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The winter holiday season was thrown into disarray by the spread of the omicron variant and strict vaccine and testing rules in some key ski destinations – but some restrictions are easing.
Fully vaccinated travellers and under-18s arriving in the UK will no longer have to take a Day 2 test from 4am on February 11. This follows the dropping of pre-departure tests for vaccinated travellers and the downgrading of Day 2 tests from a PCR to a lateral flow (as well as the end of the requirement for immunised travellers to self-isolate until they received a negative result).
Here is everything you need to know about how the latest travel restrictions could affect your next holiday.
What are the new rules for testing?
Double-jabbed travellers returning to the UK will no longer have to take a Day 2 test on arrival in the UK from 4am on February 11.
Anyone who tests positive must then take a confirmatory PCR test and isolate – fully vaccinated travellers can stop isolating on day 6 if they take a negative lateral flow test on day five and six, and: both results are negative; the tests were taken 24 hours apart; they do not have a high temperature.
The requirement for unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated, travellers to self-isolate for 10 days on arrival in the UK will also be dropped on February 11. They will still need to take a pre-departure test and a Day 2 PCR test.
What are the latest red list travel rules?
There are no countries on the red list.
South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Angola and Nigeria were removed in December.
The hotel quarantine policy remains in place if any countries were to be added to this list.
Have any other countries imposed new rules?
Yes – including many European nations. France and Germany have lifted their bans on all UK arrivals, but they both have stringent domestic rules for entry to venues. Austria is among the ski destinations with domestic rules in place that can affect holidays.
I am nervous about my winter holiday, what can I do?
If you have booked a winter break you may be concerned as to how fast-changing rules could affect your holiday.
If you do decide to change holiday plans, you should contact your holiday company, accommodation or airline provider directly to see if you can rebook. There will be no obligation for any company to issue a refund due to holiday nerves, but you can contact them to ask if this is an option. Do not cancel unilaterally, or you will not receive a refund.
Can I go skiing?
Yes, however, many ski destinations have on the ground rules that include health passes – see our guide for detailed information.
Where can I now ski?
There are ski resorts in a number of countries open to British travellers if you’re still looking to book your trip to the slopes.
Read our full guide to the rules and regulations in ski resorts here.
This article is being kept updated with the latest news and Government guidance.
Reader Service: What is annual multi-trip travel insurance? If you’re a frequent traveller, it may save you time and money. Learn more about the Telegraph Media Group Travel Insurance Service.
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