SUMMER holidays may be able to go ahead this year as MPs are "increasingly optimistic" about trips abroad.
A popular destination which is likely to invite Brits back this year is Greece – here is everything you need to know about travelling to the destination.
Can I travel to Greece right now?
No – you cannot visit Greece right now due to the UK lockdown.
This bans all non-essential travel, which includes holidays abroad.
The lockdown is to be reviewed by Boris Johnson on February 22 but it is unlikely that non-essential travel will be lifted.
What are the travel restrictions for Greece?
To enter Greece, all UK arrivals must have a negative coronavirus test taken no more than 72 hours before travelling.
All arrivals must also have a rapid test for COVID-19 on arrival – a negative test means a seven day quarantine while a positive test means a 14-day quarantine – along with a rapid test at the end of the quarantine.
A Passenger Locator Form must also be filled in 24 hours before travelling.
Anyone returning to the UK from Greece also has a number of restrictions to follow.
All arrivals must have a negative coronavirus test taken no more than 72 hours before travelling, as well as a completed Passenger Locator Form.
A mandatory quarantine of 10 days must be undertaken at home, but with a negative coronavirus test on day 2 and day 8, costing £210 through the government portal.
However, you can leave on day five with another negative coronavirus test.
When will I be able to go on holiday to Greece?
Holidays abroad hope to resume by summer, with airlines and tour operators hoping to restart by the peak season.
MPs remain "increasingly optimistic" about holidays this summer, although some are less positive.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that he "couldn't give a definitive" on any holidays this year" while Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was opting for a British holiday to Cornwall instead.
However, vaccine passports are being discussed as a way to resume international travel.
Greece Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis told BBC's Today programme that he was hopeful it would be a "normal summer" for vaccinated travellers.
He said: "Technical discussions [with the UK] are underway to see if that’s going to be feasible. I am very hopeful we can reach some kind of solution.
"We don’t want to limit travel to those who have been vaccinated of course.
"But since we are mandating that before travelling someone has to have a negative test result, this is a waste of resources if people are vaccinated, to be tested every time they travel, the need for this testing could be limited by the vaccination certificate."
Jonathan Van-Tam, England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer, has suggested that the more elaborate people's holiday plans were, the more likely they were to get cancelled.
Speaking at Downing Street earlier this month, he said: “The more elaborate your plans are for summer holidays, in terms of crossing borders, in terms of house mixing, given where we are now, I think you just have to say, you're stepping into making guesses about the unknown.
“We just don't have the data, it's just too early.”
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