can. She is staying with her son. Her flight was booked a while ago.

June 2019 I booked 2 cottage holidays Devon and Cornwall in large holiday homes for our 3 generation family -14 of us. Booked for April '20 and April '21. April '20 in Devon got moved to Feb '21. We have missed out on that holiday twice- should (again) be there now
April '21 I have just paid the balance for because, if I didn't, I would lose the deposit of £500+. Would be lovely if we can go, but I doubt it because the Rule of 6 ( from September) will still be in place, if not lockdown or tiers. We have always been in a low tier by comparison, and Devon & Cornwall were also low tiers. Booked so early back in 2019, before Covid, because the Cornish holiday home is a VERY popular one. Not at all illegal to book holidays and at least something to look forward to.

Elvis58...it's 'rein in' (like with a horse) not 'rain in'

Alegrias1 I assume you are being sarcastic, and to quote John McEnroe, you cannot be serious about Bojo doing his best.

Railman, and anybody else who thinks I am supporting Johnson - you have completely misunderstood my post, please read the full thread. I was quoting a post from Frogsinmygarden from Sat 13-Feb-21 11:15:32. Those were her/his words not mine. My comment is in the form of the accompanying picture telling people to stop behaving as though Johnson is a wee laddie doing his best. He's the Prime Minister, for goodness sake.

So just in case anyone else didn't understand, I think Johnson and his gang have messed up mightily and they have no shame about what they've done.

I haven’t had a holiday for five years due to my elderly father moving in. He died two months after lockdown (not Covid related) and I thought my son and I might be able to get away, then everything changed. I am happy to stay at home for however long it takes and to be honest, I think that NHS staff and keyworkers should get priority when it becomes possible to book holidays. They really do deserve one.

Any just to add, in case of doubt - anyone who calls him "BoJo" is infantilising him, making him seem less of a threat or pretending he's just a bit of a funny man or a clown. None of which are appropriate.

We’ve a holiday flat booked in Whitby for a music festival. It was cancelled in 2020 and the landlady offered us the deposit back. I asked her to keep it as a deposit for this year. Still don’t know if the festival will go ahead but can’t afford to lose the flat as it is very conveniently placed. It must be a nightmare for all these accommodation owners lots of booking but no certainty that people will be able to travel. If all else fails we’ll do a house swap with friends anywhere in the UK as we live in a seaside town so there is no shortage of takers!

Last October, when we were between lockdowns, DD and SIL booked a Halloween Special trip to Disneyland in Paris for this coming October. This has been my 6 year old GS's dream and he was presented with the tickets and information for Christmas and his excitement was wonderful to watch. We are very much hoping that they can still go, as to postpone it for another year would be a huge disappointment for a little boy. When it was booked, it certainly seemed likely that in a years time they would be able to go. It seems that there are so many judgmental comments on here. Yes, it is illegal to go on holiday now, but when this little break was booked, we were full of hope for this year.

maddyone there might be plenty of holidays available for those that can pack up and go at any time. I don't think the same can be said for school holidays and if there's a big demand for holidays in this country, prices will shoot up. We have a week in Kefalonia at May half Term and 2 weeks in Bulgaria in August booked. both are transfers from last year. If we're unable to go then we'll just transfer them again

Oh SillyNanny321 How I agree with every word you have said. And re reading ExD’s comment I find myself recalling the times when a holiday, however short and not far from home, was something to be looked forward to and remembered. And please, no one tell me times have changed as I know that. When it is possible to travel there is so much to see and do in our British Isles and I regret so much not having had time to explore Scotland and Ireland. Work and family came first when I was younger. The effects of this Pandemic are manifold but surely we have to accept the current restrictions re travel which are clearly stated on the Government website - No means No.
Just try to stop guessing what is around the corner, take less notice of the mass of media articles and opinions, and take each day as it comes and value it since for over 100,000 souls there are no more holidays or tomorrows. By all means make plans since it is important to have milestones to look forward to and hopefully, a better future.

I always laugh when a newsreader says people are confused by the rules. I've never been so I have come to the conclusion I must be super intelligent.

The reports of people being 'confused' about certain things is so irritating. Some time ago a local councillor was being interviewed about the high levels of covid in the town; her response? 'People didn't understand that lockdown meant they couldn't go out in the evening'. Are people really this stupid, or is it quite useful to feign ignorance and then do what you like?

Well we need something to look forward to this year ! ED do you live in a lovely area by the sea maybe Not everyone does ! I think holidays in the UK will get pretty booked soon this year we’ve booked 2 trips May and June and live in hope If things don’t ease up once the older and vulnerable are vaccinated people are going to start to rebel !

Quite frankly are holidays really important! So many people have died, are very ill or have list loved ones. If there were no holidays anywhere for a couple of years would it matter if it got rid of Covid and saved people’s lives. I think it’s nonsense that ‘people deserve a holiday’! We are all in the same boat. Let’s work together to eradicate Covid.

Rosina
Thank you for actually answering the question I posed in my original post. I asked if people are confused because I think that the media report that people are confused almost as if they want people to be confused. The media have moved on from simply reporting the news, they now seem to want to make news out of anything. It’s my contention that the majority of people are not confused at all.

QuickFire
I can assure you that there are indeed people in this country who desperately need a holiday. Last year, after the first lockdown, my daughter who is a doctor, and her husband who is also a doctor, were on their knees and in desperate need of a holiday. They had to cancel the one they had booked, but managed to organise two weeks in Norway, where they had a wonderful time with their three small children.
They are now yet again on their knees after the latest, and ongoing lockdown. They need a holiday this year. And quite frankly, we are not all in the same boat. The lives of people on the frontline cannot to begin to be compared the lives of retired people, who can stay safely in their homes and are not required to work twelve hour shifts.

Will someone please explain what they mean when they say that somewhere is safe to visit? Do they mean there are few cases so they are unlikely to catch it themselves or,safe tbat they won’t take it to the place that has a low incidence?

Maddyone
My daughter is an A and E Consultant, her husband is too. There are another 7 Doctors in the family and 3 nurses. They are knackered but think it’s more important that no one should travel till this is under a lot more control. They all need a holiday too but as they say it’s their jobs. Going abroad this summer and starting the numbers rising again will only give them more stress and hard work.

I don't think anyone is confused. I think some people try to play the confused card just so they can behave badly and not feel the need to take responsibility. And then the journalists keep berating the politicians that their mixed messages are causing confusion. Which gives the selfish licence to keep on misbehaving. The politicians are not giving mixed messages, they are responding on the hoof to a constantly evolving and complex situation. Clear and correct answers are impossible. Simple answers will turn out to be wrong as often as they are right. Some things cannot be made simple - life is not simple. As 'grown-ups' we should be able to make our personal choices based on as much of the rules and information as we can grasp.

It's illegal to take a holiday, but not to book one.
But then some people will use any excuse!

the first place I’ll be going is to visit my sister near Bristol

Beware the Bristol variant, Frosty

QuickFire
Thank you for sharing about your family. It’s interesting that some doctors feel they shouldn’t travel because of the pandemic, whilst others feel the desperate need to get away and have a break. Last year my daughter and family took a holiday rental house in Norway. They had no near neighbours, and spent their holiday engaged in outdoor pursuits as they are an active and sporty family. They hired a car and explored the region. They did paddle boarding, cycling, running, walking, boating, and swimming. They were barely near other people except for the couple of restaurant meals they had, sitting outdoors.

I was hospitalised for twelve days seriously ill with Covid in January. The medics saved my life. I saw how hard they were all working, all twelve hour shifts. I think they need a holiday in order to relax and unwind after this awful, stressful time. If they choose to spend their holiday at home, that’s up to them. But it was not illegal to go abroad last August, and I’m pleased my daughter and family did. I saw how refreshed they were when they returned.

Incidentally I’m not suggesting anyone goes away now, but in the summer, who knows, hopefully it will be safe to travel. And hopefully we’ll be allowed.

We are not even thinking about a holiday anywhere at the moment. I think it will all be too much trouble what with airports, Covid tests, covid certificates then there will be countries who won't accept UK travellers because those countries are not able to vaccinate at the pace of others. I think for the next couple of years extended travel will be tricky. So we will explore closer to home, lots of places to see that we have never been to visit, lots to revisit, takes me back to my childhood where exotic travel outside of Europe was for the very rich or to do with work.