8 Top Tips For UK Travellers Ahead Of Their Holiday


Shutterstock / Studio Romantic © Mature husband and wife at home before going on family holiday. Portrait of happy cute active senior couple with flight tickets, passports and suitcases standing in living-room and smiling

As schools break up for summer, people across the country are considering taking a well-earned holiday abroad.

Savvy travellers should follow Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice to make sure that any international travel is as safe and disruption-free as possible.

Travel will be different this summer, and travellers need to take action before they go abroad.

The FCDO has issued 8 travel tips that people should follow if they plan to travel overseas this summer.

Here’s how to be prepared…

  1. Check FCDO Travel Advice for your destination’s entry and quarantine requirements before you book.
  2. Know and follow the local COVID-19 rules and restrictions for your destination – there may be limits on group numbers and curfews.
  3. Your destination might ask you to prove you have been fully vaccinated – check FCDO Travel Advice for how you can show your COVID-19 vaccination status
  4. Check what new actions you need to take before visiting Europe. There are new rules for UK travellers, including passport validity, access to healthcare, taking a vehicle or pet, and travelling with food and drink products.

    EU Digital COVID Certificate with the QR code on the screen of a mobile held by a hand with blurred airport in the background. Immunity from Covid-19. Travel without restrictions

    Pic: Shutterstock

  5. Be prepared for change – coronavirus is still a threat. Travel disruption is still possible. To protect public health in the UK, countries can be added to the red list. Foreign countries can also close borders or change their entry rules for travellers from the UK at short notice.
  6. Sign up for travel advice email alerts, so you automatically receive the latest travel advice updates for the destinations you want to know about
  7. Get a travel insurance policy and make sure you know what the exemptions are. If you are visiting the EU, make sure you also have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), or replace it with a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
  8. Check what proof of vaccination status your destination accepts. In England and Wales remember to download the NHS app and follow instructions to validate your NHS COVID Pass. In Scotland, you can get a record of coronavirus vaccination status. In Northern Ireland you can apply for a vaccine certificate.

Sarah Proctor

I've worked on a variety of regional newspapers and national magazines. My Weekly and Your Best Ever Christmas are fantastic, warm-hearted brands with an amazing, talented team. I'm a sub-editor and particularly love working on cookery, fiction and advice pages - I feel I should know all the secrets of eternal life, health and happiness by now, but hey, we all need that regular reminder!