Holidays: Simon Calder gives advice on booking travel on GMB
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International travel is currently illegal in the UK thanks to COVID-19, as global infection rates remain volatile. Ministers have done everything but close national borders in response to a surge of cases. Domestic travel remains mostly prohibited as well, with rules differing between the UK’s home nations.
Can you travel to Wales from England during lockdown?
Travel is one of the riskiest activities during the pandemic, as it gives the virus footholds around the UK.
As such, central messaging has asked people not to travel unless essential.
But devolved nations handle their own travel rules, meaning people who want to travel from Wales to England will need to be mindful of both Welsh and British restrictions.
Currently, the Welsh Government’s line on domestic travel matches England’s.
People should only cross the border for essential purposes, such as work, school or providing care.
They may also travel to England if their support bubble includes family or friends over the border.
If any of these apply, people may travel over the border using public transport or otherwise.
Those living in border towns can also trip to England if they need to go shopping.
But the Welsh Government states they must only do so if they need “essential items such as food, medical supplies or products for the upkeep your own home or the home of a person you care for.”
Unfortunately, people cannot travel between countries without a reasonable excuse.
Although Welsh residents might fancy a domestic vacation to an English or Scottish beauty spot, at the moment, they’re out of luck.
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Ministers recently asked people not to book summer holidays this year due to the current Covid situation.
Speaking last week, transport minister Grant Shapps said: “People shouldn’t be booking holidays right now, not domestically or internationally.”
Government sources have added the ban on domestic holidays will continue until at least Easter.
Although ministers hope to relax restrictions, travel plans are currently just a “possibility”.
One source told The Times: “There’s an active discussion about how soon we can do it and we’ll be guided by the data.
“There’s talk of April at the earliest, but a lot of things have to go right.
“It’s unlikely but it is being talked about as a possibility.”
When travel between nations is allowed for leisure once again, tiers may come back into force, limiting what people can and can’t do.
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