Wondering about how folks have been handling Covid cancellations. I’ve been an optimist about travel through this whole process.
When Covid first started, I had a string of international sits running April-July 2020 -planned to travel HK, Sweden, several UK, back to the US and then home. All were of course cancelled as no one was traveling.
Had a string of 3 fall 2020 sits in the UK, but those ended up getting cancelled as well.
Tried again with a string of 3 July-Aug 2021 UK sits - when applying and confirmed, we agreed that we’d check in about 6-8 weeks out, and since the US is still on the UK amber list, those got cancelled for me, although all of the hosts have let me know that they filled in with local sitters very quickly.
Fortunately, I’ve been able to fill in with US sits.
How have other been handling it?
We had a cancellation last week. Well, not a cancellation more like a shortening, it left us with over two weeks with no sit. Their French ferry was cancelled. The pet owners were very gracious and let us stay while they went to visit relations and said their Airbnb was empty so we could stay there if we did not get another sit. Luckily we did and are very happy.
Our problem is we go back there again for most of August. What do we do if France is not allowing UK citizens in? Do we cut our loses, cancel and look for something else or hope Europe gets the green light by then. We have a French sit booked for late September as well.
Our policy up to now has been go with the flow. There is always a solution but now when it’s supposed to be getting better it’s left us in a bit of a dilemma.
Elsie
Luckily we had UK sits booked through June. Our July sit cancelled as their travel to Turkey was not possible. Our August sit depends on the HO being able to travel to visit her sister in France and our September sit depends on the HO being able to travel to Greece so it is all still very uncertain - fingers crossed for them and us!
I think we’re all in the same boat. Everytime I accept a sit, I think: I hope it goes ahead…
The only thing we can do is update/ communicate as much as we can with owners, especially if the sit was agreed a long time ago.
This said, we had a cancellation 2 weeks before the sit was supposed to start which left us a bit baffled and without accommodation. (We sit full-time) On the plus-side: we quickly found a replacement and are now in Paris looking after 2 gorgeous cats! So you never know what aventure lies ahead!
We have not had any cancellations and are having lovely short adventures locally. I am not even thinking of applying to international sits at this time, maybe fall of 2022 when things settle down. We still have so much to see in our own country and just sit part time. We are only doing sits within a days drive of of home. We are planning a longer road trip to Airbnbs later in the summer and hope that none are cancelled.
We had 3 UK sits cancelled for May/June 2020 and have not attempted to book anything since then. While we hope things will open up for this coming September, we really have no idea what will happen, so if we go to the UK or Europe this fall, it’ll be a last minute plan. I have no interest in booking sits and flights when everything is still up in the air - obviously it’s much more challenging when you’re going overseas.
I’ve just seen tonight that France have changed the regs again for travel from UK, in your favour I believe, (only if vaccinated - no essential reason needed, but still require testing) : Green, orange or red: France eases summer travel rules - France 24
General Note: Correct as of 04-06-21: Please always check official gov websites for up-to-date travel information and entry requirements as they can change without notice.
I now have three US sits ‘backed up’ and I am certain (05.06.2021) that Brits will not be able to travel, easily and cheaply, to the US, for many months yet. The good news is that I have developed on online friendship with the HOs and one of them has even offered me a 2 week stay at her home without the need to look after her dogs. Such kindness.
A little humour: what if there appeared a Welsh variant?
The ‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantisiliogogogoch’ variant? !!!
Or the Scottish one
Ouchayethenooo
Hi, we’re in the uk and were feeling optimistic a month or so ago but with all the uncertainty now with latest travel news from our government, quite confusing in our minds, we are now back to having our fingers crossed for our future sits. Just had our 17 night July house sit cancelled, the owners have had their flights cancelled and we have everything crossed that our 3 week sit beginning 8th June stays put. We really do have to stay strong and resilient in these times dont we, well we’ve learned a little to be that during the past year. Hope your future sits stay in place, we would love to get back to the usa to explore and house sit.
Brilliant @LTD always great to have some humour and for those not familiar with the longest place name in the UK … try saying it, with a little help from your friends on the forum
Well my modest retirement dream was to house sit nonstop in the uk over the summer2020, and then do the same in Italy in autumn. Covid and Brexit put paid to all that, but we managed to get a series of french sits which were really nice and kept us going all year.
Still, not quite the same as the uk! It might seem strange that my dream destination as a Frenchman should be the uk, but I find some stuff irresistible! National Trust, country fairs, dog trials, garage sales, the NGS yellow book, Scottish country dancing, cream teas!
I’m also devastated that silly Brexit rules will now stop us from staying more than three months at a time !
@Jeanmarc wonderful that you’ve had french sits to keep you going and what a dream to have and no it’s not strange that your dream destination is the UK, your irresistible “stuff” is what makes the UK unique and special for those who call the country home and those who visit.
But, here’s the burning cream tea question … jam or cream first?
Never say never and housesitting dreams do come true.
Thank you for sharing
Well, long experience has taught me that it all depends on the cream 
If thick and dense like butter, it had better go first or else one makes a mess trying to spread it on top of the jam. But if light and fluffy, definitely on top…
But then who am I to lay down the law on such an essential divide, being only a mere Frog…
Oooh I love all of those things about the UK as well. Had to google NGS Yellow Book but that sounds great too!
If you make it to Scotland don’t miss the Edinburgh tattoo in August and the Braemar Gathering in September. Great events.
Elsie
Jeanmarc, If you came to Wales, you could easily ‘lose’ yourself … no-one would ever find you. UNLESS, you’re thinking of recreating the last attempted French invasion of the UK during the French revolutionary period … via the Pembrokeshire coastline. Legend has it that the Welshmen dressed as local women and frightened the French into retreat! So ‘bon chance’ to that! Oh: and when you visit-please bring supplies of your glorious French cheese, world-class French wine and delicious ‘moutard’: I’m dangerously low on supplies!
Jam first please!!
I’m with you on the jam first @LTD !