Travel has looked a little bit different in 2020. With Brexit looming, next year is likely to pose its own challenges too. However, now that the year is drawing to a close, we feel like we’ve learned a lot and are leaving the year feeling much savvier about travel in the time of Covid. We’re here to share our top tips for travelling over the next few months.
Book Flexi
Of course with any booking, if your flight, holiday or cruise is cancelled, you are entitled to a refund. However, the reality of this year has been a little more complex. While a holiday may be able to go ahead, you might not feel safe to do so or circumstances may have changed. To rise to this challenge, many companies have introduced flexible booking options where you can change your date of travel, time of flight and in some cases, even your destination. Just be sure to check the policy of the company you are booking with as they all vary greatly.
Check Your Insurance Terms
Having travel insurance has never been so important, with thousands of holidays disrupted by the pandemic. At the beginning of the year, virtually no insurance companies were offering cover for this. However, this has all changed and there are several companies offering comprehensive cover. It’s important to note that when the government advises against all but essential travel, you will not be covered on any travel you choose to do.
It’s Time to Talk Brexit
There’s been a lot of talk about Brexit and the changes to travel but as long as you are prepared, the impact to the consumer should be negligible. The most important thing to note is that for any trip you make within the EU, you will need six months left on your passport. This means that should you be planning to travel early next year, now is the time to apply for a new passport. On average, the process takes around three weeks. Other notable changes include the potential end to the EHIC card for us, and the reintroduction of roaming charges. To find out more, see the GOV.UK website.
Consider Travelling in a More Eco-Friendly Fashion
After a year full of turmoil across the world, we’re feeling pretty protective of the planet right now. We’re hoping for years ahead during which we can explore gorgeous destinations with ease. In order to ensure that this is possible, we all need to take steps to make our impact a little smaller. For greener travel, consider switching from air travel to rail (with the added bonus of gorgeous vistas along the way) or offset your carbon using schemes like this one.
We hope this helps to make travel simpler for you, well into 2021.
