Everything you need to know about holidays after lockdown

The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the travel industry, causing holiday plans to be changed and flights to be cancelled.

Even now, England is still in lockdown and Brits are desperate to go on holiday and jet off to an exotic location for a while.

However, it’s not too late to start planning your dream trip for next year- but there are some things you need to take into consideration before you get booking.

Here is everything you need to know about travelling abroad, including when it’s thought we can go on holiday, and when you can get the cheapest flights.

You will also find expert advice from a Bradford travel agent who has some words of wisdom for travellers, as well as information about the most popular holiday destinations of 2021.

When can I go on holiday?

Currently, the rules state: “From 5 November to 2 December 2020, travelling away from home, including internationally, is restricted from England except in limited circumstances such as for work or for education.”

Travelling to take a holiday can be punished by a fine, with penalties starting at £200 and going up to £6,400.

However, England's national lockdown will end on the 2nd December and a new tiered system will be put in place for winter.

Bradford has been placed in tier three and have been told to “avoid travelling to other parts of the UK, including for overnight stays other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities”.

While travel abroad is not prohibited by law in tier three, it is discouraged.

Where you can go is still subject to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for your destination and the travel corridors list.

Boris Johnson said the plan is to get the country back on the path of “normality” by Easter, thanks to the Covid-19 vaccination developments, which could mean that we could start booking holidays with confidence after this time.

However, as with everything during the pandemic these rules could change at any time and nothing is set in stone.

Where is the closest airport to Bradford?

Leeds Bradford Airport

(Photo: Geograph/Alex McGregor)

Leeds Bradford Airport is the nearest major airport to Bradford- it is less than 10 miles away.

If you can’t drive there are plenty of ways you can get to this airport, including by bus, train or car rental.

A spokeperson for the airport said they have already seen an influx of bookings and the “anticipate this to continue”.

Which countries and territories shall I visit?

Lynne Morton is a travel agent based in Bradford- she has a lot of local clients.

Lynne has over 26 years of experience in the travel industry and has lot of knowledge about travel trends and the best places to visit.

She believes it is never too early to start planning your dream trip.

She said: "It’s good to have a dream and a plan it keeps us all going, even if the dream cannot be realised for a couple of years."

According to Lynne, some of the most popular holiday destinations for the people of Bradford include Dubai, Thailand and the Mediterranean. 

She added: "Cruises are also a very big proportion of my sales, cruises were one time associated with the older generation- but this is a changing market, with a lot more younger families and couples taking cruises these days."

Lynne predicts that self-catering holidays will become more popular in the coming year, along with European city breaks. 

She said: "Airlines have made many European cities much more accessible for people seeking cultural sightseeing breaks as an extra to their main summer break.

"Although I do think many customers will still holiday in the UK in 2021, as the South west of England, Wales and Scotland have become very popular especially for customers that may still be a bit anxious about travelling abroad."

Ms Morton also recommends that people avoid travelling to the USA, at least until later in the year or risk further cancellations.

If you want Lynne to book your holiday, then contact her via her Travel Counsellors page.

How can I book an affordable holiday?
(Prices and information correct at the time of writing)

A spokesperson for Leeds Bradford airport said some of their most popular holiday destinations are Alicante, Dublin and Amsterdam- and you can get some great deals to these destinations if you keep your eyes peeled.

If you want to book an affordable holiday, then consider using SkyScanner.

Skyscanner’s Consumer Travel Expert, Jon Thorne, said you can sign up for price alerts and newsletters in order to get the cheapest flight price possible.

They also have a handy tool which allows you to see which countries have travel restrictions in place.

Right now, there are some great flights and deals from Leeds Bradford airport.

Here are some of the cheapest flights currently available in each month:

In January, there are some great deals to Poland (from £38), Spain (from £39) and Switzerland (from £57).

In March, flights to Ireland start from £36 (which could be great for St Patrick's day) and you could also fly to Portugal for as little as £74.

The UK government predicts that April is the month when life will begin to return to normality.

Luckily, there are plenty of flights around this time including Lithuania (from £46), Spain (from £52) and even Malta (from £86).

In May, prices to Greece currently start from £147 and you can go to Croatia for as little as £151.

Looking ahead to the summer holidays, there are currently some cheap flights available in July.

Flights to Spain start from £57 and flights to Portugal from £63.

For a more ‘bucket list’ style holiday, flights to the USA start from £364 in July.

Will you be travelling abroad next year when lockdown restrictions ease? Let us know in the comments.