Need to know: can I book a holiday abroad this summer?

Ministers have boosted hopes of a summer in the sun by announcing that popular holiday destinations could be opened up to British travellers in time for the peak summer season.

But talk of a “traffic light” system and the travel secretary Grant Shapps’ vague advice that Brits should “start to think about” booking flights have left many of us with questions about what is possible, and when. Here’s what you need to know.

When will foreign travel be permitted?

Ministers are expected to allow quarantine-free travel from 17 May to a small number of “green-listed” countries that have a high level of vaccinations, although this won’t be confirmed until “early May”. This date is also when the permission to travel form is expected to be scrapped, meaning that passengers will no longer need to prove they have a valid reason to leave the country.

Restrictions may be eased further on 28 June, when the rules on testing and quarantine could be relaxed for a wider range of popular holiday destinations. This next step is dependent on a review to be published on 28 June, which will assess the “domestic and international health picture.” 

What is the new “traffic light” system?

The government has confirmed that a traffic light system will be unveiled to kickstart holidays in 2021 – with countries classified as either green, amber or red.

Under the new system, assessments will be based on a range of factors, including the proportion of a country’s population which has been vaccinated, rates of infection, emerging new variants and the country’s access to reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing.

Would I need to get a test to travel?

Under the current plans, yes. The government’s traffic light framework includes making all UK arrivals take pre-departure and post-arrival COVID-19 tests – even those travelling to low-risk green countries.

The government has said these tests must be the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) type which cost about £120, because these enable scientists to detect potential variants of concern. However, Shapps said he was “concerned” about the cost of the tests, adding that the government was committed to driving down the price of these by working with the private sector.

What are the rules for each category?

Green: There is no need to self-isolate. Take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on day two of your arrival in the UK.

Amber: Self-isolate for 10 days, unless you receive a negative result from a test taken at least five days after arrival. Take a pre-departure test, and PCR tests on day two and day eight of your arrival in the UK.

Red: Spend 11 days in a quarantine hotel. Take a pre-departure test, and PCR tests on day two and day eight of your arrival in the UK.

Which countries will be on the green list?

The government has given no clear indication as to which countries will be green, amber or red. However, Telegraph Travel has done the maths, and reckons that Israel, Gibraltar, Madeira, The Caribbean, Iceland, Malta, and the US are all green potentials.

According to its list, countries in the amber category might include Cyprus, the Seychelles, Greece, Croatia, Spain, France, Portugal and Italy.

Ministers are due to confirm the list of which countries will fall into which of the three categories early next month. A “Green Watchlist” will be introduced to identify countries most at risk of moving from green to amber.

 So, should I book a holiday?

According to Shapps, Brits should “start to think about” booking flights. He said he is “not telling people they shouldn’t book foreign holidays” but added that it will be a few weeks until each country has been categorised on the government’s new traffic light list.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Yes, you’ll want to check what the situation is in two or three weeks’ time when that list – the green, amber, red, is produced – you’ll want to know that you’ve got good holiday insurance and flexible flights and the rest of it.

In short, nothing is certain for another month or so until the restart date is confirmed, so domestic holidays continue to be the safest bet for a trip away from home. However, if you are keen to book an overseas holiday for soon after 17 May, commentators suggest looking to the destinations that meet the criteria to be designated as green and make sure to book with a reputable tour operator, with good refund terms.