So I have a BA voucher that expires in April 2022

Quoting leics2

4 >I've always wanted to do Oktoberfest

2020 Oktoberfest was cancelled and it's not yet certain 2021 will go ahead.

The 2021 edition is now officially cancelled.

Quoting Trebor Illusion

Also, where's best in Europe?

For my money: Lounging in the natural hot springs in the far northwest of Iceland, combined with puffin watching. Ronda in the off-season (I remember a remarkable number of truly excellent restaurants - also a superb hole in the wall in Malaga to visit en route). Hiking in Saxon Switzerland (that's in Germany). Just looking around on the Lofoten. Drinking hot chocolate in the many cellar cafes in Gamla Stan, Stockholm in winter, and then going out for Mongolian BBQ with local friends in the evening. Actually, give me those local friends, and there's very few places in Europe where I wouldn't want to go.

[ Edit: Edited on 3 May 2021, 14:31 GMT by Sander ]

If a hotel has a spa, do guests get to use it as part of their booking?
I do like the idea of a spa somewhere.

There was this Hotel Spa in Ireland I liked for St. Patrick's Day 2022 because it was a castle too.

UK & Ireland are still open, right? (to each other/during this pandemic).

I know it's not the warmer climate or skiing trip or natural hot spring tundra I have yet to experience, but there is a bar there and pub not too far away and it is Ireland and St. Patricks Day, it's just outside of Dublin (since Dublin was booked or out of budget or a pod (I found options to stay in a pod in Dublin) or shared bathroom 12 bed deal, and I'm looking at en suite rooms).

[ Edit: Edited on 3 May 2021, 17:25 GMT by Trebor Illusion ]

1. >If a hotel has a spa, do guests get to use it as part of their booking?

It depends on the individual hotel and the spa services on offer (e.g. massage, hairdresser etc). A few allow guests free use of both spa and services, some offer guests the spa (i.e. pool and/or jacuzzi and/or sauna) free but charge for services, some charge guests for both spa and services. The fat that a hotel advertises a spa does not mean guests automatically get free access: check on the hotel's website. If it's all 'free' you'll certainly be paying for it with a higher room rate.

>UK & Ireland are still open, right?

At the moment the Republic of Ireland requires not only a negative test and a passenger locator form to be submitted prior to arrival but also 14 days quarantine, including for those who enter via the N Ireland border:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4020-travelling-to-ireland-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

There is no indication when that requirement will be lifted though one would hope that those restrictions will be removed, or minimised, by February 2022 but there are no guarantees.

[ Edit: Edited on 3 May 2021, 18:08 GMT by leics2 ]

Trebor, a hotel's website will tell you what is and not included in your room rate. Spa services are generally extra - quite a bit extra, depending on what they are - and include services such as body or facial massages, haircuts, pedicures/manicures, steam baths, hot stone treatments, hydrotherapy, etc.

As well, many hotels offer room+spa treatment packages for an advertised rate.

Spas don't interest me so I've never done one on a trip but some people make a holiday of it. As mentioned before, though, these are not usually inexpensive. I would say that if you're not already a fan of spa-type services, best to spend your $$ elsewhere.

Also, be cautious about the exact location of a "just outside Dublin" hotel and what sort of transport it takes to get there? Some accommodations in the countryside - regardless of the country - require a car to get to.

There's a pattern of extreme peak times here. Ireland on St Patrick's Day. Stonehenge at the summer solstice. Bear on mind that this costs you lots more and gives you capacity problems with accommodation and tickets being sold out.

Seems I'm going to have to quarantine everywhere anyway.

It's not the end of the world not using my voucher, but it would have been nice to cash it in on some flight.

[ Edit: Edited on 3 May 2021, 21:03 GMT by Trebor Illusion ]

>Seems I'm going to have to quarantine everywhere anyway.

That restriction isn't going to apply forever. Some countries have already dropped it...or plan to drop it...for fully-vaccinated people. It won't be too long before the 18-30 age group are fully-vaccinated (long before 2022).

You still have plenty of time to use your voucher.

[ Edit: Edited on 4 May 2021, 06:49 GMT by leics2 ]