When can we travel again? Everything you need to know

As lockdown in the UK begins to ease, we find ourselves wondering when will we be able to travel again? Here we try and answer the most common questions about future travel. These answers will be updated as the situation progresses

By Rick Jordan, Condé Nast Traveler

Can I travel within the UK?

Yes. On 23 June, Boris Johnson confirmed that hotels in England could open their doors on 4 July. Hotels, campsites, B&Bs, caravan parks, and holiday apartments will be permitted to open as long as shared facilities are kept clean, while swimming pools and spas will remain closed for now. Holidays in Wales will be allowed from 13 July, and in Scotland from 15 July.

Can I travel abroad?

Yes. The Foreign Office has drawn back it’s travel ban to allow non-essential trips from 4 July. A list of more than 50 countries will also be exempt from the current UK quarantine rules from 10 July. This means travellers visiting the select list of countries won't need to self-isolate for 14-days upon return to England, while Wales and Scotland are yet to confirm if they will ease travel restrictions. While entry requirements into the select countries will vary, countries such as France, Spain, Italy and Germany are offering reciprocal arrangements, meaning travellers from the UK will not need to quarantine upon arrival.

Other countries that are opening up to travel include:

• The Maldives: The islands will open to visitors on July 15 2020 with no testing, quarantine or visa required. Travellers from the UK would still need to self-isolate for 14-days upon return to the UK.
• Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka will reopen to the world in August. Travellers will be expected to adhere to certain restrictions including avoiding public transport and staying in the country for a minimum of five days.
• Seychelles: The Indian Ocean archipelago has officially opened it's borders, however tourism is limited to travellers arriving by private jet or chartered flights. Commercial flights to the Seychelles are expected to resume in July.
• Mexico: Regions in the country that rely heavily on tourism, such as Quintana Roo and Los Cabos, have begun to gradually reopen, with most hotels expected to be open by 1 July.
• Bali: At the time of writing, the Indonesian island has reported only 343 cases of coronavirus and four deaths. If the infection curve continues to improve, Indonesia's Secretary of the Ministry has said Bali could reopen to international tourists in October.
• St Lucia: The Caribbean island unlocked its borders to international travellers on 4 June 2020.
• Antigua: The Caribbean island is aiming to welcome British tourists from July, pending airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are able to resume flights.
• Aruba: The government has announced they have tentative plans to reopen to travellers between 15 June and 1 July, with a formal announcement to come in the next few weeks.

If I do travel abroad, will I have to quarantine when I get back to the UK?

That depends on what country you've visited. If you're travelling to one of the 50 or so countries exempt from UK quarantine rules, you won't have to self-isolate upon your return to the UK. For travel to countries not on the list, for example Portugal and the USA, returning Britons will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days. These travel quarantine rules apply to anyone arriving by air, plane or sea. Fines of up to £1,000 may be given to anyone found contravening the regulations.

Find out more about what the new guidelines mean via our UK travel quarantine guide.
 

When will international flights resume in the UK?

While some airlines are still operating flights around the world to cater to essential travel, many airlines are planning to resume service in July at the earliest:

• British Airways owner IAG have said they are planning for a meaningful return to service in July 2020 at the earliest.
• Virgin Atlantic has said that due to the UK travel quarantine rules, they are aiming for flight operations to resume on 20 July at the earliest.
• Wizz Air has resumed some services, although mainly for seasonal farm workers and British nationals trying to get home.
• TAP Portugal is now operating two flights a week between London Heathrow and Lisbon.
• Emirates has resumed flights to nine destinations including London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Chicago, Toronto, Sydney and Melbourne.

For the full list of airlines, see our guide to when flights will resume in the UK.

Can I hire a car?

It’s still possible to hire a car in the UK. Many outlets have been closed due to reduced demand and the need for a centralised approach. Car-hire companies have also, understandably, ramped up their hygiene procedures – Enterprise is disinfecting key touchpoints in each car, such as the dashboard, wheel and steering column, while Europcar has a zero-contact policy, placing disinfected car keys into a sealed envelope to be opened by the driver. Firms have also relaxed their fees, for those needing to return a vehicle earlier or later than planned, or returning it to a different location. Those self-isolating or in quarantine, who cannot return a car, can arrange to have it picked up.

And if I’ve already booked a car but need to cancel?

Hertz and Avis, for example, are advising customers that any reservations affected by travel restrictions can be cancelled or rebooked at no charge.

Can I travel by train or ferry?

Only if your journey is deemed essential. All timetables have been scaled back as a result of coronavirus restrictions and drastically reduced demand (on trains, passenger level is about 5 per cent of normal levels). NorthLink Ferries, for example, which sails from mainland Scotland to the Orkney and Shetland islands, refused passage to more than 20 people in April, as their reasons for travelling were not deemed important enough. Brittany Ferries has cancelled all passenger trips from the UK to France, Ireland and Spain until 15 May, as have other ferry companies. For pre-booked rail journeys, Trainline states that any refund fee will be waived, and is advising customers to request an exchange or refund online – though it may take up to 28 days to receive one. Train companies are currently planning to restore some services in May, in case lockdown restrictions are loosened by then.

See more at: Condé Nast Traveler