The holiday guru solves traveller queries about Sri Lanka and travelling alone as a pensioner

Q. We’ve booked a holiday to Sri Lanka. What will happen if we cancel? Mary Wilson, via email. A. Abta, the trade body for UK travel agents, says: ‘Customers who are due to travel imminently to the island on package holidays will be offered options of deferring their date of travel, transferring to another destination … Read more

Boris Johnson dons Philippines holiday T-shirt

Boris Johnson looked pale and thin today as he embarked on his second early morning run in a row in an effort to get back in shape after his battle with coronavirus.     The Prime Minister, 55, is seen in pictures wearing a white T-shirt bearing a brightly-coloured Philippines design and navy adidas shorts as he returns to Downing … Read more

Portugal has right resort for four under-eights, holiday guru advises

Where can you keep four children, quiet? How can you get a free six-day visa for China? And what to do in Jamaica? The holiday guru unravels traveller conundrums Marthinhal Quintal Family Resort in Portugal has something for everyone China offers 144-hour free transit visas to UK passengers arriving by sea or air  Montego Bay … Read more

Bad news for summer holidays: UK DROPS ‘air bridges’ plan for Brits to holiday in low-risk countries

Families’ hopes of a summer getaway were dealt a blow last night as Downing Street played down the idea of opening ‘air bridges’ to some foreign resorts. The prospect of quarantine-free travel between the UK and countries with low coronavirus rates had been raised by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. But with ministers expected to unveil … Read more

Coronavirus UK: Tourism bosses call for October bank holiday

An extra bank holiday in October could help revive Britain’s tourism industry from the huge loss suffered during the coronavirus crisis, a top tourism boss suggested today. Patricia Yates, who heads Visit Britain, told MPs the industry had lost £37billion in trade since lockdown began and an additional day off would ‘stimulate demand when it … Read more

Tourism bosses call for extra bank holiday to help industry recover lost trade from coronavirus

An extra bank holiday in October could help revive Britain’s tourism industry from the huge loss suffered during the coronavirus crisis, a top tourism boss suggested today. Patricia Yates, who heads Visit Britain, said the industry had lost £37billion in trade since lockdown began and an additional day off would ‘stimulate demand when it is … Read more

Summer holiday hope as Greece offers to waive 14-day quarantine for UK tourists

Greece has offered to waive its 14-day coronavirus quarantine for British tourists and holiday firms are planning to restart flights from mid June in what could be a welcome boost for beleaguered lockdown Britain. With the Mediterranean nation’s under-pressure economy heavily dependent on holidaymakers it has been making plans to refill deserted beaches and hotels. … Read more

Are we all going on a summer holiday? Millions are wondering

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary is not often seen as a consumer champion, but he spoke for many when he branded the Government’s plans for the tourism industry ‘idiotic’. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps added fuel to the fire by saying that a ‘blanket’ 14-day quarantine rule for arrivals to be introduced from next month will include … Read more

Holiday price STILL most important for Brits – just 5 per cent waiting for vaccine before travelling

Revealed: Price is STILL more important than safety standards for British travellers – and just five per cent are waiting for a coronavirus vaccine before travelling again In a poll of UK adults 29 per cent named price as the number one factor  In comparison, only 19 per cent said safety of destination was the … Read more

The best UK holiday homes to celebrate the end of the coronavirus pandemic in style

It may be unimaginable at the moment but one day in the future we will be able to throw the ultimate post-lockdown celebration with friends and family. And where better than in a palatial holiday pad? Here we round-up the best properties to rent around the UK, including an uber-modern beach house in Northern Ireland, … Read more