With the Government Road Map, there is the hope of life returning to normal.
Finally, the new normal can include yurt staycations. Further to the release of the UK Government’s COVID-19 four-step plan to ease lockdown in England, new guidance on reopening businesses has been published. So, what does this mean for Country Bumpkin Yurts and your holidays and staycations this year?
In brief, it means that we can now take bookings from 12th April 2021. There are a few important conditions in place to ensure that we remain safe and in line with the guidance.
- From 12th April 2021, you can stay with us as a single household. One household per yurt and one yurt per booking.
- Please note the hot tub will out of bounds from 12th April – 17th May 2021 so all bookings between these dates will not have access to the hot tub due to Covid-19 restrictions
- From 17th May 2021, we can accept bookings adhering to the rule of 6 or 2 households per yurt.
- The rules for outdoors allow up to 30 people, therefore multiple yurts may socialize outside but social distance measures need to be maintained and no mixing inside the yurts or indoor facilities with guests staying in other yurts.
- From 21st June onwards business resumes as normal.
So what guidance is this based on?
We, as a yurt staycation destination, come into the 4-step plan at step 2.
In Step 2 – no earlier than 12 April – we have the following guidance:
“Self-contained holiday accommodation in which all facilities (including for sleeping, catering, bathing, and indoor lobbies and corridors for entry and exit) are restricted to exclusive use of a single household/support bubble can reopen.”
So, this means we can open for single household bookings because our yurts are self-contained, with private bathrooms and kitchenettes for each yurt. Sadly, it does, however, mean that our shared hot tub will not be in use at this stage. This is extra disappointing news because we bought a new hot tub for our 2021 glampers and we’ll have to wait even longer to use it!
It’s important to remember the general guidance at this point too:
“At this stage the venues must only be attended/used in line with the wider social contact limits – as a single household or bubble indoors; or in a group of six people or two households outdoors (unless an exemption exists).”
This part is very important for families or friends looking to book multiple yurts together. Only 1 household may stay in a yurt and the rule of 6 or two households applies outdoors. So that means we, unfortunately, cannot accept multiple yurt bookings intending to socialise together outdoors.
The restrictions lift further in Step 3 – no earlier than 17 May.
This step is where we all begin to have more freedom. The overall guidance is as follows:
“At this stage the venues must only be attended/used in line with the wider social contact limits – in a group of six people or two households indoors; or in a group of no more than 30 people outdoors (unless an exemption exists).”
As we understand it, this is when we will be able to welcome multiple households and allow for yurt bookings to socialise outdoors. As our large yurts can sleep a maximum of six, they lend themselves to the rule of 6. The 6 people can be from 6 different households. As long as those in each yurt remain in a ‘yurt bubble’ for the indoor areas, there is scope for guests to socialise together outdoors.
Step 4 – no earlier than 21 June – is the final step.
At this point:
The Government will look to relax COVID-Secure requirements on businesses, subject to the outcome of the reviews.
This may be the only new bit of guidance that impacts our glamping site, but we intend to continue with many of the covid measures around cleaning to ensure our guests and staff are as safe as possible.
We wish these dates were concrete, but the guidance is subject to change. We will keep a very close eye on things and update you as we go. Any bookings that are restricted by the guidelines will be given the opportunity to postpone their glamping holiday to future dates.
We hope this helps to understand how yurt staycations will work this year.
If you’re thinking of trying a yurt staycation for the first time in 2021, check out some of our previous blogs that give top tips and inspiration. Here’s one to start with.
If you’re looking to get glamping, have a browse of our availability calendar and book here.
We look forward to seeing you in Spring and Summer!
Jen & Lara
