The current travel quarantine rules will end in mid December, and will be replaced by a five-day testing plan, the Transport Secretary is expected to announce this week.
Travellers who visit destinations without a ‘travel corridor’ will no longer be required to quarantine for 14 days on their return. Instead, they must self-isolate for five days – and then take a test. If the result is negative, they will be free to end their isolation period.
A source told The Telegraph: “The rule will be that you can have the test on day five and either on the same day or day six release yourself, depending on when you get your negative result. We are looking to enforce it in December, in two weeks’ time, around December 15.”
Testing costs are expected to be covered fully by travellers, with home kits currently costing in excess of £100. However, ministers are seeking to green-light rapid saliva tests, which produce results within an hour and currently cost half the price.
The move has been welcomed by travel industry leaders, and represents a victory for Telegraph Travel’s Test4Travel campaign to replace quarantine with tests.
Scroll down for more on this story, and other breaking news.
05:00 PM
That's a wrap
Thankyou for following today's travel blog. Before we sign off, here's a quick recap of the headlines:
Government to announce next steps for travel this week
Hotels and hospitality will be forced to close in Tier 3 areas
Third of travellers happy to pay to reduce quarantine
Sunderland to turn blue and orange for Hays founder
USA flight prices at four-year low
Join us tomorrow for more travel news.
04:58 PM
Dream big: Our experts' top trips for 2021
Worth the wait: here's where to head in 2021 - Getty
Let's end the day's live blog on a high note – with a spot of travel inspiration for next year...
As more and more of us look for big-ticket trips in 2021 to satisfy our wanderlust, Chris Leadbeater has some epic ideas for everyone. We've got the best travel deals, destination tips from our experts – and the scoop on everywhere new and shiny for 2021.
Government to announce next steps for travel this week
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has told the Commons that ministers 'won't have to wait long' for updates on the UK's travel restrictions. We are anticipating an update on quarantine and testing plans tomorrow.
In its Winter Plan guidelines, the Government also states that developments will be announced 'shortly'. It reads:
The Government wants to enable people to travel internationally, both for business and leisure, so following extensive work undertaken by the Global Travel Taskforce over the last month, the Government will announce next steps shortly.
The Government will also set out the broader measures recommended by the Taskforce to support the safe recovery of international travel.
The Government will continue to work with international partners to deliver a shared global understanding of how to integrate a range of measures to support international travel.
04:38 PM
Hotels and hospitality will be forced to close in Tier 3 areas
Under the new tier system, hotels and hospitality venues in Tier 3 will be forced to remain closed, the Government has confirmed. Guidance in its 'Winter Plan' reads:
All hospitality will close except for delivery, takeaway and drive-through; hotels and other accommodation providers must close (except for specific exemptions, including people staying for work purposes or where they cannot return home); and indoor entertainment venues must also close.
The Government will confirm which areas of England will be classed as Tier 3 later this week.
However, in every tier, the current requirement to stay at home 'will end', the Government confirmed.
'Domestic and international travel [will be] permitted again subject to guidance in each tier', the guidance reads.\
India's struggle against coronavirus has been captured by street artists in Delhi:
Delhi street art - Getty Delhi street art - Getty
Today, the country recorded 44,059 new cases, taking its total to 9.14 million.
India has the second-highest number of infections in the world, after the United States, but the rate of increase in India has dipped since it hit a peak in September.
New daily cases have come in at fewer than 50,000 for more than two weeks, according to a Reuters tally.
Deaths rose by 511, according to the latest health ministry data, taking the total to 133,738.
04:15 PM
Which areas will be classed at Tier 3?
Boris Johnson has told the Commons that the reason for the delay around announcing which area is entering which tier is because scientists need to see the most up-to-date data.
He adds that local authorities will be consulted but at the end of the day the government need to make a decision.
He says that areas that went quickly into higher restrictions previously, for instance Liverpool, had the most success in bringing cases down – a lesson which the Government are learning from.
Mr Johnson also defends test and trace, suggesting it has "done more than any other country in Europe". He adds that there is also a prospect of using lateral flow tests to test whether an individual is infectious which is "really exciting".
"Science is beginning to come to the rescue", says Mr Johnson, saying that the tiered system, mass testing and the gradual roll out of vaccines will allow the UK to leave lockdown next Wednesday.
04:01 PM
What might England's new tier system mean for holidays and travel?
England's lockdown will lift on December 2, the Prime Minister has confirmed – and will be replaced by a nationwide tier system.
The exact rules are yet to be clarified, but here's what the tiers entailed before lockdown:
Tier 1
All businesses can continue to operate. Holidays can go ahead, although there is a 10pm curfew on certain businesses, and you cannot meet in groups larger than six, indoors or outdoors. Avoid travel to Tier 3. There is a chance that the rules around mingling in Tier 1 could be tightened, after scientists said measures in the lowest level were largely ineffective.
Tier 2
People should aim to reduce the number of journeys they make where possible. If they need to travel, they should walk or cycle where possible, or to plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport. Rule of six applies outdoors, do not meet with anybody outside their household in any indoor setting – whether at home or in a public place. Travel is still permitted, although people are advised to avoid travel to Tier 3.
Tier 3
People should try to avoid travelling outside the ‘very high’ area they are in, or entering a ‘very high’ area, other than for things like work, education, accessing youth services, to meet caring responsibilities or if they are in transit. Advice is against all non-essential travel.
Tier 4
There have been mentions that a stricter ‘Tier 4’ of restrictions could be introduced after lockdown. Details on what this would entail are yet to be confirmed.
03:45 PM
Skyscanner: 35 per cent of travellers happy to pay to reduce quarantine measures
A recent survey by Skyscanner reveals that a third of British travellers would be willing to pay up to £150 for a private Covid test, if it halved the number of days that they would have to quarantine.
35 per cent of respondents told the flight comparison site that they would be prepared to pay for the privilege of a shorter quarantine.
Jo McClintock, Brand Director at Skyscanner, told Telegraph Travel:
As we’ve seen with the vaccine news and the positive impact it's had on travel bookings, there is a real appetite for post lockdown holidaymakers to get out and explore, as soon as they can and it’s safe to do so.
If the amount of time travellers are expected to quarantine on return to the UK is significantly reduced, we would expect to see a direct impact on traveller confidence resulting in an uptick in searches and bookings.
As well as flexibility around destinations, we’re increasingly seeing travellers wait until the last minute to book their flights and opting for flexible ticket options in order to continue to travel in the current climate with peace of mind.
03:27 PM
'I slipped off to Malta, and found a deserted island desperate for Britons'
Britons account for 650,000 visitors annually to Malta, almost one quarter of arrivals - Getty
The island's economy is floundering thanks to Britain's second lockdown, writes Mark Stratton, who visited Malta last week:
Britons account for 650,000 visitors annually to Malta, almost one quarter of arrivals. The country reopened to us on July 15 but was removed as a quarantine-free travel corridor a month later as Malta’s infection rate rose. Our second lockdown’s ban on non-essential travel has hammered Malta, a popular option for Britons seeking autumn sun.
It’s a malaise foretold at Luton Airport, where I arrive for my £7.99 flight. I prepared to argue I was travelling for work, yet not one airport official raises an eyebrow, not even at an English couple wielding suitcases and sunhats. The few passengers scattered around the 787 are otherwise Maltese, revealed by their linguistic cocktail of soft Arabic delivered with Italian gusto.
Martin, my taxi driver into Valletta, confirms Malta’s annus horribilis. “I started at 3am, you’re my first fare of the day,” he said. It is 9pm. “You know how many international flights coming to Malta tomorrow,” he asks rhetorically? “Just four. It’s disastrous”.
Cuba has reopened its capital in time for post-lockdown holidays – here's how to book
Facing a crackerless Christmas? Head to Cuba for rollicking cocktails, golden beaches, blue seas, sun-baked plazas, and heart-stopping tunes. The locals will sympathise with our festive blues: Cuba cancelled Christmas once, too, when Fidel Castro rallied for a record-breaking harvest of sugar.
The capital Havana, and its airport, have reopened to international tourism. Hotels, all-inclusive beach resorts, and the island's network of B&Bs are welcoming visitors back after almost eight months of lockdown.
Fly and flop to gorgeous palm-fringed beaches, or tour the island's highlights with a rental car, new self-drive package, or with private transfers. Take in heart-breakingly beautiful Havana with its 500-year old historic quarter brimming with sun-splashed squares, churches, mansions, restaurants and cafés and its handsome oceanfront promenade of mansions and portals — a favourite spot for a classic convertible American car ride.
What the revised tier rules mean for hotel stays in Britain
England’s second national lockdown is due to end on December 2, and the Prime Minister will today be announcing a tighter version of the previous regional tiered system, with more areas expected to be placed in the strictest – Tier 3 – category.
Broadly speaking, the new system sees a move towards tighter restrictions being imposed on hospitality (including complete closure, except for takeaways, in Tier 3), while non-essential shops reopen. An additional hour for patrons to finish eating and drinking before curfew, however, is good news.
In the current lockdown, non-essential travel – both domestic and international – and 'holidays away from primary residences' have been banned. Hotels have had to close along with the rest of hospitality, unless staying open for business guests.
But what will the tier system mean for hotels? And could a staycation be back on the cards this winter?
Over on our Twitter feed, we asked you how keen you would be to escape this winter if quarantine on return was cut from 14 days to five. It's a close one.
Quarantine will be slashed from 14 days down to 5 by December 22, @grantshapps is expected to announce today.
Would you be tempted to jet off this winter, if it means taking a test followed by just five days in isolation on your return?https://t.co/2Qjfp76BY8
Sunderland to turn blue and orange for Hays founder
Landmarks across Sunderland are to be lit in blue and orange in honour of Hays Travel founder John Hays, who died earlier this month.
The lights, the colours of the renowned travel agency, will be switched on at sunset on Tuesday and Wednesday. His funeral is due to take place on Wednesday.
Speaking to regional press, Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said:
It was a shock to so many people to hear of John’s death. It’s fitting that we look to a visible tribute and with a book of condolences there is the opportunity to mark his passing in words.
John was always deeply loyal and committed to Sunderland and the north-east region and we thank him for that. I know many other people feel the same, and he was loved and admired by many people in the city and beyond.
The First Minister of Scotland has warned that any easing of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas are unlikely to last until New Year’s Eve and Hogmanay celebrations.
Nicola Sturgeon told her daily press briefing this morning:
I do not expect that we will be announcing any particular relaxations over the new year period. Why not? Because we can’t do everything. The Christmas thing is hard enough.
She added that “people really just have to understand that Christmas may be a big enough ask”.
It is expected that tougher rules on travel, hospitality and shops will be reintroduced following an evening over the festive period.
01:58 PM
Covid cases drop in England – but not in London or South East
Perhaps you've already started planning your Christmas travel in the UK? The latest figures show that cases of Covid-19 are falling in most local areas across England – except, that is, in the South East and the capital.
The rate is rising in 34 out of 67 local authority areas in the South East of England. Swale is top of the list, where the rate is currently 631.7 cases per 100,000 people, up from 425.8. Thanet also appears in England's top five rates, where the number is currently 515.1, up from 460.8.
The nationwide restrictions began on November 5, and the most recent figures are for the week ending November 18 – just 14 days into the lockdown.
Given it can take up to two weeks for Covid-19 symptoms to appear, and further time for somebody to be tested and the result to be processed, more data is needed to be certain about how and where case rates are falling.
01:53 PM
Signs of normality return to Catalonia
Catalans are today heading outside with more options to keep themselves entertained, as restaurants, bars, cafés and gyms reopen after more than a month of closed doors.
Capacity is capped at 30 per cent for the dining establishments, while cinemas and theatres can be no more than half full. Night life remains at a standstill, however, with a 10pm curfew in place across the whole of Spain.
Elsewhere in Europe, restrictions are tightening. Croatia is to ban the sale of alcohol after 10pm, while in Serbia all shops, restaurants and bars must close by 6pm.
01:43 PM
Six incredible ways to explore the Maldives by sea
Two lockdowns have left many of us thinking big about our next long-haul getaway, and the Maldives is sure to be a popular choice.
Tamara Hinson writes that it's now even easier to explore this gorgeous part of the world without limiting yourself to one island with plenty of option for a holiday on water – whether it’s with a dedicated Maldives cruise, a trans-Indian Ocean adventure or a stint on a superyacht.
Ski tour operators and resorts are poised for a spike in winter bookings, in light of the expected reduction of quarantine from 14 days to five.
Currently all major ski holiday destinations in Europe, except Finland, are deemed as high-risk by the Government – meaning that returning travellers have to quarantine. But ski operators are hoping to benefit from the new ‘test and release’ scheme.
“Quarantine has been a major barrier to ski holiday bookings so the reduction to five days will certainly remove a significant obstacle for many,” said James Gambrill, CEO of industry representative Mountain Trade Network.
Last week, data released by leading all-inclusive operator Club Med supported this, with 60 per cent also saying the test and release scheme and subsequent reduction in quarantine time would entice them to book a holiday this season, regardless of the destination’s travel corridor status.
01:20 PM
Will holidays be allowed after lockdown?
Talks of a lockdown extension, or "strengthened tiers", have cast a shadow over our Christmas holiday plans, writes Greg Dickinson.
By law, the current lockdown measures end on December 2. However, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has suggested that lockdown could carry on beyond December 2. In this instance, holidays both domestic and international will presumably remain off the cards, unless essential (which holidays, sadly, are not).
Even if the nationwide measures do end, there is talk of the need for a “strengthened” tier system.
Speaking to Telegraph Travel, a spokesperson for ABTA said: “It is certainly our hope that holidays both in the UK and abroad will be allowed after 2 December. We know there is a demand to travel – both for next summer and over the winter. When the Canary Islands and Maldives were added to the travel corridor lists, travel companies saw a spike in bookings as people tried to secure a spot of winter sun, a similar surge in bookings for next year was seen following the Prime Minister’s update about a vaccine."
Cutting quarantine will not be enough to save the travel industry, bosses warn
Travel companies have told Telegraph Travel that they cannot offer packages to high-risk destinations unless the Government drops its blanket non-essential travel advisory.
Currently, countries not on the travel corridor list – such as South Africa, Brazil and Mexico – are subject to an FCDO warning against “non-essential” travel, and tour operators, which have a duty of care to protect their customers, will not offer trips against FCDO advice.
Edward Paine, managing director of adventure specialists Last Frontiers, said: “I welcome any reduction in the length of quarantine, and using testing to do this safely makes perfect sense. It will definitely help Christmas and New Year bookings where time off can be a limiting factor. However, we still need the FCDO to remove its Covid-related advice against non-essential travel. ”
A spokesperson for Tui, Europe’s largest tour operator, confirmed it would continue to use FCDO advice to determine where it operates, and expressed frustration at the uncertainty created by major policy changes being leaked to the media. Tui’s losses for the first nine months of the year totalled £2.05bn, and already this year 27 Atol license holders, including STA Travel and Shearings, have ceased trading.
Book now for the USA in 2021? Flight prices reach four-year low
Flight prices between the UK and USA have reached a four-year low, according to holiday search website Netflights. Return flights booked now are currently around 20 per cent cheaper than this time last year.
However, flight booking searches are currently rising – which will, in turn, cause an uptick in prices.
According to Netflights, summer 2021 is currently the most popular period for booking searches – with flights to the USA in most demand out of all destinations, a 258 per cent rise month-on-month.
The most searched-for USA locations for travel in 2021 are Miami (up 1,100 per cent month-on-month), Las Vegas (680 per cent), Orlando (312 per cent) and New York JFK (182 per cent).
And there are bargains to be had. For example, flights from London to Orlando in July and August 2021 are on average £502 and £528 respectively, up to 28 per cent lower than if booked this time last year.
Likewise, flights to New York and Los Angeles next summer are currently between 15 and 26 per cent lower compared to prices available in November 2019. And it’s not just London departures where the drop in prices is evident: Manchester to Orlando in 2021 is 17 per cent cheaper than a year ago.
12:38 PM
11 beautiful British hotels with cosy cabins to escape to when lockdown ends
Chevin Country Park Hotel & Spa, Yorkshire
Some of Britain's best-loved hotels have cabins hidden away in their grounds – combining great design, luxe amenities, and suitably wild surroundings.
It's the getaway you've been craving all autumn – and when lockdown ends on December 2, it should be yours for the taking...
Since the UK granted the United Arab Emirates 'travel corridor' status earlier this month, Emirates has reported a doubling of passenger bookings between Britain and Dubai.
There has also been a spike in bookings to other winter sun favourites, says the airline – with increases of more than 50 per cent week-on-week for Cape Town, Durban and Bangkok. The Maldives is also in demand.
In response to the uptick, Emirates will introduce 15 additional weekly flights to the UK – bringing the total number of weekly flights to 52 in December. It will fly four times a day to London Heathrow on an A380 service, while services to Manchester will increase to 10 flights per week. It will also introduce a daily service to Birmingham and Glasgow.
Under the air travel corridor between UK and UAE, travellers entering the UK from the UAE are no longer required to quarantine for 14 days. Travellers heading to Dubai can opt to do their required PCR tests 96 hours in advance of their flight, or to do the test on arrival in Dubai.
12:01 PM
Amazing winter destinations that will be unlocked by the end of a 14-day quarantine
Brazil reopened its borders back in July, and foreign nationals are allowed to enter completely unrestricted - Getty
The news that the quarantine period will be cut to five days for those who test negative for Covid will provide a boost for travellers, making trips to “high-risk” destinations far more feasible.
Brazil, Egypt and South Africa will soon be back on the cards for Britons – so where will you head first?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged citizens to avoid cruises because of the ongoing coronavirus risk.
In new guidance, it said it recommends that "all people avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide, because the risk of Covid-19 on cruise ships is very high."
In a level-4 travel alert, its highest, the CDC said it was particularly important that people with an increased risk of serious illness – such as the elderly or those with other risk factors – avoided cruises.
If people decided to go ahead anyway, it recommended getting a coronavirus test 3-5 days after the trip and staying home for at least 7 days.
It mirrors the advice of Britain's FCDO, which currently warns against all non-essential ocean travel.
11:30 AM
Australia and New Zealand could form two-way 'travel bubble' within months, says Qantas chief
Holidays abroad could soon be on the cards for grounded Australians, with a New Zealand ‘travel bubble’ likely to be announced early in the new year, according to the CEO of Qantas.
Speaking on morning television, Alan Joyce told viewers the Australian airlines is preparing for borders between the two neighbours to reopen in the first few months of 2021.
“We've always believed in the possibility of these 'bubbles' between nations,” he said.
“At the way we're going in Australia, New Zealand could open in the early new year in both directions – that's a massive market for everybody.”
Previous attempts to create a Trans-Tasman travel bubble began in May, with politicians on both sides targetting a new travel arrangement by Christmas 2020.
But plans were scuppered after several Australian states saw the number of Covid-19 cases spike over the summer, while New Zealand, pursuing a strategy to eliminate the virus completely, tightened its border controls.
Looking for a blast of winter sun after a drab month at home? Consider these quarantine-free holidays...
Travelbag (travelbag.co.uk) is offering five nights in Dubai from £889pp half-board, departing on Dec 10, including flights.
Dubai - Getty
Meanwhile, Inspiring Travel Company (inspiringtravelcompany.co.uk) is offering seven nights in Tenerife from £885pp, departing on Dec 10, including flights, transfers and breakfast.
UK holiday bookings 'up for 2021', thanks to Britons' pent-up demand
British travel companies are experiencing a rise in staycation bookings for next year, as well as renewed appetite for festive getaways. Confidence has soared in light of vaccine progress and the lifting of England's lockdown – as well as the new five-day testing regime for inbound travellers, expected to be announced later today.
Jonathan Knight, founder of CoolCamping.com said that December bookings were up 60 per cent compared to last year, and reported another increase last week. “Presumably customers are feeling more confident that restrictions will ease,” he says. “Interestingly, although there is a notable spike in holidays starting the first two weekends in December, and again at New Year, Christmas bookings are subdued, possibly indicating that people are not anticipating being able to get together with others at that time.”
He adds: “Most bookings we are getting now are actually for 2021, so people are clearly looking further ahead. Last November, the average reservation was for 68 days ahead, whereas this November that has jumped to 155 days ahead, which is quite a big change in behaviour.”
A spokesperson from Under the Thatch, which offers cottages around the UK, told us: “Bookings are actually very normal for December this year. We'd be full now for weekends if it wasn't for lockdown, so demand is definitely there. But the bigger story for us is that advance sales are noticeably up for 2021. People who lost out during 2020 are advance-booking premium properties by the beach for 2021, especially given our flexible booking policy.”
An agent for Cotswold Hideaways, weighed in: “Since the start of last week, we’ve been receiving many more enquiries about December holidays. Of all our bookings made in November, 36 per cent are for December and 52 per cent account for the first half of next year. The only cancellations we are seeing in December are due to Government restrictions, mostly concerned with the ‘rule of six’.”
10:47 AM
Will the FCDO 'non-essential' travel advice be lifted?
While the news that quarantine will soon be replaced with a five-day testing regime is very welcome indeed, it remains uncertain whether the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will lift its ban on travel to 'red list' countries.
Currently, non-essential travel is, in essence, forbidden to all countries that don't currently have 'travel corridor' status. While this means that returning travellers must quarantine (currently for 14 days; reducing to five days by mid December), the FCDO advice also invalidates many travel insurance policies. Most insurance providers will not cover anybody travelling anywhere that 'non-essential' travel is not advised.
Will that change? It looks unlikely, but the new testing approach indicates a more nuanced approach to restrictions. We are hopeful of obtaining more clarity from the Transport Secretary soon.
10:30 AM
Rise in festive holiday bookings
The Maldives is currently one of Britons' most sought-after destinations - Getty
Britain's travel companies are reporting an uptick in bookings and searches for getaways over the Christmas period – boosted by the end of England's lockdown (on December 2) and the impending reduction of quarantine measures.
Sonia Davies, CEO of luxury operator Scott Dunn, told Telegraph Travel:
We had our busiest day of bookings in three months last week, with interest for departures around December 10 onwards. Some families are looking for a slightly earlier festive break, giving themselves time for a potentially shorter quarantine period before the kids go back to school.
The Maldives, Caribbean, UAE, Seychelles and Kenya are currently the most in-demand, with a lot of interest for South Africa as well as the rest of Africa.
Enquiries and bookings are predominantly from families with older children for the coming festive season, but there is also a lot of interest in next Summer and the 2021 festive season.
10:15 AM
'We are so excited to see confidence return'
Since the announcement that England's lockdown will be replaced by tier restrictions on December 2, there has been a spike in travel bookings, says James Bell, Managing Director of Turquoise Holidays. He told Telegraph Travel:
We currently have over £1 million of business optioned for travel between December 2 to 31. All [trips were booked] since the start of November, so we definitely feel there is pent up demand amongst Britons when lockdown lifts.
Our enquiry numbers were up 17 per cent year-on-year last week, and although bookings are down overall, we have seen an upswing in holidays being booked to the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean. These regions are up 63 per cent for us when compared with November 2019. British Airways is increasing capacity here as well, with additional flights to Antigua, St Lucia and Barbados just announced.
We are so excited to see confidence return to market.
10:01 AM
The ultimate Christmas gift for travel lovers?
British Airways has launched a sale of its on-board crockery, amenity kits and bedding – just in time for Christmas.
You can snap up a little piece of in-flight ephemera via its online shop, which went live this morning. From the Club World category cabins, there's everything from bread baskets and serving trays, to the complimentary slippers offered to every passenger (£10 for five pairs).
Meanwhile from First Class, the brandy glasses, tea cups and blankets are on sale – with a drinks coaster set costing £5.
So, why is the airline suddenly selling off its crocks? “The lack of flying in the past months means that breakages has significantly reduced,” says Rob Burgess, editor of frequent flyer website Head for Points. “BA also plans to introduce a new service in the near future although it’s likely this will be postponed, plus given the reduced quality in the food offering right now, perhaps there’s not the need for very posh crockery.
“All we know is that items are likely to sell-out fast so be quick if you fancy getting your hands on some items – I’m looking forward to receiving my bread basket!”
09:47 AM
Holiday bookings surge with renewed confidence in travel
Exactly what that means remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain: Britons are planning holidays. With a vaccine is on its way, an end in sight for England's second lockdown, and as of yesterday, news that quarantine for UK arrivals will be slashed from 14 days to five, consumer confidence has been bolstered considerably.
Indeed, Telegraph Travel spoke to a number of the country’s leading tour operators and travel providers regarding their bookings for December and beyond, both domestic and international, and found an increasingly optimistic picture.
Camping companies are seeing more demand this year compared to last, and there’s been a recent spike in inquiries for holiday cottages across the UK, indicating that Britons are still banking on Christmas staycations away from home.
Ryanair, meanwhile, has announced 24 additional flights departing from December 17 to cater for family reunions overseas, with destinations including France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Portugal; while other travel companies are reporting increased interest in long-haul winter sun holidays.
How will the new quarantine rules work for people entering Britain?
With quarantine expected to be replaced by testing by mid December, and rules on group gatherings lifting over the festive period, many families with loved ones in 'red list' destinations may be planning a Christmas reunion.
So, how will the new testing plan work for inbound travellers?
While the rules are yet to be established, we expect them to apply to inbound travellers in the same way that they will apply to returning Britons. So, anybody entering the UK from a 'red list' destination will be told to self-isolate for five days, and then able to take a Covid test on the fifth day. If the result is negative, they will be entitled to end their quarantine with immediate effect.
For those who are arriving from destinations with 'travel corridor' status (with no quarantine requirements – such as Barbados, Gibraltar and Sri Lanka), there will be no need to quarantine on arrival in the UK, or take a Covid test.
09:14 AM
Ministers agree on plan for households to mix over Christmas
Families will be able to enjoy Christmas together across the whole of the UK after ministers agreed a plan that will allow up to four households to mix for five days.
The leaders of all four home nations have agreed that the same rules will apply in every part of the country between Christmas Eve and December 28.
Tough limits on household mixing will be scrapped for the festive break before the country returns to a Tier system which will replace the current lockdown from December 3.
Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab join forces to recap the draft in the best way they know how: letter grades! Fitz and Frank discuss all 32 teams division by division as they give a snapshot of how fans should be feeling heading into the 2024 season. The duo have key debates on the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and more.
The first electric vehicle I ever drove was a Tesla Roadster in 2011. It was with great anticipation that I slid behind the wheel of the 2025 Acura ZDX Type S. Sure, it's a midsize SUV, but it wears the Type S moniker, a name reserved only for the most fun-to-drive in the Acura stable. On launch, the ZDX will be available in A-Spec and Type S trims -- both of which come equipped with a 102 kWh battery.
