Where to go for a Christmas escape, with no quarantine and plenty of winter sun
As Christmas draws ever closer, the prospect of a merry family holiday here in the UK is looking increasingly bleak. Over in Scotland, Christmas has been officially cancelled, with Scots told to prepare for a 'digital festive season'. In England the war still wages on, with Downing Street insisting people will get a family Christmas – while SAGE says this is 'wishful thinking'.
For now, the continued rule of six, which bans group gatherings of more than six people – both indoors and out –means large family gatherings are impossible. Get caught with Great Auntie Mabel and Uncle Bert in a group of seven or more relatives, and you could be slapped with a festive £100 fine, or £3,200 depending on how many times you have been caught breaking the rules between now and then. Merry Christmas.
But all is not lost. There are countries around the world that offer the holy trinity of winter sun, no quarantine on arrival (or return), and no draconian restrictions on group sizes if you choose to travel with friends or another family.
Obviously, things change very quickly and any of the below destinations could be put on the Foreign Office’s quarantine list by Christmas, if cases rise – and the destinations could indeed introduce their own measures between now and then.
But, so long as you book through a reputable tour operator, you will be eligible either for a refund or to re-book at a later date depending on their policy, in the event that your holiday is cancelled due to new restrictions.
Where is hot, on the ‘travel corridors list’?
The following destinations offer winter sun, are on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) "green list" (meaning your travel insurance will be valid), and require no quarantine on arrival or return. Nearly all require a test certificate prior to travel for entry, and some will run health checks on arrivals, with a quarantine if you test positive for Covid-19.
Antigua and Barbuda (test certificate required for entry)
Barbados (test certificate required for entry; second test 5–7 days after arrival)
Bermuda (test certificate required for entry)
Dominica (test certificate required for entry and health check on arrival)
Grenada (test certificate required for entry)
St Lucia (test certificate required for entry, health check on arrival)
St Pierre and Miquelon (test certificate required for entry)
St Vincent and the Grenadines (test certificate required for entry)
Maldives (test certificate required for entry)
While they do not guarantee winter sun, the warmer European destinations of mainland Greece, Cyprus, and the newly added Canary Islands, as well as the Portuguese islands of Madeira and the Azores, are also still on the UK travel corridors list (check devolved administrations, which have different policies). The rules for these are as follows:
Cyprus (test certificate required for entry)
Greece (passenger locator form to enter; check FCDO for islands that you can and cannot visit)
Portuguese islands (test on arrival)
Canary Islands (contact details to be provided to government)
These are all the countries you can visit, right now.
Take me away to…
Christmas in Antigua
Antigua is one of the world’s more accessible paradise islands – there are eight-hour flights from the UK. A lush verdant interior, scattered with colourful villages and churches, gives way to pristine sandy beaches and startling blue sea. Best of all, it's one of an ever-shrinking list of places you can actually visit right now.
Kuoni is offering a seven-night, all-inclusive holiday for a family of four in the Hillside Suite four-star Verandah Resort & Spa. The holiday departs Gatwick on December 21, flies with British Airways, and costs £8,999 total if you book before September 30.
Scott Dunn is offering an 11-night stay at Carlisle Bay, Antigua, from £27,000 based on a family of four travelling on December 23, staying in a two-bed beach balcony suite on a B&B basis, including return flights from London Gatwick with British Airways and private transfers.
Christmas in Barbados
Over on the west coast, where the soft-sand beaches are overseen by some of the Caribbean's most luxurious hotels, over-the-top villas and snazziest restaurants, Barbados lives up to its glamorous reputation. And, for now at least, you can travel without needing to go into quarantine (two tests are required, however).
First Choice Holidays is selling a seven-night trip to Barbados for a family of four for £7,357, departing on December 20. The beachfront hotel is Turtle Beach Resort, in St Lawrence.
Hays Travel is offering a seven-night stay (B&B) at the three-star Butterfly Hotel in Barbados for £999 per person on selected dates in December 2020.
Christmas in Dominica
With a towering, mountainous interior covered in dense rainforest, high-drop waterfalls, thermal springs and a boiling lake – not to mention rare parrots and agouti (something like giant rats) – Dominica is the Jurassic Park of the Caribbean. It's an exciting island for walkers, whether intent on gentle potters or embarking on arduous treks along sections of the Waitukubuli National Trail, which curls for 115 miles over the island.
Kenwood Travel is offering a seven-night escape to Dominica, for a family of four, for £9,164 staying at the Fort Young Hotel. Departs from Gatwick on December 21, flying economy with British Airways.
Christmas in St Lucia
With its lush landscapes and gorgeous coastline, a trip to St Lucia is an extremely tempting proposition at any time. But the weather is best December to April – perfect for a Christmas getaway, without the need to quarantine.
TUI offers a seven-night stay at the 5T Royalton St Lucia in Smugglers Cove on an all-inclusive basis. Prices start from £1,822 per person, based on two adults sharing and includes flights departing from London Gatwick airport on December 22 with transfers.
Christmas in the Canary Islands
Though a Spanish territory, the Canaries bear little resemblence to the country – lying close to northwestern Africa, the volcanic islands have year-round warm temperatures and surreal black-and-white sand beaches.
TUI offers a seven-night stay at the Los Zocos Club Resort Hotel in Lanzarote on an all-inclusive basis. Prices start from £854 per person, based on two adults sharing, and includes flights departing from London Gatwick on December 20 with transfers.
Christmas in the Maldives
It's hard to imagine a place more idyllic than the Maldives, with its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. The small archipelagic island country has long been ultimate destination for honeymoon bliss and luxury winter holidays.
Kuoni is offering a seven-night holiday to the Maldives, staying at the Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives resort, starting from £2,689 per person. This includes return flights departing from London Gatwick on December 21, all-includive board and transfers.
