The government has dropped plans for all primary school years in England to go back to school before the end of term.

Many families may be considering an earlier summer break – not least to avoid the usual July and August prices.

But the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions involved could make it a fraught experience.

Give me a ticket for an aeroplane (and the rest of the family, too)

I could do, because flights from UK airports are continuing. There are around 40 to and from Heathrow each day. But the “five tests” on travel abroad for fun are certainly not running in your favour right now.

What are they?

1. Can you reach the airport, sea port or international rail station?

Not according to legislation in any of the four UK nations unless it is an essential journey. Holidays don’t count.

2. Has the Foreign Office warning against overseas travel been lifted?

No, although 12 weeks after it was abruptly imposed there are signs that the government advice may finally be eased.

3. Is there a flight, ferry or train to my destination?

That is one part of the picture that is steadily improving. From 15 June, the number of flight options will sharply increase, with easyJet launching a skeleton service of routes and carriers such as Lufthansa adding links to and from the UK.

Cross-channel ferry services to and from Dover; the Eurotunnel shuttle between Folkestone and Calais; and Eurostar trains between London, Paris and Brussels have continued to operate throughout the emergency. But, as with any form of public transport, they are reserved for essential journeys.

Mostly, not right now. A wide range of restrictions, quarantine measures and outright bans are still in force. And as it becomes clear that the UK’s Covid-19 infection rate is way above other countries, specific restrictions may be imposed. For example, the Netherlands has just imposed a 14-day quarantine requirement for travellers from the UK.

5. Can I tolerate any quarantine rules on return to the UK?

That is your call, of course. The home secretary, Priti Patel, has brought in the requirement for almost all arrivals at UK airports, ferry ports and international rail terminals to self-isolate at home for two weeks. 


So when do you think things will get better?

Many destination countries have signalled a return to normality, or at least the new normal, from 1 July. This is also the date when airlines including easyJet and Ryanair are stepping up their operations.

Tui, the UK’s biggest package-holiday firm, plans to start up again on 1 July. But its rival, Jet2, has cancelled everything up to and including 14 July.

The later you can wait, probably the better your chances.

I heard that Spain, Greece and France don’t want us?

Spain’s tourism minister, Maria Reyes, has said she is concerned about inviting British travellers to a country that has endured an extremely harsh lockdown and is emerging from its Covid-19 crisis. But there is a sense that her words were aimed at reassuring the locals rather than warning of UK visitors, while hoping that British infection rates decline.

Her counterpart in Greece, Harry Theoharis, has warned that British tourists may have special measures – possibly involving mandatory coronavirus checks for all – on arrival. Again, that warning may be eased if the UK’s performance improves.
France is taking its time on opening up – and, in retribution for the UK’s quarantine rule, is requiring arrivals from Britain to self-isolate for 14 days. This will be abolished as and when the UK abandoned quarantine, at least from France.

When might the quarantine measures end?

The only certainty: 8 June 2021. But the concept of “travel corridors” or “air bridges” has been floated by the Department for Transport (DfT) as the best way to limit the damage that 14-day self-isolation measures are causing to the UK travel industry.

These are “no-quarantine” treaties of convenience signed with key destination countries. They would allow the government to maintain a fiction of enforcing quarantine while nullifying it for the vast majority of travellers.

There has been an unprecedented amount of briefing and counter-briefing between the pro- and anti-quarantine factions within government, but I am very confident that some time between 29 June and 20 July they will end.

So you could, for example, book a fortnight’s holiday on 7 July and be pretty confident quarantine on return will not be a problem.

What sort of deals are available?

Ryanair has some implausibly low deals for July – such as £26 return from Manchester to Palma in Mallorca on 7 July for a fortnight.

From Luton to Faro, the gateway to the Portuguese Algarve, with easyJet on 14 July, returning on 23 July, the fare is £65.

But you might feel more secure with a package holiday – because then, if the trip cannot operate for some reason, you will get all your money back. Travelling out from Doncaster-Sheffield to the Greek island of Kos on 15 July, Tui has a week’s self-catering for £375 per person.

Prices are likely to surge when the brakes finally come off.

What about travel insurance?

Policies bought before mid-March may still cover for coronavirus-related claims. If you have an annual policy, you should check with your insurer.

New policies are much more restricted. Travel insurers face heavy losses, particularly from cancellation claims. With continuing uncertainty, many have “paused” providing cover.

There are still providers of new policies around, but many are excluding cover for Covid-19. One of the largest providers, Columbus Direct, says: "We are no longer able to offer cover for claims arising from, or related to, coronavirus."

Other insurers, such as related cancellations, but may still cover coronavirus hospitalisation abroad.

Staysure says: "If you develop Covid-19 while on holiday and need help, you’ll be covered as long as you have declared your pre-existing conditions."

But other events related to coronavirus, including cancellations, are not covered.

Travelling against Foreign Office travel advice invalidates standard travel insurance policies.

For visits within the European Union, the EHIC scheme is still in operation for British travellers to the end of the year and will provide medical treatment on the same basis as local people in public hospitals across the EU.

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