NEW holiday rules are coming into place this week, which will save Brits hundreds of pounds.
The UK government announced the changes yesterday, giving a boost to the travel industry ahead of the summer season.
Here are the new travel rules explained, including when they will be enforced.
1. Pre-departure tests scrapped
From tomorrow, arrivals to the UK will no longer need to take a Covid test before they arrive, which was reintroduced in December due to Omicron..
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed: "Fully vaxxed passengers & under 18s will NO LONGER need to take a pre-departure test before returning to England if arriving after 4am Fri 7 Jan."
This not only saves Brits money, with lateral flow costing around £22 each, but also avoids the risk of testing positive for Covid before travelling, resulting in being stranded abroad.
2. Isolation period scrapped
Also from tomorrow, all arrivals will no longer need to isolate when entering the UK.
Previously, anyone entering the UK would have to isolate while they waited for their day two test results – this has now been scrapped.
Shapps confirmed: "Fully vaxxed passengers & under 18s will NO LONGER need to self-isolate whilst waiting for post-arrival results if arriving after 4am Friday 7 Jan."
In the UK, the 10-day isolation after testing positive for Covid has already been slashed to seven days, with calls to reduce it further to five days.
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3. Day two PCR tests replaced with lateral flow test
Enforced from January 9 (Sunday), the mandatory day two PCR test will be scrapped in favour of the cheaper lateral flow test.
This is the biggest saving from Brits, with the lateral flows around £60 cheaper than PCRs.
Shapps said: "After arrival in England, all fully vaxxed people & under 18s will now only need to take a LATERAL FLOW test (instead of a PCR test) if they arrive after 4am Sunday 9 Jan."
The lateral flow must not be through the NHS, with Covid testing firm prices starting from £22.
If the lateral flow comes back positive, then a PCR test must then be taken, but this can be for free through the NHS.
Travel rules are also still in place for countries abroad – destinations such as Spain and Cyprus require a Covid test on arrival even if fully vaccinated.
And some are still banning Brits – France, Morocco and Hong Kong are all currently enforcing a travel ban on UK tourists and flights.
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