What does the latest travel announcement mean for my holiday?
Its good news for travellers - holidays to most of Europe are back on just in time for the school holidays. Here is our guide to the new rules. Quarantine for double-jabbed Britons returning from amber-rated countries will end from July 19, subject to evidence of a recent negative Covid test on arrival and on (or before) the second day after you get back. This means that fully vaccinated Britons  with proof on their NHS app or with a letter obtained by calling 119 in advance  will be able to travel to more than 140 amber list countries without having to quarantine on their return. These include most of the main European holiday destinations. To count as fully vaccinated you must have completed your second dose as least 14 days before departure. In many cases, yes. Travel companies can now operate to most of Europe as planned. And airlines are able to continue to fly anyway so if you have booked independent arrangements, your flight should also go ahead as scheduled. However, the Foreign Office (FCDO) may still advise against non-essential trips to some of the destinations on the amber list and in these cases package holidays would have to be cancelled. Yes  you obviously still have to be allowed into the country you want to visit and some destinations still have restrictions on people arriving from Britain. So holidays to Holland and Austria, for example, are currently not possible. And there is a huge question mark over Italy  the five-day quarantine for arrivals from the UK effectively rules it out for most travellers  unless you are happy to self-isolate in your villa on arrival. Most definitely. The next likely date for a review is next Thursday. However, whether or not a country is rated green or amber makes much less difference now  at least for those who have been vaccinated. But it is still possible that countries might be given a red rating which would mean that you would have to pay for 10 days hotel quarantine on your return to the UK. In such cases holidays would obviously have to be cancelled. It seems unlikely that this would happen to a European country over the summer, but Tunisia turned red in the last review and Turkey has been red since May 17. And there is always the risk that the emergence of a new variant could suddenly and radically alter the situation. Unfortunately, as things stand, you will still be subject to the same rules as before. As well as having to show a negative test on arrival back in the UK from an amber zone country, you will have to self-isolate for 10 days and take tests on days two and eight. Children under 18 travelling with their families are exempted from the vaccination requirements, so they can return to the UK and avoid the self-isolation rules as long as their parents have been double-jabbed and meet the new vaccination requirements. Only children under five will be free from having to take any tests. Those aged five to 10 will have to take a PCR test on or before day two of their return but they wont have to do a pre-departure test. Children aged 11 to 18 will have to take a PCR test on day two and a pre-departure test. This could add up to 400 for a family of four. This is also dependent on FCDO advice. As long as it doesnt advise against all but essential travel travel policies will be valid. Though note that cover is heavily restricted when it comes to Covid-19. Cancellation is not normally covered, for example. For more information on travel insurance and the traffic light system, see our advice page. If you are still nervous about travelling and would rather wait until the pandemic is more certainly behind us then you will probably be able to postpone your trip  most operators and airlines are allowing flexibility on this. But if you cancel unilaterally you will almost certainly lose your money. points out that with restrictions easing and cases rising, it's been suggested that several million people could be required to self-isolate by law this summer. Most travel providers are currently saying they will not allow customers who are self-isolating to claim a refund (although most will allow you to postpone). says, the Competition and Marketing Authority has issued guidance that those in compulsory self-isolation should be entitled to a refund. A few insurers cover the situation but some holidaymakers who are forced to cancel could be faced with a legal battle to get their money back. There is no reason why not  this is a great chance to travel. But be sure to book with an operator which allows you to postpone if for some reason you change your mind or are unable to travel. You will have many more rights if you book a package holiday rather than make independent travel and accommodation arrangements. Then if, for example, your chosen destination closes its doors to British tourists, then the holiday will be cancelled and you will be entitled to a refund. If you book a flight only it may still go ahead, and while you will probably be able to rebook for a later date, you wont be able to get your cash back. I wish I had a crystal globe which could predict the next stage of the pandemic. If travel is important to you and you are itching to get away again after a near two-year hiatus, then currently there are lots of good deals for winter sun breaks after November 1. Air fares may well show an initial surge but, as we have already seen this summer, airlines can be very fleet of foot and can quickly add capacity to popular destinations. The greater availability of seats should then temper any rises. Looking further ahead, if coronavirus restrictions continue to ease then prices may well start to rise again.