Covid and travel discussion

Tuearts right boot said:
There were times you could buy an entire village for that and I think there is one near deserted village in southern Italy where the properties are/were going for €1.00 each.
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There are masses of deserted properties in Mediterranean countries, Spain and Italy the worst with numerous small villages derserted as people have fled to big cities and towns nearer the coast. Many places offer grant schemes to live there, i know someone who got lured in some years back and bought an abandoned house in Spain with the intention of fixing it up and running cycling holidays. As predicted he bit off more than he could chew and the house is still unfinished but he did end up getting his business running and is still out there. In the UK nowhere is that far from a major city where it gets to the point that no one wants to live there but in the rural parts of Spain / Italy / France the abandonment of rural villages is a massive issue.
 
Government hoping to offer all adults a jab by end of July, it'll be interesting to see if they meet that or if it's delayed. That would mean the second jabs should all be administered by Oct/Nov. Obviously distancing and masks may continue through winter but a small price to pay for opening things back up again. As much as I want to go away in August cannot see it happening.
 
Manchester1894 said:
Government hoping to offer all adults a jab by end of July, it'll be interesting to see if they meet that or if it's delayed. That would mean the second jabs should all be administered by Oct/Nov. Obviously distancing and masks may continue through winter but a small price to pay for opening things back up again. As much as I want to go away in August cannot see it happening.
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The issue with going away is not so much the UK population who have (maybe not have) had jabs but the mixing of populations generally. The risk is resistant strains. If you keep the mixing to a minimum the chance of a new strain breaking out is high. You have to wait until you have virtually zero covid which is not that unrealistic in the next year - but it means giving the vaccine roll outs time around the world and then following through with masks and testing until its beaten back.
 
Gaudion M said:
There are masses of deserted properties in Mediterranean countries, Spain and Italy the worst with numerous small villages derserted as people have fled to big cities and towns nearer the coast. Many places offer grant schemes to live there, i know someone who got lured in some years back and bought an abandoned house in Spain with the intention of fixing it up and running cycling holidays. As predicted he bit off more than he could chew and the house is still unfinished but he did end up getting his business running and is still out there. In the UK nowhere is that far from a major city where it gets to the point that no one wants to live there but in the rural parts of Spain / Italy / France the abandonment of rural villages is a massive issue.
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There was a feature in the Times recently about these towns in Italy. There are loads that are selling houses for €1 a time. Many require you to commit to spending a specified shedload on doing them up, tens of thousands of euro, committing to living there and priority for people with young kids. Other places are in regular earthquake zones so could be very risky. Very often they are high up in mountainous country nowhere near any thing else.
 
Millwallawayveteran1988 said:
“So this one is slightly above your budget at £64k but the agent says the owner is willing to listen to offers”

“We would like to make an offer on this one”

“So what is your offer”

“well we think we will start off with an offer of £15k and see where it gets us”
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What those programmes never factor in are the buying costs. All of those who are right at their limit of affordability will often have another 15% or more to pay in purchase costs.
 
Lots of countries aren't allowing foreign visitors in anyway and Brits in particular due to the so called Kent variant. I'm glad I got away last summer but like others I am missing the freedom to jet off somewhere. It is what it is at the moment unfortunately.
 
denislawsbackheel said:
There was a feature in the Times recently about these towns in Italy. There are loads that are selling houses for €1 a time. Many require you to commit to spending a specified shedload on doing them up, tens of thousands of euro, committing to living there and priority for people with young kids. Other places are in regular earthquake zones so could be very risky. Very often they are high up in mountainous country nowhere near any thing else.
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Most rural spanish areas have a grant scheme - you have to buy the house but they are practically given away and then the refurb costs can be claimed back up to a level. So you could buy a house for 10k - spend 100k on it and claim 100k back. You end up with 110k's worth of house for your 10k, but you have to live there and they are remote. The problem is that this retreat is snowballing - as people move away shops close and once shops close more people move away.
 
its just as difficult to get back to the UK, mrs Jules needs a new passport plus we would like to see friends/family, doubt we will get there till its too cold to visit. all the bars and restaurants are open here, the weather is fantastic, some good surf recently too,.......just sayin
 
The Northern Baptist said:
We’d be better served getting U.K. PLC going again and all spending our money over here. They may not mean taking a 2 week break in a wet and miserable U.K. seaside town, but getting out and doing days out, more trips to pubs and restaurants, more spending on the high street, zoos, theme parks, etc.

The government can use the tax and VAT receipts from all of that to prop up the travel industry until next year.
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It's a novel idea but the government haven't offered any hint of support for this year yet, so I'm not sure it would be quite as easy as that.

We're currently on eggshells awaiting the task force review....depending on the severity of what is said the industry could be looking at possible collapse without intervention. I just hope if they do pull the rug from under us they at least mitigate the damage with some financial help, but it needs a shitload of cash pumping into it...I'm not sure they have the inclination, time will tell.

I see Phuket is going to welcome vaccinated Brits from 1st July. No word on the rest of Thailand but it's a step in the right direction and possibly indicates how long haul travel can open up again; Bali have looked at similar by having designated tourism areas open as opposed to the whole island.

Praying for good news on the teaser on the 5th and full announcement on the 12th.
 
Tuearts right boot said:
There were times you could buy an entire village for that and I think there is one near deserted village in southern Italy where the properties are/were going for €1.00 each.
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There still is a scheme in Sicily, although you have to commit to spending a certain amount renovating the place so it's habitable. Still lots of places cheap on the mainland.

Although the cheapest places are in the Southern part of Italy, which is mafia country.
 
feedthegoat27 said:
I see Phuket is going to welcome vaccinated Brits from 1st July. No word on the rest of Thailand but it's a step in the right direction and possibly indicates how long haul travel can open up again;
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They have said that Pattaya and Chiang Mai will follow but I haven't seen any definite dates for those two yet and no mention of the rest of the country.

The government there have frequently chopped and changed policy regarding opening borders again, so I wouldn't put my house on being able to visit Phuket in July.
 
KnaresboroughBlue said:
They have said that Pattaya and Chiang Mai will follow but I haven't seen any definite dates for those two yet and no mention of the rest of the country.

The government there have frequently chopped and changed policy regarding opening borders again, so I wouldn't put my house on being able to visit Phuket in July.
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Anyone who has been to Pattaya doesn't need to worry about Covid ;)

Yeah deffo taking the news with a pinch of salt...find it hard to believe vaccinated Brits might be able to visit Phuket but not Italy in July for example.

Thailand have really kept a lid on it over there and I'm sure they are desperate to keep it like that, though their tourism industry which equates to such a large %age of their economy has badly suffered.

A gradual easing for vaccinated passengers seems the most sensible way forward.
 
feedthegoat27 said:
Anyone who has been to Pattaya doesn't need to worry about Covid ;)

Yeah deffo taking the news with a pinch of salt...find it hard to believe vaccinated Brits might be able to visit Phuket but not Italy in July for example.

Thailand have really kept a lid on it over there and I'm sure they are desperate to keep it like that, though their tourism industry which equates to such a large %age of their economy has badly suffered.

A gradual easing for vaccinated passengers seems the most sensible way forward.
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I think a lot will depend on how their vaccination program is going at that time.
 
KnaresboroughBlue said:
I think a lot will depend on how their vaccination program is going at that time.
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I think I'm right in saying it's not going particularly fast out there?
Though I guess they don't necessarily need to go fast having had a solid handle on it, can take a more leisurely approach.

I've got Bali booked for Christmas but might have to change to Thailand further down the line if Bali is to remain closed for 2021. Beggars certainly can't be choosers and I'll be very happy with anywhere warm out of the UK.


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feedthegoat27 said:
I think I'm right in saying it's not going particularly fast out there?
Though I guess they don't necessarily need to go fast having had a solid handle on it, can take a more leisurely approach.

I've got Bali booked for Christmas but might have to change to Thailand further down the line if Bali is to remain closed for 2021. Beggars certainly can't be choosers and I'll be very happy with anywhere warm out of the UK.


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It's a bit slow but there is a company there licensed to produce the AZ vaccine, so it should start to pick up pace soon (hopefully). My wife went to visit her mum there last March and has been pretty much stuck there since. We've now decided that she may as well stay there until she gets her vaccinations, as she wouldn't be entitled to them here. Tough on the kids but probably for the best in the long run.
 
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