Should I still go on holiday to Rhodes in two weeks?

Simon Calder answers your questions on Greek wildfires and holiday provisions

Healthy glow: around 90 per cent of the island is unaffected by wildfires (Alamy/PA)

Q We are due to fly out to Rhodes, staying in the affected resort of Kiotari, on 9 August and are trying without success to cancel. I appreciate this is two weeks away but I feel it’s just too much to continue with the holiday, putting pressure on Greek resources and people already stranded there. Would you travel to Rhodes right now?

Sara B

A I sympathise with everyone who is feeling apprehensive about travelling to an island that, in places, is nothing short of a disaster area. Even though distressed and exhausted holidaymakers are still trying to return from Rhodes, some tourists have been proceeding with their trips as booked in the past few days. But, like you, I would not travel there immediately – and for the same reasons. With people still trying to get out and the infrastructure under pressure, it would be unhelpful.

Looking ahead a few days, though, I believe the picture will change significantly. By tomorrow I believe the vast majority of people who understandably want to come home will have done so: large amounts of air capacity are going in as repatriation flights. Pressure on the resources will ease. And the damage to the resorts on the southeast shore of Rhodes will be clear.

For people like you who are booked to the affected area, it may be that you are offered a choice between moving to a different location or a full refund. The latter would suit you, I imagine. But you are unlikely to be offered all your money back unless the travel company deems it impossible for you to have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

The people of Rhodes have shown outstanding kindness and courage towards overseas tourists. In most parts of the island – and 90 per cent is unaffected – they will want to get back to work delivering great experiences for visiting holidaymakers. And, in a week or two, I would be glad to go there and meet them.

What food and drink can we take to Northern Ireland? (Getty/iStock)

Q We are taking our car to Northern Ireland for a holiday next month. I am confused by the import/export arrangements post-Brexit and wondering whether there are any restrictions on what we can take in the car? We normally take a cool box on holiday within the UK, with food from home we haven’t eaten, or food items we need for when we arrive. This might include milk and homemade yoghurt, fruit, cereal and perhaps cold or processed meat. Will any or all of that be allowed?

Margaret V

A Oh dear. Your cool box sounds like an encyclopaedia of the foods that cannot be taken in your luggage from Great Britain to Northern Ireland (or, indeed, to any European Union nation). After the Brexit referendum, the government created a border in the Irish Sea. Northern Ireland remained part of the EU customs union. As a result, you can happily bring almost any food direct from a European Union nation (principally Ireland, or by air from other countries), including fresh meat, dairy and other animal products.

But as the NI Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs says: “When travelling from outside the EU, there are strict rules about bringing food products ... into NI for your own personal consumption or use.” Great Britain – England, Wales and Scotland – are outside the EU for customs purposes.

The ban includes, for the avoidance of doubt, “all meat and meat products” as well as “all milk and dairy products”. So I am afraid meat in any guise – or that delicious-sounding homemade yoghurt – should not appear in your cool box. In practice, people who arrive by ferry in their car to one of the Northern Ireland ports are unlikely to be checked, but of course you should respect all the rules that were created between the nations of the UK through Brexit.

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