Six safer destinations for a last-minute summer holiday
After Spain and France were unceremoniously dumped from the FCO’s “safe” list, forcing more than one million Britons to unexpectedly self-isolate for two weeks, travellers may be reticent about taking the plunge and heading abroad.
Spain’s ejection came after a fairly steep spike in Covid cases – though not, currently, hospital admissions or deaths, and largely confined to a few regions in the north of the country. The Balearics and the Canary Islands remain relatively untouched by the virus, but the FCO, in its wisdom, decided to rule out the whole of Spain. Needless to say there are some frustrated tourism workers in Mallorca and Tenerife right now.
Likewise, France has seen cases rise steadily in recent weeks, with cities like Paris and Marseilles driving the trend. But the FCO thinks the whole of the country is now unsafe.
Malta, the Netherlands, Monaco, Luxembourg, Belgium and Andorra have also been placed onto the quarantine naughty step, so are other destinations under threat? Croatia is believed to be in the Government’s crosshairs, with its seven-day cumulative number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 residents currently reading 21.4 (anything above 20 is thought to start alarm bells ringing in Whitehall). Denmark, Switzerland and the Czech Republic are also inching towards the threshold.
Nevertheless, there is a clutch of countries with far fewer cases should you fancy a last-minute holiday that’s highly unlikely to turn into a surprise two-week quarantine when you get back to Blighty. Here are some options:
Italy
Seven-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 residents: 5.5
Having been hit hard at the start of the pandemic, Italy is faring rather well right now – making it a fine bet for a last minute summer escape.
Where to go
How about a weekend in Venice (which, for the first time in decades, is uncrowded), followed by a few days hoovering up the fresh mountain air in the staggeringly beautiful Dolomites (you’ll need to hire a car)? See our pick of the best hotels in Venice and the Dolomites.
How to get there
EasyJet, BA and Ryanair are flying to Venice, with return fares from around £100.
What are the rules?
Masks are mandatory in enclosed public spaces, and some busy outdoor areas, while some venues are taking contact details for tracking and tracing purposes. See the FCO website for more travel advice.
Norway
Seven-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 residents: 7
Norway does Scandi cool, and has some of the most gorgeous coastal landscapes on Earth.
Where to go
There’s a distinct lack of direct flights right to anywhere in Norway except Oslo. So spend a few nights there (see our guide to the best hotels) before taking the epic seven-hour train to Bergen, from where you can join a boat tour of the fjords.
How to get there
SAS, Ryanair and Norwegian have flights to Oslo, with August fares from around £200 return.
What are the rules?
While social distancing remains in force, face masks are not mandatory. See the FCO website for more advice.
Slovakia
Seven-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 residents: 5.3
A brand new addition to the UK’s list of “travel corridors”, what landlocked Slovakia lacks in beaches it makes up for with handsome cities and mountain adventures.
Where to go
Around 80 per cent of Slovakia lies more than 800 metres above sea level, and its crowning glory is the Tatras. The highest range in the Carpathians, they form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland, are a designated Unesco Biosphere Reserve, and contain some 100 high-altitude lakes and a clutch of waterfalls. They can be explored via a network of hiking paths. HF Holidays offers one-week guided tours.
How to get there
Ryanair or Wizz can get you to Bratislava. Expect to pay around £100 for a return flight in August.
What are the rules?
Masks are compulsory in most indoor situations (public transport, shops, cinemas). See the FCO website for more advice.
Estonia
Seven-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 residents: 2.8
Another recent addition to the FCO “no quarantine” list, Estonia has been relatively untouched by the pandemic – only 69 Covid deaths have been recorded.
Where to go
Estonia is one of Europe’s least crowded and greenest countries, so after a weekend in beautiful Tallinn (see our favourite hotels), head for the unspoilt Lahemaa National Park, with its sandy beaches, waterfalls, and pine forests. Keep your eyes peeled for brown bears, lynx and wolves.
How to get there
EasyJet or Ryanair will take you to Tallinn, with August fares from around £200 return.
What are the rules?
Masks are recommended in crowded indoor spaces, but not mandatory. See the FCO website for more advice.
Latvia
Seven-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 residents: 1.4
The Baltic states have kept Covid largely under control, so a surprise quarantine on your return to Britain seems highly unlikely.
Where to go
It’s a decent bet for an offbeat beach holiday, if you don’t mind the chilly water, with 330 miles of sandy beaches. Just west of Riga lies Jurmala, a summer holiday favourite of Brezhnev and Khrushchev. Temperatures can top 20C in high summer, so you might even need sun cream.
How to get there
Return fares from around £150 are available with Wizz.
What are the rules?
Like its Baltic neighbour, Latvia has not introduced mandatory masks with the exception of public transport services in the capital Riga. See the FCO website for more advice.
Slovenia
Seven-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 residents: 7.4
Another Mediterreanean option, Slovenia has a little strip of coastline but is better known for its inland adventures and beautiful Lake Bled.
Where to go
Sarah Baxter recently discover a new hiking trail. She wrote: "The new, circular 167-mile Juliana Trail frills Triglav’s skirts, gazing up at the peaks while staying lower, exploring the valleys and the human stories below. The route opened in October 2019 but, thanks to winter and Covid-19, few people have sampled it yet. Now, with Slovenia recently added to the FCO’s “safe list” of places Britons can visit without the need to self-isloate on their return, this varied route should be top of the summer or autumn wishlist for the more adventurous traveller." Read more.
How to get there
There are no direct flights to the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, so go via Germany or head to Trieste with Ryanair and drive across the border.
What are the rules?
Protective masks (or other material covering the nose and mouth) must be worn in indoor public areas where social distancing is not possible (including shops) and on public transport. See the FCO website for more advice.
