Staycation – The Covid-Friendly Holiday
Well, it’s been quite the year, hasn’t it?! No-one’s New Year’s predictions last year could have possibly come close to the reality of 2020, that’s for sure.
As we exit one of the most testing years in modern history, we may all be thinking longingly about a holiday away to rest, recharge, and recuperate. But are we safe to do so?
Venues, heritage sites, and tourist attractions remain closed. Most of the country’s counties and cities are within high-risk areas (as this article is being written, London and the whole of the South-East are about to enter into Tier 3 restrictions too). Public transport has almost ground to a halt, except in the cities, as Covid really strikes hard.
So how can we even begin to plan a holiday for 2021 safely? When will we be able to get into a swimming pool at a holiday resort again, and is holidaying in Britain going to be that much safer?
With the restrictions on air travel set to continue, that last point looks to be a definite ‘yes’. So the good old-fashioned British Staycation looks to be back with a bang: but is it?
With international borders either closed or imposing strict quarantine regulations - of up to 14 days for some countries - for the first time in living memory, holidaying within the UK is highly likely to be big business in 2021...providing we’re out of our current Tier 3 lockdown, of course.
If we all wear masks and practice social distancing, can we guarantee that we won’t catch Covid if we go for a holiday anywhere in the British Isles? Sadly, it seems as though the answer right now is an emphatic ‘no’, so we do need to first make sure we’re all safe to travel.
Right now, all the devolved countries in the UK - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - have different rules and may require you to self-isolate even when travelling within the UK.
But, does that mean you shouldn’t plan a getaway in the Peak District or Cornwall for next year? No, but it does mean you should plan sensibly.
At present, if you’re in a Tier 3 area - which most of the Country now is - you can’t travel out of your immediate area for a holiday, no matter how much you may want to. It’s not all doom and gloom though: the vaccine has arrived and has already begun to be delivered around the country.
With the vaccine now being rolled out, starting with health workers and the most vulnerable in our society, we have the first glimmer of hope that we may achieve normality early in 2021. We’re not there yet of course, and there’s an anxious time ahead as we wait to see what damage the Christmas relaxation will do.
But if we all now stick to the rules, it does seem as though the finish line may be in sight. So wash your hands, sanitise them - and everything you touch - regularly, wear a mask at all times when you leave home, keep two metres apart (especially in places where you don’t know the other people, like at the shops) and remain vigilant at all times.
If we do all that, 2021 should be able to bring us the opportunity to relax, away from it all on a beautiful Cornish beach, with the people we love.
We can’t wait to welcome you again, but, until it’s safe, please do continue to be extra careful and to look after those around you.
The Eden Project is built over a historical clay pit which was in use for over 160 years! This site is quite famous too as films such as “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy” and after the visitor centre was built it was also used to film some scenes of the James Bond film “Die Another Day”. Many concerts have also been hosted by The Eden Project.
There are even some art exhibits that you can discover inside The Core which are constantly being rotated so there is always something new to see. One permanent installation, by Peter Randall-Page, is a giant oval-shaped sculpture which is titled “Seed”. This sculpture is made of stone, weighs around 70 tonnes and stands around 13 feet tall!
This is another great spot for surfing too as there are some surprisingly large waves that form further out. If this isn’t your scene there’s no need to worry as you could just grab a coffee and sit back on the beach soaking up the sun.
Just a 30 minute walk away is the famous Logan Rock which is an 80 ton granite rocking stone. Also close by is the fascinating Porthcurno Telegraph Museum which tells the story of how Cornwall played an important role in the pioneering days of global communications.
You can stray from the mainland on foot or by boat to get up close and personal to the castle-topped island that is standing tall in Mount’s Bay. Come with the family or take a tour of the castle and gardens by yourself, either way you will have a magical time exploring all the sights.
You can climb the castle turrets, straight out of an old movie, for amazing views and listen to live music on the greenery of the village that is close by. If you fancy a bite to eat, travel to the Island Café or the Sail Loft Restaurant which both serve fresh local food.
Visit the sub-tropical gardens which can be found clinging to the granite slopes, the terraced beds of the gardens travel all the way down to the edge of the ocean and boast many exotic plants from places such as the Canary Islands, South Africa and Mexico.
As mentioned earlier, you should make sure that the area you are visiting includes the activities you want to complete, and it should be easy to organise it around your time.
The activities you do should be more than one-sided. This is so that you are getting the most of the summer fun out of your holiday and enjoy more time with the family. For example, activities like bike riding are fun for the entire family, but they can be enjoyed along with going to the beach or can lead to the next activity. Activities should be enjoyable to both adults and children, especially during the school holidays within summer!
You should consider flexibility when booking activities, alongside having backups in place just in case anything happens that could cause plans to change. Things like what the weather is going to be like and how bad the traffic is going to be are not always predictable.
Problems can occur, so having plans in place that are flexible can help you to avoid being stuck doing nothing. Not all activities may be for you and your family as well. Consider looking into a various range of activities that everyone will enjoy.
This is especially important if travelling abroad! Not all countries have the privilege of free national health. You don’t want to add a bunch of hospital fees to your souvenir list!
Everyone is susceptible to getting ill, and this is especially true when on holiday as you may come across an illness your body is not used to. This alone can ruin the holiday let alone having no insurance and having to pay out of your own pocket.
Also, if you don’t have insurance, the likelihood of you being seen as soon as possible is very slim and you may end up having to stay there for a while. This affects the whole family and can lead to problems at home. This can vary from work-related dates to missing other important plans. Make sure you have good travel insurance and read between the lines so you aren’t left in the dust!
Travel insurance can literally be a lifesaver in some cases. There are some really nasty diseases out there and they are more likely to infect you, especially if it is your first time visiting a new location.
If you don’t have good travel insurance, you may get stuck in a hospital which may have low standards, alongside not receiving the best medical treatment possible. This can further delay going home and can lead to your problem getting worse. This is a terrible cycle leaving you with massive bills and even in rare cases can lead to permanent health problems. This is the last thing you need, so do the sensible thing and get your whole family insured on a good plan!
Cornwall is a 
This incredible aquarium has a selection of over 40 natural sea habitats where you can discover all sorts of creatures and fish that are native to Cornish waters and even some tropical creatures from other parts of the world.
The aquarium includes some star attractions like the elusive jellyfish, terrifying sharks and everybody’s favourite - turtles! There is also a gift shop where you can take home souvenirs and the 
Cornwall is a 
This incredible aquarium has a selection of over 40 natural sea habitats where you can discover all sorts of creatures and fish that are native to Cornish waters and even some tropical creatures from other parts of the world.
The aquarium includes some star attractions like the elusive jellyfish, terrifying sharks and everybody’s favourite - turtles! There is also a gift shop where you can take home souvenirs and the 
