What are people with (school aged) children doing about holidays this year?

maman

I think you're being very responsible OP. If you hang on a little longer, I wouldn't be surprised if you might be able to tak a friend along to a hotel or self catering break somewhere before the start of next term.

Just to widen the discussion a little. Normally at this time of the year we have threads where parents justify taking their children out of school to have cheaper holidays. It's generally a bigger saving to take the hit of a fine. This year, school isn't compulsory, many children can't go to school and many others are keeping their children home for health reasons or because they don't currently need the childcare. Do you think that venues will be charging normal term time prices or putting them up to try to recoup losses? Will parents who can be taking their children on term time holidays in the next couple of weeks? Bearing in mind that children have missed so much schooling this year, do you think term time holidays will be justifiable next year? 

JGB1955

Term time holidays WON'T be justifiable next year.. so much time to catch up socially - those children who aren't currently in school are going to take a long time to settle back down to the new 'normal'.  Who would want to go abroad at the moment?  Swimming pools will be shut.  Need to book a restaurant in advance. No Kids Clubs.  Spend a total of 4 hours on a plane (and 2 hours before check-in, with a mask). No thanks!

Savvy_Sue

If you're really keen on a beach, look for a naturist one. https://www.bn.org.uk/activities/placestogo/

No, it won't be seedy. 

jackomdj

We are hopefully still going on our (already booked) holiday in mid August, if France is open without travel restrictions.  However we are using the tunnel, so in our car, then staying at a villa.  So we will have no more contact with people than we currently do at home.  We have agreed with the owner to delay our final payment until a couple of weeks before so we know if it will be doable.

maman

It occurred to me that, although not very mse, then OP could stay in a hotel and take a friend for her DD. They'd need separate rooms but using the restaurant and spending time outdoors could be within current guidelines. That's in this country IIRC. In another country, do we know the 'rules' for separate families meeting up?🤔☹️

Spendless

Thanks for the replies. I do feel that swimming pools and spas currently shut. Having to book in advance for a zoo or similar in advance to ensure we can get in and then risk the weather's going to be ok to actually go isn't an expeience I'd enjoy. Same with eating out. My Mum suggested there might be a limited menu, which is something I'd not considered. DD is vegetarian (and can be faddy!) so a diffferent dining experience. I know I mentioned beaches, but that is just a part of a hol. Daughter's not a huge fan of sand, though she likes the sea.
Husband has suggested using the tunnel to holiday in France, though I'm unsure on what current restrictions are there. As daughter's 2 closest friends are unlikely to have pasports, taking one along wouldn't be possible.
Iteresting idea re hotels, would it work in this country with big enough self  catering accommodation eg a 3 bed lodge or similar?
I'm losing trak of what current legislation is. Would friend even be able to travel in the same car as us to destiantion?

Spendless

maman said:

I think you're being very responsible OP. If you hang on a little longer, I wouldn't be surprised if you might be able to tak a friend along to a hotel or self catering break somewhere before the start of next term.

Just to widen the discussion a little. Normally at this time of the year we have threads where parents justify taking their children out of school to have cheaper holidays. It's generally a bigger saving to take the hit of a fine. This year, school isn't compulsory, many children can't go to school and many others are keeping their children home for health reasons or because they don't currently need the childcare. Do you think that venues will be charging normal term time prices or putting them up to try to recoup losses? Will parents who can be taking their children on term time holidays in the next couple of weeks? Bearing in mind that children have missed so much schooling this year, do you think term time holidays will be justifiable next year? 

I fully expect places to hike their prices. They've lost income over the last few months and the holiday sector has been particularly badly hit. It was amongst my reasons to want to go away earlier as DD's course finishes 2 weeks before the schools officially close for summer. I am remarkably grateful my daughter's college has delivered the lessons via Zoom, of her friends still attending schools, only those who go to private schools have had this.

maman

It is thoroughly confusing. I think you're probably right that travelling in the same car wouldn't be within the rules but taking a taxi would. So it would seem it's OK to travel with a random stranger but not with trusted friends. ☹️ The guidance is so confused and illogical. ☹️

sheramber

Many taxis now  have fitted screens behind the driver.
At present only two households should meet indoors, including staying overnight ,  but still maintaining social distancing.
Is it really a holiday  with the restrictions still in place. No browsing round shops in a group as there may be a limit of two people together. Queueing to get into places, wearing a mask and maintaining  2 metres  distance. Sanitising/washing hands.  
Of course , if a holiday is so important , you could ignore that and risk getting infected as many are doing already. 

Spendless

sheramber said:

Many taxis now  have fitted screens behind the driver.
At present only two households should meet indoors, including staying overnight ,  but still maintaining social distancing.
Is it really a holiday  with the restrictions still in place. No browsing round shops in a group as there may be a limit of two people together. Queueing to get into places, wearing a mask and maintaining  2 metres  distance. Sanitising/washing hands.  
Of course , if a holiday is so important , you could ignore that and risk getting infected as many are doing already. 

This pretty much sums up my dilemma. To answer 'is a holiday that important to you?' then in a way, yes. I lost my job within the first week of lockdown when the project I was working on was 'paused' . so I would dearly love a change of scenery, having been out of work since March. I wasn't offerred furlough and was gutted to lose the job that I'd only had for a few months having spent most of 2019 not working, the reason why leads me to the next bit.
Daughter had an horrendous last 12-18 months in her final year/s at school, ending up under Camhs due to suicidal ideation caused by school issues (widespread verbal/psycholgical bullying). 12 months on from her final GCSE and she's a changed girl. She loves her college course (I sent her 40 miles out of area, partly due to the high calibre of the course , partly so she made a fresh start). Her mental health is much improved.
I lost my job at the end of 2018 (workplace closed down) and with daughter in the state she was, I was in no fit state to concentrate and too worried about daughter's MH, which is why i didn't job seek for most of last year. The caravan UK weekend we took last summer was all we could afford at that time. So, I was very much looking forward to this years hol and felt it gave us a perfect balance of DD spending time with like minded people of a similar age, having a bit of time with us and me and DH getting a few days together too, but that is not to be.
However queueing as you describe, having a 'bored' teen, not being able to get into places, risking rubbish weather, the restrictions meaning she couldn't take a friend, doesn't appeal to me at all as a holiday experience. .