The ultimate #firstworldproblem.

CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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48,797
Somewhat trepidatious asking this but here goes....

After Wednesday's news that Mexico was going on the red list, our flight to Cancun has been cancelled. Emotionally this is unpleasant as we missed last year, and doubly so this year is our 25th and I'd managed to secure a pretty much ultimate package at a great price.
But there we are, re-booked for next year and crack on.

But. Mrs C and I desperately need a holiday. In my case really rather badly. We've (or I) have got used to using the flight, the time difference and the climate to trigger my switch off. After nearly two years I'm done.

We have time off booked for the first week in October, and we need to unplug and also do a decent celebration (or I'll feel, illogically, that I'm letting her down)

I'm happy driving. I'm happy cooking. Countryside good. Cities good. Happy on trains, happy on planes. Not happy paying what (for example a lot of self catering places seem to be charging) OTT by which I mean a significant portion of a week in top notch luxury in Mexico.

Don't want to jump through any more hoops than necessary because of forms or bureaucracy so (reading the Le Mans thread) I suspect France may be out.

Any ideas, anyone?

C
 
E

Ebenezer

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4,508
Mauritius - You can go and stay in a hotel (but not leave it) and then come straight back
Eb
 
Ewan

Ewan

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6,815
Barcelona is still nice and warm in October. Cheap quick flight, or a leisurely two day drive through France with a stop-over night at midpoint. Lots of hotel choices, so you can make it as cheap or expensive as fits your budget.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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48,797
safrane said:
Is re visiting your honeymoon location out of the question?
Click to expand...

Well that was Yorkshire, so not at all, but the place we stayed has changed a lot. Certainly not impossible just not looking like great value right now.

Ebenezer said:
Mauritius - You can go and stay in a hotel (but not leave it) and then come straight back
Eb
Click to expand...

That might be interesting, ta!

Ewan said:
Barcelona is still nice and warm in October. Cheap quick flight, or a leisurely two day drive through France with a stop-over night at midpoint. Lots of hotel choices, so you can make it as cheap or expensive as fits your budget.
Click to expand...

Hmm, now there is a thought never done Spain. Cheers

C
 
Oneball

Oneball

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11,129
We often go away in this country in October we’ve had some amazing holidays but just looked and none are available. Normally we don’t book till much later so it’s all gone a bit Pete Tong in this country.

Go abroad. I don’t think anywhere in Europe will be an issue come October. In fact looking at that I think I’m going to book a trip to northern Spain on the ferry. Paradores used to do some great deals.
 
S

Simon1963

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819
Catman, we normally go to France and enjoy the “switch off” but have decided not to this year. Looked at cottages etc in UK and as you know their becoming a bit of a rip off. However we tailor made our own little trip driving as follows;
3 nights Lakedistrict
1 night Arrochar (halfway ish between the Lakes and Skye)
3 nights Skye
3 nights Northumberland

All in nice hotels booked on free cancellation basis and of course you can choose how much you spend.

Something different for us and we’re both really looking forward to it. Ok a gamble on the weather but that’s the UK for you.
 
azapa

azapa

Member
Messages
1,300
Chile is a "red" list right now, but few active cases, and 80% double dose vaccinated. Mexico is a worthy red (i have mates there now). Although it's not your original question, I'd say it's quite wise you are not going. Good luck with alternative plans, the lake district is beautiful, the south of Spain was too, but not been there for 35 years!
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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48,797
Thanks, everyone. Really appreciate the input.

The more I think about it the more I realise that at least part of the issue I need to get over is that I want Mrs C's silver to be perfect, and if it's not, I will hold myself to blame. If we were in our preferred place, I know she'd be totally behind my decision to trust them (it would have been our 9th trip). This time it looks like we're going somewhere new, and that's triggering me. sigh

I have no idea how I can get to a place where I'm not going to be worried about it.

Thanks for listening :D

C
 
S

Simon1963

Member
Messages
819
CatmanV2 said:
Thanks, everyone. Really appreciate the input.

The more I think about it the more I realise that at least part of the issue I need to get over is that I want Mrs C's silver to be perfect, and if it's not, I will hold myself to blame. If we were in our preferred place, I know she'd be totally behind my decision to trust them (it would have been our 9th trip). This time it looks like we're going somewhere new, and that's triggering me. sigh

I have no idea how I can get to a place where I'm not going to be worried about it.

Thanks for listening :D

C
Click to expand...
Sometimes doing something different or something that you wouldn’t normally do makes the trip special no matter where it is. We went to the Classic at Silverstone last weekend and camped in the pi55ing rain but in the end had a fabulous time.
 
Scaf

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,588
I think most of us are in a similar position, holidays cancelled, special occasions not celebrated.
Personally we are having a particularly difficult year with issues within the family.
We have decided no holidays abroad until they stop the return testing and the risks of things changing at short notice reduce / go away.
We are relying on short breaks in the U.K. having done: York, Whitstable, Dorset already and have Devon and the Lakes booked.
Not the same as a a big blow out in some exotic location but it’s keeping me off the psychiatrists couch, just ………
And to add pain to injury, it’s more expensive as well.
This year we have to suck it up and keep things simple.
 
MaserMike

MaserMike

Member
Messages
329
CatmanV2 said:
Somewhat trepidatious asking this but here goes....

After Wednesday's news that Mexico was going on the red list, our flight to Cancun has been cancelled. Emotionally this is unpleasant as we missed last year, and doubly so this year is our 25th and I'd managed to secure a pretty much ultimate package at a great price.
But there we are, re-booked for next year and crack on.

But. Mrs C and I desperately need a holiday. In my case really rather badly. We've (or I) have got used to using the flight, the time difference and the climate to trigger my switch off. After nearly two years I'm done.

We have time off booked for the first week in October, and we need to unplug and also do a decent celebration (or I'll feel, illogically, that I'm letting her down)

I'm happy driving. I'm happy cooking. Countryside good. Cities good. Happy on trains, happy on planes. Not happy paying what (for example a lot of self catering places seem to be charging) OTT by which I mean a significant portion of a week in top notch luxury in Mexico.

Don't want to jump through any more hoops than necessary because of forms or bureaucracy so (reading the Le Mans thread) I suspect France may be out.

Any ideas, anyone?

C
Click to expand...

How about the Cotswolds - some great places to eat, visit, relax and pamper? There’s also many great places in Lincolnshire- many hidden gems and beautiful country side+Beaches+driving roads (it’s not flat in the Wolds)... you won’t be paying daft prices either. Really depends what you want to do....
 
Rwc13

Rwc13

Member
Messages
1,668
I can second the Algarve. September and October are wonderful months after most of the tourists have left and the heat of July and August has subsided. What dates in October are you looking at?
 
philw696

philw696

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Messages
25,489
Chris can't believe you haven't been to Spain ??
Northern Spain or exceptionally beautiful with Great food and hotels.
One of the best trips ever that we did in the Boxster in 2019.
Still can't beat France though :)
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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Messages
48,797
Rwc13 said:
I can second the Algarve. September and October are wonderful months after most of the tourists have left and the heat of July and August has subsided. What dates in October are you looking at?
Click to expand...

Theoretically first week, but it matters rather less now!
philw696 said:
Chris can't believe you haven't been to Spain ??
Northern Spain or exceptionally beautiful with Great food and hotels.
One of the best trips ever that we did in the Boxster in 2019.
Still can't beat France though :)
Click to expand...

It's on the list, I promise :D

C
 
mjheathcote

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,038
Everywhere abroad we have cancelled/moved to next year.
Even a family visit to France in two weeks, although with the recent change my sister in law has immediately booked flights to come here instead.
A holiday is meant to be stress free, and with all the covid tests and possibility of a sudden change in rules that isn't a holiday.
We have just enjoyed 5 days in North Wales, fortunately all except the last day the weather was great. That's all you want really, nice weather.
 
Wack61

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,797
Our honeymoon was in Cyprus ,rented a car for 4 days , saw much of the island including Nicosia , loved it , something quite strange about sitting on a beach looking at snow on the mountains

I rented a DT175 for a day , roads were great , only advice given was watch out for the Germans who've never driven on the left before so they forget
 
Felonious Crud

Felonious Crud

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Staff member
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21,187
CatmanV2 said:
Don't want to jump through any more hoops than necessary because of forms or bureaucracy so (reading the Le Mans thread) I suspect France may be out.
Click to expand...
Don’t be put off France. Once you figure out the rules it’s pretty simple. In fact, getting into France is easier than getting back into the UK. And even that’s simple if you take a test and fill in a form.

The ferry to Spain idea has much to commend it. Though we’ve never done it, it’s on the list. San Sebastian, over the Pyrenees, up the Atlantic coast. Bordeaux, La Rochelle. That kind of thing.
 
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