How to guarantee yourself an overseas holiday this summer

With certainty in short supply, Nick Trend suggests we readjust our destination expectations and go with the flow

As I write we are still waiting to hear the details of the report from the Government’s Travel Taskforce on four key criteria that must be met before we are allowed to leave the country again. They concern infection rates, vaccination levels and efficacy of vaccines.

While the report may give us more details of the proposed new trafficlight system, and might even confirm a handful of destinations which are looking promising for a green light, it is hard to see how it will be able to deliver the one thing which everyone is craving: certainty. Being clear about the basis on which the Government will make its decisions would help. As would committing to giving reasonable notice about when it switches the classification of destinations. We do not want another situation like last summer where restrictions were imposed on Spain with only a few hours’ notice.

Steps also need to be taken to make testing more affordable, and, crucially, the travel industry must be given the support it needs. We cannot afford the disruption, or the loss of expertise and infrastructure – and, of course, jobs – that would follow the collapse of a major travel company.

But the Government cannot control what happens overseas, nor the emergence and spread of variants, nor the effectiveness of vaccines against them. And because of that, it will inevitably have to remain wary of committing too far in advance. May 17 – the proposed restart date – is still five weeks away. And that is more than enough time for infection rates in a country to double or even triple, as France and Germany have only just proved.

So what is the answer? It does look pretty clear that travel will open up again this summer; we just won’t know for sure how or when different destinations will get the green (or amber) light.

So let’s readjust our brains, the better to cope with the uncertainty – and perhaps even make a virtue of it. Here’s how.

Be spontaneous

By which I really mean book two or

If you have had a problem with your holiday or travel arrangements, contact our troubleshooter, Gill Charlton, or our consumer expert,

Nick Trend, at the email address below.

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Give chance a chance

Don’t set your heart on a particular destination weeks in advance, but choose from the green list at the time of booking. You might end up with an alternative you had never considered before – Gozo instead of Greece perhaps, or Cyprus instead of Sicily. But take that as a positive – you may be pleasantly surprised.

Relish the bargains

This, hopefully, will be the big upside for consumers this summer. While peak season holidays in the UK have all but sold out and prices have soared, it is hard to see that happening in the Med. Your flexibility should give you the best chance of finding an excellent deal.

Savour the sights

While – weather permitting – British beaches, national parks and holiday attractions will be packed this summer, the same is unlikely to be true of those which usually attract more international attention. The Costas will be quiet, the promenades peaceful and the attractions that much more attractive. It’s a fascinating prospect.

i Be prepared to swap Greece for Gozo, below, if need be