Half term trip post Covid – UK

[Clem Fandango]

Dammit. Our plans to go to Jordan for half term are in tatters thanks to our daughter getting (and recovering from) Covid 10 days ago. She’s still testing positive on PCR (but neg on LFT) so Jordan with a PCR on arrival is a no no.

I’m doing our travel insurance claim today and thinking about what we can do instead.

I’m guessing that:

1) Any new trip abroad won’t be covered by our travel insurance since we’re effectively claiming on health grounds (it includes cancellation due to Covid test positive up to 2 weeks before departure).

2) We’re therefore stuck with the good old UK in mid Feb.

We’re based in Cambridge so have good access to Stansted, Luton and Heathrow, or we could just as well drive somewhere.

Any recommendations for a decent hotel with a pool which won’t ruin us financially for 5 days? To put it into perspective, our trip to Jordan for a week was about 2K for all of us.

I have Hilton Gold and Radisson Silver, plus a good pile of MR points which I could transfer to either.

[Rob]

You need to clarify more.

How old is your daughter? (U12, 12-18, 18+)?

Is she fully vaccinated inc booster, double vaccinated (no booster) or unvaccinated? This makes a huge difference if over 12. We assume you and your wife are boosted.

[NorthernLass]

Why would your insurance not cover a new foreign trip? You’re cancelling because your daughter can’t enter Jordan, but if she’s fully vaxxed, like Rob says, you have other options if she is recovered and not infectious. Spain doesn’t have any entry testing requirements for fully vaxxed visitors, and I think Portugal is also dropping the requirement imminently.

[Clem Fandango]

Rob Burgess wrote:

You need to clarify more.

How old is your daughter? (U12, 12-18, 18+)?

Is she fully vaccinated inc booster, double vaccinated (no booster) or unvaccinated? This makes a huge difference if over 12. We assume you and your wife are boosted.

Thanks Rob. She’s 11, so not vaccinated at all unfortunately. Our 12 year old is now double vacc’d, and both adults are boosted.

[Clem Fandango]

NorthernLass wrote:

Why would your insurance not cover a new foreign trip? You’re cancelling because your daughter can’t enter Jordan, but if she’s fully vaxxed, like Rob says, you have other options if she is recovered and not infectious. Spain doesn’t have any entry testing requirements for fully vaxxed visitors, and I think Portugal is also dropping the requirement imminently.

Thanks!

I think we have to claim under the clause of a member of our party being ill which I think would invalidate insurance. But it’s a good point and I’ll double check.

Unfortunately as mentioned to Rob, she’s not vaccinated at all thanks to the UK dragging its heels on vaccination for under 12s.

[The real Swiss Tony]

Have you spoken to the insurer? I’d have thought they would expect you to wait until much closer to departure for the PCR test. Am thinking you’re still 96 hours out, so could wait another three days before doing an express test?

£2k for a week in Jordan mind, that looks like a bargain! Well played. Am doing more than that in 3 days for a family of 5 in Switzerland next week – and that was booking before flight prices went crazy.

[NorthernLass]

My half term in Spain is costing – £40 pp for the flights bought in the easyJet “giveaway” last year. Accommodation – £0 as we get a week free in our timeshare unit in low season each year. Car hire – 154 euros for the week with malagacar, as recommended on this site. Should be able to afford a few dinners out in Marbella and Puerto Banus, lol.

[Clem Fandango]

The real Swiss Tony wrote:

Have you spoken to the insurer? I’d have thought they would expect you to wait until much closer to departure for the PCR test. Am thinking you’re still 96 hours out, so could wait another three days before doing an express test?

£2k for a week in Jordan mind, that looks like a bargain! Well played. Am doing more than that in 3 days for a family of 5 in Switzerland next week – and that was booking before flight prices went crazy.

Yep, spoke to insurer: fortunately they’ll pay out on any positive Covid test within 14 days of travel. Because Jordan wants PCRs both 72h before AND on arrival I reckon the risk of one of us testing positive on arrival and getting quarantined for 14 days is too high.

The risk level for tourists might explain the bargain prices too. £800 for Easyjet flights direct to Aqaba, and 900 JOD for a week at the DoubleTree Aqaba for 2 rooms… Sob 🙁

[NorthernLass]

If you’re resigned to staying in the UK, contact Emyr and see what he can come up with, Edinburgh maybe? Lots to do indoors! The Kimpton Charlotte Square has a nice pool. UK hotel prices are high at the moment, though, presumably due to a lot of people preferring not (or not being able!) to go abroad. Probably cheaper if you could do Mon – Fri than the weekends. Except Monday is also Valentine’s Day so that might affect prices as well.

[NorthernLass]

In fact, if you’re a IHG member (or just fancy staying in one of their hotels), there seem to be some decent offers for next week. Charlotte Square going for £175/30k points per night mid week. Emyr might be able to come up with a similar rate plus all his nice extras.

[Clem Fandango]

NorthernLass wrote:

My half term in Spain is costing – £40 pp for the flights bought in the easyJet “giveaway” last year. Accommodation – £0 as we get a week free in our timeshare unit in low season each year. Car hire – 154 euros for the week with malagacar, as recommended on this site. Should be able to afford a few dinners out in Marbella and Puerto Banus, lol.

Nice!

[Clem Fandango]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I’m looking into a road trip to Scotland which *might* just satisfy my kids’ desire to be in a different country. The prospect of snow is proving enticing…