Bobbi they are important to me too, I have a lot of family overseas whom I miss terribly and have not seen in ages. We have all had a wasted year, mine has been terrible and I would love to get away. Doesn't change my opinion though.
Mine either, I can see the reasoning behind the ban but like Prudie , I’ve spent a year to the day actually ( 23rd) being called selfish for even thinking about having a holiday
Also, many people will have booked before the pandemic even started, or booked last summer for this summer - if their flight is still going ahead, and their accommodation is still open, but they're legally not allowed to go, where does that leave them?
Insurance won't cover it, cancellation due to Covid is now a standard exclusion.
I'm amused that the term "staycation" now seems to mean "holiday in your own country", which it never used to mean.
I'll not be giving my money to local holiday outlets and resorts which couldn't get rid of visitors fast enough a few months ago.
About time!
People are selfish for wanting a foreign holiday in a global pandemic. This is nothing personal to anyone, but people should get things into perspective for goodness's sake. Everyone has made some sort of sacrifice this last year: some have lost jobs, businesses, loved ones, children and young people lost a year of their education.
If the Government had had the fortitude to ban unnecessary International travel 12 months ago thousands of people may not have lost their lives. 'I need to do this' and 'I deserve this' is inconsiderate and self-centred. Two weeks seeping in Sun & Sangria might make you feel better as an individual, but everyone needs to think about the big picture and work towards getting on top of the virus.
There's plenty of lovely places in the UK for people that wish to holiday in the UK (although the profiteering due to demand from some of the stories I've read is bordering on immoral), but as an idiot and a selfish person who prefers to holiday abroad, the UK cannot offer me pretty much guaranteed weather, lounging by a pool at a villa overlooking the Med, and then wandering down to a local restaurant or taverna and watching the world go by for a couple of hours.
Anyone who actively wanted/planned to go anywhere in Europe this summer must need their head examined. I for one have seriously missed my holidays in France and Spain for the last 12 months but there's no way I'd dream of going at the moment - who needs sun and sangria when you have to wear a mask in the street all the time, where there's a night-time curfew etc amongst many restrictions?
We are slowly coming out of lockdown imposed after NY. There were a lot of residents and non residents who flew in for the holidays, did not isolate and went to parties. We depend on tourists here but nobody wants an influx of people who don't or won't follow the rules.