Gransnet forums

Travel

“Too soon to book holidays”

(28 Posts)
Blossoming Wed 10-Feb-21 13:00:29

The transport secretary Grant Shapps, speaking on the ‘Today’ programme, says people shouldn’t be booking holidays yet.

www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/10/too-soon-to-book-holiday-in-uk-or-abroad-says-grant-shapps-covid

Septimia Wed 10-Feb-21 18:31:59

Back in the autumn I booked a cottage, where we go regularly, for June. It depends on a long journey and a ferry which can't be booked at the moment.

So it's all done on the understanding on both sides that it might have to be cancelled/postponed. We missed our trip last year so are really looking forward to going again, whenever that might be.

Niochorio Wed 10-Feb-21 17:55:44

I have a son in Japan and a home in Crete so as soon as it is safe and we are allowed we will be on our way. I was reading an article in The Times about tourism in Greece that said the British would be so very welcome this summer as we are so far ahead with our vaccination programme.

I also have a glamping break booked in Mid Wales for the end of May. This has been re scheduled from last year and is a trip to celebrate our 33 wedding anniversary.

We all really do need these things to look forward to.

suziewoozie Wed 10-Feb-21 17:44:05

I’m going to have a ?

suziewoozie Wed 10-Feb-21 17:43:33

Damon damn GS - who is GD?

suziewoozie Wed 10-Feb-21 17:42:57

Lillie

Hmm If I were Boris, I would sack Grant Shapps for winding everyone up today!

Fortunately I’m not daft enough to listen to GD or any other minister when making decisions about my holidays. I just check cancellation rights and then I’ll follow the appropriate rules in force at the time. The reason I wouldn’t book abroad however is that it’s much harder to know what’s really happening

Erica23 Wed 10-Feb-21 17:38:40

Someone has just asked the question on the prime ministers briefing.Apparently we have to wait until February the 22nd when things might be clearer, and he starts on his roadmap.

Lillie Wed 10-Feb-21 17:07:14

Hmm If I were Boris, I would sack Grant Shapps for winding everyone up today!

muse Wed 10-Feb-21 15:10:24

Our UK holiday (Bryher) was postponed from April 2020. All booked and paid for. Isles of Scilly Travel contacted me last week to rearrange the flight over to St Mary's at the end of this April. Skybus and ferry places are being booked up. Accommodation on the islands is nearly all booked during peak time.

Our dog creche has hardly any places left between June and September.

PamelaJ1 Wed 10-Feb-21 15:06:35

We have booked a lodge for a week in June 2022. My niece is getting married ? it’s a half term week and the Government have given us an extra days holiday for some reason. The Queen has something to do with it I think.
As a large family we decided that we would all have a week to coincide with the event and as we thought that week would be popular we’d go for it and get it sorted.
Please, please it will be OK by then.

anna7 Wed 10-Feb-21 14:51:30

Summers have not been Mediterranean like in the North West and I'm not holding my breath for this summer. If I could book a week or so in the sun this autumn I would but I will have to wait and see.

BigBertha1 Wed 10-Feb-21 14:30:23

We too have booked a cottage for September near Taunton.
we are about to rebook the Portugal holiday we couldn't have in May 2020 for May 2022. We are insuring both holidays on booking. We have both had our jabs.

ginny Wed 10-Feb-21 14:22:19

We have a few caravan site booked in UK. Some of them bought forward from last year.
If not able to go this year we will move them again. It’s our own caravan with our own facilities.
Will not be booking anything abroad for the forseeable future.

rosie1959 Wed 10-Feb-21 14:22:13

suziewoozi was a while ago but I remember him saying the most deaths were in the over 70s so cohorts 1 to 4 as they plan to have 5 to 9 done by May this must have some effect
I am hoping this may be sooner as they should be reaching the younger part of phase one soon which should be quicker hopefully

GrannyGravy13 Wed 10-Feb-21 14:18:18

Having an adult GC in one mainland European Country and their parents in an African Country as soon as it’s deemed safe and travel restrictions are lifted we will go and visit them.

suziewoozie Wed 10-Feb-21 14:12:10

How did he define most vulnerable rosie do you remember?

Grannybags Wed 10-Feb-21 14:10:33

Another one here who has booked a really remote cottage for September. We booked it last September before things got so bad again.

I won't be booking anything abroad until mid 2022 at the earliest

TerriBull Wed 10-Feb-21 14:08:03

I also think foreign holidays aren't going to be viable this year. I shall wait for EasyJet to contact with hopefully an option to rebook our June flights replacing the abortive ones from last year. If so, I will book up dates well into next year. On the domestic front, I'm cautiously hopeful we might be able to go somewhere later in the year, but if not, well so be it. We have a new house to concentrate on and the south coast is a mere 15 or so miles away for us now and summers have been positively Mediterranean weather wise in England of late.

rosie1959 Wed 10-Feb-21 14:05:32

I can see the point regarding foreign holidays but not UK holidays
I remember Johnathan Van Tam saying that once the most vunerable had had their vaccine deaths and hospital admissions would be cut by 99% As even the first vaccine gives a good protection what reason could they have for keeping us all in this twighligh zone
The hospitality industry needs to open up or else they will all be bankrupt

Jaxjacky Wed 10-Feb-21 14:03:38

No holiday plans at the moment this year, nothing to do with Grant Shapps, we’ll see how it pans out.

Kim19 Wed 10-Feb-21 14:00:51

Much too soon to book in my opinion but I'm doing plenty of research and ready to pounce should opportunity become allowable and feel safe. At the moment my travelling companions have decided we will visit each other's houses and do day trips here and there using that as a base. All once that becomes allowed, of course. Fully expect accommodation prices to have increased considerably.

Cherrytree59 Wed 10-Feb-21 13:48:29

Booked uk caravan holiday with grandchildren (childcare bubble)
Spring bank holiday.
Covid19 protected.

Hoping to go to France end of september beginning of October, we will have had our second vaccination by then.

Waiting on new passports to arrive, will then book for a euro and wait and see how land lies.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 10-Feb-21 13:37:50

We had postponed our holiday to Sardinia until next September, but yesterday I cancelled it as I am not convinced that foreign travel will still be an unacceptable risk this year.

Esspee Wed 10-Feb-21 13:34:37

I have mentioned before that every day I have a barrage of emails from companies advertising vacations and cruises. Anyone booking a vacation abroad has to be deluded and I would much rather keep my money until these holiday companies have something certain to sell rather than have the hassle of trying to get a refund from them.
As for cruises, how can anyone consider paying to be trapped in a Petrie dish with thousands of random people. Imagine being confined to your cabin when the boat is quarantined.

Galaxy Wed 10-Feb-21 13:34:20

Nobody follows advice from Grant Shapps do they?

grandmajet Wed 10-Feb-21 13:32:45

So many people will be trying to book uk holidays this year that I wouldn’t leave it too long if you want to go, provided there is a money back guarantee if Covid regulations prevent you going ahead.
I wouldn’t even think of travelling abroad - too many unknowns.