At last! The world opens up again
A relaxation of travel rules for the double-jabbed and the return of holiday favourites such as the Maldives, Turkey, Egypt and Oman means we can start planning once more, says Nick Trend
This is the best weekend for holidays since that reluctant and hesitant reopening of international travel back on May 17. After four months of sudden backtracks, endless tinkering, confusion and uncertainty, the announcement constitutes a proper, fundamental reform of the ridiculously complicated series of restrictions and requirements which have been imposed on travellers – and the beleaguered travel industry – this summer.
Finally, the vaccinated at least will be able to travel without the risk and worry of a positive pre-departure test ruining the end of their holiday and preventing them even from returning home. At last the costs of compulsory testing is set to fall rather than rise. For the vaccinated it will drop from about £100 to £30.
Indeed, while obviously not wanting to tempt fate, it seems that we finally do have a glimpse of the sunlit uplands and we can start to make serious travelling plans again. Friday’s announcement not only rationalised the traffic light scheme and testing requirements, it also removed a handful of countries from the red list. This was a disappointment for some who were expecting a more radical revision and the opening up of large parts of South America and Africa. It seems we will have to wait a bit longer for that.
However, from this Wednesday it will be possible to travel to holiday favourites such as Turkey, Egypt, the Maldives and Oman without having to go into quarantine on our return to the UK, provided we are double-jabbed. That’s a huge boost for winter sun-seekers, and it puts Istanbul back on the city break map.
On the following pages we examine the full implications of the new rules, both for vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers. And we also celebrate those destinations which have been taken off the no-go list, so you can start planning your holidays again.