Maybe we can get away on holiday this summer. That’s what we’re hoping for anyway—the chance to actually travel somewhere rather than staying put. But we just don’t know yet. The truth is, we’re waiting to see how things develop. We need to get through this process of gradually reopening society, and it’s not just us dealing with that. Every country is working through the same challenge. It’s hard to keep track of what’s happening everywhere, and the situation keeps shifting.
Thailand was the plan
We had actually already booked our holiday. We found flight tickets to Thailand—we found them her. But the airline asked us to change our travel dates. They’re uncertain whether conditions there will be safe enough for them to operate passenger flights to Thailand in June. We asked for a refund, and they’ve agreed to give us our money back. It was a relief to hear that, honestly. Getting refunds has been complicated for many travelers during this period.
The airline’s caution makes sense. While many countries are working toward reopening borders and tourism businesses over the summer months, the timeline and reality on the ground remain unpredictable. Different destinations are reopening at different paces, with varying safety measures and travel requirements. What seems possible in theory can change quickly based on developments we can’t predict from where we’re sitting.
Waiting and watching Southern Europe
So now we’re thinking differently about our plans. We want to wait a bit and see how things are actually developing in Southern Europe. Maybe we can finde flybilletter billigt to somewhere else that feels equally interesting with the same airline. Or maybe not. We’re sort of in a holding pattern right now. But I suspect that within a month or so, we’ll have a clearer picture of what’s really possible—especially in places like Greece. Maybe they’ll manage to open things up safely, despite how difficult everything feels right now.
One thing we’re clear on, though: we’re not going to spend our energy looking for flights to Italy or Spain right now. What’s happened in those countries has been truly tragic. The toll has been devastating. And a city break to New York is completely off the table. That’s another tragedy we can hardly bear to think about. So while we’re hopeful about travel becoming possible again, we’re also being realistic about where and when that makes sense.
The uncertainty cuts both ways. On one hand, we have to acknowledge the genuine hardship and loss in places that have been hit hardest. On the other hand, we also recognize that borders will eventually reopen, tourism will resume, and people everywhere will need that break—time to breathe, to see friends and family, to experience something beyond our immediate surroundings. But it has to happen responsibly, only in places where conditions allow.
Closer to home
We may well end up booking a couple of flight tickets to Rønne instead. Bornholm is a wonderful little island, and there’s something appealing about keeping travel simple right now. It’s close enough that changing plans wouldn’t be a disaster. And it would still feel like getting away, like a real break from everything. The island has plenty to offer—beautiful landscapes, good food, a slower pace. It’s not Thailand, but it’s honest and available, and that might be exactly what we need.
The truth is, planning any travel right now means staying flexible and accepting that plans might change again. It means being ready to pivot, to find joy in what’s actually possible rather than what you originally imagined. We’re learning to hold our plans lightly while still allowing ourselves to hope that summer will bring some kind of break, some chance to step away and feel like the world is opening up again—even if it’s just to somewhere nearby and familiar.