WHAT WILL SUMMER 2021 LOOK LIKE FOR TRAVELLERS?

WITH STAYCATIONS BACK ON THE AGENDA FOR SUMMER, A SLOW RETURN TO TRAVEL LOOKS IMMINENT. BUT WHAT ABOUT OVERSEAS? HERE’S A LOOK AHEAD TO WHAT THE SUMMER MIGHT HAVE IN STORE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL. WORDS: SARAH BARRELL

With campsites and self-catering accommodation set to reopen in England by 12 April, and hotels and B&Bs by 17 May, staycations seem set to dominate travel plans for the foreseeable future.

In the days following the prime minister’s announcement that the ban on non-essential travel could be lifted in May, subject to conditions for the government’s ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown being met, airlines, hotels and travel companies reported surges in demand. Optimism is creeping back, albeit tempered by the tough reality of remaining travel restrictions, travel corridors, quarantine hotels and new variants of the virus emerging.

What restrictions remain?

Restrictions on international travel — triple testing of passengers, mandatory quarantine hotels for travellers returning from ‘red list’ countries with high Covid-19 rates and 10-day mandatory quarantine for all other travellers — will remain in place until at least 17 May.

After this, international leisure travel will be dependent on travel corridor arrangements, vaccine passport programmes and destinations with quarantine-free access for vaccinated travellers.

When should I book?

With demand soaring, lockdown fatigue at a peak and travel companies needing a lifeline injection of cash, some people are choosing to take advantage of attractive deals on overseas trips, gambling on restrictions being eased in time for them to travel.

How should I book?

Pay with a credit card, to gain protection from Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, and use an ATOL-protected package tour operator, rather than booking the flights and hotel independently. Choose an operator with flexible rebooking terms and a record of good recent customer service.

Package holidays — which had waned in popularity — have seen a recent return to prominence as purchases are safeguarded by law if the company goes bust, and if travel corridor or lockdown rules preclude, you’ll be offered a trip to an alternative destination or the opportunity to claim a full refund.

Airlines, however, only have to refund you if they cancel a flight and may continue to operate even during lockdown. Once flights resume this summer, it’s unlikely they’ll be cancelled in the numbers we saw in 2020. Rebooking policies have become more flexible but often have an additional fee attached, so it’s worth doing some research.

Quarantines & corridors

The reality of a return to international travel will very much depend on which countries the UK has air corridors with. Most travellers will delay booking until this is clear, making last-minute trips the order of the summer.

Will I need a vaccination?

International leisure travel could resume with the aid of vaccine certificates — where those who want to travel abroad can verify their inoculations — and through testing for both inbound and outbound travellers. The British government is in talks with the USA, Singapore and the UN’s ICAO aviation body about an international certification system to ease travel restrictions for those with Covid-19 vaccinations — not dissimilar to the yellow fever vaccine card. These would likely be available to travellers after they’ve had their second dose of the vaccine. All adults in the UK are slated to get their first dose of the vaccine by 31 July.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said it’s currently in talks with the UK government about its digital Covid travel pass, which should be ready ‘within weeks’.

Hotels & resorts

Most accommodation providers now offer flexible cancellation and rebooking terms, but make sure you triple-check exclusions before handing over your credit card. Booking directly rather than via third-party bookings sites may make refunds and rebooking easier to access. So-called deep cleaning between guest bookings, contactless check-ins and social distancing are now established to varying degrees in most hotels, self-catering accommodation, cruise ships and resorts. Some companies, including cruise operator Saga, already require proof of complete vaccination before travel; others offer tests on arrival or departure.