To paraphrase a film about a reasonably popular globetrotting spy that’s currently doing the rounds…Now, Time To Fly!
With Transport Secretary Grant Shapps last night opening up 47 destinations to British travellers in time for half-term, it removes the spectre of the hideously expensive red list airport quarantines on return to the UK.
(A £2,285 a head bill for a 10 day incarceration on Heathrow’s Bath Road? A family of four would need a decent roulette win at the Casino Royale to cover that.)
And what a Bond-worthy list of glamorous international hotspots now await - never mind a double ‘0’, what a great time to be double jabbed!
In what is hopefully the last major Government travel red list shuffle, from Mexico to South Africa and Cuba to Thailand (wasn’t expected, a nice bonus) via Brazil and Tunisia the winter sun holiday world is now enough.
Even better, there are some Jaws-dropping bargains out there to save a (Money) penny or two. How about a four-star week on all-inclusive in the Riviera Maya for £843 per person? Dial M for Mexico right now! (While you do not have to be jabbed for there, it is advised.)
It’s been an absolutely hideous 19 months for UK holidaymakers and the near-pulverised British travel industry, but it does seem at long last we are getting out of the Covid straitjacket and, with this latest news of even more getaway freedom, there’s a quantum of solace for everyone, including those who simply want to see their family abroad.
But we are not quite out of the pandemic woods yet, so let’s follow the coronavirus rules on planes, trains and ferries so we don’t import any fast-spreading variants and we see the sky fall in on us again.
Ready to use your licence to chill on a sun lounger by the pool? Dreaming of a golden, eye popping tropical sunset? Just head to the airport check in desks and form an orderly, but very happy, Q.
Yes, it really is time to forget that odd job which needs doing around the house and start booking a much-needed winter sun getaway in some of our favourite long haul destinations - with of course the wonders of the USA due to open up next month too.
Enough of the Man With The Golden Pun - this is fantastic news with a world of travel opportunities awaiting, so be a savvy sunseeker, opt for a package holiday with ATOL protection and always take out suitable travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked.
We are not back at the old holiday normal yet, but this is excellent progress. Safe travels wherever you go.
Pick of the deals
Compiled by Vicky Lissaman, Assistant Travel Editor
- South Africa: Cape Town and Garden Route from £1,499: five-star Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront three nights, five nights Garden Route self-drive with selected hotels, room only. Car hire included. Heathrow in December. Book by October 30. travelbag.co.uk
- Mexico: Cancun from £843: Rui Caribe, four-star, all-inclusive. Birmingham on November 1. Find out more at travelsupermarket.com.
- Bali: Kuta from £765: four-star Sun Island Hotel & Spa Legian, room only. Manchester on November 8, 13 nights. Find out more at travelsupermarket.com.
- Mexico: Puerto Vallarta £1,091: five-star Hard Rock Hotel, all-inclusive. Gatwick, November and December. Find out more at tui.co.uk.
- Mexico: Puerto Morelos £1,249: five-star Dreams Riviera Cancun, all-inclusive. Heathrow, selected November dates. Book by October 21. Find out more at travelbag.co.uk.
- Cape Verde: Boavista from £720: five-star Hotel Riu Touareg, all-inclusive. Birmingham, November 3. icelolly.com
- Mexico: Riviera Maya from £1,499: five-star, adults-only UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya, all-inclusive. Gatwick, November 15. Find out more at tropicalsky.co.uk.
- .Costa Rica: Playa de Matapalo from £816: four-star-plus Riu Guanacaste, all-inclusive. Gatwick, May 4. Find out more at tui.co.uk
- Bali: Nusa Dua from £969: five-star Nusa Dua Beach Hotel, B&B. Heathrow, February and March. Book by November 30. Find out more at travelbag.co.uk.
- Mexico: Cancun from £879: four-and-a-half star Occidental at Xcaret Destination, all-inclusive. Gatwick, May 1-31. Book by October 15. Find out more at britishairways.com/cancun.
- Bali: Ubud £787: five-star The Payogan Villa Resort & Spa, B&B. Heathrow, December 8, 13 nights. Find out more at travelsupermarket.com.
- Mexico: Los Cabos £1,849: five-star Nobu Hotel Los Cabos, room only. Heathrow, selected dates January to May. Find out more at luxuryholidaysdirect.com.
All deals are per person, seven nights, based on two sharing unless otherwise stated.
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