Hey chums!
We have a family holiday booked for the middle of next month to Croatia. Me, my wife and two kids (13 & 3). Its via Airbnb and we were hoping for it to fall into their 'no questions asked' Covid cancellations. This was updated yesterday and its changed from full refund, to a full refund if you can prove you cant travel.
We cant prove that we cant travel, as apart from our own concerns about CV19, we have no other reasons. We would just prefer not to go, what with the ever changing risks, spikes, etc. But equally, we aren't willing to lose nearly £2000 by just staying at home. Our own worst enemies.... quite possibly!
Then on the flip side, there was a recent piece in the press saying that if you are going to travel abroad this summer, Croatia is the place to go. And we have checked the tourist board and everything has been open and functioning since May, so I assume they have most aspects of Covid licked?! Plus potentially if others have been scared of going, we could reap the benefits of less tourists being there etc.
So we are basically torn between trying to fight for a refund, or suck it up, throw caution to the wind and go and enjoy.
I am interested to see what others would do, or if you are in a similar situation?!
thanks in advance!
Currently hoping to go to France in September.
Risks wise the main thing to consider is new lockdowns, I'd imagine Croatia is at a low risk of this. So the UK borders are the biggest risk.
Until December you are still entitled to free healthcare (I think, certainly in France this should be the case).
Croatia is lovely too!
Hoping to go to Ireland next month for two weeks but this may not be possible.
I'd be going to Croatia if I were in your shoes. I'm off to Gran Canaria on Sunday with the wife, sprog and bird of sprog. Don't want to write off nearly £2.5K so even if I wasn't happy about it, I'd still be going.
Agree, about now is prob the most aware people are, lowest 'carrier' numbers and least likely for some sort of blockade. Get some sun while you can. Masks, usual precautions, relax.
so I assume they have most aspects of Covid licked?!
...Australia thought that too!
Fortunately we don't have anything booked and won't be booking anything (outside the UK) till next spring at the earliest.
I think with the way everything is it's the sort of thing you can only take a decision on a few days before departure.
The wife and I are going to Split in Croatia this saturday. Can't wait!
I live out here, albeit inland near Zagreb.
I wouldn't worry at all. Although we have cases here it is very well managed with mild restrictions/measures on the whole being very well adhered to.... This is ex Yugoslavia, people are still used to doing as they are told. Add to that fines for businesses that do not comply and you have a safe environment in which to enjoy your holiday. Bring masks though, you'll need them in shops etc.
The coast is relatively quiet still, down 55% on normal so easy to find space and distance yourselves.
There won't be any further, harder restrictions.... Croatia simply cannot afford to lose anymore tourist trade so the borders will remain open to 'stranac'
The weather is good, the sea is warm.... Just come enjoy your holiday.
I would go and enjoy it. Currently preparing a rental in Spain for guests tomorrow and I 've copied the centre Parcs model, removing all non essential stuff, blitzed everything with bleach, plates cutlery in dishwasher. All agreed with guests who are happy so so am I.
As above, probably safer than it's ever been. My mate flew the other day and Ryanair was 30% occupancy and airports deserted.
Enjoy your holiday.
amazing stuff, I appreciate the replies, looks like I should stop worrying and start enjoying.
Good to hear from someone on the cusp of going and someone who lives there.
Thanks again!
Take care and enjoy yourselves
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cheese@4p
SubscriberThe wife and I are going to Split in Croatia this saturday. Can’t wait!
Sorry to hear that
The wife and I are going to Split in Croatia this saturday. Can’t wait!
Sorry to hear that
Well played sir!
Doesn't seem bad at all according to this
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/croatia/
The graphs might look a bit scary at first, until you read the scale down the side
just a quick update on this for anyone who might care...
we went to Split in Croatia, had a wonderful time and returned yesterday. We are now quarantining for 14 days. Being out there and being told you have 30 hours to get home added an element of stress, but I knew we could live without me working if need be. We did look into flights home, but to get a family of 4 home before the cut off would have cost 1400 euros and we would return to Heathrow, not gatwich that we flew from.
We made sure we filled in our 'return to he uk' forms before we flew (as per the governments guidelines of filling it in 48 hours before flying). They were a little laborious to complete, but we are glad we did, as you werent allowed to even queue for passport control without showing it was done. This left around 60 people frantically typing on their phones to try and get it done (typical brits not following the rules).
Once at passport control, we all had to show our completed form (via our phones) alongside our passports.
Other than that, it was business as usual. So we collected out bags, picked up the car and headed home.
Thankfully I can work from home, so no loss of earnings, which takes the edge off. And I have a zwift setup in my garage, so I can still ride (of sorts!).
We are glad we went, as Croatia had some lovely spots, but you have to weigh up the potential loss of earnings vs the loss of the cost of your holiday.
Just shows how useless and rudderless the UK has become. Here in Germany all the airports have set up test centres where all travellers from high risk areas are tested FOC and getting their results by email one day later. They even have test centres set up on the main border crossings from the neighbouring countries where (ATM) you can have an optional test and next are planning to Implement test centres in al the main train and bus stations.
It does seem crazy that we has such limited options when returning to the country. And that the government doesn't really publish much on what makes a country become 'unsafe'. I know there is the number per 100k, but from what I have read there other factors taken into consideration.
The most frustrating thing is the government telling us to crack on, spend money, get tourism going again, keep the airlines in business... then when you do, they kick you in the nuts at a drop of a hat.
But hey ho... it is what it is. Thankfully home life is good, so it should be a fairly stress free 2 weeks!