Starter’s orders: don’t miss out in the rush for a great British break

With ministers striking a more upbeat tone about holidays ahead, you might need to act fast, writes Nick Trend

So, the good news is the Prime Minister is “optimistic” that we will be able to enjoy our summer holi- days this year. And while he “didn’t want to give too much concrete by way of dates”, he did say he will give more details in the last week of February and “people should certainly be able to plan on that basis”.

The implications of this – if it actually happens – are significant. Combined with the more negative mood music from government over when we might be able to travel abroad, it puts a huge emphasis on summer holidays in the UK and risks throwing some of us into a double bind. Many will rush to book holiday accommodation in the UK. But those of us who hold off in the hope we will be able to go abroad risk finding Britain booked solid if it turns out we can’t head overseas after all.

So what should we do? I remain optimistic that some foreign travel – even if it is limited – will be possible in the summer. But if you are looking for relative certainty, or for a holiday earlier than July, it is worth considering your strategy. Here are some key questions answered.

WILL WE BE ABLE TO BOOK

FOR EASTER?

It’s touch and go. We may know more on Feb 15, or when lockdown is reviewed on March 8, at which point, hopefully, schools will be back. Easter isn’t until another four weeks later, and last summer’s road map allowed food service providers, pubs and hotels to reopen just over a month after the first age groups were allowed back to school. So there is a good chance that at least some types of low-risk holiday accommodation – cottages and self-catering, for example – might be allowed to open for Easter. The best strategy is to wait for those government announcements and act quickly if they are positive.

HOW ABOUT SPRING AND SUMMER? If Easter proves a disappointment, then surely by May, or June at worst, we should at least be able to book some kind of holiday in this country. But there still may be restrictions. Not only can we expect to see a staged reopening of different types of accommodation, but we might well see limitations on the number of people who can meet or go on holiday together. Perhaps the rule of six may be reimposed, or accommodation rentals limited to single households. So be aware of these possibilities.

WHERE AND WHEN SHOULD I BOOK?

If you are looking for any sort of holiday in a popular part of the UK – on the coast or in the national parks – during the school summer holidays, you should definitely book sooner rather than later. Already, it is proving hard to find availability on the Cornish coast. For holidays in May and June (apart from the first week, which is half term), there is much less pressure but, as restrictions ease, you may have to move fast. As for September, I’d be inclined to book now.

WHAT IF I HAVE TO CANCEL? Normally when you book accommodation in this country, you are agreeing to a binding contract that you will pay even if you cancel. However, many companies are being more flexible, so check their policy and make sure you are happy with it. There are lots of reasons why you might have to cancel – there may be another lockdown, you or one of your children may be forced to self-isolate at the last minute, or one of you might get coronavirus. There are some travel insurance policies that cover cancellations, but none that I know of covers all such scenarios.