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A traffic light system that classifies countries according to the coronavirus risk they pose will be introduced as soon as international travel resumes.
How does the system work and what could it cost travelers?
When can I go on vacation abroad?
At the moment, foreign holidays are prohibited and returning travelers must be quarantined upon arrival.
The earliest possible date for a vacation abroad was May 17th, but this has not been confirmed.
The first ministers of Scotland and Wales have both argued that May 17th is too early for foreign holidays. Northern Ireland has not yet announced its plans.
What is the traffic light system?
For England, the destination countries are divided into one of three categories:
- Green: Passengers do not need to be quarantined upon return, but must take a pre-departure test and a PCR test when returning to the UK
- Amber: Travelers are required to be quarantined for 10 days and have a pre-departure test and two PCR tests
- Red: Passengers are required to pay for a 10-day stay at a managed quarantine hotel, plus a pre-departure test and two PCR tests. About 40 countries are on the current “Red List”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said where the lands will be placed will be announced “in early May”.
- Vaccinations
- Infection rates
- how often Covid variants are of concern
- Test and sequencing capacity
There will be a “green watchlist” to let people know if a country is about to switch to amber or red.
How much do tests cost travelers?
Mr Shapps said the use of PCR tests – which must be sent to a laboratory – allowed scientists to spot potential variants of concerns. He said the tests were “too expensive” and the government wanted the cost to come down.
Consumer group Which? It is estimated that each PCR test – which is just one of the required tests – could cost around £ 120 per person.
This could make vacation unaffordable for many people, members of the travel industry have suggested.
EasyJet’s chief executive said he doesn’t understand why consumers couldn’t run cheaper and faster cross-flow tests for travel to green countries.
What is the £ 5,000 holiday fine?
The current fine in England is £ 5,000 for traveling outside the UK without adequate apology.
The ban does not apply to travel to or from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland as long as passengers stop traveling.
When can I go on holiday in the UK?
In Wales, people can now travel wherever they want within the country’s borders. Independent vacation rentals – including hotels with private bathrooms and room service – can be opened up to people from the same household or support bubble.
In England, domestic holidays may resume on that date, April 12th. From this point on, people can cross the border to and from Wales, but not Scotland.
People can stay away from home with other members of their household or bubble in standalone accommodations like a vacation home.
Hotels and B & Bs will open to holidaymakers in England on May 17th at the earliest.
But no more than six people or two households can stay indoors together. The earliest time all mixing restrictions could be lifted is June 21st.
In Scotland, the “stay at home” rule ended on April 2nd, but people are still being asked to “stay home”. Travel within mainland Scotland is permitted from April 26th, though tourist accommodations can be reopened with existing restrictions.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she hoped the trip between Scotland and the rest of the UK would resume around the same time.
Northern Ireland has not yet announced any new UK travel rules.
What are your rights if you book a vacation now?
Most accommodation and vacation providers have flexible booking policies. These should be set out in their terms and conditions.
It is said that this would be the case if a company cancels your booking, or cannot offer the service due to blocking laws, or if you cannot take a booked vacation because the rules make it illegal. The CMA says that under most circumstances, you should get a full refund.
If government guidelines dictate that you decide to cancel a vacation, the CMA suggests that you should not face “disproportionately high” fees. These should only cover the amount of money the company is likely to lose.
Coupons or postponements may be offered but you are under no obligation to accept them in lieu of a cash refund.
Some insurance policies will cover you if you miss a vacation because you have been diagnosed with coronavirus or because you need to self-isolate while you have already taken out the policy.
If the holiday provider refuses to pay or goes bankrupt and you have paid by credit card, you can claim services from your card company that were not provided in accordance with Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. You must have spent between £ 100 and £ 30,000 to be eligible.
