Surge in holiday bookings as vaccine talk gives travellers renewed hope

Travel bookings for 2021 have surged, as Brits look to grab holiday deals, buoyed by news of a potential vaccine and fresh testing proposals.

April and May are looking particularly popular for trips across Britain and beyond, according to TravelSupermarket, as these dates could coincide with a wider roll-out of a coronavirus vaccine.

Skyscanner meanwhile has reported a 48% spike in week-on-week holiday searches, with Easter ski trips and summer stays in the Mediterranean among the popular queries.

Cruise giant P&O Cruises may not be running any trips before spring 2021, but they have also reported widespread interest in trips for the latter part of next year and beyond into 2022.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has even suggested that the airline could reach 80% of pre-pandemic short-haul capacity by the summer, opening up a vast array of European holiday options.  

Covid-19 Testing Trials

In a further boost for travellers, transport secretary Grant Shapps has suggested that shorter quarantine periods, and possibly even quarantine-free travel, could be on the horizon.

Rapid testing trials in Liverpool could pave the way for such changes, meaning Brits would not need to self-isolate when they return from trips overseas, regardless of where they have visited.

Initial testing for departing passengers on certain routes to Hong Kong and Italy out of Heathrow Airport are now underway too, with results possible in as little as 30 minutes.

Shapps says he hopes it will ultimately enable more people to book flights with confidence as 2021 approaches – and judging by the widespread rise in bookings and travel queries, that confidence is already coming to fruition.

Booking Your Ideal Escape 

Of course, any travellers planning a getaway will want to ensure they are fully covered in case of cancellation or have the flexibility to change dates.

With access to over 300 leading holiday companies and tour operators, the travel agents at our sister company Questor Travel can help with crafting your ideal holiday. Of course, you will also benefit from the 'unexpectedly personal' service Questor Insurance customers will be accustomed to. Contact Questor Travel online or by calling 0330 094 5655. 

Date Created: 12/11/2020