Latest Travel Information
We understand that you may have concerns about how the Covid-19 coronavirus situation may affect your holiday, so we have included some information below to help answer questions.
You can rest assured that your health and well-being remain our top priority, and that we continue to monitor all the relevant advice from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and local authorities.
This situation is fluid and that information can change over time. That’s why we’re here for you. We’ll help you to understand the latest advice and guide you on the options available to you for your holiday. Click here to see our booking guarantee.
Temporary restrictions on international travel
As countries respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been international border closures and other restrictions, which can be subject to change without notice. As a result, the FCO is currently advising against all but essential international travel.
Many airlines and cruise operators have also temporarily cancelled or suspended services over the next few weeks.
If you are due to travel in the next few weeks, your holiday may no longer be going ahead. If your holiday has been affected, we will contact you as soon as possible to advise you of the options available to you.
Please note: our team are prioritising contacting clients already on holiday and those due to depart in the next few days. If your booking is due to depart later than this, and is affected by the travel restrictions, please bear with us — we will be in touch as soon as we can.
Holidays departing later this year
Unless we contact you to advise of any changes that affect your holiday, you can expect your holiday to go ahead as planned. Normal booking conditions will apply including any charges for amendments and cancellations.
Should your holiday be affected by airline or cruise cancellations or as a result of Foreign & Commonwealth Office travel advice, we will contact you to discuss your options which will include changing your booking, or cancelling and receiving a refund or credit note.
Should I cancel or rebook?
Unless we contact you to advise of any changes that affect your holiday, you can expect your
holiday to go ahead as planned. Normal booking conditions will apply including any charges for amendments and cancellations.
If your holiday is cancelled because of changes in FCO advice, we would recommend the following steps:
- Talk to us in the first instance, to discuss the options available to you.
- If possible, amend your holiday or travel arrangements to another date, don’t cancel – this will mean you have a holiday to look forward to in the future, and it will help to protect jobs in airlines, cruise lines, hotels, attractions, tour operators and travel agencies during these difficult times.
- For ATOL protected fight packages, if you are not able to amend your holiday to another date, you may be offered a Refund Credit Note instead of an immediate cash refund. A Refund Credit
Note can be used to book another holiday at a later date and, in the meantime, it is protected by ABTA/ATOL, so you would be reimbursed if the travel company failed financially.
If you have booked villa accommodation only, this is not protected by the Package Holiday Regulations. We recommend checking with your travel insurance provider or credit card company to check the level of cover provided.
Am I entitled to a refund?
If you have booked an ATOL protected flight package and your holiday is cancelled because of changes in FCO advice, you may be offered a Refund Credit Note instead of an immediate cash refund. A Refund Credit Note can be used to book another holiday in future.
Refund Credit Notes remain protected by ATOL if your original booking had that protection, so you would be reimbursed if the travel company failed financially. If you do not use the Refund Credit Note to book another holiday, you may be entitled to a cash refund at a specified later date. If you have booked villa accommodation only, this is not covered by the Package Holiday Regulations, so may not qualify for a refund or credit note. We recommend checking with your travel insurance provider or credit card company to check the level of cover provided.
Please note, we would recommend changing your holiday or travel arrangements to another date if at all possible, rather than cancelling your trip. This will mean you have a holiday to look forward to in the future, and it will help to protect jobs in airlines, cruise lines, hotels, attractions, tour operators and travel agencies during these difficult times.
If I am unable to travel, am I entitled to compensation?
Travel restrictions or disruption resulting from the coronavirus outbreak are beyond our control. If you are unable to travel for these reasons you will not be entitled to compensation from us. We recommend checking with your travel insurance provider or credit card company to check the level of cover they provide.
Should I be worried about booking a new holiday?
The restrictions put in place to tackle the coronavirus crisis have led to significant short term disruption to travel. However, these are temporary restrictions, and it is widely expected that they will be relaxed and removed over the coming weeks.
Many holidays departing later this year remain on sale, and holidays are available to book all the way through to summer 2021 and beyond. A growing number of travel operators are offering lower no-fee amendments on selected dates and all ATOL protected flight packages remain fully protected under the terms of the Package Holiday Regulations. If you are booking villa accommodation only, this is not covered by the Package Holiday Regulations, so we strongly recommend that you take out adequate travel insurance for your holiday booking.
Like all responsible holiday companies, we are constantly monitoring the situation and if there were to be specific government advice which affects your holiday, we will be in touch to discuss your options.
Further information
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office travel advice for your destination
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office travel advice regarding coronavirus
- NHS advice on coronavirus
FURTHER INFORMATION
PASSPORTS
British Citizens require a full British passport for visits to all the destinations that we feature. Most countries require that passports are valid for at least six months after the departure from their country. Please note that requirements do change and you must check for up-to-date information in good time prior to departure. If you or any member of your party does not hold a British passport, you must check the entry requirements with the embassy or consulate of the country being visited.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
Some countries we feature require you to have a visa as well as a valid passport. To check if you require a Visa please visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and search for the country in which you are travelling to, for the latest entry requirements.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure you are aware of and comply with any health requirements, recommendations and precautions such as vaccinations for every country you are visiting. For the latest information please visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and search for the country which you are travelling to, for the latest health requirements.
TRAVEL ADVICE
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office produces up-to-date travel information to help British travellers make informed decisions about travelling abroad. For further information please visit www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo
Villa Select a brand of Canterbury Travel London (LTD) are a member of ABTA and holidays and flights shown are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. ATOL Protection extends primarily to customers who book and pay in the United Kingdom.
ATOL Licence No. 2786
Member of ABTA No. V2359
For details visit www.abta.com
BREXIT GUIDANCE FROM ABTA – Brexit advice for travellers
Europe is the number one overseas destination for UK travellers and many people will be looking to travel there in 2021. Travel to Europe will be different from 1 January 2021, so it is important you plan early to make sure you have everything in place in time for your trip.
It is also important that you check how the coronavirus pandemic may affect your travel plans. When planning a trip and before you travel, check the Foreign Office advice for the destination you are visiting. ABTA also has advice on travelling during the pandemic.
Five steps to take when travelling to Europe from 1 January 2021
1. Check to see if your passport will still be valid
If you have a British passport, you will need to have at least six months left on your passport and your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years.
You can use the Government’s passport checker to see if you need to renew your passport.
2. Take out travel insurance with adequate healthcare cover
We always advise travellers to take out comprehensive travel insurance with sufficient healthcare cover, including cover for existing medical conditions and any activities you plan to do. ABTA has advice on finding the right travel insurance.
If you have a European Health Insurance Card it will be valid up to its expiry date. If you apply for a card now, you’ll get a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of an EHIC. More details here.
3. Make sure you have all the documents you need to drive in Europe
Green cards for insurance – if you are driving your own car in Europe, you will need to obtain and carry a physical Green Card for your UK car insurance to be valid in the EU. These cards will be available from your car insurance provider. You may be charged a small fee to cover administration costs. The ABI advises you apply for a Green Card at least a month before you are due to travel. You may also need a Green Card for your trailer or caravan, so check with your insurer.
GB car stickers – you will need a GB sticker for your own car when driving in the EU after the transition period ends.
Driving permits – if you have a paper licence or your driving licence was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man you may need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in some EU countries and Norway from 1 January 2021. These are available from the Post Office.
4. Get the necessary vaccines and certificate to take your pet abroad
Your pet passport will no longer be valid, instead you will need an Animal Health Certificate and you pet will need to be micro-chipped and vaccinated against rabies. If you wish to take your pet abroad you should speak to your vet in advance to make sure you have these in place before you are due to travel. Full details can be found at gov.uk.
5. Check your mobile phone company’s policy on data roaming
Rules around mobile data roaming are changing meaning you may face charges when using your phone abroad, including for making calls, sending messages or using the internet. Check with your mobile phone provider about their data roaming policy.
The UK Government also has advice for people travelling to the EU after 1 January 2021.
Other things to be aware of when travelling to Europe
- If you are going on holiday you won’t need a visa for short trips to Europe.
- At border control you may need to show a return ticket and that you have enough money for your stay.
- When going through passport control you may not be able to use the EU or EEA lanes.
- You won’t be able to take any meat, milk or any products containing these items into the EU. There are exceptions for powdered baby milk, baby food, or pet food required for medical reasons.
To read the statement directly on ABTA’s website please click here
