Realistically, EU holidaying by late summer?

What happens when the spanish and greeks remember they need the british and german and scandinavian holidayers’ money? Will they crack and open up, especially if they have vaccinated their old/vunerable?

if you’re an EU citizen you can go on holiday, for those from 3rd countries you can’t.

Who knows what will happen. We have last years ski trip that was carried forward into 2021 in March and a week in Andorra in September again carried over from 2020. I’m more confident of the later than the former

Well, I did some research into the package company's cancellation policy, and used Money Supermarket for a single trip family insurance with extra Covid cover (£40).

Essentially the extra Covid cover insurance won't pay out a) if you booked a holiday when the FCO has banned travel to the destination, or the ban is reinstated before departure, and its still banned at departure time and b) if you choose not to go for any reason, but could of otherwise. Pretty much every other scenario is catered for.

In my case, I can "only" lose £250 before June, so the gamble will be if the FCO ban trips to Spain between then after I've paid the full amount and September. Its possible of course the Travel agent could defer the holiday / provide vouchers for another booking / time.

We took the plunge last night and booked a cottage in Cornwall for early September. Surely we must be out of the woods by then! 😱🤔

Noticed cottage prices have been jumping rapidly - even overnight the one we booked has gone up by £500 for the week before and £300 for the week after we're going.

I'm starting to prepare for a staycation instead of our Pyrenean trip, I think too many stars will need to align for it to go ahead by the end of July.

IF flights are flying and IF we don't need to pay for isolation in hotels at either end, we would still need transfers from airport (multiple bodies in a van) and for 6 different hotels all to still be open along the route, not to mention our luggage transfer and guiding company would need to be allowed to travel through various different regions of the country.

Backup plan is bikepacking around Scotland which only assumes we will be allowed to travel between regions (e.g. Tier 2) by May, and if not by May then hopefully by July/August. Even if the epidemiology suggests they shouldn't ease restrictions for summer, I'm just not sure the government could keep us in lockdown that long! At least bikepacking only relies on shops being open, I don't expect to be able to find accommodation at short notice...

Aye, ditto Ian. Had rebooked using our deposits from 2020 for Holland again, last week of school hols in August to give it best chance, but I'm thinking of now booking up here instead and writing off the ~£700 instead.

Realistically, EU holidaying by late summer?

No chance. If you insist on EU holiday then you are taking the risk. If your luck happen to be low and the grim reaper is nearby you will be invited to his covid garden for tea. That's what I call dying for holiday.

Aye, ditto Ian. Had rebooked using our deposits from 2020 for Holland again, last week of school hols in August to give it best chance, but I’m thinking of now booking up here instead and writing off the ~£700 instead.

Weird thing is, the thought of flying abroad and forming part of a 7 day rolling convoy through the hills doesn't really appeal anyway, unless ALL restrictions were eased etc. I can't imagine being able to relax and saunter in and out of cafes and bars en route, hang out beside pool after each day's ride etc. etc.

@chewkw - are you saying that any holiday is a no go, or just leaving the UK to go to the EU? As surely the infection rate etc in the UK is just as bad, if not worse than a lot of the EU. Therefore monsieur grim reaper is hiding in cornwall etc just as much as he is in Milan or Morzine?!

Like last summer I would expect everything to be open (make hay and all that). Expect the cost of flying to skyrocket.

We drove to France last August to collect kids from grand parents. We put them on the Eurostar once the restrictions the travel restrictions were lifted in July. The plan was to fly to Dinard to collect them and return a few days later. OMG the cost of the flights were eye watering.
The crossing through the tunnel was around £150 for the return trip plus £120 fuel.

We will do the same this coming year. The only possible fly in the ointment that we don't know about will be brexit related. Last year year we could drive out with two persons in the car and return with 4. I'm hoping nothing has changed. Seeing what was left out of the 'deal' I expect it to be not as easy.
Europe may limit travel to EU citizens only

We moved our European Road trip to Lake Garda from Aug-20 to the same dates this year.. at the time (May/June last year) it felt like it would 100% go ahead.

I'm now pretty certain it can't happen - It needs too much to change in just over 6 months.. with the success of the EU vaccination program being one key factor.

I'm not cancelling just yet, as the money is lost either way (about £500 - which i paid out in late 2019) but think we need a plan B.

are you saying that any holiday is a no go, or just leaving the UK to go to the EU?

I expect another summer with the popular regions of the UK experiencing what its like to live in a overcrowded country. again.

its ok to point the finger at the SE and say, its not like that everywhere... but you dont like it when the whole population of the SE tries to visit those beautifully isolated regions

queues up every mountain, no parking within a days walk of a beach.

i might grab the return leg on a migrant boat from kent.

By their nature aren't all holiday regions popular? No one chooses to go on holiday to Dudley! 🙂

@chewkw – are you saying that any holiday is a no go, or just leaving the UK to go to the EU? As surely the infection rate etc in the UK is just as bad, if not worse than a lot of the EU. Therefore monsieur grim reaper is hiding in cornwall etc just as much as he is in Milan or Morzine?!

If you have to take public transport like planes, trains or coaches or share a lot of space with others then you are at risk. All it takes is a second when your luck is down (science called it probability) and you will be invited to covid garden.

But if you drive yourself to the location and don't really hang around too much in confined space with people or by minimizing contact with others then you might be fine. Problem is everyone is thinking the same and the likelihood of ending up in the same place or location and having to interact means the risk is high. Grim reaper is amongst them in the crowd of people.

Post Brexit I think I'll be too embarrassed to visit Europe even if allowed.

Not sure holidays will be a big part of 2021 for us, as above there's way too much needed to get foreign holidays going again and UK prices are eye watering at the moment. Maybe a couple of short (but expensive) city breaks in late summer is the best we can hope for.

When chewkw starts sounding like the voice of pragmatic wisdom, you know we have a global crisis.

I'm not planning on going anywhere using busy public transport until I've had my second jab. Probably next autumn, maybe.

@chewkw - cool, i understand what you are saying now. Its definitely a roll of the dice.

myself and two chums are looking to book the Trans-Atlantis multi day enduro race in the Azores in September. But i cant decide if it stupid to do so, or if the world turns on its head and things improve, then it would be the saviour of the past 2 years of misery.

a mix of trying to be sensible/cautious and hope/optimism.

Looking back at my post from ~10months ago on this thread "Until we have a vaccine I can’t see mass international travel restarting any time soon. Uk holidays for us this year I think". I can't any difference now and although maybe I should have said "mass international vaccine programme".

With Brexit and the UK variant even if we have high levels vaccination we won't be welcome in Europe (no holiday travel) until Europe has high levels of vaccination. 2022 in other words.

I had a flyer for Jet2holidays through my door this morning offering holidays from Birmingham summer 21. I can't help thinking a holiday IN Birmingham might be as good as it get for Brits this summer.

and UK prices are eye watering at the moment.

The cottage we just booked was £800 for the week for 6 people. This is from 11th Sept. Which is about normal for Cornwall and I didn't think was too bad.

School holiday rates are through the roof though. £2100 for the same place on August bank holiday week! 😱

/engage smug mode

We booked two holiday cottages at the start of November, Western Isles Week 1 and Torridon Week 2.
Since then, I note that our second cottage has added £100 per week to the cost.

/disengage smug mode

I do have a worry we may get hoofed out if someone offers the cottage owner more money for the week.

GB is definitely short of accommodation in 'nice' areas if the whole of the UK does UKcation.

No one chooses to go on holiday to Dudley!

How very dare you, we have a wonderful museum you know! https://www.bclm.co.uk/

Joking aside, I expect to be UK based again this year. We've got a wedding in Ibiza in late August that was cancelled from last year. The optimist in me say that it might happen, the realist suggests otherwise.

No one chooses to go on holiday to Dudley!

Yam yampy yam am, Dudley is bostin aye it

I'll likely need to do a road trip around Europe for work later this year. No flights, just a ferry/Eurotunnel and staying in hotels and maybe campsites. But even leaving it as late as I can, which would be October / November, I now feel that too many stars need to align. I wouldn't go without a full vaccination and I don't expect my first jab until August I guess. And then if Europe is lagging behind on vaccinations I can't see me being very welcome driving from place to place. Next urgent trip was to NZ, postponed from last March and that looks just as unlikely for next winter too. Not sure much of the travel industry will be left after 18+ months of this.

the group trip to the Alps we had planned this year is being pushed back to next year as we have absolutely no confidence large groups will be welcome. I was planning to do a solo trip myself instead but even that is looking less and less likely now. I doubt I'll have a vaccine injection by then and it's looking like mainland Europe will be still in the early stages of their vaccine roll-out so will be reluctant to have UK visitors over. UK stays instead look to be horrifically expensive and everywhere will be rammed so I'm fully expecting to have no holiday as such this year, instead I will try and do the odd 1-3 day trip when it fits in with restrictions, costs and general busyness of wherever I feel like going. In reality it looks like I'll have no holiday again this year, so 3 years without one. I don't hold out major hope for the situation being any better for '22 really either.

GB is definitely short of accommodation in ‘nice’ areas if the whole of the UK does UKcation.

Next person who says “staycation” when they mean just “holiday in the UK” might get a kick in the balls..!

yes! I will join you in that. I'll knee 'em in the face as they keel over.

When chewkw starts sounding like the voice of pragmatic wisdom, you know we have a global crisis.

😆🤣 As I said if your luck is down your risk multiply ...

Two of my childhood friends in the far east have died from Covid in the past 6 weeks. While a few of them tested positive of the virus they seem to be fine even look normal and continue with heavy alcohol consumption. They are now acting as the assistants for the grim reaper... for the unlucky ones that go near them the consequences will be dire if not death.

myself and two chums are looking to book the Trans-Atlantis multi day enduro race in the Azores in September.

😬 ... the only safe way to fly is to quarantine everyone for 10 days, impossible, before taking the flight otherwise there is risk is high.

No one chooses to go on holiday to Dudley!

We did a few years ago. One of the best holidays we've ever had. Canal boat from central Birmingham, up to Wolverhampton, down to Stourbridge, back to Birmingham.
Surprisingly pleasant all the way. We did Dudley Zoo and Castle, Black Country Museum, Kinver Cave Houses, and any other attraction in the area.
I would definitely do it again.

Just cancelled the April ski trip flights and accommodation and have booked a week on Orkney for the first week in July. It's nice to have the Orkney trip to look forward to and if things do open up, we will wing an EU road trip in August.
I guess there's a possibility of Scottish Spring Skiing.

Camping at the family farm for us again this year i think.
Can't see travel being common until the winter at the earliest

Booked up May school week and two weeks in July in the Motorhome. Also fielded a few messages from people we know , not friends as such, who had decided we would lend them our Motorhome for their holidays ! The dates they had BOOKED apparently (without consulting us at all) unfortunately are when my sister is using it - as she does because that was the agreement we have. It was quite amazing really , I mean, weird. Anyway, they got all huffy about it and had assumed we would give them it and insure it ! Odd.

Late summer 2022, maybe.

We've booked a couple of places to stay in the Lake District in July and August. I'm not convinced even those trips will actually happen.

From a purely selfish perspective I'd love to get over the UK this summer and do a few fell races, see family etc. Can't see it happening at all and I sort of miss the place.

Not complaining, though. Living where we do, there's the Pyrenees, Picos, SW France all within three hours' drive, did a couple of motorbike tours last summer too.

@NZCol that's just odd. 🤷‍♂️

Matt: genuinely weird. My wife is adamant she never offered it and there’s no reason she would, we think one of them mentioned we might and they all took that as we would ! Totally bizarre. Is ok don’t lend it to anyone other than my sister as I’m too fond of it !

Camping in the garden would be good to test out camping equipment etc ... 😬

That's what I would do but my back garden is shared and concreted 🤣

That’s what I would do but my back garden is shared and concreted

Hilti gun is made for this.

I know we're all still in guessing times, but where are we seeing things now?
We've still got a booking for last weekend in may in Portimao. Portugal is obvious a Red Zone as we speak. But their numbers are falling currently. Even if their vaccination program doesn't seem to be setting the world on fire.

I'm in the "bin it and go to Burgundy where we have a massive house to use for 2 weeks in August with no on for miles around"

Mrs Weeksy is more in the "oh I don't know, let's wait a bit more"

I'm not prepared to pay for 10 days isolation after the trip. I'm not even convinced I'm prepared to pay 3* cv19 tests on way out and back. Neither of us are likely to have been vaccinated by may.

I know we’re all still in guessing times, but where are we seeing things now?
We’ve still got a booking for last weekend in may in Portimao. Portugal is obvious a Red Zone as we speak. But their numbers are falling currently. Even if their vaccination program doesn’t seem to be setting the world on fire.

I’m in the “bin it and go to Burgundy where we have a massive house to use for 2 weeks in August with no on for miles around”

Mrs Weeksy is more in the “oh I don’t know, let’s wait a bit more”

I’m not prepared to pay for 10 days isolation after the trip. I’m not even convinced I’m prepared to pay 3* cv19 tests on way out and back. Neither of us are likely to have been vaccinated by may.

I think your may trip is unlikely to go ahead, but I wouldnt bin it until you really have to, just in case it can go ahead.

We rarely go abroad, and then it's only been for work since the kids were under 3, so all out hols are UK-based. We were lucky last year to have our summer hols in Cornwall booked a year previously and we have a caravan so self-contained. The same is true this year, and we have other long weekends or weeks away over the coming months too. Although I'm accepting that mid-March is a no, Easter likely a no, probably late May too. It's just so up in the air for the UK that I couldn't contemplate going abroad and then perhaps needing to quarantine etc on the return and the potential for contracting CV when away etc, and that's before the test fees in and out etc.

I think your may trip is unlikely to go ahead, but I wouldnt bin it until you really have to, just in case it can go ahead.

The problem is, even if it CAN, doesn't necessarily mean i want to... just because someone tells me i'm allowed to... won't mean i think it's safe to do so.

We have a place booked in the lakes for Easter, but I'm thinking that isn't going to happen.
I can see our holidays being at the family farm camping again.
Oh well got a new axe so will be in the wood making a mess

I've given in and booked 2 sensible UK holidays for August and October. I then won a half paid for Caribbean holiday for 2022/3 at work which coincides with my 50th. All have "Covid" options to refund or reschedule.

We also have Center Parcs booked for April HT but suspect thats going back 1 year.

For what my guess work is worth I can't see any foreign travel this year unless it's a saga holiday.

Personally I've bookings for August that were shifted from last year and I absolutely expect I'll be cancelling or postponing again owing to entry to the vast majority of countries will I guess be limited to those able to prove they've been vaccinated much like it is going to yellow fever countries etc. (or Greece already)

Really that means I'm stuck in blighty given I doubt I will have been jabbed as I'm a low risk and I don't expect to be able to get it done privately for at least 18 months. Even if I have managed to get stuck on the NHS I very much doubt I'll be able to prove it satisfactorily since the govt won't currently entertain the idea of vacation passporting.

A week in a UK cottage is in the bag, suspect we'll endup with booking another week in the UK somewhere. its gonna be rammed.

There are other ways of proving you have been vaccinated. Nice sideline for GPs in writing letters for people, as happens already for similar situations.

We need to set up some kind of STW house swap for holidays!

Kryton, even if CP is open all the stuff to do..well NEARLY all the stuff to do, involves lots of people in close proximity. They must be hurting now I think of it, does anybody know if they opened at all last year?

We ummmed and ahhhed about where to go and when and we have a couple of different weeks booked in pretty remote cottages in Pembrokeshire/Ceredigion for the summer hols.

We do have a bit of a gamble in that we have booked a city break in NYC in October (was April 2021) but it is what it is, if it gets shifted again so be it.

we've been looking at renting an out-of-the-way lodge/cottage etc or even hiring a campervan and touring some quieter areas. Have no idea what the obsession is with having to jet off to the Costa del Bollocks or whatever IN THE SUMMER. Winter sun, yes I get it, but the UK is great in the summer! Loads to do 👍 But booking up early seems sensible!

We'll just be happy if our June trip to Uist goes ahead. It was postponed last June 🙁

It's very tricky, I really need to go to an EU country to take care of some family business.

Hollidays are, I would say, unessesary. At least for 6 months.

But the UK law for important travel is really vague. All I can see is 'legally permitted travel' but it seems impossible to find the rules on what that specificaly means.

Have no idea what the obsession is with having to jet off to the Costa del Bollocks or whatever IN THE SUMMER. Winter sun, yes I get it, but the UK is great in the summer! Loads to do 👍

Not everyone that goes abroad does this, we drive to france every summer the main plus's are I can get two weeks holiday for what I would pay for 1 week equivalent in the UK, that plus the climate the people, food and space and lakes I have got 3 weeks booked off end of july/august with nothing booked yet, I'm holding onto that .0001 percent hope (purely for morale reasons ) that we may get there.😁

I think portugal is mainly on the list due to it links with Brazil so think it may even not come off after their case drop

I'm 90% sure our planned/booked trip to Lake Garda (shifted a year from last Aug) won't be happening.
I'm 48 and my wife 45 so we should be next in line for the vaccine once they've finished the top 9 groups, but i'm aware the vaccine roll out for 'first jabs' will soon slow to a trickle when they need to start doing second jabs.
I don't need to cancel/re-book it just yet so we'll see...

Have no idea what the obsession is with having to jet off to the Costa del Bollocks or whatever IN THE SUMMER. Winter sun, yes I get it, but the UK is great in the summer! Loads to do 👍

Not everyone that goes abroad does this, we drive to france every summer the main plus’s are I can get two weeks holiday for what I would pay for 1 week equivalent in the UK, that plus the climate the people, food and space and lakes

+1.
I've never been on a package holiday to Europe - but like paying 50% less for holidays in France/Italy compared to Cornwall..

Hopefully we’ll get to our place in Ireland as the summer progresses haven’t been since August and no one has stayed there since November so could really do with checking it all over, clearing ditches and gutters, getting it ready for another winter, etc.

It’s in the middle of no where, two house within a mile and surrounded by forest so fairly COVID safe once there.
I think the chance of getting over to Canada, B.C, in September for our trip postponed from last year is no chance 🙁

How are we seeing progress then guys? In a slightly selfish way, end of May. I'd given up hope on it, but Mrs Weeksy has seen improvement in Portugal figures and once again seems inclined to be wanting to go.
I'm mostly hoping we cannot.

But, there's a minor flip side of ragging my XSR 900 around Portimao which does sound appealing.

Not £1750+ tests appealing of course. Lol

I have booked at apartment in the alps, owner is flexible if I have to cancel. Not booked euro tunnel. Some days I am hopeful, i will be going in late august, other days not so.

We have late August in Burgundy/Alps as plan B currently too. Both options completely flexible there, so no problem. I'm far more optimistic of that choice

Lots of hoo-har in the media about vaccine 'passports' which will negate the need to quarantine i think, but equally I can't see low priority people getting a shot before summer at best.

We've got an early school holidays week booked for Orkney, with the hope of a French road trip in August if permitted. Need to start considering if anything is likely for October - would be nice to get out to Mallorca.

I can’t help but feel euro holidays will be more difficult this year after the end to the transition period. The EU may well sort its own internal scheme without us.

It's going to be busy in Filey this summer I reckon.

We’ll just be happy if our June trip to Uist goes ahead. It was postponed last June

@ElShalimo  - when and where? We're heading up 12th to 21st.

We'll probably visit friends in France if it opens up; can go at short notice assuming we can book a crossing.

Other than that, have booked a week in the Lakes for June.

Don’t forget whilst we are winning the first dose ‘race’, we are actually lagging behind on the two dose vaccine compared to other countries.

Now this could be an issue, as technically you’re not vaccinated until you’ve had both doses. So therefore other countries won’t let you in until you have had both doses. End of August for over 50’s.

I’ve a feeling Greece might swerve that requirement, as tourism is 30% of their GDP.

I suspect an EU wide travel scheme that we will not be a part of

@scotroutes - 5th-12th staying centrally on Grimsay. We'll have gravel/hybrid bikes, boots and kayaks. We're really looking forward it  !!!!  (but will understand if we can't go).

The Hebridean Smokehouse will be my first destination, nevermind that exercise malarkey 😉

So therefore other countries won’t let you in until you have had both doses. End of August for over 50’s.

At the moment it's the yes/no/maybe that's the killer. If someone said "Portugal is closed to the UK until 2022" I'd be absolutely fine with that, because then at least we know. We've got 5 weeks now until we either pay £1500 and risk it, or we lose £600-1300

I'd be happy just knowing

I´m going to Vienna tomorrow for a few days.

I’ve a feeling Greece might swerve that requirement, as tourism is 30% of their GDP.

I doubt they'll be able to, they might not ask you to quarantine after arrival etc but:

I suspect an EU wide travel scheme

They're in the EU and will be forced to toe the line on EU wide entry requirements.

that we will not be a part of

Assuming we could trust the morons in charge to come up with a reasonable policy of our own that would actually be no bad thing. As it is of course the one thing you can count on from this lot is they'll snatch failure from the jaws of success at every opportunity.

I can see quite alot of resentment from the younger generations if, having been put on severe restrictions and given up so much for 18 months, they then have to watch as all the vaccinated folks get to go on holiday, whilst they are stuck at home.

If I was 20 and had sacrificed a good chunk of my youth to protect the vulnerable, that would feel like a kick in the teeth

I hope people consider that, even if they are eligible for a vaccination passport.

If I was 20 and had sacrificed a good chunk of my youth to protect the vulnerable, that would feel like a kick in the teeth

I hope people consider that, even if they are eligible for a vaccination passport.

If you're going the vaccine passport route you need to be really clear to all groups about when they get it, otherwise, yes it's just another case of the older generation shafting the younger, tuition fees, housing, jobs, Brexit, etc etc etc.

yes it’s just another case of the older generation shafting the younger, tuition fees, housing, jobs, Brexit, etc etc etc.

Just to be clear I don't think that older generations going on holiday is shafting the young.

I was merely suggesting they perhaps should be sensitive to what the youngsters have had to endure, and immediately going on holiday may be seen as rubbing salt in wounds abit.

Personally I won't be going abroad this year, vaccine or not. Already saving up for my 2022 Majorca trip however, which I suspect will be at least twice the price of normal.

Anywhere in the UK that has had an 'influencer' visit is going to be rammed out.
Great for local businesses, but it will bring some real strains to our rural services and people.

@tpbiker, I am not trying to suggest that, it is just far too easy for it to be seen in that light without clear messaging.

it is better to say no one can travel, or you will get vaccine on day x and can travel on day y. Messaging is key in this. When was the last time there was any mention of vaccines and under 50's? It's almost as if the plan is to stop and let the virus run amok in under 50's

@mrmo - the message is the under 50s will get it after the 50 and over groups.

Do keep up at the back!!