HOLIDAYING IN THE UK WITH GOVERNMENT TIER RESTRICTIONS

HOLIDAYING IN THE UK WITH GOVERNMENT TIER RESTRICTIONS

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With the end of 2020 drawing near and the UK lock-down ending many people are excited to look ahead to December and Christmas and the big question on everyones mind is can I go on holiday during the COVID-19 pandemic?

 

Throughout December the government has set out the rules for the tier restriction system, in force from the 3rd December 2020 with a review date set for the 16th December. At present Devon is in Tier 2 and as such holidays can proceed but with restrictions; these are detailed below, along with the other tier descriptions that may apply to your own area you are travelling from.

 

WHAT RESTRICTIONS ARE THERE IN MY TIER

 

Tier 1 - Guests travelling from tier 1 areas can holiday with people from other households (up to a maximum of 6) in other tier 1 areas.  (Devon is currently in tier 2 meaning that only one household/support bubble can stay in a property even if you are travelling from a tier 1 area).

Tier 2 - Guests travelling from/to tier 2 areas are not permitted to mix with other households indoors and therefore are only able to travel as one household/support bubble.  Up to 6 people can meet outdoors.

Tier 3 - People living in tier 3 areas are not permitted to leave home for the purpose of a holiday. 

Here at Ocean Cottages we have been working in the background to ensure that any guests due to visit in December are meeting the requirements to be able to travel. Unfortunately, this has meant for some that they have had to cancel their holidays and receive refunds or for others they have had to change their guest lists, so they are one household to abide by the tier 2 rules. All this activity has been necessary to comply with the government laws and to protect our wonderful North Devon community.

 WHAT IS A XMAS BUBBLE

 

Outside of the above stated rules the government has also announced the 'Christmas Bubble'. The Christmas bubble is only in effect between the dates 23rd December to 27th December 2020 and will be in law. Everyone can form their own Christmas bubble; however, the Christmas bubble is different to support bubbles and childcare bubbles and should not be confused.

 The rules of the 'Christmas bubble' are such:

  • you can form an exclusive 'Christmas bubble' composed of people from no more than three households.
  • you can only be in one Christmas bubble.
  • you cannot change your Christmas bubble.
  • you can travel between tiers and UK nations for the purposes of meeting your Christmas bubble.
  • you can only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship, or public outdoor spaces.
  • you can continue to meet people outside (not in your garden) who are not in your Christmas bubble according to the rules of the tier you are meeting in. (so for those holidaying in Devon, this is Tier 2)
  • if you form a Christmas bubble, you should not meet socially with friends and family that you do not live with in your home or garden unless they are part of your Christmas bubble.
  • You should only travel to meet those in your Christmas bubble and return home between the 23 and 27 December.

 

To provide a little context, if you have an existing support bubble; you are counted as one household towards the three-household limit. This means that if you are in a support bubble, you can collectively form a Christmas bubble with two other households. This applies only to support bubbles as set out in law (a support bubble is one household plus a single adult household, with or without children).

The 'Christmas bubble' has of course been fantastic news for some of our guests who can now visit as more than one household during the bubble period. We must also mention that we are very grateful to those guests who feel it is safer to remain as one household for both themselves and the community, we look forward to welcoming you all to an Ocean Cottages property, in what will be a very different Christmas for many, we are sure!

 

If you are looking to holiday in North Devon in 2021, take a look at our website Ocean Cottages.