>> PeterS,
>> Did you have a plan B as the SA trip presumably never materialised ? My
>> 10 day isolation over Christmas was ok. Kind neighbours dropped off left over turkey and
>> ham, and another neighbour left emergency supplies of Schweppes on my doorstep.
>>
>> I’m not feeling particularly confident that my Jet2 flight on 11/02 will go ahead. Or
>> that Spain will allow me entry by then.
>>
You’re right...I cancelled the SA trip on the morning of departure (Tuesday 22nd) as it all started kicking off on the Monday. I had a contingency route back via Doha with Qatar booked anyway, but things were changing so rapidly I didn’t think it’d be an enjoyable holiday if I’d gone. Fair play to BA, who refunded the flight (taxes and surcharges really, as it was booked with avios) same day, and issued a full voucher for the hotel and transfer I’d booked. If I’d been in tier 4 at the time they’d have given me a full cash refund, but I wasn’t and I’m happy enough with a voucher...it’ll be used. Avis car cancelled with no penalty, as was purple parking at Hatton Cross. Even the top-up battleface travel insurance (which added cover for travelling against FCO advice to the COVID cover provided by my annual policy) was refunded in full before Christmas.
I ended up staying at home, and had a couple of friends round for a late lunch and a few drinks ;)
Started the day with a lovely walk on Climping Beach...clear blue sky, low tide, no wind, calm as a millpond. I’d had a delivery of non perishables on the Monday anyway, and the shops in Chichester were well stocked and uncrowded so it was no trouble getting everything I wanted. New Year was spent in Berkshire with my brothers family...so all in all not bad. I’ve rebooked SA for June and, very speculatively, Malta for April. Let’s see what happens! I agree that Spain for leisure travel might not be happening anytime soon, regardless of the non-EU situation. That I think has been blown out of proportion...in normal times it’s easy enough to get into pretty much any country you’d want to go to with very little advance planning...and it’s easy enough for most nationalities to get into the EU as a tourist...often easier (and cheaper) than getting into the U.K.
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