Summer holidays abroad ‘extremely unlikely’ as third wave hits Europe

I was speaking to my DD yesterday, she lives in Sydney and after visiting her last year we got stuck in Perth with our flight via HK cancelled. After being locked in a hotel for a week we got a flight via Doha. Thank you Qatar.
We arrived in Aus with masks for the fires not covid.
Anyway we are discussing the floods and being grateful that we weren’t there now so the discussion widened to talk about tourism.
She works in a government dept and I keep telling her to try and convince the minister to allow us oldies to return.
At the moment there are still 40,000 Aussies waiting to go back so we aren’t exactly near the top of the queue.
Apart from that she says that the tourist industry is buoyant because the population is holidaying at home.
Our tourist industry could also be buoyant, in fact it probably will be. This may be the best time to get out there and see our wonderful tourist spots without the tourists. So get out there and enjoy our country. Spend your money here and help the U.K. to get back on its feet.

We transferred flights to Rhodes from last June to this June. I really do not want to go now. I assume we will not get a refund if Jet2 fly. Our health is more important than the money though.

We have our touring caravan, which is currently stored in Somerset. So will make more use of that this year hopefully, already have a pitch booked for May.

Like Maddyone I am more down about losing our every day life. Visiting family, taking the granddaughters out, theatre, cinema, concerts, meals out etc. Just a stroll to town and a mooch around charity shops, and meeting a friend for coffee. I miss that much more.

As I said Urmstongran, it isn't just the UK having a hard time. The raging infection in my Swiss school has happened over the last 2 or 3 weeks.

It IS easier to fly in and out of Suisse, but they also have rates of covid that are not dropping. Yes, shops are opening here (not restaurants / bars / cafes tho) but I am not sure why they are allowing it.

The UK is VERY lucky to have such a highrate of vaccination. But no where else has it. If the UK wants to continue the downward trajectory, they need to keep the travel ban.

GN was in uproar last year, 'close the borders' etc. And now a few, because they want a foreign holiday, want that changed? Because it won't just be a few that go, if it is allowed, it will be a flood, with families and children. And whoomph. Infection will soar again.

Actually I’m not disagreeing with you GagaJo you are quite right. I would only go abroad when the UK government deems it safe to do so. I think it’s starting to look pretty unlikely any time soon. In which case we will happily visit places of interest here, boosting our UK economy at the same time.
?
I shall buy flowers to put in vases at home, eat out (I’m sick of cooking), meet friends in pub gardens (when allowed), buy some new clothes and some books. Get my hair done and enjoy what sunny days we might be rewarded with here!

But once we get a ‘green means go’ light from our government I’m off!
✈️

At least it looks, AT LAST, as if the UK gov is prepared to do the right thing. They have learned the hard way.

I think this is another of the many ‘dammed if he does, dammed if he doesn’t’ situations for the PM.

We can all remember the shock and accusations of the government not doing enough regarding lockdowns when our death toll reached 100,000.
Ok another thread could discuss just how many of those sad souls died with covid and not from it but it was a sobering figure nevertheless, and I’m sure there is a determination to do everything possible to prevent the toll rising too much.

I honestly can’t see EU countries catching us up with their vaccinations so really would anyone feel relaxed being on holiday in a European country knowing how few of the citizens have had their jabs?

All through this pandemic I have been one of the more slightly laid-back ones in terms of what I have continued to do.

I have done our supermarket shopping throughout.

I have walked outside and not shrunk back into the bushes if someone was walking towards me ! We ate out in August and had a couple of little holidays in the West Country.

Yet despite all that I wouldn’t feel at all happy risking a holiday abroad with the very real possibility that we would need to quarantine on our return.

Plus of course by holidaying here we will be helping to support our beleaguered hospitality industry.

Time to get out and protest. By summer most of us and definately 99% of the vulnerable will be safe. So protest at 3 in the morning in a field in Devon but do it quietly as that's all we'll be left with if that Police State law gets passed. KILL THE BILL!!!!

Holidays in the U.K. are so expensive and the weather unpredictable.
I just want to see my grandchildren in the USA and family in the Caribbean and Dubai.
I do not relish the thought of breathing in recirculated air for 10 hours at a time so I hope vaccination certificates and testing for all will be introduced.

We live on an Island....at the moment, things are looking a lot brighter for us. Why on earth would the government allow people in and out of Europe and beyond on the carrot of a vaccination or even worse..a test at some point before they come back into the UK? ( for what - only to sit on the plane next to someone who caught it a day after their test). For me, it beggars belief and all points to us never being rid of this virus or the way in which we have to live with it.
Forget the holidays...plenty of beautiful places in the UK.
Protect our island!

I have no desire to go abroad this year and am resigned to not seeing DD2 and the gc for at least another year. I’m having a staycation in Kent and looking forward to discovering my own country.! DD3 has an air b&b in Devon and it is fully booked until Christmas. (She has not hiked her prices!)

It is hardly surprising is it? Or even really news!

I feel for all of you who have family living abroad, but as yet, it seems unlikely that you will be absolutely forbidden to travel.

Air lines are working hard to get an agreement that those who have been vaccinated may travel.

The issue is that the UK government said holidays abroad were ok last year but a lot of infection was brought back and seeded around the country. If they don't ban people should stay put for this year. We know what the results will be, we have seen it played out in a daily basis.

Partner and I recovering from Covid in the last few weeks. It was a horrendous experience - illness like I’ve never experienced along with fear of how bad it would get as we are both CEV. Even with the lasting effects we’re both thankful to be still here.

I really, really don’t want to sound sanctimonious but watching the news and media lately, the emphasis seems to be shifting more and more on to what we can’t do anymore and the unrest seems to be on the verge of getting out of control if last nights’ clashes in Bristol are anything to go by. We’re starting to lose sight of the fact that we’re still in a pandemic and we need to focus more on the fact that people are still catching and dying from Covid. I know all of this is slightly off topic but my pint is that it’s too early to be thinking about holidaying - especially abroad as I fear the third wave will only grow. I don’t think anywhere is safe. Vaccination doesn’t stop you from getting Covid, it cuts down on hospital admissions by lessening the effects. It’s still a horrendous illness and I for one won’t be going anywhere any time soon.

Most holiday places abroad will be warm if not very warm. Don't fancy wearing a face mask in crowded places in the heat never mind the lack of vaccination in a lot of countries. Summer airports are bad enough but the attitude of some when travel restrictions are lifted makes me shudder. No way will I be going abroad - anywhere

I have family living in Europe. It's hard.

The thought of not going abroad this year wasn't bothering me. We have a tiny caravan and were planning to tour Scotland for 4 weeks when the campsites are all open.
Now my daughter and son in law have broken the news that they are to be moved to Europe by his work in July, along with my 3 grandchildren (due to Brexit) I am really upset, especially after a year of only a few garden visits during the time that was allowed. I know that I'm going to be desperate to visit by the time we can travel safely.

Money needs to be spent in our own country supporting hospitality. Why spend money supporting it in other countries?

What has been said is that countries with low vaccination count and high cases of Covid have a greater potential for mutations that the vaccines may not be able to handle. Therefore it would be beneficial to not travel to help prevent further outbreaks and mutations

I live in Scotland, I want to go “abroad” to England to see my family- elderly parents and two grandsons I haven’t cuddled yet, my heart is breaking..

The problem is with travelling, for any reason, to countries with high Covid /low vaccine rates even when you’ve been vaccinated as you can still get and transmit Covid, in particular variants, which are brought back home and passed on. With a lot of European hospitals being overwhelmed I wouldn’t fancy being taken I’ll there. There should be no foreign travel until destination vaccination levels are increased and Covid rates low

And there's no end in sight. Last night we were told we'll have to wear masks and maintain distancing for 'another 2 years or so' until most of the world has been vaccinated.

If UK residents can show evidence of vaccination before they return home and re-test regularly afterwards where is the risk in that?

And why wasn't vaccinating the rest of the world fully factored into predictions in the first place. This is a blatant case of constantly moving goal posts.

The virus travels and doesn't recognise country borders. If it's moving it will get there so why risk it. This country is beautiful if you find the spot that suits you.

We are resigning ourselves to not being able to go to our static caravan in France this summer and we are looking to book somewhere in the UK.
My problem with that is that most of my summer clothes are stored in the caravan, so not only will we have to pay for accommodation, I will need to buy more clothes! That is on top of having to pay the site fees for the caravan in France, whether we can go or not. An expensive business but at least we'll be doing our bit for the economy.

Our holiday that we booked now nearly two years ago has been moved for the fourth time to august but very doubtful it will happen. Both of us have now had first vaccinations but my 14 year old is unlikely to have had the vaccine by then - they keep insisting we move it rather than cancel and we want to be supportive of the company to help keep them in business but I would rather stay in the Uk this year. Will have to wait and see what happens nearer the time. Certainly not bothering with rebooking car hire or airport parking until much nearer!

As often, there is much censoriousness on this thread? Why assume that everyone goes abroad 'just' to lie in the sun? And what's wrong if they do?
Anyone know the views on Mumsnet of those facing life with disillusioned children and teenagers day in / day out? We on here are old, or comparatively so. We've had half a lifetime to go abroad in. Who are we to be so casual about the younger generations of today?