So will our summer hols EVER take off?
The rules have changed again. But don’t despair... here’s our guide to the sunny hotspots you should aim for this year
YOU could be forgiven for being confused, if not bemused. With the Government bringing in a ‘red list’ — where British tourists returning from 33 countries have to quarantine in hotels (paying up to £1,500) — travel prospects have taken a turn for the worse.
And what of other countries? Spain’s position seems to change daily. Holidays by the spring would be fine, officials said. This shifted to ‘fine in the summer’ . . . then once again to ‘fine, but after autumn’.
In short, booking a holiday has become a minefield. Yet hopes are high that summer trips will be possible this year — and there are huge bargains to be had.
The simple rule is to buy a package holiday from a reputable tour operator that offers a refund in the event of a cancellation (see our tips overleaf). So here’s what is happening in Europe and beyond, with the likelihood of holidays marked out of five palm trees . . .
MAKE IT MALTA
TINY Malta may become Europe’s first entirely inoculated country. It is expected to have herd immunity by summer.
Restaurants are open but flights to and from the UK were suspended in late December due to the new variant. However, as an island reliant on tourism, it’s reasonable to assume we’ll be welcomed this summer. WHAT THEY SAY: Malta’s health minister has backed the introduction of vaccine passports but the island’s Hotels & Restaurants Association is against this, saying it would exclude most of those under the age of 65. CHANCES OF A SUMMER HOLIDAY?
GOOD FOR GREECE
NO COUNTRY has been more welcoming to British tourists during the pandemic than Greece, which continued to roll out the red carpet even when UK cases were rising exponentially. Hopes are high for this year, with the holiday season expected to begin in May. Greece has been in lockdown since November and bars, restaurants and hotels remain shut. Arrivals are currently required to show proof of a negative test and then quarantine for seven days, but this is likely to change by the summer. WHAT THEY SAY: Greece has proposed that the EU introduces a ‘vaccination passport’ scheme but has ruled out a ban on those who haven’t been inoculated. Instead, there will be fewer restrictions for those who have been vaccinated. CHANCES OF A SUMMER HOLIDAY?
SPAIN’S SUNNY OUTLOOK
EIGHTEEN million of us jet to Spain each year. Like the UK, the country is in its second Covid wave, recording its highest infection rate this week. A state of alert is in effect until May 9, with regions implementing different measures.
Most hotels closed down after last summer but many plan to reopen in spring. Bars and restaurants remain open in some regions with strict measures.
WHAT THEY SAY: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been cautious, indicating that tourism will only resume once 70 per cent of its population has been vaccinated — expected to be in autumn. However, tourism minister Reyes Maroto says Spain is working ‘intensely’ to receive international tourists as early as late spring.
CHANCES OF A SUMMER HOLIDAY?
UNSURE IN ITALY
FORMER Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt seems confident that Italian holidays will be possible this year, having booked one for himself in the May half-term. So what are his chances? One of the worst-hit countries in Europe, Italy’s state of emergency has been extended until the end of April, and residents are banned from crossing regional borders.
A curfew is in place from 10pm to 5am but restaurants and bars can open on certain days until 6pm. British tourists must stay away until at least March 5. The country plans to vaccinate all adults by September. WHAT THEY SAY: Italy has been a little vague about holidays this summer, but tourism minister Dario Franceschini says ‘Italian tourism will return very quickly’ after the pandemic. CHANCES OF A SUMMER HOLIDAY?
COUNT ON CROATIA
THE country enjoyed a busy summer 2020 compared to neighbours, which caused a spike in infections late last year. But officials are keen to reopen to tourists soon.
Croatia may begin easing restrictions on Sunday as infection rates continue to fall. Bars, restaurants and hotels have been closed since the end of November but are likely to reopen in the coming months. WHAT THEY SAY: Croatian tourism chief Veljko Ostojic said holidays could resume by Easter but will most likely be from mid May. CHANCES OF A SUMMER HOLIDAY?
LET’S GO TO MONTENEGRO
THIS may be the year to try something new, and you won’t go wrong with a trip to minuscule Montenegro, packed with majestic mountains and spectacular beaches.
Travellers have been free to enter without evidence of a negative test since mid- January. Montenegro doesn’t even have passenger locator or health declaration forms. Restaurants, cafes and hotels are open. WHAT THEY SAY: Montenegro’s foreign minister said its vaccination programme means it could be ‘corona-safe’ before the start of the summer season and its restriction-free stance is set to remain in 2021. CHANCES OF A SUMMER HOLIDAY?
DOUBTS OVER FRANCE
MANY of us will be hoping to avoid flying and make use of the Eurotunnel and Eurostar this year. But the outlook is uncertain as heavy restrictions on overseas visitors remain. A third French lockdown looks imminent after a record number of cases last week. France has vaccinated a million residents but could face a potential shortage as its laboratories struggle to keep up. WHAT THEY SAY: Restaurants will stay shut until April 6 at the earliest. Ski lifts remain closed and are unlikely to reopen before the end of the season. CHANCES OF A SUMMER HOLIDAY?
TREAT YOURSELF TO TURKEY
TURKEY was dropped from the UK’s travel corridor list in October after under-report
Turkey’s rich history, delicious food and sensational beaches could be yours this summer
ing infection numbers — so it will need to prove its stats are accurate to be on the uK’s travel corridor list. The country is rolling out its vaccination programme fairly quickly and is seeing a gradual decline in cases. British travellers are currently banned but once the vaccine is rolled out and lockdown is lifted, it’s not far-fetched to expect we’ll be welcomed back this summer. WHAT THEY SAY: The Turkey Hoteliers
Federation F has said a target has h been set to welcome ‘25 to 30 3 million visitors in 2021’. CHANCES C OF A SUMMER SU HOLIDAY?
CHANCE C ON CYPRUS
THTHe popular eastern Mediterranean raMediterranean island was one of the firfirst countries to open to totourists last year, pledging to papay for hospital treatment if a touristto tested positive there. LLockdown rules will be eased nenext week following a fall in infinfections but its 9pm curfew wiwill stay as will its ban on resrestaurants and bars opening. CCyprus is vaccinating at a sloslow pace, beginning with the oveover-90s. Most hotels closed aftafter the summer season and are likely to reopen in spring. WHAT WH THEY SAY: deputy tourism minminister savvas Perdios has saisaid airports will be opened to all oon March 1. Those vaccinated will not need a PCr test to enter. CHANCES OF A SUMMER HOLIDAY?
ODDS-ON FOR ISRAEL
nO COunTrY is rolling out its vaccination programme faster than Israel, but the country closed its international airport last week due to a rise in infections. Israel’s health ministry aims to see 5.2 million of its eight million citizens vaccinated by March.
The country is mulling two forms of ‘green booklet’, effectively a vaccine passport, one which will be valid for the 72 hours after a negative Covid test result and another which would be permanent for those vaccinated. WHAT THEY SAY: The government expects to open up to international tourists ‘in the middle of 2021’. The Tourism Ministry has launched a sleek campaign, Bring Tourism Back to Israel, fronted by Israeli model shir elmaliach. CHANCES OF A SUMMER HOLIDAY?