cathies

We’ve had one of each. We cancelled a trip to Tasmania in January when we had the northern beaches lockdown and Tasmania went right off everyone from all of Sydney.

We had a fantastic 10 days on the Sunshine Coast in March when the borders miraculously opened just in time.

For both trips we booked ‘fare credit’ and if needed. could basically cancel right up to the time the boarding gate closed.

Bokhara2

I’m in the “ nothing ventured, nothing gained” travel camp. The airlines, QF & Virgin, have been offering fee free changes for about a year now - and I’ve had to cancel 4 trips to Melbourne and 2 to Sydney so far. I did manage a week in Sydney in February, though. And last month, I did a fortnight’s road trip from the Gold Coast through SE Qld, North West NSW, the Hunter Valley & back.

I do feel for everyone whose plans are dashed, and most especially those whose livelihoods are on the line. Also hose whose weddings, farewells & other significant events can’t happen as planned.

For me, it has mostly been interstate leisure travel. And one friend’s funeral, a family wedding and a family christening. I’m missing a family funeral this week. Live-streaming isn’t the same as being there, but has been a good alternative.

I was able to transfer a medical appointment in Sydney to a Tele-consult, which worked just as well, if not better, for us both.

Margo - MAMILS … Middle Aged Males In Lycra.

The Morocco-Paris …l trip was cancelled so long ago, I’d almost forgotten about it!

Greenhorn

'Well, Greenhorn, you got your wish. All locked down.'

As we are all fast learning, the delta variant appears to be a whole new beast - but I have faith we will again vanquish these latest outbreaks.

Cathies - happy to hear you have had a successful holiday - we have not dared book a holiday far from home in recent times as my daughter is in her final year of school - stressful enough without covid.

cathies

greenhorn I don’t envy you having to deal with the last year of high school plus covid.

Our daughter is now in her mid 30’s but I clearly remember that we were surrounded by bush fires the year that she was in her last year of high school! It was very stressful.

kleeblatt

It seems Australia has been combatting the virus through stringent lockdowns and quarantines. That's fine for short term but it seems vaccinations are the best solution for a long-term strategy. Is there a push to get citizens vaccinated in your countries?

cathies

Sadly here in Australia our Prime Minister is a massive idiot who doesn’t seem to understand that vaccination is the key and preferably sooner rather than later.

eliztravels2

It is so distressing watching from afar--Canada--as projections about reopening extend ever farther into the future. The last time we saw our daughter, SIL and 2 grandkids was January 2019. We were 3 weeks away from a return trip to WA when covid hit. Our vaccine program here is going exceedingly well, close to 3/4 of the eligible population with at least one shot and a world leader in this regard, but the sense of relief and celebration is tempered with sadness as we have no idea when we will see those we miss most.

dreamon

100% agree with you, cathies! Last I read, Australia is ranked 124th for percentage of the population vaccinated, despite our relatively high level of medical care. We've done extraordinarily well with managing the virus (thanks to our state governments) and I'm incredibly grateful for that but now we need a plan to move to something more normal - a plan which seems to be entirely absent as our federal government continues to demonstrate its incompetence.

northie

even local and regional travel has been difficult for us in Victoria-with melbourne having travel bans to regions. i havent been anywhere outside Melbourne since a beach holiday on Mornington peninsula in january.. I am off to the Mary Quant V and A exhibition in Bendigo on Monday buy just scrped in for the last week.
Yesterday cancelled our airfares to Perth to visit my son and grandchildre. -got a credit voucher. I conat get permission to enter Wa and even if I could Im not doing 14 days in isoaltion -what's the point in going?
Would love to go to NZ but even thats closed at the moment -and you cant rely on it staying open even when it oes..
Our PM is hiding at the moment probably becasue he's realsied at alst that his government has failed the 2 things they wer eresposible for -quarantine and vaccine roll out. .
I assume that why he brought in a Lieutenant General to run the vaccine rollout.

Greenhorn

Acknowledge that it's immensely frustrating - but really we all need to calm down. We are getting there whilst much of the (less wealthy) world is not. People are dying of covid in significant numbers in many countries - it is really not appropriate to complain of ruined holiday plans.

northie

I dont think there's any thing wrong with complaining about broken holiday plans. Just because I was doesn't mean I don't acknowledge that it is a first world problem .
the thread is an answer to what's happening in Australia re tourism Do feel free to start another talking about the devastation of 2nd and 3rd world countries and what we can do to support them.

Bokhara2

There’s an enquiry about coming to Australia next year on the Australian forum! Woo Hoo 🤗

Even if they can’t get here when they hope, it’s so exciting to see & I can wait to help them with their planning.

In the meantime, I’m not slashing my wrists or gnashing my teeth about having to stay home right this moment, either. Yes, it will be great when we have most of our people vaccinated, so we can all get on with our lives & businesses. In the meantime, despite the frustrating outbreaks & lockdowns, the vast majority of us are healthy. Or at least, we don’t have covid.

kleeblatt

Although I understand the positive outcome of residents being healthy, we may have to acknowledge Covid is here to stay and vaccinations may be the only way to allow open borders again.

Bokhara2

No argument from me on that score, Kleeblat & we’ll get there.

I think we did go for zero cases early on, but believe it’s become evident that’s not really realistic or practical now.

Best we can aim for is a very high % of our own people fully vaccinated and insistence on full vaccination & proof of Covid negativity in any one who comes in, I think.

kleeblatt

Good luck to Australia and New Zealand! So many people want to explore your beautiful countries and are getting impatient that their plans need to be delayed another year.

Bokhara2

Errr … Thanks! Kleeblat. I think. I don’t think we will be taking dictation from “ impatient” tourists any time soon, , frustrating though our vaccine roll out pace may be to us. Or them.

kleeblatt

Oh, I apologize if it came across like that! We're just opening our borders here now and some people are crossing even without tests and vaccine certficates. Being an island, your borders are easier to control which allows you to have a more impactful strategy.

Bokhara2

It’s all good, Kleeblatt. I didn’t really think you were having a go at us. That’s not your forte. 🤣

rupertsaccount

Suffering after the Australian travel bubble closed but with no restrictions, kiwis are making the most of travel in case in changes like Australia.

kleeblatt

COVID cases are spiking in the US and Europe. Have the strict restrictions in Australia and NZ kept cases low to non-existent?