Passport panic

With millions of people dusting off their passport for the first time in years, passport offices up and down the country have been struggling to keep up with demand. In April 2021, HM Passport Office urged people not to delay passport applications with waiting lists stretching to ten weeks and as of May 2022, this guidance still applies.

Since Brexit, Brits must also meet certain requirements to be granted access to EU countries. UK passports, for example, must have been issued less than 10 years before the date of travel (check the date of issue) and remain valid for at least three months after the date of departure (check the expiry date).

It comes as the number of UK travellers venturing abroad nears pre-pandemic levels and research reveals that 4.5 million people waited until restrictions had lifted to renew out-of-date passports.

 

COVID-19 entry requirements 

COVID-19 tests for travellers entering the UK have been scrapped but with some countries only permitting holidaymakers that are fully vaccinated or have tested negative for the virus, you must find this information out before you travel.

Mexico, Croatia, and Egypt are currently welcoming UK travellers that have declined the COVID-19 vaccine, for example, but travel to Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines is only permitted for vaccinated travellers.

It will vary from country to country but, as a general rule, you will usually be asked to take a PCR test within 72 hours or an antigen test within 48 hours of your expected arrival time.

The current guidance can change at a moment’s notice, however, so you must refer to official government-issued advice of the country you are travelling to before and during your holiday to ensure you are informed and following the correct rules.

 

Flight cancelations and delays

In the past few weeks, airport queues have led to widespread flight cancelations and delays with millions of holidaymakers hoping for a relaxing break left with no choice but to abandon their post-pandemic holiday plans at the departure gate.

Manchester, Dublin, Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, and Bristol airports have reported lengthy lines forming both indoors and outdoors with customers queuing overnight for early-morning flights and – as was the case for unlucky tourists traveling from Cardiff to Zakynthos last week– waiting over 40 hours just to board.

This is due to a combination of tougher security checks in the wake of Brexit, and additional COVID-19 measures still in place, and unprecedented staff and crew shortages.

It might have been sufficient to arrive at the airport 90 minutes before your flight in a pre-pandemic world but with further chaos expected as peak travel season looms, four hours has become the new normal.

 

Price rises

With the COVID-19 pandemic reportedly costing the global travel and tourism industry $2 trillion and the world experiencing a cost of living crisis, travel companies have hiked the price of package holidays and last-minute deals are practically non-existent as airlines scramble to recoup lost profits.

It can be tempting to splash the cash on your first post-pandemic holiday but with the cost of almost everything double than what it was just a few years ago, you could end up spending more than you bargained for.

Whether you have your sights set on an around-the-world trip or will be holidaying closer to home this year, always establish a travel budget and remember to check the exchange rate before you travel.

The price you will be quoted for your first holiday since COVID-19 will depend on the destination, duration, and dates you choose, but by avoiding peak travel season and booking as early as possible, you can cut costs without compromising on fun.