Covid and travel discussion

[xgorton]

I should be in Idaho next summer.

Idaho campers.

 

[feedthegoat27]

Yes she's great. The problem with the Canarian government is they tend to go off on a tangent from mainland Spain but then get reigned back in, that is how I lost my Christmas holiday. Mainland refused the antigen test but the Canaries said they'd still accept it until the Spanish government overuled them.

I love the place but won't be back until the rules relax and things settle down, it's half a holiday and mask wearing outdoors kills it completely.

This is often a problem as you say; mainland Spain will say one thing and the islands, particularly the Canaries, will ignore and do another thing. The whole antigen debacle in December caused us a bit of chaos.

I was in Majorca on the first TUI package holiday back in July (the absolute very first TUI package after lockdown!). The mask outdoors rule came in on the 2nd or 3rd day of the trip from memory, though it wasn't applicable on the beach or if chilling by the pool. Noticed a lot of people weren't following it when out and about, but that could be attributed to it being new.

I had a quick break in Gran Canaria just before the November lockdown and that was only really masks when indoors, though by then plenty of people were wearing them when walking around. Guess by then it was 2nd nature for many.

The masks don't bother me as such, though I'd really not wanting to be wearing it if on a sunbed (by the pool or beach), that feels way OTT. Can live with popping it on if heading to the toilet in a bar etc
I'm hoping, maybe naively, that they just brought these rules in for a temporary time before the main holiday season starts again, but if they do remain then some people will likely reconsider their destination.

So many unanswered questions....

 

[paulchapo]

This is often a problem as you say; mainland Spain will say one thing and the islands, particularly the Canaries, will ignore and do another thing. The whole antigen debacle in December caused us a bit of chaos.

I was in Majorca on the first TUI package holiday back in July (the absolute very first TUI package after lockdown!). The mask outdoors rule came in on the 2nd or 3rd day of the trip from memory, though it wasn't applicable on the beach or if chilling by the pool. Noticed a lot of people weren't following it when out and about, but that could be attributed to it being new.

I had a quick break in Gran Canaria just before the November lockdown and that was only really masks when indoors, though by then plenty of people were wearing them when walking around. Guess by then it was 2nd nature for many.

The masks don't bother me as such, though I'd really not wanting to be wearing it if on a sunbed (by the pool or beach), that feels way OTT. Can live with popping it on if heading to the toilet in a bar etc
I'm hoping, maybe naively, that they just brought these rules in for a temporary time before the main holiday season starts again, but if they do remain then some people will likely reconsider their destination.

So many unanswered questions....

I was three days into a six week holiday when the UK decided we would have to quarantined on our return. The island had just started opening up and getting busier when in a week it was very quiet again. The mask mandate came towards the end of my stay but I was glad to go home once it came in. Torres, the guy who I think is in charge of the Canaries seems to be a bit of a maverick, which adds to the confusion.

On the mask front I have a friend who runs a bar there. She posted today that she was so happy to be mask free around the pool. Surprised I queried this and she told me the Canaries refused to enforce mask wearing on the beach or around the pool. Whether that changes again is anybody's guess.

 

[Blue Maverick]

The testing for holidays as well may see people not going, imagine you all been vaccinated but test positive just before you go, I don’t reckon insurance companies will pay out if you can’t go, who’s going to risk thousands of pounds I know I’m not.

 

[andyhinch]

I should be in Idaho next summer.

Have you told him ?

 

[splinter]

I do think if we drive this virus right down and get most of the population vaccinated, we should be able to travel to likewise countries in 2021..

 

[feedthegoat27]

The testing for holidays as well may see people not going, imagine you all been vaccinated but test positive just before you go, I don’t reckon insurance companies will pay out if you can’t go, who’s going to risk thousands of pounds I know I’m not.

This is very true, of the potential barriers we might face to travel this is likely to be a barrier too far for many people, understandably.

I believe some insurance companies will include something that covers you should you test positive before you go, but it's certainly not commonplace yet. I wouldn't be looking to go on a bucket list trip this year!

Some tour operators were offering a free change if the customer tested positive before travel. Jet2 and TUI had this stance late last year, though it remains to be seen if it will still be applicable for this summer.
This is why it's imperative to book anything responsibly through a reputable operator or agency and not through someone like LoveHolidays (don't get me started on them)

I would say to anyone thinking of heading abroad for a holiday this summer....if you're able to you should keep yourself to yourself in the 10 days/fortnight before travel.
I'm not saying locking yourself in your bedroom for 2 weeks, but if you get an offer to go for a few pints a week before you need to get tested then perhaps it's wise to swerve that invitation. Feels a bit shit to say that after everything that has happened but you could catch it anywhere so reducing that unnecessary exposure risk is wise.

Obviously some people, on that basis, will think it's more hassle than it's worth and I wouldn't necessarily disagree with them, but the people looking to go abroad this summer are likely very serious about doing so and thus should treat the 2 week window pre-travel seriously too.

Sadly the days of just being able to jump on a plane, without first jumping through hoops, is long gone for the foreseeable.

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

Have you told him ?

Make sure to wash before and afterwards.

 

[ctwrd]

I was three days into a six week holiday when the UK decided we would have to quarantined on our return. The island had just started opening up and getting busier when in a week it was very quiet again. The mask mandate came towards the end of my stay but I was glad to go home once it came in. Torres, the guy who I think is in charge of the Canaries seems to be a bit of a maverick, which adds to the confusion.

On the mask front I have a friend who runs a bar there. She posted today that she was so happy to be mask free around the pool. Surprised I queried this and she told me the Canaries refused to enforce mask wearing on the beach or around the pool. Whether that changes again is anybody's guess.

There won’t be mask wearing on beaches and by the pool. They are funnily enough not waterproof and masks in those circumstances is overkill.

 

[Blue Maverick]

This is very true, of the potential barriers we might face to travel this is likely to be a barrier too far for many people, understandably.

I believe some insurance companies will include something that covers you should you test positive before you go, but it's certainly not commonplace yet. I wouldn't be looking to go on a bucket list trip this year!

Some tour operators were offering a free change if the customer tested positive before travel. Jet2 and TUI had this stance late last year, though it remains to be seen if it will still be applicable for this summer.
This is why it's imperative to book anything responsibly through a reputable operator or agency and not through someone like LoveHolidays (don't get me started on them)

I would say to anyone thinking of heading abroad for a holiday this summer....if you're able to you should keep yourself to yourself in the 10 days/fortnight before travel.
I'm not saying locking yourself in your bedroom for 2 weeks, but if you get an offer to go for a few pints a week before you need to get tested then perhaps it's wise to swerve that invitation. Feels a bit shit to say that after everything that has happened but you could catch it anywhere so reducing that unnecessary exposure risk is wise.

Obviously some people, on that basis, will think it's more hassle than it's worth and I wouldn't necessarily disagree with them, but the people looking to go abroad this summer are likely very serious about doing so and thus should treat the 2 week window pre-travel seriously too.

Sadly the days of just being able to jump on a plane, without first jumping through hoops, is long gone for the foreseeable.

Unfortunately kids will be impossible to do this my 8 year old going to school etc could bring it back