Green light means GO GO GO !
At long last the Government’s signalled summer holidays are back on. From the required tests to the most likely destinations, here’s everything you need to ESCAPE
This is a watershed moment. Transport secretary Grant shapps has come to his senses at last, with travel abroad possible from as early as May 17. ‘i’m not advising against booking summer holidays,’ he said yesterday, cautiously encouraging people to start planning trips as he laid out new travel rules.
Overseas trips are to be permitted under a ‘traffic light’ country classification scheme with different requirements: n Green countries will not require a return quarantine, although pre-departure Covid tests will be necessary and a further test when back. n AMber nations will need a ten- day return quarantine, a pre-departure Covid test and two tests on return. n red-lisTed countries will require you to pay for ten days in a ‘quarantine hotel’ on return (£1,750), plus a pre-departure test and two others on return.
but which countries will be classed ‘green’? That is the big question and the answer will only be known in ‘two or three weeks’ when the list is announced, says shapps. however, on the evidence of current Covid cases as well as vaccine take-up, it is probable that favourite countries such as spain, France, italy, Portugal, Greece, Croatia and Turkey may not be on the initial ‘green list’. here are our predictions of which nations might squeeze on...
MALTA MANIA
AT The moment, Malta has its own ‘traffic light’ system in place and no outside nations are deemed ‘green’. The UK does not even make it onto the ‘amber’ list requiring Covid tests before arrival.
but this will change from June 1 when britons who show proof of full vaccination (both jabs) received at least ten days before
arrival will be allowed to enjoy the country’s cities and beaches.
Malta is the second most vaccinated country in Europe after the UK, with nearly 40 per cent of adults having had the first dose. A ‘Sunny and Safe’ campaign to introduce social distancing and hygiene protocols at restaurants, hotels and bars has been put in place. PROPORTION OF POPULATION RECEIVED FIRST VACCINE: 37 per cent. WHAT THEY SAY: Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo says that with the continued rollout of the vaccine in Malta the country will be able ‘to slowly and safely reopen tourism to fully vaccinated Britons’ by the summer. TEMPERATURE IN JULY: 27c. CHEAPEST FLIGHT THIS SUMMER: From £70 return (Malta Air, Luton). FLIGHT TIME: 3h 15m. HOW TO DO IT: Luxury: A week at Gremzul, a three-bedroom villa in Gozo, from £1,087pp with flights in July ( ba.com). Budget: Seven nights B&B at Maritim Antonine Hotel and Spa in Mellieha Bay from £582pp with flights in July ( tui.co.uk). GREEN LIST CHANCE: 8/10.
ISRAEL OPENS UP
IN February, Israel suspended all international flights to allow time for its citizens and potential visitors to receive vaccinations. These resumed in March and Wizz Air flights are now available from Luton to Tel Aviv from as little as £93 return in late May. Easyjet, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways also offer flights.
Israel currently is restricting entry to its own citizens or those with close family connections, but this is expected to change soon. Gatherings are restricted to 20 people indoors and 50 outdoors. restaurants at hotels have a 50 per cent maximum capacity with no buffets. Swimmers in pools must maintain two-metre social distancing. PROPORTION OF POPULATION RECEIVED FIRST VACCINE: 61 per cent. WHAT THEY SAY: The tourist board says Israel is in consultation with ‘governments of certain “green” countries’, which could well include Britain. Tourism Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen says she expects to approve a roadmap for a tourism restart in the next week with fully vaccinated foreign visitors (with both jabs) allowed first. CHEAPEST FLIGHT THIS SUMMER: From £ 131 return ( Wi z z Air, Luton). FLIGHT TIME: 4h 50m. TEMPERATURE IN JULY: 29c. HOW TO DO IT: Luxury: Seven nights B&B at The Jaffa in Tel Aviv from £1,702pp with flights in August ( virginholidays.co.uk). Budget: A week B&B at Prima Palace in Jerusalem from £635pp with flights in July ( easyjet.com). GREEN LIST CHANCE: 9/10.
AMERICAN DREAM
president Biden has signed an executive order requiring facemasks to be worn on aircraft and at airports. Most British nationals have been barred from entering the U.S. since March 20 last year.
But with a massive mass vaccination rollout in the past 100 days that has seen 104 million people (more than 30 per cent of the adult population) vaccinated, the new president has been making positive sounds about re-opening the U.S. border to Britain, Europe, Mexico and Canada.
President Biden also says that enough vaccination doses will be available for the entire population by April 19. PROPORTION OF POPULATION RECEIVED FIRST VACCINE: 34 per cent. WHAT THEY SAY: A source in the Biden administration has said the president is ‘looking toward the middle of May’ to lift travel bans on Britons and those from the EU. TEMPERATURE IN JULY: 28c (in Florida). CHEAPEST FLIGHT THIS SUMMER: From £ 447 return to Orlando (Gatwick, Tui).
ALEXANDER SATTLER
FLIGHT TIME: 9h (to Orlando). HOW TO DO IT: Luxury: A 12-night B&B tour of the Deep South, including New Orleans and Nashville is from £2,135pp. Flights not included but can be arranged ( trailfinders.com). Budget: A week room- only at Disney’s All- star Movies resort in Orlando from £1,108pp (saving £569pp) with flights in July. ( firstchoice.co.uk). GREEN LIST CHANCE: 7/10
SUNNY SEYCHELLES
VISITOrS need to show proof of a negative PCr test taken a minimum of 72 hours before departure. They must also have proof of travel health insurance to cover Covid (including potential costs of self-isolation if you fall ill in the country). It is also required to complete a Health Travel Authorisation form ( at seychelles.
govtas.com). This is essential for travel and will be required at check-in. Visitors will not be allowed to board a flight otherwise. F acemasks are mandatory in public places and visitors are ‘advised to avoid prolonged interactions with the local community’, says the tourist board. Public restaurants and bars are closed but hotel restaurants are open. As of Thursday, there have been a total of 4,395 infections here since the pandemic began, with 24 deaths. PROPORTION OF POPULATION RECEIVED FIRST VACCINE: 66 per cent. WHAT THEY SAY: T ourism Minister Sylvestre Radegonde wants visitors back to reverse the ‘ bashing’ to tourist numbers last year, which fell 70 per cent. TEMPERATURE IN JULY: 26c. CHEAPEST FLIGHT THIS SUMMER: From £604 return (Qatar Air - ways, via Doha). FLIGHT TIME: 13h. HOW TO DO IT: Luxury: A week half-board at Constance Ephelia from £2,055pp (saving up to 35 per cent) with flights in July. ( kuoni.co.uk). Budget: Seven nights B&B at Coco de Mer Hotel from £1,393pp with flights in July ( destinology.co.uk). GREEN LIST CHANCE: 9/10.
CARIBBEAN CHARM
BARBADOS, which began its vaccination programme last month using AstraZeneca jabs, looks a likely candidate for ‘green country’ status.
Meanwhile, St Lucia also began an AstraZeneca vaccination rollout last month, as has Grenada — both via ship - ments arranged as a gift by the government of India.
Social distancing is in place on each island with roadmap to ending lockdowns in various stages. But Caribbean island insiders say these three countries are most likely to be first to go ‘green’.
PROPORTION OF POPULATION RECEIVED FIRST VACCINE: Barbados, 22 per cent, St Lucia, 11 per cent, Grenada, no data. WHAT THEY SAY: Jeffrey Bostic, Health Minister in Barbados, said: ‘V accines represent a significant step forward… to return to as close as possible to the quality of life that we are accustomed to living.’
St Lucia ’s P rime Minister Allen Chastanet said he has been ‘ encouraged’ by the vaccination take-up.
In Grenada, P rime Minister Keith Mitchell is pushing for tourist sector employees to get jabs. TEMPERATURE IN JULY: 27c. CHEAPEST FLIGHT THIS SUMMER: From £373 (V irgin Atlantic, Heathrow). FLIGHT TIME: 8h 50m (to Barbados). HOW TO DO IT: Barbados — luxury: A week B&B at South Beach Hotel from £2,964pp with flights in July ( kuoni.co. uk); budget: Seven nights allinclusive at Mango Bay from £1,169pp (saving £600pp) with flights in August ( tropicalsky. co.uk).
St Lucia — luxury: A week all-inclusive at BodyHoliday from £2,655pp (saving 25 per cent) with flights in June ( dialaflight. com); budget: Seven nights all-inclusive at adults-only Bel Jou Hotel from £1,084pp with flights in August ( onthebeach.co.uk).
Grenada — luxury: A week all- inclusive at Calabash Boutique Hotel from £2,255pp with flights in August ( carrier.