Brits heading to amber list countries for holidays could be risking extra costs of thousands of pounds if they fall ill, have an accident or Covid affects their trip.
England’s amber list currently spans 172 countries and territories including popular holiday destinations like Spain, Italy, France and Greece. Despite the government warning people not to travel for holidays, thousands of Brits flocked to Spain this week when the country reopened its borders.
However, the Foreign Office currently advises against non-essential travel to amber list countries – which means your travel insurance will most likely be invalidated.
That means that if you have an accident, fall ill or Covid means you have to quarantine/incur medical costs, you could end up having to fork out the cash yourself. In some cases, this can quickly add up to thousands of pounds.
(Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
Travel insurance is invalidated when the government advises against travel – and this is based on the Foreign Office advice for a destination, not whether it’s on a green/amber/red list.
If you choose to travel against the official advice, most travel insurers won’t cover you. Which means that even if you’ve taken out a policy which specifically covers Covid-19 related issues, you may not be covered when you head abroad.
If you need to travel for essential reasons, which the government allows, it’s still important to check your policy and get in touch with your provider, to ensure you know what you may/may not be covered for.
If you’re in desperate need of a holiday abroad, then your best bet is to opt for a green list destination, provided the Foreign Office allows for non-essential travel. For example, Portugal holidays are allowed because they’re on the green list, and the Foreign Office has lifted its ban on non-essential trips.
(Image: Getty Images)
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Not to mention that most travel firms will also let you amend a holiday or get a refund if you book a green list destination but it’s later added to the amber list. We’ve put together a guide on travel companies’ rules for changing holidays including TUI, Jet2 and easyJet where you can get some more information.
Currently there are 12 countries and territories on the green list – Portugal including the Azores and Madeira; Australia; New Zealand; Singapore; Brunei; Iceland; Faroe Islands; Gibraltar; Falkland Islands; and Israel. However, it’s worth noting that the majority haven’t yet reopened to Brits, or in some cases to tourists in general.
Portugal and Iceland are the most popular holiday destinations that have already said they will welcome Brits back for summer.
It’s worth noting that Scotland has its own green list although it’s currently very similar to England’s list.
The UK government is expected to give another update on the green, amber and red lists on June 7.
What do you think of the green, amber and red lists system? Share your opinions in the comments below.
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