Partner desperate to go abroad ...

silvercar

Voyager2002 said:

Some of my friends have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Greece: I am green with envy!

Firstly, note that according to MSE the only insurance that covers Covid-related risks is the Nationwide Flex Plus. This comes with a bank account so opening it would take a little time, so arrange that now.

Secondly, since the situation is so changeable I suggest booking very close to the date of departure.

There are other travel insurers that specialise in policies where the fco has advised against travel. battleface.com is one.

elsien

I think I'd also be concerned about the Jet2 scenarion when you get there and are told you need to accept the flight back in two days time or make your own arrangements.
Holidays are meant to be relaxing and things are too changeable at the moment. I couldn't be doing with trying to sort out how to get home mid holiday if things do go a bit pear-shaped again. 

Butts

elsien said:

I think I'd also be concerned about the Jet2 scenarion when you get there and are told you need to accept the flight back in two days time or make your own arrangements.
Holidays are meant to be relaxing and things are too changeable at the moment. I couldn't be doing with trying to sort out how to get home mid holiday if things do go a bit pear-shaped again. 

Book with British Airways Holidays who have a big enough network to cope with almost any eventuality.
In the event there is an FCO Warning to your destination ring them up like I did, get through in 2 minutes and have a refund put back on your card in days - no quibbles.
If you change your mind with no warning in place, cancel and get a credit for the value of your booking.

rosiesposies

Second the BA holiday suggestion. The 4 holidays I have had to cancel and or move this year have been totally hassle free with them. And you can use credits for pretty much anything and anywhere with them. Yea I wish they were treating their crew a bit better these days, but they aren’t alone in their plight to survive 

Ganga

rosiesposies said:

Second the BA holiday suggestion. The 4 holidays I have had to cancel and or move this year have been totally hassle free with them. And you can use credits for pretty much anything and anywhere with them. Yea I wish they were treating their crew a bit better these days, but they aren’t alone in their plight to survive 

I also agree with the positive feedback about BA holidays ,we were supposed to go to NewYork in March ,money was back in our bank in days.

Nebulous2

smallblueplanet said:

Thrugelmir said:

smallblueplanet said:

 Why is it necessarily riskier to go abroad than stay in the UK? 

Melbourne is an indicator of what awaits in winter and people spend more time indoors together. 

So better to be outside.
I repeat where are the stats that show it's 'riskier' to go on holiday to a low risk area than it is to say stay in Manchester?

It’s very hard to make comparisons. You could stay in your own house in Manchester and limit contact with others, but have to mingle on mass transport, airports, transfers and in hotels, regardless of the area being low risk. 

However there is is a big difference between risk and perceived risk. It’s the perception that messes with people’s heads and changes their behaviour, not the actual risk. Many people are terrified of flying, yet it is much safer than driving. By some measures walking is more dangerous than cycling, yet most people won’t accept that cycling isn’t a high risk activity. Children are less at risk from strangers and abduction than they were in the 70s, yet few people thought of it then, and children generally don’t get out now in case something happens. 

smallblueplanet

Nebulous2 said:

It’s very hard to make comparisons. You could stay in your own house in Manchester and limit contact with others, but have to mingle on mass transport, airports, transfers and in hotels, regardless of the area being low risk. 

This is the point I'm making but also one I'm interested in, as is the OP. How safe is it to go abroad, basically?
We went for a few days to Cornwall in mid-July and tbh you wouldn't have known social distancing existed. If things are similar to as they are now then we'll go somewhere 'low risk' like Cyprus or Greece for a week. A calculated risk. All life is such afterall.

Penelopa.Pitstop

MalMonroe said:

Penelopa.Pitstop said:

I suggest Italy. No special entry requirements, low number of cases, hot weather. I spent 3 weeks in Italy recently and enjoyed it, except the part when I didn't visit some attractions, because I didn't want to wear a mask. But otherwise it was quite pleasant. 
Hotels are cheap due to lower number of tourists.

I'm currently in Switzerland but weather here is a bit moody. Mix of rain and hot weather. Masks only required on public transport.

That's great but you also have to factor in travel from the UK to there and back again. Circumstances in airports and on planes could change at a moment's notice. Still a bit of a gamble.

You can live in fear or get on with your life and enjoy holiday. Italy has one of the lowest infection rates in Europe, so I don't think there's immediate risk on quarantine in UK or flights cancellations. Booking with BA holidays last minute is a good option.

Pollycat

smallblueplanet said:

This is the point I'm making but also one I'm interested in, as is the OP. How safe is it to go abroad, basically?
We went for a few days to Cornwall in mid-July and tbh you wouldn't have known social distancing existed. If things are similar to as they are now then we'll go somewhere 'low risk' like Cyprus or Greece for a week. A calculated risk. All life is such afterall.

Do you consider queuing at check-in, Security, sitting on the plane, passport control, luggage reclaim, coach transfer to resort and the same in reverse at the end of your holiday to be 'low risk'?

Can you calculate that risk when you have no idea who is stood in front of you or behind you or sat next to you?

ad_man

Pollycat said:

smallblueplanet said:

This is the point I'm making but also one I'm interested in, as is the OP. How safe is it to go abroad, basically?
We went for a few days to Cornwall in mid-July and tbh you wouldn't have known social distancing existed. If things are similar to as they are now then we'll go somewhere 'low risk' like Cyprus or Greece for a week. A calculated risk. All life is such afterall.

Do you consider queuing at check-in, Security, sitting on the plane, passport control, luggage reclaim, coach transfer to resort and the same in reverse at the end of your holiday to be 'low risk'?

Can you calculate that risk when you have no idea who is stood in front of you or behind you or sat next to you?

You are assuming, in it has to be said rather a patronising manner, that everyone travels in exactly the same way: I personally only fly with hand luggage (no baggage reclaim) and do not do coach transfers. ‘Queuing at security/check-in’ is no different to queuing to enter a supermarket – spaced accordingly – and ‘sitting on the plane’ that has air filtration systems equipped with HEPA filters is I can assure you lower risk than then entering said supermarket. Or gym, cinema, theatre, pub, bus, train, office, doctor surgery… the list goes on.