What Telegraph readers really think about travel

This week’s live event for subscribers gave Nick Trend some fascinating insights into your concerns and experiences

I often hear from individuals with specific problems, but it’s rare to get a direct experience of what readers are thinking about travel more generally. So it was fascinating to be involved in our How to Travel in 2022 Telegraph Live event for subscribers on Wednesday evening.

Hundreds dialled into the event which focused on the practical and strategic challenges we all face as the world (hopefully) emerges from the pandemic. And you contributed dozens of questions and suggestions, giving a detailed insight into where and when readers are thinking of travelling, your recent experiences and your concerns in these uncertain times.

The biggest worries were about keeping up with the latest requirements on testing, vaccination, boosters and form filling in the UK and abroad. We keep abreast of developments at telegraph.co.uk/travel, but it is also worth using the Foreign Office advice website (gov.uk/foreign-traveladvice) as a regular port of call before travelling and while abroad.

While vaccination requirements are likely to remain an issue for some time, there does seem to be a general easing of testing rules around the world as well as in the UK. For example, Switzerland removed the need for a pre-arrival test for vaccinated travellers this week. The various forms do seem daunting at first, but in practice they are normally very straightforward to complete and certainly nothing to worry about.

Mask-wearing on planes was another area of concern and there was a wide spectrum of views about the pros and cons. Some readers found the idea of wearing one for a whole flight off-putting, while others were worried about lack of compliance. James found some positivity in the Covid protocols: “I have just flown to Kenya; wearing a mask for eight and a half hours didn’t bother me. Plane was super clean; toilets were cleaned three times during the flight… felt safe.”

Val pointed out that some people on her flight to Lanzarote sipped drinks for four hours to avoid wearing a mask. Overall, it is likely that mask-wearing requirements will be common on flights for some time to come.

Concerns about cruises also ranked highly. How safe were they, what were the risks of cancellation, what would happen if you tested positive on a ship? Jacqueline offered reassurance on the latter: “We have just done a Caribbean cruise and felt safer on the boat than in a supermarket. The cruise company was exceptional with anyone who tested positive.”

My feeling is that cruising will probably offer excellent value this year, but it is worth checking that you are happy about how the protocols on social distancing, mask-wearing and so on will affect life on board and shore excursions. Its is also key that the booking conditions give you flexibility to cancel or postpone if you wish.

There were two other prominent issues which I regularly mention on this page. First, will insurance cover cancellation costs? The answer is that most policies will cover you if you have to cancel after testing positive or falling ill, but none will do so if you simply decide you don’t want to travel – see telegraph. co.uk/tt-insurance. Second, do we advise booking a package rather than travelling independently? The answer to that is yes, because it gives you much better financial and legal protection. And if you can’t or don’t want to book a package, then pay particular attention to the terms and conditions of your accommodation booking – if you have to cancel, that is where you normally stand to lose most.

Cruise control: readers wanted to know how safe ships were and what would happen if they tested positive onboard