Despite the threat of restrictions, this is still a wonderful time to travel
The Government is changing the rules on travel on a weekly basis and at extremely short notice – yesterday, for example, Slovenia was added to the quarantine list, with travellers arriving in Britain from the country after 4am tomorrow needing to self-isolate. Now, local lockdowns and the possibility of wider restrictions in this country are threatening to have a serious impact on our freedom to go on holiday. So should you give up on all ideas of an autumn break? Or is there a way of navigating around the problems?
My view is that, despite all this uncertainty, this could be a wonderful time to get out and see some of Europe’s great sights and attractions, free from the usual crowds and where hotels and restaurants are operating relatively normally. Those who want to take advantage of the situation just need to have some flexibility, take the right precautions, plan carefully and book at the very last minute. Here are the key questions to consider.
Where can I safely go?
Safely means both in terms of the health risk presented by local infection rates and avoiding the possibility of a sudden change in policy which would mean that you have to self isolate on your return. For weeks, the Government had deemed a seven-day case rate above 20 per 100,000 of the population as the primary measure for ending a country’s green status as a quarantine-free travel corridor. It appears to be offering a little more leniency now, but countries that have not crossed this threshold are your best bet. For short-haul travel, these include Italy (where the rate is currently quite stable at just over 16), Germany (12.6), Turkey (13.5), Sweden (16.6) and – a handful of islands excluded – Greece (18.3).
Of course, with our own infection rate already much worse than this (34.6), we can’t control what decisions another country may take if they are concerned about allowing in people travelling from the UK. Thailand and Singapore have just been given the green light by the Transport Minister, but both countries are denying access to travellers from this country unless they have close local ties. And there is always a risk that your trip to any country might be scuppered because of the sudden imposition of quarantine on your arrival.
What if government advice is changed?
A reasonably predictable timetable has emerged when it comes to announcing changes to the travel corridors. A decision is usually made on Thursdays at 5pm, with travellers is affected destinations given until 4am on the following Saturday to return to the UK. So, if you are worried that a destination is at risk of losing its green status, your safest bet would be to book your travel immediately after the announcement, with a return date no later than the following Friday.
What if there is a local lockdown?
The rules on local lockdowns in the UK vary. Some forbid travelling outside the area “without good reason”; some are less restrictive. It isn’t entirely clear if going on holiday is such a reason, but it seems unlikely. We don’t yet know what the Government may do on a national level, but all these uncertainties mean that you are better off booking and travelling at the very last minute, rather than planning more than a week or so in advance.
How late can I book?
You can be sure of finding hotel accommodation virtually anywhere at the moment, even if you book at the very last moment – on the day you want to stay. Check any of the key booking sites, such as booking.com or hotels.com and you are likely to find plenty of availability and some tempting offers. Flights aren’t necessarily any cheaper than they were before the pandemic took hold. But if you keep an eye on skyscanner.net, which gives the latest fares on most routes and airlines, you will be able to see when and where you can pick up a reasonably-priced fare.
How do I protect my money?
You face two main financial risks by travelling now. First is that your trip is cancelled, second that the travel company goes out of business. The safest bet is to book with an Atol bonded tour operator which is a member of Abta. That offers you the best protection on both counts. If you are booking flights and hotels independently, pay with a credit card (which will protect you against financial failure) and check the cancellation policy of the airline and the booking agent so that you know the risk you are taking before committing.
What about insurance?
Buy your policy as soon as you book. It’s now possible to cover most risks associated with Covid-19 – both around cancellation and medical treatment – and there are even policies available for those who want to travel to a destination which the FCDO advises against.
