The government has announced which countries Brits can travel to this summer without having to quarantine on their return.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps gave a briefing this afternoon on which destinations are on the UK’s ‘green list,’ meaning holidays there can go ahead quarantine-free from May 17.
Travellers will require a pre-flight Covid test as well as a PCR on their return to the UK.
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On the 'green list' list are the following countries:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- Brunei
- Iceland
- Faroe Islands
- Gibraltar
- Falkland Islands
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
- Israel and Jerusalem
Also marked as ‘safe’ to travel from May 17 is Portugal.
And with many of us desperate for a holiday after being locked down because of Covid, we’ve collated the cheapest holidays from Bristol to Portugal you can book right now for this summer.
You can currently book a one-way ticket between Bristol Airport to Lisbon for £48.99 with easyjet.
And another one-way seat is available from Bristol to Faro for as low as £26.99 - again with easyjet.
There are also package deals including flights from Bristol and accommodation:
- Three night stay at 4* hotel including hotel, flights, bags and shared transfer in June
- Three night stay at 4* hotel including hotel, flights, bags and shared transfer in June
- Four night stay at 3* hotel including hotel and flights in July
- Four night stay at 3* hotel including hotel and flights in July
- Four night stay at 3* hotel including hotel and flights in July
- Four night stay at 3* hotel including hotel and flights in July
How does the traffic light system work?
Assessments are based on a range of factors, including the proportion of a country’s population which has been vaccinated, rates of infection, emerging new variants and the country’s access to reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing.
Rules for people returning from each category are:
Green: There is no need to self-isolate. Take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on day two of your arrival in the UK.
Amber: Self-isolate for 10 days, unless you receive a negative result from a test taken at least five days after arrival. Take a pre-departure test, and PCR tests on day two and day eight of your arrival in the UK.
Red: Spend 10 days in a quarantine hotel. Take a pre-departure test, and PCR tests on day two and day eight of your arrival in the UK.
The status of countries could be changed when the system is reviewed on June 28.
Everyone arriving in the UK will be required to take a test, with the result entered into a passenger locator form.
Read our live blog here for more information
