Would you book...?

[snowwhite]

A family skiing holiday in Italy/France for the end of March 2021?

It's the last year the older child is young enough for the kids club thing, we have more money than usual coming in (lucky us); I think it's a good opportunity.

Only need to pay a deposit just now, and I hope booking a package through a travel agent would give us reasonable protection in case of cancellation etc.

Not keen on the idea of a 6.30 flight from an airport over 3 hours drive away, but that's kind of the way it is with skiing holidays and living where we do.

Feel free to ask about your 'should I book' musings here too

[weeg]

I would never willingly book a skiing holiday. But for you - yes. Check out insurance though.

I want to escape christmas this year. What are my chances of Egypt (probably tourist egypt) or Morocco (maybe fez>)

[snowwhite]

Are you not concerned about UK types being banned from other countries? Or having to self-isolate on return? That's what's making us hesitate a bit... or if one of us gets covid and we all can't go?

Not sure insurance covers covid cancellations (it wouldn't be a big problem for us if we had to self-isolate on return (apart from the whole cabin-fever / getting on each other's nerves thing)) - might be able to postpone until a later date though?

[Liiisa]

Oh, this subject! I so want to put down a deposit for the trip to Panama that is departing a year from today (!), but I have no idea if anyone's going to let Americans into their countries anytime... ever? Plus even if I can go (and if Panama isn't completely toxic which is another problem), if I go by myself, which of course is what I like to do? Poor pero is really alarmed about covid, so would I end up having to self-quarantine and live in my car for 2 weeks when I get back? So yeah I'm not going to leave town EVER again and i'm going to be in here bitching about it.

Anyway, re your question? I dunno, I probably would put a deposit down if it's refundable if conditions change.

[sophie]

I’d probably wait. I, like Liisa, can’t wAit to go somewhere (anywhere??!!) but I would want to make sure the Covid crap is somewhat under control or that there’s a vaccination for it. Until then, I’m not leaving Canada or maybe even my island.

[HalcyonDaze]

If it is refundable and you won't lose anything I'd book it.

[whothingie]

Not sure I'd be keen as there are still huge gaps in our knowledge not only about transmission but you have young children and some evidence seems to indicate that the long term effects may not be great.
I'm old enough, just, to remember what polio did to us here and now it's really caught up with those who thought they were recovered.

[tucano]

Is the deposit refundable if you have to cancel? I might book if so but it's impossible to predict what covid levels will be in Europe 6 months from now.

There is a UK insurer that offers covid cancellation insurance - Simon Calder usually has the most up-to-date info if you Google him.

[wombatrois]

I'm not thinking about an OS trip - it's too depressing. Instead, we are looking at a big loop road trip in our state (which is bigger than Texas & Alaska together). Our state borders (boarders :-D ) are still closed to the rest of Australia, so we can't even think about even Tassie or Melbourne (where it might be even longer to get to).

So, in answer to your question, probably not. But every country is different. Maybe if as others have said your deposit can be refunded (doubtful?) go for it. Or, if you're willing to lose the deposit?

[ozziegiraffe]

I’m not booking anything outside our state till I know I can get there. It is really annoying that we can’t cross the Queensland border around here, where there have been no cases on either side. We are a long way from the cities.

[snowwhite]

For anyone interested, Trailfinders insures against most Covid travel risks, so I paid the deposit and bought the insurance today.

*gulp*

[sprite]

I'm rather impulsive, so I probably would buy insurance and pay the deposit. If you can do it, this might be the last year you're in such a good position. I'd also plan under the assumption that I would need to quarantine on return.

I would probably also book a hotel room near the airport, unless your kids are really good at sleeping in the car.
I would also lie to my children and not tell them anything about the trip until about 5 minutes before we were getting in the car, just in case it was cancelled.

[HalcyonDaze]

My turn for 'would you book'.

It seems most places in Mudgee are not available for the dates we want. And we can't really shuffle them around as we are booked into Mudgee.

So, would you book at a place that is currently for sale, with the risk that our booking may be cancelled before we arrive?

Or would you book the place that looks good but is attached to the owners place and people talk about their great hospitality. Usually not a problem but Covid times etc.

[HalcyonDaze]

Ok, we've cancelled the place that is for sale and have gone for the attached place.

[sprite]

I suspect many 'hospitable' hosts are backing off. We're looking at accomodation and quite a few have included apologies that some of their features are not available.
(annoyingly, the one with my name only has one night of avaialibility.)

[cakemonkey]

Aug 20, 2020 14:14:08 GMT -5 weeg said:

I would never willingly book a skiing holiday. But for you - yes. Check out insurance though.

I want to escape christmas this year. What are my chances of Egypt (probably tourist egypt) or Morocco (maybe fez>)

I’m meant to be going to Morocco at the end of November. They currently have closed their borders so this is looking less and less likely. Part of me is relived, as I will get a full refund if the airline cancel. I think I’d be worried to travel right now.

[leela]

If the deposit wasn't too much, I'd do it.

I absolutely can't accept that we are going to be in the same position in another six months. I just can't let myself think that way.

[ozziegiraffe]

Sept 2, 2020 22:41:19 GMT -5 HalcyonDaze said:

My turn for 'would you book'.

It seems most places in Mudgee are not available for the dates we want. And we can't really shuffle them around as we are booked into Mudgee.

So, would you book at a place that is currently for sale, with the risk that our booking may be cancelled before we arrive?

Or would you book the place that looks good but is attached to the owners place and people talk about their great hospitality. Usually not a problem but Covid times etc.

Just saw this again, and realised I will be in Mudgee 30/9 to 2/10. Also staying in Gulgong and Hill End before and Dubbo after.

[HalcyonDaze]

Ah, we don't head up to Orange til the 4th

[snowwhite]

Sept 19, 2020 9:37:18 GMT -5 leela said:

If the deposit wasn't too much, I'd do it.

I absolutely can't accept that we are going to be in the same position in another six months. I just can't let myself think that way.

It won't be the same... best case scenario is that by March there'll be a vaccine being rolled out gradually. Unfortunately, I could also see everyone being in bad shape at the end of the winter flu/norovirus etc season. Things will have moved on, it's just not predictable what will happen where.

[Liiisa]

In this country I don't think we're going to be back to anything resembling normal until spring 2022, and even that only if Biden wins the election.

[treehugger]

A peak is expected Jan-Feb, I very much doubt things will be back to normal in March. I wouldn't book anything at the moment.

[snowwhite]

Current situation is that it's looking as though UK residents will be banned from visiting the EU from January.

Who knows how long that will last?

You have to hope the Italian ski resorts will be keen to open, but who knows.

[Phar Lap]

With people dropping like flies in Europe, America and the UK, I wouldn’t be booking anything anywhere! 

[mei]

In the Netherlands, the strict advice from this week onwards is not to book any travel abroad until after mid-March.... :-(

(not that I was planning anything but it's definitely a sign that this is long from over)