While the addition of some of the most popular holiday destinations to the Government’s green list for travel next Wednesday was welcome news, look closer and the reality is that only Malta will be placed on the list – and it has been reported by the Times of Malta that it will tighten the requirements for UK visitors, allowing only the fully vaccinated to avoid quarantine.
The Balearic Islands, Madeira, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos are “at risk” of moving from the green watchlist to amber at short notice.
While most of Thursday’s green/green watchlist additions welcome UK arrivals , there is growing support within the EU for quarantine to be imposed on UK arrivals across the bloc.
The best protection will be offered by an Atol-bonded package holiday with flexible booking conditions, preferably allowing fee-free changes as close to the departure date as possible.
TUI is currently selling holidays to destinations on the green and amber lists over the summer, with red destinations cancelled until at least 21 July – check government requirements carefully at either end of the journey before booking.
Jet2 Holidays’ “Traffic Light Policy” states that flights and holidays to green list destinations will commence from Thursday 1 July, with amber and red list destinations cancelled until at least 14 July and 21 July respectively.
Cancelled flights should be refunded within seven days – or alternative flights provided – however, many flights have been operating to amber destinations regardless of the status change.
TUI offers fee-free changes to holidays up to 14 days before departure, but thereafter fees are incurred.
Changes close to the date of departure, or indeed while in a destination , are likely to incur fees that cannot be recovered by a travel insurance policy.
Firstly, check the Foreign Office’s destination advice – if it is against non-essential travel, this is likely to invalidate most travel insurance policies.
It is important to take out travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked a holiday.
The next green list review is likely to be 16 July, when it is hoped more detail will be released on the relaxation of quarantine rules for travellers returning from amber destinations.
Testing would continue to be a requirement – with all the associated paperwork, hurdles and cost – but this change would essentially turn amber destinations green for the fully vaccinated.