Double-jabbed? 100 holidays to book now

Yes! The rules for British holidaymakers are finally being relaxed, and we can start celebrating travel once again. Nick Trend introduces our special bumper guide to the best summer trips

At last it feels as though summer has finally started. The news that double-vaccinated travellers can return from amber zone countries without having to self-isolate is like having a huge surge of sunshine and optimism injected into our holiday veins.

The world isn’t quite our oyster yet, but most of Europe is. From July 19 it will be feasible for most of us to visit the key destinations in Europe. Suddenly the beaches of Greece and Spain, the Alpine peaks of Switzerland, the bosky backwaters of Normandy and the villages of Provence are open to us once more.

Hope has been transformed into expectation. Tour operators can go ahead with their schedules and the millions of people who had already booked packages for the school vacation will be able to travel after all. In short, the great curse of cancellations and postponements has (touch wood) been lifted.

So, how should you best take advantage of your new freedoms? By way of celebration, our travel experts have trawled the websites and the brochures and talked to the best tour operators. We have come up with 100 suggestions for family holidays that are still available this summer. Whether you are travelling as a family, flying solo or looking for a romantic break; whether you want to get the blood pumping or relax in indulgent luxury, we have some enticing options for you.

Our holiday suggestions range from camping in France to floating through Finland; from whale-watching in the Azores to cruising around the islands of Croatia.

Of course, we also have to sound a cautionary note. Nothing is certain in this uncertain world. While we have suddenly become much freer to travel, we still have to rely on our friends to welcome us back. And there is a risk some countries may start to get spooked by the UK’s current infection rates. So on page 4 we answer all your key questions about the new rules, and steps you need to take to minimise any potential problems that may arise.

But, while we still have to tread a little carefully, there is no doubt that this is the best news we have had for months. It’s time to start celebrating travel once again.

Time to splash out: there are now far more holiday destinations to choose from for double-vaccinated travellers