This is the question hovering on many lips at the moment. We all want a relaxing and fun family holiday this year. But is it worth booking anywhere? What’s at stake? We thought we’d investigate the nuts and bolts of this conundrum.
Going abroad and getting caught by the lights
Countries are being rated red, amber, or green. In effect, and we’re summarising here, red is no go; amber is no go really, but if you do go and come back you’ll need to sort tests and accept home-based quarantine; and green, which is go, still requires you to sort tests.
Red is clear cut, obviously. However, there is a problem with the green countries. Their status can change and you get little notice. So if you head out when your chosen destination is green, you can’t be sure it won’t be amber by they time you return. And then you’re into home-based quarantine. It’s a right joy killer!
What about jabs?
Well, there is talk of vaccine passports but nothing concrete yet. However, it’s worth noting that the country to which you’re intending to travel could suddenly decide to put a scheme in place. So again, nothing is for sure.
Can you get travel insurance?
The terms that apply to your holiday insurance are theoretically those that were in place at the time you buy your policy. So you need to check them carefully; you mustn’t just click and not read the small print. Insurance companies will have clauses relating to Covid now, which will include reference to changes to restrictions and updates on things like vaccine passports, and some will explicitly exclude Covid related disruption.
Is there any way you can book a holiday abroad and be ok?
The short answer is no. However, as always, if you do decide to book, make sure your holiday is ATOL protected. That at least will enable you to recoup your losses if your holiday cannot go ahead for reasons beyond your control.
You might be happy to consider booking a holiday that offers a money-back guarantee too. Or at least offers you the option to rebook if necessary.
How can I keep my family safe?
We can’t answer this question in full, it’s a huge topic. However, we can suggest that if you’re worried about the risk of infection, there are plenty of options that enable you to go self-catering. You can also then pick entertainment that doesn’t require the family to all be inside, or crammed into groups where it’s hard to socially distance.
What about booking holidays in the UK?
It’s always worth a look, though prices are high and many places are booked up. The key is to find a hotel or accommodation that offers you flexibility if you need to cancel.
The other great thing to bear in mind is that the UK does offer a truly wonderful breadth of choice. You can enjoy anything from an island hop, to a city break, to camping in a forest. And if you perhaps fill your heads with ideas of walking, pub lunches, and kids outdoor activities, you might come up trumps. It’s all there! It then just becomes a matter of getting your head around the weather, and our answer to that is… pack lots of clothes and have fun.