[AD] Our Holiday Plans for 2021
In collaboration with Hotels.com, all views are my own.
What a strange and difficult year it’s been for us all. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster with not being able to see family and friends, home schooling and generally wondering when all of this is going to end. It’s not been the best year, however I am grateful for our home and family.
Many industries have been hit badly by the global pandemic particularly the travel industry and consequently our holiday plans. I love to travel and I’ve been abroad every year since I can remember. We started this year with a few UK holidays booked and we were really hopeful for our holiday to Spain in August, but with having to quarantine on return and the uncertainty we had to postpone until August 2021. At the time we were disappointed but understanding as we were in the middle of a global pandemic. We did however manage a week in Wales at the end of August, and it was lovely to escape the house, spend time as a family and be at the beach.
I’m feeling positive that 2021 will be better for travel, and we will be able to visit our favourite places in the UK including London and Manchester. Here’s to hoping that everything is better in general. So here are a few of our plans for the year ahead……
London
We live in London, and even though we live here we love visiting the city during the weekends with the children, and I hope that in 2021 we can enjoy more weekends like this. Including visiting the South Bank, walking through Borough Market, and taking the children to the many London museums is one of my favourite things to do. We love doing this walk, popping into the Tate Modern gallery, and then enjoying an early pizza dinner. At the moment this is possible under the Tier 2 current restrictions providing you are with your household or support bubble whilst eating inside. However do always check as the restrictions are subject to change. You would need to wear a face covering when entering any restaurants or in the museums or art galleries, and you can remove these when you are seated at your table.
I really hope that the city I love will return to it’s busy and bustling self in 2021, and possibly my husband and I can enjoy a night away in a London hotel without the children.
Manchester
One of the cities that I love to visit is Manchester, my husband lived there for a few years and it’s always so nice to return for a spot of nostalgia. I love all the bars and restaurants, the Manchester vibe, plus the shopping and seeing the sights. It’s a great place to stay for a couple of days to enjoy walking around the canals of Castlefield and visiting the Peak District for hill walking, country pubs and fresh air.
Wales
As a family we often visit Wales, it’s where my family are from, so it’s always quite sentimental going back. Our plans for the May half term are to spend a week in a holiday cottage with a hot tub near Abersoch. We had intended to do this in May half term this year, however the lockdown “stay at home” message resulted in us sadly postponing our plans to next year. However we were incredibly grateful to have had a holiday in Wales at the end of August this year.
One of the things I love is being out of London, being so close to the sea and enjoying all of the stunning scenery which is spectacular in Wales.
Spain
Lastly we have 10 days booked for a holiday to Denia in Spain during the school summer holidays to stay at my parents villa. Denia is a beautiful town on the Costa Blanca, with beautiful beaches, Spanish restaurants, and stunning mountain views. We often fly to Valencia, spending a week in Denia and then a couple of days renting an apartment in Valencia itself.
At the moment I am feeling optimistic and positive that this will go ahead. However with travel advice changing all the time, it’s important if you’re planning to travel abroad to Europe you stay on top of what’s happening with regard to the virus and Brexit too.
I expect that it will be a slightly different holiday to what we are used to, we may still have to wear face coverings on the plane, and we would need to follow any local/national restrictions when we are there. I’ve got my fingers crossed that it goes ahead. It will be so nice to go on plane again.
So those are my travel plans for 2021, as I’ve said above I’m feeling positive that these will happen, but who knows and in what form. I guess that we will wait and see.
Have you got any holidays plans booked for next year?
Claire x