After almost a year of lockdown, many of us are dreaming of a change of scene in 2021. But the impact of COVID-19 means it’s no longer as simple as just packing a suitcase.
There are travel corridors to negotiate and compulsory testing for some destinations, along with gaping holes in travel insurance cover. Even if you’re planning to stay in the UK, the current tier system says only those in tiers 1 and 2 are allowed to travel freely. Tier 3 and 4 residents should stay local.
What’s more many of us are still chasing refunds from airlines or holiday companies after the swathe of cancellations this year. So, with this much uncertainty, how do we avoid ending up in the same position again?
Here’s everything you should consider before booking a holiday for 2021, both in the UK or abroad.
We don’t know what local restrictions will be at the time of travel
Under the current system, the government has said those from any tier can travel internationally. But it is not advised for those in tier 3 and 4. These residents should also not travel around the UK, except locally, or as part of a wider essential journey.
Rules can change overnight, and there’s no way of predicting what restrictions will be in place at the time of travel. For instance, if you book a cottage in the UK for two households – but are only allowed to holiday with your own family (under tier 2 restrictions) – this may result in a fight to get your money back.
Alternatively, you may book a cottage in a tier 2 location, which closer to the date of travel is pushed into a higher tier. All accommodation in those areas will be forced to close, meaning you should be refunded. But some hosts may ask you to move your dates instead.
And what about trips overseas? Even if tough local restrictions prevent you from leaving the area, your flight will likely still operate – meaning you’ll lose your money. If you do book a trip abroad, choose a package holiday with a company that promises to refund quickly.
Refunds are still owed from earlier in the pandemic
Some holiday companies have now been breaking the law on refunds for more than six months. And recent research carried out by Which? shows £1bn in refunds is being unlawfully withheld.
The competition regulator has now launched an investigation into whether airlines broke the law when they refused to refund customers for flights they could not take because of national, regional or local lockdowns.
Before booking, ask yourself if you can afford to have your money tied up for what could be months.
You might not be covered by insurance
If your trip is cancelled because of government restrictions or a change in Foreign Office (FCDO) advice – and your holiday company won’t refund you – it’s unlikely your existing travel insurance will pay out (unless your holiday and policy were arranged before March).
While many insurers now offer ‘COVID cancellation cover’, some only kick in if you test positive before departure. The majority leave you high and dry if local restrictions, or even a COVID-19 case in your household, mean you’re unable to travel.
No insurer will cover you if you simply change your mind about travelling – for example, if cases at your destination are rising but the FCDO has not warned against going there.
We advise looking for a policy with coronavirus medical cover and coronavirus cancellation cover, along with scheduled airline failure insurance (SAFI, to cover you if your airline goes bust).
Read our COVID-19 travel insurance guide to see which policies are the most comprehensive.
You may be stuck in quarantine
If a country is on the travel corridor list, you can visit without having to isolate when you return to the UK
For destinations considered high risk, the introduction of ‘test to release’ has reduced quarantine time to five days – provided travellers return a negative Covid-19 test on or after the fifth day. You will need to get the test from the list of government approved providers. The quarantine period without a test has also been cut from 14 days to 10.
However, as we already know, the government’s advice can change quickly. Travel corridors are reviewed every week, with announcements posted at around 5pm on a Thursday. Changes then usually come into effect from 4am the following Saturday. So arguably you should only book a holiday if you are able, and willing, to quarantine on your return.
You could have to pay for a test
Not only will a negative COVID-19 test allow you to reduce your quarantine time, it may be a requirement to travel to your destination in the first place. Spain, Greece and Cyprus now insist that holidaymakers can prove they don’t have COVID-19 as a condition of entry.
The government has made it clear that you can’t use the free NHS testing service, which is only for those with symptoms, so you’ll have to pay for a private test. A number of clinics and pharmacies offer COVID-19 ‘fit to fly’ tests, but Which? found that costs vary considerably.
The most expensive standard test we found, at a clinic in London, was £214 – that’s a whopping £856 for a family of four. That kind of expense could be a game-changer if you were banking on a cheap break.
Other national lockdowns could be re-introduced
If any UK country decides to implement another national lockdown, you won’t be allowed to holiday in the UK or abroad.
Of course if this did happen, we’d expect package holidays to be refunded. However, some online travel agents won’t refund the flight portion of the package if they are still waiting to be reimbursed by the airline. Lastminute.com and Loveholidays have both faced action from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for their handling of refunds.
Most UK cottage companies have now committed to refunding in the event of a national lockdown too. However the likes of Sykes and Hoseasons only did this following pressure from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
What’s more, Sykes customers who cancelled or rebooked before 23 March are still being refused their money back. If you do book, be careful to choose one of the best-rated holiday cottage providers. Which? Recommended Providers will refund if you’re affected by a national or local lockdown.
Six ways to protect yourself when booking
1. Choose a package
Not only will you be protected if things go wrong, but our research found its likely to be cheaper too.
2. Use a Which? Recommended Provider
All package holiday providers we endorse have committed to refunding quickly if they have to cancel due to COVID-19.
3. Avoid online travel agents
Otherwise you may struggle to get the flight portion of your booking refunded.
4. Check ‘book with confidence’ policies
Find an airline or holiday company which will allow you to change your date or destination at short notice without paying through the nose.
5. Pay with credit card
You may be able to claim under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act if things go wrong.
6. Make sure your passport is valid
When the Brexit transition period ends, Brits will need a minimum of six months (and up to 15 months) left on their passports to travel to much of Europe.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/12/2021-holidays-is-it-safe-to-book-a-trip-in-the-uk-or-abroad/