Should you travel to an amber-listed country? We asked our readers

Once again, the traffic light system has come under scrutiny due to contrasting interpretations of the 'amber list' status of countries such as France, Spain, Greece and the United States.

Legally, you are allowed to go on holiday to an 'amber list' destination if the country is accepting entry for leisure purposes, provided you are happy to quarantine on return. You can also get travel insurance to these destinations as long as the FCDO does not advise against travel there.

That said, Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have both made renewed appeals for the public to not travel to an amber list country other than for "extreme" reasons such as caring for a dying relative. Mr Johnson told MPs: "You should not be going to an 'amber list' country on holiday." The Department for Transport also says "you should not travel" to these countries, as does Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

Yet, this is all guidance and not law – meaning some tour operators are continuing to run trips to these destinations and many flights are still operating. In fact, a report by The Telegraph’s Charles Hymas revealed that 300,000 people will fly to ‘amber list’ countries by Sunday.

The question remains: is it irresponsible to proceed with a holiday to an amber list destination? Or if you’ve considered the facts, can get insurance and are happy to quarantine, should you be allowed to travel?

Read on to see what your fellow readers have had to say and then share your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of this article.

The argument for holidays to amber list countries

'All my friends are going on holiday to amber list countries'

@Jennifer Linsey Ewing

“I was at dinner last night with a group of friends. The overly excited discussion was all about everyone's upcoming holidays in the next few weeks. All of the various destinations mentioned were "amber" list countries. Not one person mentioned their hesitancy in going because of what the UK Government thought. Enough is enough.”

'Make it illegal or I'm going'

@Brian Lambert

“My family and I are booked into a remote Greek island for a fortnight from June 6th. We are all double vaccinated. We have all made arrangements with work over the self-isolation requirement on our return. I am prepared to pay the scandalous cost for the 'approved' tests on our return. I have completed the PLF for Greece. Oh Boris now doesn't want me to go - simples really, either make it illegal or I'm going!”

'It's not the right of the Government to judge'

@CL Taylor

“I am going to amber-listed Florida to see my 90-year-old mother who has Alzheimer’s. She is weeping and desperate to see me. It's not the right of the Government or anyone else to judge why people wish to travel. We were given the conditions we must comply with to travel to amber-listed countries. That is enough.”

'The Netherlands looks safe to me'

@Brian Corbett

“I'll make my own mind up, thanks. The Netherlands and Czech Republic look perfectly safe now, Poland certainly doesn't. I don't need that twerp Hancock to tell me what to do.”

'It's only guidance'

@Si Adam

“Guidance is just that..... advisory. Unless it is made illegal to travel to countries on the amber list, people are permitted to go.”

'It's time to start living again'

@Andrew Badger

"Idiotic scaremongering. I’m heading to Hungary on Saturday with my family, with my wife and son, via Eurotunnel, France, Germany and Austria. I’ll take the requisite PCR test on Thursday, a further two on our return, and will isolate for 5 days going out (in Hungary) and 10 on the way back (in the UK).

We’ll spend beautiful and valuable time with distant family, at virtually no risk to ourselves nor our rellies (we’re already fully vaccinated). Get a grip Boris. It’s time for us all to start ignoring you on a consistent basis and to start living again.”

'It's a small risk'

@Bill Essex

“Unbelievable, it’s on, no it’s off! I’m off as soon as they open the doors to the USA to visit my daughter! If it means quarantine on return so be it! I’m double vaccinated so a small risk.”

'I will go and follow all the rules'

@Ce Ce

"Travel don’t travel…..my god, they are embarrassing, I can’t even be bothered to read it. I’m due to go on an amber list holiday and I will be going unless it becomes illegal to do so. I will observe the quarantine and will take the four tests."

The readers still on the fence

'Why even are there amber list countries?'

@Maria Branigan

"My husband and I have a Greek Island Hopping Tour arranged for the third week in June. When we first heard the government announcement regarding the Traffic Light System we interpreted “Amber” to mean you can make your own decision to travel, however, you must follow the UK government guidelines upon your return. It is very frustrating to now hear that the government do not recommend travel to any Amber destination. We feel that the way the government landed the Traffic Light System communication at the start was not crystal clear and this is why the people of our country are so confused. In our opinion, we feel the government should have introduced just Green and Red countries. We are currently sitting on the fence waiting for the next government announcement hoping that Greece or indeed the Greek Islands will be added to the green list."

'I'm more confused than ever'

@Ed Wawrzonek

“Thank you very much Boris and Matt. You have just made me more confused as to whether to go ahead with my long overdue trip to Poland on the last day of May or forget about it all together and live with the fact that I will £152 worse off. Because that is how much I paid for my airline ticket. Unfortunately being that I am long term unemployed with a long term disability and with no income what so ever, just relying on savings I cannot afford to pay for these costly PCR tests.”

The argument against holidays to amber list countries

'Now is not the time'

@Helen Smith

“These companies must be prosecuted and the holiday makers forced to isolate for 14 days on their return, no ifs, no buts. How utterly selfish, there are still people unvaccinated in this country, the young gave up a lot to save the elderly, now surely we can go without a holiday in Spain for a few more weeks until they get their jab.”

'It's crystal clear – do not go'

@Bryan Caird

“Government has been quite clear do not travel to Amber list countries – no confusion IMHO – if you are so stupid to do so then so be it!”

'Johnson's porous rules aren't helping'

@Mark Nile

"After all this do people really need to go abroad the day after restrictions are relaxed? More selfish sickening human behaviour aided and abetted by Johnson’s porous regulations and rules."

'Going on holiday is not a valid reason to travel to an amber country'

@Paul Miller

“It’s not confusing. What politicians say is confusing and its another government PR disaster. What is the cabinet PR team doing? I thought that had been overhauled but obviously the same slack approach to consistent messages persists. The traffic light system is simple. The reasons why you can travel to each country are spelled out and what you must do before departure and on return. Going on holiday is NOT a valid reason to travel to an amber rated country. Only green rated countries are OK for holidays.”