What’s the latest on the US opening up to travellers?

Simon Calder answers your questions on stateside jaunts, PCR tests, the Maldives and relocating to the UK

Friday 08 October 2021 21:30 BST

Flights to New York could be available before Christmas (Getty)

Q Any rumours of exactly when the US will open up in November? Do you know when an announcement is likely?

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A In recent weeks three western governments have announced radical changes to Covid travel policies with no specific dates attached. The UK’s plan to replace “day two” PCR tests with lateral flow is going to happen, we understand, sometime this month; speaking on the BBC yesterday, the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said: “Hopefully in time for people returning from half-term holidays potentially, and certainly by the end of October.” Yet with just three weeks remaining, there is no certainty – which is maddening for families hoping to plan a half-term escape.

A week ago, the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, said his country will relax its strict border controls for citizens and residents at some time in November – again, without a specific date. And it is now three weeks since the White House promised that arrivals from Europe (including the US) will be permitted from “early November”.

Initially leaks seemed to suggest the plan was to open up on 1 November, Yet were the 20-month ban to be lifted at the start of next month, airlines would need to be ramping up flights now in order to handle (and exploit) the surge in travel demand that will accompany the opening. They want several weeks’ notice, as of course do prospective travellers.

Recent briefings (to which I have no direct access) indicate that the White House announcement was rushed out to placate European leaders before the necessary procedures had been finalise. There is now a question of whether it will be sorted by Thanksgiving weekend, which this year is 25-28 November.

All I can safely predict is that when we finally know, the first few days of transatlantic flights will fill up very swiftly. If you have flexibility, you might want to wait a week or longer to allow the surge in demand to subside. But once we get close to Christmas, air fares will soar once again.

Belize is a superb family getaway (Getty/iStockphoto)

Q We are planning to travel to Belize in December with our kids for the Christmas holidays. Belize currently requires a PCR test 96 hours before or a rapid antigen 48 hours before.

The flight has a long layover in the US which makes the journey around 28 hours altogether. What does the “48 hours prior” refer to – prior to departure (of the first or second flight) or arrival in Belize? And would you recommend Belize for the holidays?

Ottilia B

A Belize is a tiny old fragment of empire (formerly known as British Honduras) and a superb family destination, especially at Christmas. On the coast you can find reasonably idyllic beaches with excellent snorkelling options. Inland, the jungle is punctuated by a dozen sets of Mayan ruins, most significantly Caracol – which makes for a great expedition into an amazing hinterland.

First, though, you need to get there. Countries’ stipulations in terms of timings can be infuriatingly vague – and Belize is no exception. You need to present a negative PCR test within 96 hours “prior to travel” or rapid antigen (lateral flow) within 48 hours of the same unclear deadline.

As you will be travelling through the US, and therefore will certainly need a negative lateral flow test, just get it done in the UK airport before you depart. You are almost certain to get to Belize within 48 hours – and just in case you don’t, my reading of the Belizean rules is that there is no need to get stressed at all.

Belize kindly says: “If you are unable to take a test prior to travel, you must take a test on arrival at your own expense for $50 [£37] per passenger.” So you will be let in, you might just need to spend a bit more cash and time.

Seeing red: sunset in the Maldives (Getty)

Q Before this week, with the traffic-light system in place, I felt we were a little more in control of being sure a country wouldn’t turn red during those three weeks. We are looking to travel to the Maldives at the end of the month for a week.

Is it likely the Maldives may turn red by then? If it is, do you have any other suggested countries you could advise on visiting from 28 October to 5 November for winter sun?

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A There is no chance that the Maldives will return to the red list before or during your holiday. It was removed from the government’s highest-risk category – requiring 11 nights hotel quarantine for arrivals to the UK – only three weeks ago. And I have seen nothing to suggest it could be readmitted to the club to which no nation wishes to belong. Over the past fortnight, there has been a slow but steady decline in the number of new cases, and the current infection rate is just 40 per cent of the overall rate in the UK.

Indeed, I think it is unlikely that any more countries will be added. While there are concerns about coronavirus cases in some nations – Serbia, Grenada and Mongolia have high rates, and Barbados is rising steeply – I think that because the UK has far higher rates than any other major European country, the relative risk is reasonably small.

However, I can suggest a million places I would rather be at that time of the year. Crete, Malta and southern Spain will be mostly sunny and warm. And as you plan to travel out at the very end of the month, you will avoid the half-term crowds.

For maximum guaranteed sun, and the world’s greatest archaeological wonders, take advantage of Egypt having just left the red list. It is half the flying time to the Maldives and 100 times more interesting, in my opinion.

Sunset over Carmel Hill in Guayaquil, Ecuador (iStock)

Q I’m a British citizen, double vaccinated with Pfizer, and about to relocate from Ecuador – which is a red list country – to England. I have four linked questions.

1. Is this status likely to change in the next few weeks?

2. Am I allowed to fly from Ecuador to Spain and stay there for 10 days before going to the UK?

3. Would I still have to quarantine in the UK or could I just enter as normal?

4. Would I still need to do a PCR/lateral flow test to travel from Spain to London?

Judey M

A I am envious that you have been living in Ecuador – one of my absolute favourite Latin American countries, which is saying a lot since I am very fond of them all.

1. There is a reasonable chance that Ecuador will be among the nations taken off the UK’s red list tomorrow, along with some other Latin American nations, so don’t make any plans until then.

2. If it stays on red, then Spain is a great place to launder your red list status for 10 full days to avoid going into hotel quarantine. Your vaccination will be recognised for the purposes of entry to Spain. You can travel wherever you wish in the country; personally, I would take up residence in Malaga, a glorious city in the deep south, with loads of flights onwards to Britain.

3. Unfortunately if things stay as they are, your Ecuador jabs will not be recognised by the UK. Unless that changes, you will still need to go into 10 days of self-isolation at home, which you can reduce to five days if you take a test to release – along with a lateral-flow test to travel from Spain to the UK, and a day two and day eight PCR test.