Coronavirus: What's the chance of going on holiday?
Coronavirus: Where can I now go on holiday in the UK?
(7 days later)
The chance of having a summer break abroad in 2020 may have improved. From 6 July the Foreign Office's warning against all non-essential international travel to countries and territories where the public health risk is no longer 'unacceptably high' will be lifted.
It is now possible to take a holiday in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and in England from Saturday, following the relaxation of lockdown rules.
And the holiday industry in parts of the UK will be allowed to start operating again during July.
Holidays in Wales look likely to be allowed from the middle of July.
Can I go on holiday in the UK?
What's changed?
In England from 4 July, people will be allowed to stay overnight in self-contained accommodation, which includes self-catering cottages and apartments, caravans with their own bathroom facilities, hotels and bed and breakfasts.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, and in England from Saturday, you are now allowed to stay overnight away from the place where you are living.
Campsites will also be allowed to open as long as shared facilities are kept clean.
You can travel as far as you want within the borders of those countries, and sleep in a second home or self-contained holiday accommodation.
Self-catering holiday accommodation will reopen in Northern Ireland from 26 June, and hotels will follow a week later on 3 July.
In Northern Ireland, and in England from Saturday, hotels and B&Bs are also open, as well as many caravan parks and campsites, hostels and boarding houses.
A decision will be taken in Wales on 9 July on whether to open up the country to tourists again. If this is given the go-ahead, it's likely to take effect from 13 July.
Scotland expects to follow suit from 15 July.
The Welsh government has said that people can start booking holidays in self-contained accommodation from that date onwards.
In Wales, people will be allowed to travel more than five miles from their home from Monday.
In Scotland you can book self contained accommodation from 3 July. All other holiday accommodation can reopen from 15 July.
The Welsh government has said that people can start booking holidays in self-contained accommodation for 13 July and onwards.
Can I go on a foreign holiday?
Hotels and B&Bs
At the moment, it's difficult.
Hotels and B&Bs have been asked to take a number of precautions when reopening. Among them:
British nationals are still being urged not to take any non-essential foreign travel - but that will change from 6 July.
Hostels
There will be a relaxation for countries and territories where the public health risk is no longer considered to be "unacceptably high".
In hostels, shared sleeping areas such as dormitory rooms will not reopen except to people travelling as part of a household or support bubble.
Until that happens though, you are unlikely to get travel insurance, because insurers take their cue from the official advice.
Other shared facilities, such as communal kitchens or shower blocks, will remain shut, along with communal areas such as TV rooms, where social distancing is not possible.
But the airlines are hopeful for the summer season. EasyJet has started limited flights in June, and hopes to resume flights on 75% of its route network by the end of August, while Ryanair and British Airways plan to ramp up their services in July.
Campsites and caravan parks
But what if I do go?
Campers and caravanners will notice a number of changes on site, although probably fewer than those encountered by hotel guests.
On 15 June the European Union lifted travel restrictions, leaving it to individual countries to decide if they're ready for tourists.
For instance, the Caravan and Motorhome Club, which operates more than 200 campsites in the UK, says that visitors will now check in by phone on arrival.
Some, including France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain are now welcoming travellers from the UK.
The government says that indoor shared facilities such as communal kitchens should remain closed. Bars and dining areas may be opened, but only if they can do so safely.
Others, such as Ireland, require visitors to quarantine for 14 days upon entry.
Shower facilities will be open, but they will be cleaned more often. Sites may choose to adopt staggered entry times and booked timeslots.
Greece is open, but tourists will have to be tested for coronavirus upon arrival. Anybody testing positive will have to quarantine for 14 days.
Toilet blocks will also be cleaned more regularly, and systems may be in place to control the number of people using them at any one time.
British holidaymakers are currently unable to enter Australia, India and the US.
Can I go on holiday with friends?
New Zealand is also closed to most travellers, and entry is strictly controlled. All arrivals are tested for coronavirus, and have to follow a mandatory 14-day managed quarantine period.
In England, two households of any size can meet up indoors from Saturday - and this can be in shared accommodation away from home, for instance a cottage or apartment.
Most travellers will also have to quarantine for 14 days upon their return to the UK.
However, unless the households are part of the same support bubble, they will need to stay socially distanced from each other (a distance of "one metre plus" in England).
However, the government wants to relax the rules in early July for some other countries, with a series of "travel corridors" or "air bridges".
Government guidance states that the holidaymakers should "take particular care to maintain excellent hygiene - washing hands and surfaces - and avoid using shared facilities like bathrooms wherever possible".
Countries including France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Belgium, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Turkey and Finland are likely to be included.
It also advises that you should not share private swimming pools with anyone outside your household or support bubble, nor should you share a paddling pool or any sort of garden equipment.
This would mean that two people travelling in both directions between these countries and the UK would not have to self-isolate after they travel.
In Northern Ireland and Scotland, overnight stays with another household are not allowed, so going on holiday with another family is not possible.
The government hopes to set up a system of "air bridges" with other countries.
These would exempt travellers from quarantine, if they move between countries with low virus levels.
What about going away in the autumn?
Again, it's impossible to say at this stage.
Travel advice will need to have been updated, but it depends on the disease's progress.
What about holidays already booked for this year?
If your package holiday or flights have already been cancelled, then you are are entitled to a full cash refund.
However, lots of people have been struggling to get their money back, and have been offered vouchers or rebooked trips instead.
If you are offered a voucher, or a free rebooking instead of cash, you can accept or refuse it. But if the airline later folds, the voucher may no longer be valid.
If your airline or holiday company hasn't cancelled your holiday yet, but you no longer wish to travel, you may not be entitled to a refund.
However, some providers are allowing people to rebook trips for a later date at no cost.
