mike strand2 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 31, 2020 12:04 pm
Your search was obviously more thorough than mine. I wasn't looking for package holidays, just flights without too many restrictions. Surely the best answer is to stay in your home country for a change and plan something special for next year.
It's package holidays which are most badly affected. So many people have money held up with cancellations left right and centre trying to get it back or juggling dates and keep pushing them back or switching destinations. Not only that, hotels aren't opening because flights aren't operating fully and tour operators don't get to know until the last minute, which leads to more cancellations.
We don't want to stay in our own country for holidays either, we prefer to go overseas and discover new places. There's no relying on the weather to last more than a couple of days at a time. We've always travelled regularly, and still did so when we lived in Cyprus.
We've been lucky, we only have our deposit tied up now with easyJet and can book up to the end of July next year. However, we already have special plans for next year - a visit to see family and a grandchild halfway across the world. This has to take precedence if it's still going to be possible to travel so we can't just juggle dates to next year.
Also, my mum is 80 in a few weeks time so we wanted to plan something but this is also proving difficult.
So, looks like a last minute coach holiday and if we can squeeze an overseas trip in before the end of the year, we will do.
For us, it's a holiday but those trying to book flight only to go to holiday homes, visit family etc or trying to get to Cyprus, well that's something else. Impossible to tie up the negative PCR test and fill in the necessary online form within 72 hours before flight departure and there doesn't seem to be any leeway to getting refunds either.
As long as destinations keep closing, there's going to be a market for those which are opening. It's a lottery which will be next. Cyprus will open eventually. I just hope the hotels are prepared for the bookings and don't leave it all until the last minute like some of the other countries have done. The tourists are getting very restless with the constant changes, even more so now school holidays have arrived. Lots of disappointed families.