England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland allow domestic bank holidays this summer. However, Scotland has banned travel to and from certain areas of England.
While vacation rentals in the UK are open, you need to check the rules before you travel as there are still restrictions on how many people can meet and vacation together indoors.
The rules on the number of people who can meet and where they can travel could be changed at any time – as last shown in Scotland. Scotland has lifted its travel bans to Manchester, Salford and Bolton, but it is still restricting it Vacationers from Blackburn and Darwen.
If you do decide to book a trip, it is important that you do so with a vacation rental or accommodation provider who will refund you the money and have a good flexible booking policy. If the rules change, you should have more financial protection.
Read on for what to consider before booking a UK vacation this summer.
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Can I go on vacation in Wales?
All vacation rentals in Wales are open. However, there are still restrictions on how many people can meet indoors.
If you are from Wales, when choosing a place to stay, keep in mind that you can only share it with members of your extended household – that is now up to three households. Each household can only be part of a “bubble” and you should avoid swapping bubbles when not necessary.
Can I go on vacation in England?
Vacation rentals in England are now open. You can live in a group of up to six people from any number of households or any number of people, provided they come from only two households.
With a few exceptions, people from all over Great Britain are allowed to vacation in England. Scotland does not allow travel to or from Blackburn and Darwen. If you are from Scotland do not book a vacation in these areas.
In England, residents live in areas where the The delta variant spreads the fastest. We do not recommend meeting inside and therefore going on vacation together. These areas can be found on the government website.
Can I vacation in Scotland?
Vacation rentals in Scotland are now open.
Scotland does not allow travel from Blackburn or Darwen, except for legitimate reasons. This restriction is not permanent and is due to the higher Covid rates in these areas.
Different areas of Scotland are ranked as levels from 0 to 4 based on the prevalence of Covid.
The opening of accommodations in Level 4 areas is not permitted – but Scotland is not currently classified as Level 4. Travel between a Level 3 or Level 4 area in Scotland and anywhere else in the world is not permitted except for a valid reason.
Anywhere in Scotland is currently rated 0-2 and you can travel freely between these areas.
In an area of level 0, 8 people from 4 households can share a holiday home.
In a level 1 or 2 area, a maximum of 6 people from up to 3 households can share accommodation.
Can I vacation in Northern Ireland?
Vacation rentals in Northern Ireland are open. You can live in accommodations for up to six people from a maximum of two households. However, if a household has six or more members, the number can be greater than six, up to a maximum of 10. Children under the age of 12 are not included.
If you are traveling to Northern Ireland from the Common Travel Area, it is recommended that you take a lateral flow test prior to your trip and only visit if it is negative. It is also recommended to take this on the second and eighth days of your stay.
Should I book a vacation in the UK?
When planning a vacation, keep in mind that if coronavirus cases spike in any UK country, trips could be reduced again. So be sure to book with a flexible self-catering holiday operation.
National Trust reimburses in the event of a national or local lockdown, for example. And Airbnb lets you filter accommodations to find the most flexible policies (be careful, not all policies are good – the owners set these themselves). A good policy on Airbnb will allow you to cancel in the event of bans closer to the holiday.
Back in March, which one? examines the Refund policies and customer reviews from all major vacation rental providers to help you choose. However, the guidelines are subject to change. So check all terms and conditions before parting with your cash.
The possibility of local restrictions
Remember that rules can change overnight. The government said it did not intend to have tiered restrictions on returning to England, but that doesn’t mean the local restrictions can’t be different. For example, the government has instructed people living in certain specific areas in England to minimize travel whenever possible and avoid meeting inside. See the affected areas here.
There are still levels in Scotland. Keep an eye on the level rating in your area.
If the area your holiday home is located in in Scotland falls under level 4 restrictions (which prevent opening) you should receive a full refund. However, it is a gray area if you live in a place that falls under these rules and cannot travel at the time of your booking, but your accommodation is in a place that can be opened.
To guarantee a refund, Choose a vacation rental company with flexible booking policies.
Infect Covid-19 or be asked to isolate yourself
You need to consider the possibility of contracting Covid-19 while on vacation or being asked to isolate by the NHS Test and Trace app. Many holiday home providers will not give you a refund in these cases. Instead, you need insurance.
Something reputable vacation rental providers offer changes or refunds if you cannot travel due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, others have more difficult terms and conditions and may allow you to change your booking, but only to bring the date forward. Others will try to accommodate requests to move your date but say there are no guarantees. Find out which holiday home providers rated the readers in our survey.
Make sure you are insured before booking. If you need insurance, make sure your policy covers you in this case.
Restrictions on guests in holiday homes
As of June 21st, all restrictions should be lifted in England. However, this date has been postponed to July 19, but could change.
If the restrictions drop in July, you can go back on vacation with more than one person.
Northern Ireland is hoping that starting July 5th, up to 10 people from two households will be able to vacation together (or up to 15 people from two households if your household already has 10 members). This proposed date will be reviewed on July 1st.
All areas of Scotland were due to move to Level 0 on June 28th, but First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has postponed this for three weeks. Level 0 would mean Eight people from four households could share a holiday home.
Wales has postponed its latest plan to further ease restrictions and this will be reviewed on July 15th. If this succeeds, six people from any household can meet inside and go on vacation together. You don’t have to come from an expanded household – the current rule in Wales.
Remember that all indicative dates are subject to change.