Travel updates: Booking surge for Portugal as Britons race to get home from Croatia

Lizzie Frainier
·30 min read
Split International Airport - GETTY
Split International Airport - GETTY

Croatia has been removed from the UK’s travel corridor list, giving tens of thousands of Britons less than 24 hours to return home before a 14-day quarantine comes into action; at the same time, Portugal was finally granted its travel corridor having been on the FCO ‘red list’ for months.

The knock-on effect of both decisions has been substantial. Bookings are now surging for holidays in Portugal, while British holidaymakers currently in Croatia must decide whether to pay significantly more to return home early, or keep their existing flights after 4am on Saturday and be forced to self-isolate for 14 days on their return to the UK.

This morning, Telegraph Travel saw one-way direct flights with British Airways from Zagreb to London as high as £435. A direct flight home from Dubrovnik comes in at £335, but there are no non-stop, direct options left from the popular holiday resort of Split.

British holidaymakers in Split who hope to return before 4am tomorrow may need to take a more complicated route home in order to make it back in time; the cheapest option at the time of writing is £293, and includes two changeovers.

The added complication that many schools are due to return in less than two weeks will no doubt cause further concern for families. Arriving home after 4am on Saturday will mean children would have to miss the beginning of the school year.

Meanwhile in Portugal, Mary Lussiana reports that in the ten minutes that elapsed between the news that Portugal was finally off the red list and her conversation with Rúben Paula, of JJW Hotels, he received bookings for more than 90 nights at his properties.

"It literally, immediately exploded," said Nick Yarnell, general manager at luxurious Six Senses Douro Valley, of bookings coming in from the UK after the announcement was made. "Some of the bookings are already for this weekend."

Follow below for the latest news.

04:12 PM

The biggest stories from today

  • Loss of air bridges with France and Spain makes dash home from Croatia costlier
  • Those returning from Croatia after the deadline can’t even leave home to exercise 
  • Britons eye Portuguese bargains as prices set to stay low; booking surge at hotels in Portugal
  • British holidaymakers told to stay away from the coast this weekend due to storms

03:59 PM

More UK weather warnings issued

A yellow wind warning is now in force and local councils continue to ask visitors to take care by the coast.

03:37 PM

What's the situation in Greece?

As it stands, holidaymakers can carry on with their trips to Greece. The FCO does not warn against travel to Greece, and you will not need to go into quarantine on your return.

However, Covid-19 cases are on the rise in the country and local lockdown restrictions have been introduced in certain areas, including Mykonos, in the last fortnight.

03:13 PM

How to spend 48 hours in the Algarve

With the news that Britons no longer have to quarantine on return from a holiday in Portugal, the option to spend the upcoming bank holiday in the Algarve has jumped in appeal. 

With its dazzlingly bright and oh-so uplifting light, this is a region of hidden delights: of golden beaches framed by beautifully wrought limestone rocks; of simple restaurants where the taste of the fish – just caught, just grilled, and drizzled with local olive oil – will pull you back time and time again.

Algarve - GETTY

Inland, up in the hills of Monchique, days revolve around the seasons – killing the pig and gathering provisions for winter; collecting chestnuts and foraging berries to make the local firewater. Olives, oranges, carobs and almonds are picked and sold at markets. By the coast, you can see locals wading into the Atlantic at low tide to find cockles and barnacles. Fishermen, who learnt the trade from their fathers, go out to catch squid and octopus – just as local people have done for centuries.

Mary Lussiana shares all the best restaurants, things to do and hotels in her 48-hour guide.

02:45 PM

'I've seen the grim reality of Thailand without tourists – and it isn't pretty'

With borders sealed off for most international travellers since early April, and domestic tourism practically at a standstill until July, Thailand’s tourist hot spots have had a rough few months. While writer Chris Schalkx sees friends in Europe slowly venturing out for holidays abroad again, he's finding it hard to be optimistic about the situation in his adopted country.

Chairat Trirattanajarasporn, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, warns that the country is unlikely to open its borders to international tourists this year. After early Covid scares already slashed visitor numbers in the first half of 2020, missing out on another high season (roughly from October to March) might be the final chop for almost 30 per cent of tourism-related business around the country, he says. 

Things remain eerily quiet in Thailand - Chris Schalkx

A stroll through Chiang Mai’s usually tourist-thronged Old City makes this impact painfully clear. As a popular destination for Chinese tourists, the city has been bearing the brunt since the virus started spreading around China and cancellations began flooded in.

Read his full report here.

02:23 PM

The best hotels to book in Europe for quarantine-free summer holidays

With travel still haltingly opening up across Europe, more and more hotels are reopening, bringing hope not just for economic recovery across the continent but for some much-needed holidays. The UK currently has 19 travel corridors with other European nations, meaning Britons can now fly off for a holiday on the Med or a stay in Alps without having to factor in weeks of self-isolation.

Katikies in Santorini is one of many European hotels welcoming guests again

With this in mind, here are some of the best European hotels to have opened so far, eagerly waiting to welcome guests back with open arms (while maintaining at least a metre's gap at all times, of course).

02:01 PM

Bookings for Portugal spiked over 2000% immediately following the quarantine exemption announcement

Skyscanner has analysed recent search and booking date from skycanner.net in order to reveal that bookings for Portugal spiked over 2000% immediately following the quarantine exemption announcement, and the day’s bookings volumes were 15 times more than the daily average for the last week.

Jo McClintock, Senior Brand Director for Skyscanner commented:  

Travellers in the UK are reacting to changes as they happen and are coming onto Skyscanner to look and book their travel as soon as they know they can get away within the restrictions, generally travelling within a very short time of booking. Portugal is a firm favourite and Brits have been longing for the Algarve over the past few months, so we expect it to climb up the top search and booking lists quickly, and to stay there as long as the restrictions allow easy movement travel to the UK.”

Find the latest advice for travel to Portugal here.

01:43 PM

The old-fashioned seaside town that's suddenly back in vogue

The collapse of air bridges has led to the North Wales coast enjoying a post-lockdown bonanza.

Recently, David Atkinson has found Landudno’s pebbly North Beach busy with rockpool paddlers, despite some rather menacing clouds over the Great Orme, and the cafés along Mostyn Street bustling with al-fresco diners seeking Cymru-sur-mer vibes. Both the traditional old seafront hotels and Instagram-savvy boutique upstarts are booked out; shops selling buckets and spades, new independent retailers and local-flavour delis are all doing a brisk trade.

Llandudno is popular once more - GETTY

It’s a far cry from the ghost-town images of lockdown when Llandudno’s Kashmiri goats became unwitting media stars by taking to the deserted streets in search of food. A local hospice subsequently raised £50,000 selling goat-branded merchandise. However, after the Welsh Government allowed hotels to re-open from mid-July and reinstated indoor dining from August 3, the humans have returned.

Read more.

01:21 PM

Golden beaches, low prices: Portugal's most beautiful seaside destinations

Trips to Portugal are back. Mary Lussiana knows where to go. She writes:

"The long coastline is extraordinarily diverse, from the mellow limestone cliffs of the Algarve to the dramatic granite mountains of the cooler north; but wind your way along it and you will find Portugal, its history, its heart and its soul, in every curve of the shore."

Cascais - GETTY

Discover her favourite towns, each with a nearby not-to-be-missed attraction, food and wine suggestions, and hotel recommendations, here.

01:01 PM

More Portuguese hotels report surge in bookings following announcement of air bridge

British holidaymakers acted quickly following yesterday’s news that Portugal was to be added to the list of air bridge destinations from Saturday. 

Sean Moriarty, the CEO of the Quinta do Lago resort in the Algarve, told The Telegraph: 

We have received a 300% increase in bookings overnight. Bookings were made within hours of the announcement and have continued through to today - our phones have not stopped ringing and we are receiving endless emails from very happy clients. Our guests cannot wait to escape the UK after months of uncertainty and we are delighted to be able to welcome them back to Quinta do Lago to make the most of the remaining summer season.

Other popular Portuguese hotels saw a similar response, with Pine Cliffs Resort– a popular family hotel in the Algarve – confirming that they saw an increase in reservations since yesterday, and Martinhal, which have hotels  in Lisbon, Cascais and the Algarve, confirmed that within the first 10 minutes of the announcement they received a surge of enquiries from UK visitors. 

Find the best hotels in Portugal here.

12:44 PM

Could Dubai be put under curfew?

The United Arab Emirates has suggested some regions could be placed under curfew if coronavirus cases continue to increase.

Reuters has the details:

The United Arab Emirates could reintroduce a de-facto overnight curfew in some areas of the country if there are a high number of Covid-19 infections there, a government official said.

The Gulf Arab state has seen the number of cases rise this week to over 400 for the first time since mid-July, including 461 infections and two deaths in the 24 hours to Thursday.

Asked if the national sterilisation programme, which had included a night time curfew, could again be enforced, National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) spokesman Seif al-Zahri told Emirates TV: "Yes, that's possible in certain areas where we observe high infection cases."

NCEMA, which posted a clip of the interview on its Twitter page late on Thursday, could not be immediately reached for comment outside business hours.

The regional business and tourism hub on June 24 removed a nationwide curfew in place since mid-March and commercial businesses and public venues have gradually reopened.

Health minister Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed al-Owais on Tuesday warned the number of cases could rise after an "alarming" increase over the previous two weeks.

The UAE has recorded 65,802 infections and 369 deaths. The government does not disclose where in the country of seven emirates, or states, the infections or deaths have taken place.

12:38 PM

Top 10 cheapest holiday destinations in Europe right now

Portugal should not be the only destination on the radar of British travellers as summer ebbs away. 

Here are the 10 cheapest destinations for a seven-night holiday, according to Travel Supermarket, for departures before the end of October, by average cost. 

  1. Corfu, Greece
  2. Sicily, Italy
  3. Antalya, Turkey
  4. Kefalonia, Greece
  5. Algarve, Portugal
  6. Crete, Greece
  7. Marmaris, Turkey
  8. Zante, Greece
  9. Oludeniz, Turkey
  10. Rhodes, Greece
Corfu is the cheapest holiday destination in Europe - istock

12:26 PM

Jet2 and Tui to resume operations in Portugal next week

The UK's largest tour operators are wasting no time returning to Portugal after the Government's announcement.

Jet2 will restart its flights and holidays on Monday, August 24, while Tui will follow on August 29. 

Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy said:

"We welcome this change in government advice which means that customers can once again look forward to enjoying their well-deserved holidays in the Algarve region. Despite the government advice that has been in place, the demand for flights and holidays to Portugal has remained strong, so we are looking forward to resuming our operations to Faro in addition to Madeira." 

While a statement from Tui read:

"We're really pleased the Government has confirmed British travellers will be able to holiday to Portugal without the need to quarantine on their return to the UK. In line with the latest advice, we will be resuming flights to Portugal from August 29. We look forward to welcoming our customers back very soon."

12:15 PM

Britons eye Portuguese bargains as prices set to stay low

The cost of flights and holidays to Portugal is likely to remain low as demand will struggle to pick up quick enough to save summer despite the country’s removal from the UK’s quarantine list, say experts. 

A surge in booking interest has not yet translated into higher prices. 

Hugh Morris has the details:

Jenny Brydon, a spokesperson for TravelSupermarket, said she expected initial prices “to remain competitive to stimulate demand”, citing self-catering deals in the Algarve for under £300 for a week.

“Although when flights start to reach capacity, this will go up, so I’d get in fast,” she added. 

Emma Coulthurst, an analyst at the comparison site, told Telegraph Travel prices should “remain keen”.

“Prices in the next few weeks start from less than £150 per person for accommodation and return flight to the Algarve for seven nights,” she said. 

“With demand down across the board this summer, compared with a normal summer, we’d expect prices to remain keen. It’s a bargain destination for the holiday price but also when you get there.”

Read the full story. 

12:06 PM

Staycations with style: the hottest UK hotel openings for 2020 and 2021

Now, more than ever before, is the time to think about staycations. Lucky for us, there is something of a hotel boom this year, after a slow start.

Each room at Crockers Henley comes with a freestanding tub

Exciting openings range from the most popular new opening in Cornwall for years, to a former hosting house of King Henry VIII. 

Find the best here.

11:41 AM

'The ‘Race Back to the UK’ is now a ridiculous weekly ritual'

Telegraph Travel's Greg Dickinson has his say on the latest travel restrictions announcement.

Remember when we used to clap for the NHS on a Thursday? What a fuzzy, heartwarming tradition that was. 

I miss those days. Because since we stopped clapping, we’ve developed a rather less desirable Thursday evening ritual. 

As the clock strikes 5pm, like a holiday Grim Reaper, Grant Shapps sends out a Tweet announcing which countries are now on the FCO ‘red list’, prompting tens of thousands of British holidaymakers to begin a mad dash home in 30 hours – like a kind of twisted, untelevised version of ‘Race Around the World’ in which everyone loses.

Read more.

11:32 AM

Where can you travel right now without restrictions?

Check the map below for the all the latest information on where English holidaymakers can currently travel to and from.

11:26 AM

Holiday quarantine: Which country will be removed from the 'green' list next?

Croatia is only the latest country to be removed from the UK's travel corridors list. Thousands of holidaymakers in France were through into chaos last week when the Government removed the country from its list of destinations to which Britons can visit without needing to self-isolate when they get home.

Malta, the Netherlands, Monaco, Aruba and Turks & Caicos have also been added recently, while Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Andorra and the Bahamas also lost their travel corridors in the last few weeks.

Croatia - GETTY

Furthermore, with infection rates rising across Europe – due, in no small part, to increased testing – other countries may soon join them. The Governement is using a threshold of 20 cases per 100,000 to determine which countries to remove.

Will it be Greece, Germany or Italy? Take a look at the numbers.

11:07 AM

'We must protect public health back home' says Shapps as Croatia's removed from travel corridor list

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps explains why the Government had to act quickly in removing Croatia from the travel corridor list in the video below.

He also confirms that the quarantine restrictions must continue to be applied on a country-by-country basis rather than only changing the rules for specific cities and regions that have been worst hit. 

10:50 AM

British holidaymakers told to stay away from the water this weekend

Local seaside councils have been issuing warnings to residents and holidaymakers to stay away from the water this weekend because of potentially dangerous conditions caused by Storm Ellen. 

10:40 AM

How to get travel insurance should you choose to ignore Foreign Office advice

Contrary to popular belief, you can visit a country to which the Foreign Office (FCO) advises against travel without invalidating your insurance – you just need to contact one of the few providers willing to offer cover.

What’s more, it shouldn’t cost much more than an ordinary policy. 

Oliver Smith has the details here.

10:27 AM

Those returning from Croatia after the deadline can’t even leave home to exercise

Britons who are retired or able to work from home might consider the two-week quarantine a small price to pay for their week or two in the sun. After all, we’ve already spent a couple of months living under lockdown – and it wasn’t all that bad, was it?

But a closer look at the legislation, which came into force in June, reveals that the rules are rather more draconian than we’re used to. At the height of the pandemic in April, we were still permitted to leave the house for a daily dose of exercise, and to buy food and other necessities. But now, with very few Covid-related deaths being reported in the UK, returning travellers told to quarantine are not permitted to leave the house to shop unless they have run out of supplies and nobody else can go for them. They are not permitted to leave for exercise, even a quick jog around the block, and they can’t walk the dog. Furthermore, there is no “reasonable excuse” clause, which Dominic Cummings notoriously used to his advantage. 

The only reasons those self-isolating can leave are:

  • To leave England
  • To seek medical assistance
  • To fulfil a legal obligation (like a court hearing)
  • To avoid injury (eg. the house is on fire)
  • On compassionate grounds (eg. funeral)
  • To obtain necessities where no-one else can do so on their behalf
  • To access critical public services
  • To move to a new place of self-isolation, but this must be previously outlined in the Passenger Locator Form or for a very good reason (eg. the house has burnt down)

Find out which countries you can travel to quarantine-free here.

10:17 AM

Villas in Portugal are still available for September

Good news, there are still decent villa options available in Portugal, reports Jade Conroy.

Welcome Beyond – a villa and boutique hotel collection which has architecturally magnificent properties around the world – has availability at some of its Portuguese properties in September. 

Ana Ana Artistic Habitat

Take, for example, the pink-washed Ana Ana Artistic Habitat in Portimão in the Algarve, which sleeps up to 10 people and costs from €500 (£449) a night. Or the Outpost Casa Das Arribas, designed by a renowned Portuguese architect, on the Lisbon coast which has six apartments (each from €165 a night) overlooking the Atlantic. We know where we'd rather be... 

For more inspiration about where to stay in Portugal, see our guide to the best hotels.

10:00 AM

The 20 countries you can visit right now, without any quarantine

The Government has given the green light to overseas holidays, but the list of options keeps changing.

As of August 20, the FCO no longer advises against trips to 69 destinations, while 68 places can now be visited by Britons without the need to self-isolate on their return.

Canada - GETTY

Confusingly, however, some nations appear on one list, but not the other. Those coming back from Bonaire, for example, will not need to quarantine. However, the FCO still advises against trips to the Caribbean island (making travel insurance hard to come by). Conversely, Canada is safe to visit, according to the FCO, but visitors are still required to self-isolate when they return home. 

Find out exactly where you can go right now here.

09:51 AM

Loss of air bridges with France and Spain makes dash home from Croatia costlier

For those hoping to beat the 4am deadline this Saturday August 22, the cheapest direct flight from Croatia to the UK today currently costs £335 per person. Far less costly options involving a stop in Paris or Madrid might tempt Britons desperate to save money. However, now that France and Spain are off the Foreign Office (FCO) green list, these circuitous routes are not an option if you want to avoid quarantine. 

The FCO website explains: “You will need to self-isolate if you visited or made a transit stop in a country or territory that is not on the travel corridor list in the 14 days before you arrive in England.

“This applies to all travel to England, by train, ferry, coach, air or any other route.”

What are the rules for driving? Find out here.

09:45 AM

Why Portugal is worthy of a late summer escape

It’s not too late to soak up some last-minute sun in Portugal. 

Noel Josephides, Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) director and chairman of Sunvil, which has sold holidays to Portugal for 39 years, said:

I and fellow AITO members specialising in holidays to Portugal are delighted to be able to sell this wonderful destination again – just in time for the last couple of weeks of the peak summer season, but also in time for the glorious autumnal months of September and October, right into November.

Portugal offers a mix of simple pleasures – uncrowded, endless Atlantic beaches and bays, wide-open, little-populated countryside, first-class food and some of the best wines in Europe (at some of the lowest prices in Europe), plus experiences such as watersports and the Dark Skies over Lake Alqueva, the largest man-made lake in Europe, not to mention a modest joie de vivre and very friendly approach from its people.

Autumn brings the grape harvests to a close – visit some of the wonderful wineries to see how Portuguese wines are produced (some still in Roman-style amphorae), and taste the bounty of the land along with local zesty olive oil, cured organic meats and home-made cheeses, not to mention many delectable desserts. You’ll find freshly picked walnuts in every little town market as autumn progresses, with weather that’s still very warm and sunny but not as hot, thankfully, as it can be in the height of the summer months.

Read Telegraph Travel's expert guides to top destinations in Portugal including Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve.

09:36 AM

£335 per person: the price to avoid quarantine

Britons in Croatia have until 4am on Saturday to make their way back to UK soil, or face a two-week quarantine. 

The good news is that there is still (at the time of writing) availability on a few flights between the two countries. The bad news is that prices are inching ever higher. 

The cheapest one-way fare from Dubrovnik to London, for example, currently costs £335 (BA’s 1830 departure). A cheaper option is available for those willing to fly via Madrid (£122), but as Spain has already been removed from the UK green list, anyone using this route would be required to quarantine for two weeks (even if they don’t leave the airport) so it would entirely entirely defeat the point. 

Split International Airport - GETTY

For those returning from Zagreb, the only options cost £432 (BA’s 1320 departure) or £499 (Croatia Airlines at 1745). The only option from Split involves a change of planes in Zagreb and costs £411. A one-stop option is available from Pula for £373. 

09:25 AM

The best all-inclusive Algarve holidays now you can travel to Portugal again

With its dazzlingly bright sunshine, award-winning golf courses, and golden beaches framed by beautifully wrought limestone rocks, the Algarve is a smorgasbord of activity and adventure.

Making the most of this setting is a vast array of hotels and resorts that golfers, spa-goers and families return to time and time again.

Telegraph Travel's top choices include:

Pestana Blue Alvor
Clube Humbria
Alvor Bahia

Find more all-inclusive hotels in the Algarve here.

09:13 AM

Portugal news a ‘shot in the arm’ for beleaguered travel industry

As many as three million tourism jobs are at risk in the UK, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and the addition of Portugal to the UK green list will do very little to safeguard them.  

Virginia Messina, WTTC managing director, said:

WTTC is relieved that thousands of British holidaymakers can now at long last go on holiday to Portugal thanks to the country finally being removed from the UK government’s quarantine list.  

This news is a welcome shot in the arm for the fragile travel and tourism sector – both in the UK and Portugal. We hope it will also go some way to restoring the confidence of consumers to travel in safety again and enjoy a late summer holiday away.  

But many more holidaymakers will be hugely disappointed that if they go to Austria, Croatia, and Trinidad & Tobago it will mean they face having to quarantine for 14-days on their return. It just creates more uncertainty for the travel and tourism sector when they can least afford it.  

With countries moving so quickly on and off the quarantine list, in response to changing coronavirus rates, it shows now more than ever how important it is that we have strong international coordination and a comprehensive programme of testing for anyone who wants to travel either for business or leisure. Only a rapid, reliable and affording testing regime will help stop Covid-19 in its tracks and save the three million travel and tourism jobs at risk in the UK alone.

09:08 AM

‘I feel safer in Croatia that I do in Britain’

Li Boatwright is among those UK holidaymakers racing back from Croatia today to beat Saturday’s 4am quarantine deadline, but she insists the country feels far from unsafe:

I’m staying at the new Maslina Resort on the island of Hvar. It only opened on August 16, and pretty much all the guests here are British, so yesterday’s news is likely to hit the hotel hard. 

It won’t be the only tourism business counting the cost of quarantine: 20,000 Brits are on holiday in Croatia right now, the UK makes up one of the country’s biggest holiday markets, and tourism accounts for 20 per cent of Croatia’s GDP. 

Many of us booked to stay here a few weeks ago, and we chose Croatia because it looked like a safe bet at the time. Cases have risen in the country since then but they remain low: 29.3 positive tests per 100,000 residents over the last seven days, above the UK’s arbitrary threshold of 20 but hardly out of control. 

Instead of putting the entire country on the UK quarantine list, the mayor of Dubrovnik has urged Boris Johnson to take a regional approach, which seems far more sensible to me. 

To be honest I feel safer here than in Britain, and other guests at the hotel have said likewise. Candyce MacFarlaine from Marlow, Buckinghamshire, told me: ‘After lockdown, we needed a break. We chose Croatia as it looked like a safe option and Maslina as it is a brand-new hotel. I feel safe, secure and relaxed here, which is important for myself, my husband and our four-year-old child.’

Ana and Sam from London added: ‘It’s so safe here… it seems crazy that Croatia has been put on the red list.’

Croatia has 1,200 islands, and even popular ones like Hvar, visitors and residents are respecting the situation. Even in the narrow streets, on the beaches, in the restaurants, there is plenty of room for social distancing, and none of the jostling for space seen on some UK beaches recently. 

Fortunately I have a seat on a flight back to Britain today, but the majority of the 20,000 out here will not be so lucky. The cheapest direct flight from Dubrovnik to the UK today is currently £335. Not many can afford to pay that. 

09:00 AM

Government urged to consider regional air bridges

The Travel Network Group, which represents more than 1,000 travel companies across the UK, is asking the Government to consider alternative measures, such as regional quarantines, testing at airports and track and trace, as alternatives to countrywide restrictions given at short notice.  

Gary Lewis, CEO of the Travel Network Group, said:

This week’s latest quarantine update, which adds Croatia and Austria to a growing list of countries frequented by British holidaymakers, is another blow to consumer confidence and a further setback to the travel industry which is fighting hard to get back on its feet.  

We understand that public health must be paramount but it is clear that we will be dealing with the pandemic for some time to come, so long-term, practical steps need to be made to ensure that people can travel for leisure and business safely and confidently again.  

There are measures we have seen being used successfully overseas – like track and trace, testing at airports and local quarantines – which we urge the Government to consider in place of national-level quarantines and short-notice travel restrictions.  

Portugal being added to the travel corridors list is positive news, however we need all these measures put in place to allow for safe travel.

08:56 AM

Where to stay in Portugal: the safest regions to book now quarantine has lifted

Now that British holidaymakers can travel to and from Portugal quarantine-free, Telegraph Travel's destination expert Mary Lussiana has weighed up the safest options.

First up, Alentejo. She writes:

Wide open spaces scattered with wild flowers, cork groves, dolmens and olive trees are punctuated by medieval, white-washed towns that perch on hill tops; Alentejo makes the heart sing. Try the local cheeses, indulge in the many fine wineries (Esporão or Herdade de Freixo or Herdade Aldeia de Cima) and visit the artisanal craftsmen at work. In Estremoz the local pale pink marble is hewn, in Evora, clay figures are moulded for nativity scenes, in Elvas, greengages are preserved with sugar to arrive, elegantly boxed, at Christmas time. In the doorways of Arraiolos, women still sit and weave rugs, much as they have done for hundreds of years already. This is the heart of Portugal, authentic and raw, it is for those who want to get under its skin.  

A village in Alentejo at sunset - GETTY

Covid-19 hardly touched this region, its vast empty spaces thwarting transmission, making it reassuringly safe to visit.

Discover more of the best places for a holiday in Portugal this year here.

08:47 AM

Portugal air bridge ‘a long time coming’

Tourism businesses in Portugal, particularly those in the Algarve, will be delighted that the country finally has a travel corridor with the UK. 

João Fernandes, President of Algarve Tourism, said:

It was a long time coming but we are really delighted with the decision to lift the quarantine requirement. Here in the Algarve the British market is our biggest and we are so pleased that we can finally welcome back all those British visitors that were put off travelling here because of the quarantine rules. 

We have very low covid rates. The Algarve is one of the least affected regions in Portugal. The latest figures show just 0.05% of 100,000 inhabitants, so it’s one of the safest places you can be. We were quick to adopt preventive measures and extensive testing at an early stage to mitigate the spread of the pandemic, and as a result we have had much fewer cases than other European countries. We have over 3,000 tourism companies that have the ‘Clean & Safe’ stamp that certifies compliance with strict health protocols in tourism, so I hope British visitors will feel reassured by these procedures and safety measures.”

Find the latest advice on travel to Portugal here.

08:40 AM

Government’s quarantine policy is making it ‘too risky’ to travel anywhere

Portugal may have been added to the quarantine-free list on Thursday, but with three countries removed at the same time (Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago, confidence in overseas travel is likely to remain low.

Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said:

The government has now made it clear that countries can be removed or added from the travel corridor list at a moment's notice. That policy currently makes it too risky for anyone who is not able to quarantine for 14 days on return to travel anywhere abroad.

Yet, those holidaymakers who want to heed the government warning to not undertake non-essential travel to Spain, France and now Croatia and Austria are finding it increasingly difficult to claim a refund. Many airlines continue to operate flights and refuse customers the option of a refund, then charge eye-watering fees to those who try to rebook.

Meanwhile, the addition of Portugal is likely to come too late to help many struggling holiday companies who are at the point of collapse, as summer trips have already been cancelled. Which? has been asking the government what support it will provide to the travel industry for several months. That support is now urgently needed.”

08:36 AM

What happened yesterday?

  • Portugal to be given travel corridor from 4am on August 22
  • Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago have been removed from the UK's travel corridors list
  • There is growing alarm in Italy about a resurgence of the coronavirus
  • Family barred from rejoining cruise ship after breaking Covid rules 
  • Qantas says international flights 'unlikely' to resume until July 2021