Travel 2020

[Calabria]

Planes have HEPA filters on and the air is completely changed for outside air every 2-3 minutes. The likelihood of catching something on a plane is from touching surfaces, the in-flight entertainment, or the window, or arm rest etc. If you do fly, take wipes to disinfect!

Lots of measures in place to keep people safe onboard and in airports.

 

[Bobbleowl90]

Just got back from a holiday. Loved it. Felt normal again and didn’t read the news all week. Also got married (finally!). Back to England today and bigger holiday blues than usual. Planning to go to France next month but holding out on flights just yet.

 

[JD-Morgan]

I get we all want/need a holiday right now, but unless you have family abroad I don’t think anyone should be going anywhere.

I was due to go to Spain tomorrow for my 30th but I’m glad it’s been cancelled. I don’t think it would have been worth it as I’m high risk.

I don’t judge anyone who is going or has been abroad, just don’t think it’s a necessity unless your partner is abroad and you haven’t seen them for a long time or have other family you need to see.

The only way the virus is going to stop is for people to stop travelling around the world.

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

If I could avoid getting on airplane I would 100% be going abroad. It’s the confined space of being on aircraft. You just need one twat to infect all.
Being in other countries don’t actually bother me.

 

[Hello Kitty]

I personally won't this year but I won't judge anyone that is going away this year, as long as they quarantine when they get home.

I know 1 person that has returned from Spain and didn't quarantine. I also know someone that is coming back from France soon and is doing the same. It pisses me off so much

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

Hey, did you travel? Or was your boyfriend able to come back home?

I made the trip over to Germany and was due to fly back 7th December but the flight's been cancelled. I was maybe naive thinking that wouldn't happen, though there are other flights, but would rather fly direct. The next direct flight is 18th December which would mean not really getting Christmas with family as I'd be isolating. So we may end up staying here over the holidays. Feeling quite trapped now. I wish I'd never flown out here x

My boyfriend is currently at Dubai airport waiting to board his plane! Never been so excited in my life.

 

[Ohflogoff]

I have no plans to travel anywhere in the not so distant future. The thought of having to manage kids at an airport/face masks/possible quarantine in hotel rooms (like in Tenerife). Nah, not for me.

If I was single, hell to the yeah. You’d not see my arse for dust. I’d be outta here.

 

[cholulamare]

This isn’t for anyone to attack anyone else, just out of interest and advice mostly. And for anyone to share any information they know.

Is anyone travelling abroad at any point of what is left in 2020?
I’m considering going to Dubai to see my boyfriend for the first time in 6 months as it’s just not realistic for him to come here. I’m more than happy to quarantine when I return.

I would absolutely love to go somewhere in Europe this year but v much doubt I will be for these reasons:
1. Don't like the idea of being on a plane. Confined space, recycled air, no guarantee of distancing (friends have flown on full planes where distancing not possible).
2. I think it's selfish. We have to take some personal responsibility, and shouldn't be travelling from a country with as many cases as we have to anywhere else unnecessarily. Holidays abroad aren't essential and can wait.
3. The right thing to do would be quarantine for 14 days on return, and I don't have the flexibility to do that with work.
4. Lockdown and quarantine restrictions can change at super short notice, and most travel insurance won't cover money lost on flights and accommodation if you can't go.

HOWEVER. You haven't seen your boyfriend for six months. If you're comfortable being on a plane, you're able to quarantine when you return, you quarantine for a few days when you get there and you're careful about minimising contact with other people when you're over there, and you're prepared to lose money if the worst happens - go for it. Just make sure you check advice for Dubai specifically and keep an eye on the R rate both over there and in your local area.

If things change drastically between now and the end of October, I'd love to get to Greece, but I don't thing it will happen. The rise in cases over there over the last few weeks is all down to foreign tourism and is really shitty - they were so on top of it before letting in all the Brits and Americans!

 

[Ups27]

I went to Italy for a few days last month because we needed a break and some normality. I’m still working from home and so is my partner so we knew If needed we could quarantine when home. We booked really last minute which I’m glad we did as they day before we booked the France quarantine rules came into play

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

I’m so torn because obviously this has put a decent amount of strain on our relationship. He risks losing his job if anything goes wrong whilst he’s here. Whereas my only risk is getting stuck there, which I don’t relish as Dubai is such a complicated country.

I’m not too concerned about the travel, again my concern is when I arrive facing problems at the airport. If it wasn’t for him being there I defo wouldn’t be bothering to travel as it seems like such a hassle.

That sounds nice, I think you should definitely go for it
I don't think we'll travel this year, I've had two big holidays cancelled this year (they both fell into the first half of this year) and still struggling to get the money back from them. No plans for travel abroad but perhaps elsewhere in the country. I don't blame people for going abroad though, might as well if you can and it's safe.

Thank you I think I will.
I guess I need to find out what Emirates cancellation policy is. Before I end up in the same position.

Yeah I fully appreciate that, if I had someone else to think about I wouldn’t risk it. I guess if I get stranded im pretty safe with my boyfriend.

I'd like to go to Germany if I can. My other half is over there for work and I was meant to go over at Easter for a few weeks but of course couldn't... I'd love to go when I hand in my dissertation next month, I could stay out there for a couple of months potentially, and would quarantine no problem on either side.

Still feel nervous about actually arranging and doing it though, but I do really want to... I also haven't seen him in six months!

It’s bloody hard isn’t it. I thankfully was in Dubai just before lockdown. But it has felt like an eternity and so much uncertainty. I just want to see him

 

[Scorpihoe]

@OutrageouslyScarlet Hey! I just got back from Dubai on Saturday. My boyfriend is there too! Im so happy for you that your boyfriend is over here!

With regards to the flight and going abroad to. Dubai, it was super easy. There was an option on the Gov website, to either get tested before you fly, or to get tested at DXB when you land. I decided to be safe and got tested before i went, which was negative. The actual flying was good, the cabin crew were very well prepared in PPE. However, there was no social distancing on the flight. Every seat was taken.

When i got to the airport, they said my negative PCR result wouldn't suffice (even when i showed them the NHS email), and i had to redo a test in the airport. I didnt mind this, but the queue took about an hour and a half. It came back negative the next day!

On the flight home, i didn't have to take a test before i flew, or when i arrived. Emirates were great, they gave everyone a travel hygiene kit with masks, gloves, hand sanitiser etc. (attached pic). They do however, make it very very clear that you have to fill in a "passenger locator form" before you travel, which i did. And now im just quarantining for 2 weeks! 100% worth it to see my boyfriend

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

Hey, did you travel? Or was your boyfriend able to come back home?

I made the trip over to Germany and was due to fly back 7th December but the flight's been cancelled. I was maybe naive thinking that wouldn't happen, though there are other flights, but would rather fly direct. The next direct flight is 18th December which would mean not really getting Christmas with family as I'd be isolating. So we may end up staying here over the holidays. Feeling quite trapped now. I wish I'd never flown out here x

Sadly I didn’t the main issue was I made a covid test appointment but it was during the time they were having glitches so turned up to 3 tests only to have had them lose my appointment so they wouldn’t do the test. I couldn’t book my tickets till I’d had the test and Dubai only accept government tests so couldn’t even go private. So sadly that was that. I think I’m fairly used to missing him now.
Sorry you are in that trapped feeling. I defo understand when you are away from family. Make the most of each other and hopefully it’s just the one Christmas we’ll all be missing people

 

[clueless]

This isn’t for anyone to attack anyone else, just out of interest and advice mostly. And for anyone to share any information they know.

Is anyone travelling abroad at any point of what is left in 2020?
I’m considering going to Dubai to see my boyfriend for the first time in 6 months as it’s just not realistic for him to come here. I’m more than happy to quarantine when I return.

I'd like to go to Germany if I can. My other half is over there for work and I was meant to go over at Easter for a few weeks but of course couldn't... I'd love to go when I hand in my dissertation next month, I could stay out there for a couple of months potentially, and would quarantine no problem on either side.

Still feel nervous about actually arranging and doing it though, but I do really want to... I also haven't seen him in six months!

 

[Mulholland Drive]

I'm due to fly out to Johannesburg on Friday, on the proviso that my PCR test tomorrow (Wednesday) proves negative.

I went into a bit of a tailspin when it was announced that London and most of the SE would be moved from T2 to T3, as I feared it might affect my ability to either enter a T3 from a T2, and flying out from a T3 would be banned for anything other than business travel.

But it would seem I can still travel into a T3 area just so long as I don't hang about. And that I can still fly out as planned on Friday night via Virgin Atlantic.

I still fret that Boris might introduce some other bloody regulation that could ruin all that, but at the moment I am relatively calm

 

[chocolate choux]

At the start of the year I was planning to visit some friends abroad. Unfortunately I doubt I will because even if it is allowed and considered somewhat safe, I’m terrified of a lockdown happening or otherwise being unable to get back home. I have a friend who was abroad when the situation started to get serious here and they had a lot of trouble trying to get home - many others had the same experience. Maybe I’d consider it if I was alone but I wouldn’t want to be in that situation with my child

 

[Curlywurly85]

Personally I don’t want to fly anywhere anytime soon but I don’t judge anyone who is - I totally understand anyone wanting to get away. I think we will look to do some inter-railing around Europe next year if things haven’t improved. Everyone should just do whatever is comfortable for them.

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

This isn’t for anyone to attack anyone else, just out of interest and advice mostly. And for anyone to share any information they know.

Is anyone travelling abroad at any point of what is left in 2020?
I’m considering going to Dubai to see my boyfriend for the first time in 6 months as it’s just not realistic for him to come here. I’m more than happy to quarantine when I return.

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

I would absolutely love to go somewhere in Europe this year but v much doubt I will be for these reasons:
1. Don't like the idea of being on a plane. Confined space, recycled air, no guarantee of distancing (friends have flown on full planes where distancing not possible).
2. I think it's selfish. We have to take some personal responsibility, and shouldn't be travelling from a country with as many cases as we have to anywhere else unnecessarily. Holidays abroad aren't essential and can wait.
3. The right thing to do would be quarantine for 14 days on return, and I don't have the flexibility to do that with work.
4. Lockdown and quarantine restrictions can change at super short notice, and most travel insurance won't cover money lost on flights and accommodation if you can't go.

HOWEVER. You haven't seen your boyfriend for six months. If you're comfortable being on a plane, you're able to quarantine when you return, you quarantine for a few days when you get there and you're careful about minimising contact with other people when you're over there, and you're prepared to lose money if the worst happens - go for it. Just make sure you check advice for Dubai specifically and keep an eye on the R rate both over there and in your local area.

If things change drastically between now and the end of October, I'd love to get to Greece, but I don't thing it will happen. The rise in cases over there over the last few weeks is all down to foreign tourism and is really shitty - they were so on top of it before letting in all the Brits and Americans!

Yeah luckily I’m in a position where I can quarantine, I would never not as that would be the wrong thing to do. I live in a village and we haven’t had any cases. The county has had very few.
It’s a very hard situation. At the moment I think I will book flights (the flights won’t be super cheap but they will be all I lost if I couldn’t go) and see how the situation continues.
Dubai is super strict so I feel I’d be quite safe and if anything gets worse my flight would 100% be cancelled.

I go to a Greek island every year I miss Greece so much

 

[clueless]

Hi @OutrageouslyScarlet, have you decided what you're doing? I'm in a position now where I can make actual plans to travel soon but I'm getting so nervous about it now, mainly because of not knowing how things will pan out and maybe being stuck over there for a potential unknown amount of time. It's been 7 months now so I really do want to go over and see him, I should feel excited but I feel anxious.

We have an apartment over there, so won't be stuck for somewhere to live, but the two of us holed up in a small studio apartment for how long, probably wouldn't be great after a while... and I also don't want to end up being away from my family for ages either. It's just me and mum in the house atm, my dad has had to moved in with his sister who has dementia, so we're all helping out there and I don't want to end up being away for ages (although mum and dad totally understand!). I'm probably getting ahead of myself but keep worrying what if there's another lockdown, what if I don't get back for Christmas? etc... all the 'what ifs'... ugh it's all such a nuisance isn't it

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

Hi @OutrageouslyScarlet, have you decided what you're doing? I'm in a position now where I can make actual plans to travel soon but I'm getting so nervous about it now, mainly because of not knowing how things will pan out and maybe being stuck over there for a potential unknown amount of time. It's been 7 months now so I really do want to go over and see him, I should feel excited but I feel anxious.

We have an apartment over there, so won't be stuck for somewhere to live, but the two of us holed up in a small studio apartment for how long, probably wouldn't be great after a while... and I also don't want to end up being away from my family for ages either. It's just me and mum in the house atm, my dad has had to moved in with his sister who has dementia, so we're all helping out there and I don't want to end up being away for ages (although mum and dad totally understand!). I'm probably getting ahead of myself but keep worrying what if there's another lockdown, what if I don't get back for Christmas? etc... all the 'what ifs'... ugh it's all such a nuisance isn't it

Hey, it’s a bloody mess isn’t it, he was supposed to come here next week.. so I was super pleased I wouldn’t have to face airports etc. His job is now very much at risk so a trip over here seems unlikely.. which leaves me at a loss of what to do. We only found out today. So I shall see.
And yeah I hear your concerns it’s just my mum and I at my house and my 92 year old grandmother round the corner who I help out with.
Let me know how you get on x