BRITS have been given the green light to head on a summer holiday.
Since May 17, international travel has returned with a traffic light system in place, but which countries have made it onto the green list with no quarantine restrictions?
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Which countries are on the green list?
- Portugal
- Israel
- Singapore
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Brunei
- Iceland
- Gibraltar
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- St Helena, Tristan de Cunha, Ascension Island
Countries who made it onto the green list have a low rate of infections and a steady number of vaccinations being distributed.
Holidaymakers can now jet off to those nations without the worry of quarantine restrictions, as foreign holidays have now restarted.
However, travel requires a pre-flight Covid test as well as a PCR test on day two of returning to the UK.
Amber countries require a mandatory 10-day quarantine at home as well as a Covid test on day two and eight.
Red countries will have to isolate for 10-days at a quarantine hotel, costing £1,750 per person.
Portugal
Portugal has confirmed that Brit tourists are now allowed to visit the country.
Portugal was added to the UK's green list on May 7, meaning UK travellers can go on holiday there without having to quarantine when returning to Britain.
Despite fears of a wave of cancellations as Portugal also extended its "state of calamity" until May 30, the country's foreign minister announced Brits are allowed as long as they have a negative Covid-19 test result.
They will also need to take a swab before returning and back home.
Brits travelling to Portugal have been warned to expect six-hour airport queues.
Portugal so far is the only major European country on the green list for quarantine-free travel.
Searches for package holidays there rocketed by 865 per cent, says comparison site TravelSupermarket.
There are some great deals for those interested in a Portugal holiday:
- British Airways Holidays 7-night Algarve holidays in 4 & 5* star hotels from £219pp
- Easyjet Holidays 7-night Algarve holidays in June from £294pp
- TUI Algarve deals in September and October from £225pp
- Jet2 Holidays September 7-night self-catering holidays from £336pp
- Jet2 Holidays September 7-night all-inclusive holidays from £503pp
- Thomas Cook September 7-nights self-catering holidays from £141pp
- Love Holidays 7-night holidays in July from £143pp
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is one of the few on the the green list, as it was the first nation to offer the vaccine to the entire population.
In total, Gibraltar has seen 4,286 cases of Covid, as well as 94 deaths since the pandemic began but has reported no new deaths or cases.
The country recently confirmed it does not require UK tourists to get a Covid test, as long as they haven't been to any other destination in the 14 days before travel.
Restaurants and bars are all open, both indoor and outside, with cable cars to the top of the famous Gibraltar Rock tourist attraction.
There are some great deals for those interested in a Gibraltar holiday:
- Easyjet Holidays 3-nights June 3* Hotel Bristol bed and breakfast from £272pp
- Thomas Cook 3-night July Hotel Elliott bed and breakfast from £339pp
- British Airways Holidays 4* Hotel Rock 3-nights June from £311pp
- Travel Republic 7-night July holidays from £553pp
Israel
Brits are able to travel to Israel and back without the worry of quarantining, but you will need a negative Covid test result to enter the UK on your return.
The country will open its borders for vaccinated tourists from May 23, but you will have to take a serological test to prove you have had a jab.
However, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) recently updated their travel advice for the country, and currently advises against 'all but essential travel to the remainder of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories based on the current assessment of security and COVID-19 risks'.
Australia
Australia is on the government's green list, but they’re currently closed to most visitors outside a local bubble.
Entry is currently closed to most arrivals until June 17 at the earliest, so it remains unclear whether the nation will be open for summer holidays -despite being on the UK's green list.
Their vaccine rollout started on February 22 – considerably later than the UK – and is estimated to have immunised just three per cent of the population with two doses.
Both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca coronavirus jabs are being used.
New Zealand
As with Australia, comparable Covid-19 infection rate data is currently unavailable due to low incidence, but the total number of deaths across the pandemic has been 26.
It's vaccination rollout has been slow, however, compared to the other countries on this list – only the Pfizer jab has been approved by the regulator and one per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated.
New Zealand's border is currently closed to international travellers, so summer holidays there may be off the cards anyway.
It is "currently closed to almost all arrivals", the FCDO said, and is still enforcing quarantine and multiple tests for those who have made the trip under special circumstances.
Europe and the rest of the world
Boris Johnson said he won't be adding any more destinations to the green list in a blow to millions of hopeful holidaymakers.
Other holiday hotspots such as Spain and Italy were also expected to open for Brits but the Prime Minister said the government believes the Indian variant of Covid-19 poses "a real risk of disruption" and will remain cautious in the return of foreign travel.
What are the travel rules?
Going on holiday is no longer illegal, with May 17 marking the date that travel has finally been given the go-ahead.
Anyone coming back to Britain will still have to take pre-departure tests up to 72 hours before they travel, which can be a lateral flow or PCR test.
Quarantine or additional testing is not needed upon return, unless the post-arrival test is positive.
The next review is set to take place in three weeks – so on May 28.
When can I travel to a green list holiday destination?
Grant Shapps said people with a vaccine could use the NHS app to show when they go on holiday from now on.
The Government will also be publishing a green watchlist in the future, to provide an indication when a country is identified as a candidate for a changing country.
Brits are advised not to book anywhere on the amber list, just in case things get worse and it turns red.
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