Our expert predicts if we will get to have fun in the sun this year Wish you there... or maybe not
AS we face into 2021, outbound travel has almost ground to a halt.
But frustrated holidaymakers are keener than ever to bag some sunshine this summer –even though we can’t even consider travelling until June at the earliest.
With vaccinations under way, should you book your foreign holiday now? We asked expert Eoghan Corry for his advice…
Is it too early to book a summer holiday abroad?
January is normally high booking season but most travel people have decided that April will be the new January this year.
Airlines and holiday companies have put full schedules in place for summer 2021, and are hoping that good news on vaccines, testing and health data will combine to provide enough confidence to book.
They were also likely to offer massive seat sales, on a scale not seen since November 2009. That is no longer certain. New testing regimes could add €300 per person on to the cost of a return flight.
What happens if I book and then change my mind?
Airlines were very reluctant to give refunds in 2020 if the flight went ahead. It caused a major breach in confidence for people planning to book.
The airlines have brought in more flexible options, emphasising no-fee date changes rather than refunds, but these tend to be time limited with many airlines and not apply to bookings after this spring.
They will hold out on not offering flexibility on the peak summer season as long as they can.
Which resorts are deemed safest?
The Canaries have been the poster child of international travel, with 14-day cumulative infection rates that are a tiny fraction of other countries. Greece, especially the islands, is also low on the charts. Resorts across mainland Europe and the islands brought in strict measures for last summer which worked.
The problems lie elsewhere, rising rates across all of Europe have caused panic, lockdowns, curfews and now talk of disconnecting air routes. If
Europe continues to play whacka-mole with the virus, bouncing regions in and out of lockdown, it makes it very difficult for a family to plan a holiday or an airline or holiday company to plan a programme.
Do I need the vaccine or will a negative Covid-19 test do?
Testing regimes vary from country to country. Portugal does not require PCR tests, Spain does. France and Germany require antigen tests. Netherlands require both. The US reopens its borders on Tuesday, and, so far, antigen tests will do. But countries have a habit of changing their regulations at very short notice. The EU wanted a two-week limit on changes, but members states rejected this.
Will I pay more for my holiday?
Airline fares are very cheap at the moment because lead-in time to booking has reduced. That will end as airlines park up their aircraft rather than fly them at a loss, which is already happening.
Ryanair and Aer Lingus will cut flights to a dribble between now and April.
They still expect to fly most of the fleet in summer, but will make a decision in March based on forward bookings. Tour operators and travel agents still have their programmes in place. Because of rising costs, prices may creep about 25% for hotels and packages.
Are pubs open abroad? Do I have to wear a face mask on the beach?
Face masks outdoors are not the norm, but things can change by region. Beaches are marked out for social distancing in most resorts. Restaurant regulations tend to be laxer abroad than at home, but crowded venues are banned everywhere. Some countries have curfews, which are not the norm in Ireland.
Are cruises still off the menu?
Cruises reopened out of ports in Italy and other locations but not for international travellers. Cruise companies have a good track record on safety because they have been dealing with Norovirus for decades and have elaborate safety systems in place. But the damage caused by outbreaks such as Diamond Princess are making it difficult to attract new customers.
Do I have to self-isolate?
Self-isolation is still required for returning passengers from all destinations. A dilemma is what politician will have the courage to change this, even if numbers decrease to numbers we saw last summer, when the measures were introduced. Travel was effectively banned when Ireland’s 14-day cumulative was 4.8.
Eoghan Corry is an awardwinning journalist, editor and author, and lead commentator on travel on Irish radio and television.
Airline fares are very cheap at the moment because lead-in time to booking has reduced
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