Category: Tips and Advice

Travel insurance is absolutely essential for any holiday taken abroad. But the unprecedented C-19 pandemic has thrown the insurance sector into disarray which has seriously impacted overseas travel. If you're based in the UK, your travel plans this summer will have been at the mercy of the UK government's erratic and unpredictable travel advice. Travel corridors opened and travel corridors closed. With each closure the FCDO (the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office) advised against all but essential travel to the country in question. Your travel insurer will have automatically invalidated your travel insurance policy which gave you no choice but to cancel your much needed holiday.  However, thankfully, times they are a-changin'. Travel insurers are now applying some common sense when it comes to providing cover in these unprecedented times. We have the lowdown! The travel insurance background The FCDO will advise against all but essential travel if they consider the situation in a particular country to be a threat to human life. Traditionally this has happened if a country is at war or if there is a high risk of terrorist attack. It's logical that travel insurers will not provide cover in such a situation where there is a greatly increased risk to life. However, the risk to life is clearly very different in this C-19 pandemic situation. It therefore doesn't make sense to apply a blanket withdrawal of travel insurance. For instance, C-19 infection rates are naturally far higher in cities than they are in rural areas such as the lesser visited Pyrenees mountain region. In addition, we have an element of control over our personal situation which is not the case in a war or terrorism scenario. Each individual is able to minimise the risk of contracting and transmitting the virus by following the necessary health protocols ...

European countries have now reopened their internal borders to leisure travellers. In addition, at the end of June, the UK government is expected to shelve the current quarantine restrictions in favour of air corridors to 'safe' destinations. This means the barriers to your much anticipated adventure holiday in the Pyrenees are gradually being lifted - hurrah! However, you're maybe thinking that by flying to your holiday destination you'll be putting yourself and your family at risk of catching the virus. So it's important to understand what is being done by both the airports and the airlines to keep you safe during your journey to your summer holiday. Covid-19 safety measures at airports All airports and airlines have put in place measures to keep you safe when travelling. The whole experience will initially seem otherworldly and like something out of a science fiction movie but this is the new normal and something we will soon get used to Measures in place at Heathrow (which I'm sure are the same as in other airports) include the obligatory wearing of a mask from the moment you step inside the terminal building. It goes without saying that you should keep your mask on until you leave the terminal building at your destination airport. There are reminders throughout the airport to keep the requisite 2m distance from your fellow travellers as you're going through the departure process. Heathrow T5A check-in hall signage- photo LHR Airports Ltd Social distancing should be second nature to you by now so you should barely need the reminder! At Heathrow, they're trialling temperature screening at the check in area of Terminal 5 which is aimed at reducing the potential transmission of Covid-19. Temperature checking trial at Heathrow. Photo LHR Airports Ltd There are boards throughout the airport which explain how ...

** UPDATED 15th JUNE 2020 ** The holiday season is rapidly approaching and you'll no doubt be wondering whether the current pandemic will thwart your plans for your much needed summer adventure holiday in the Pyrenees. Covid-19 and travel plans Obviously none of us have a crystal ball and we're in an ever-changing situation, especially when it comes to travel. At the time of writing the internal borders between European countries and those in the Schengen zone have reopened to leisure travellers. The exception being the Spain who are waiting until 21st June Travellers from outside these areas should be able to visit Europe from the 1st July. It's expected that airlines will gradually increase flight frequency and the train services will also expand their timetables. All airlines and airports have put in place measures to keep you safe when travelling. These include the obligatory wearing of masks, hand disinfecting and the disinfection of touch points and of course social distancing. The success of these measures obviously depends on everybody's strict adherence to them, so if you are travelling, do make sure you take the necessary steps. UK quarantine requirement On the 8th June, the UK government introduced a 14 day quarantine requirement for anybody entering the country from overseas. It is expected to be in place for 3 weeks. However, the measures have drawn intense and widespread criticism, with three of the major British airlines threatening to commence legal action against the British Government for putting these seemingly nonsensical measures in place. UPDATE 13th JUNE - According to this article in the Telegraph, the quarantine will more than likely be shelved on the 25th or 26th June and replaced with air bridges between the UK and countries with a low risk of the virus. France has indicated that so ...