Everything you need to know about the traffic light system and what we cover

Since the Coronavirus pandemic, there’s no doubt that international travel has changed, and it’s important that all travellers understand the new rules and how they can best protect their holidays.

In October 2021 theForeign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) changed its advice for over50 destinations, finally making other countries feel accessible again.

On the FCDO website, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: “These updates make travel abroad easier – boosting trade, tourism and reuniting friends and families. I am delighted that the safe reopening of travel allows people to exercise personal responsibility and visit more destinations across the globe” (Source).

With the rules and restrictions changing regularly, we understand how uncertain and confusing booking a trip and travelling can feel. Not to mention how best to protect yourself and your trip in light of the pandemic. We wanted to put your mind at ease, and share some information on Holidaysafe’s products, to offer you some reassurance about the cover available.

Post-Pandemic Travel Rules

Massive changes have been made to the confusing‘traffic lights system’, which make choosing your next holiday destination muchsimpler. The Amber and Green lists have been scrapped, with the vast majorityof countries now deemed safe to visit. Only the Red list remains, a small listof countries which are deemed as high travel risk.

Even if you’re travelling to a non-redcountry, it’s essential that you know the new travel rules and regulations inplace post-pandemic. Every country’s rules on entry are different, not tomention the UK’s rules for coming home – whether you’ve been vaccinated or not,new procedures could still apply. More information on each destination’s rulescan be found on the Government’s website.

In general, vaccinated travellers needto book a day 2 Covid-19 PCR test before they fly and complete a locator formto be allowed entry back into the UK. The booking reference of your Covid-19test will be added onto your locator form. For more information abouttravelling internationally, keep up to date with the rules on the Government’swebsite.

Holidaysafe’s COVID Cover

Providing you’re not travelling against theFDCO’s advice, we can offer the following cover across our higher tieredproducts;

• Cover for trip cancellation if you or anyone named on the policy test positive for Coronavirus up to 14 days prior to travelling.
• Cover if you fall ill abroad and need treatment or have to be bought home early.
• Protection if your airline goes into administration due to the pandemic.
• Cover if you or anyone named on your policy are prevented entry at the airport on your inbound flight due to showing symptoms of COVID-19.
• Plus much more.

Formore information please visit our CoronavirusTravel Insurance page.

Fulldetails of the cover available under each policy can be found in our policy documents.

Holidaysafe customers must follow any advicethat is in place at the time of travel and for the duration of the trip, bothfrom the FCDO and the local authorities in your destination of choice. Failureto comply with the FCDO advice could invalidate your policy.

All customers should be made aware at point ofsale that there is no cover under any of our policies for the costs associatedwith the following:

For policies issued after the 13th March 2020

–  Cancellation due to a change in FCDO advicecaused by the pandemic.

– Denied entry to the country or territorythey are due to travel to

– Having to quarantine or isolate when theyreturn to the UK (this includes hotel quarantine costs)

– Having to purchase/pay for Covid-19 test

I am travelling to a Red country, what cover can I get?

Red list countries are deemed as unsafe and it’s advised not to travel to them unless it’s essential. Holidaysafe will not provide any cover under any section of the policy to customers who are, or are planning on, travelling to countries or territories categorised as unsafe by the FCDO. This means no claims will be paid under any section of the policy for trips relating to ‘Red’ countries, including but not limited to ‘Cancellation, Curtailment and Medical Expenses’.

Rules and restrictions are put in place forany travel to red list countries and it’s vital you’re aware of what steps totake should you travel there and are looking to return to the UK. The currentrules for entry to the UK include taking a Covid-19 test 3 days prior toentering the UK, booking a quarantine hotel package which includes 2 Covid-19tests and completing a passenger locator form. More information can be found onthe government website.

Information correct at the time of writing (and updated in October 2021). If our stance does change regarding travelling internationally and what we can and cannot cover, then the information above will reflect this and the policy wordings updated accordingly.