Silver Travel Advisor aims to bring you the latest information and sound advice, which during this pandemic are constantly changing. However, the response from the travel industry has been to make major changes to operating holidays and cruises as well as to take cleaning and health screening to the highest possible level. Many countries are developing their own accreditations for safety and cleanliness, check individual overseas properties and attractions for these.
Check silvertraveladvisor.com/news for updates. Our travel partner pages have updated information on them, look for the box at the top of each page.
Villas, self-catering holidays and boats
What better way to keep more socially distant than a holiday where you have an entire property or boat to yourselves? An overseas villa with its own pool, a European mobile park home or a UK holiday cottage, all of which will have cleaned to the nth degree before you arrive, means, short of buying supplies, you can keep to yourselves if you wish. The same goes for narrowboats on UK waterways and self-drive boats in Europe.
Find your self-catering and villa holiday
Ocean and river cruises
All cruise lines are going full out to ensure your safety onboard, with mandatory health screenings, touchless temperature checks and health questionnaires, screening onboard if necessary, isolation areas should anyone fall ill and additional medical staff onboard. Embarkation terminals and touch points in public areas are continually cleaned with anti-viral disinfectant. Automated doors and contact-free hand sanitising stations are reducing the number of touch points. Cabins are deep-cleaned after guests depart and daily cleaning is rigorous.
Meals and drinks are being served to you, at suitably spaced-out tables, using menus with scannable QR codes. Entertainment is offered with social distancing and masks to be worn. The most modern air-filtration and circulation systems are being installed to ensure the cleanest possible air on the ship. Onshore excursions are limited to small groups and local tour providers are required to adhere to strict health rules.
Coach tours and escorted tours
Many precautions are now in place, these include smaller groups, fewer people on large coaches, maybe 24 passengers on a 50-seater vehicle, keeping to the same seat for every journey, daily temperature checks before getting on the coach, mask-wearing, hand sanitiser omnipresent and individual headsets to hear guides, so you can be spaced out. Coaches are cleaned frequently, with touch points getting extra attention. Timed visits to places of interest reduce waiting around. Meals and drinks at the accommodation will be served to your table.
Luxury holidays
Many deluxe hotels have suites with private plunge pools or individual cottages, the Maldives are a prime example. These are great for a romantic getaway and total privacy. For total seclusion, you can indulge in room service.
Outdoor activities
Fresh air and exercise have been encouraged since the start of the pandemic, so a walking or cycling break makes perfect sense. These activities usually take place in less busy areas and groups tend to spread out too, to accommodate fitness levels. Guides are good at keeping off the tourist trail. And you can always opt for self-guided walks and bike rides.
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Private group tours and holidays
A trip for just your family, often with several generations or group is a great way to minimise too much social contact. Companies will arrange almost whatever you want from a private jeep and guide on safari, where you could take over a small camp, to exclusive tours around cities or regions, with secluded accommodation. If you’re dreaming of ultra-luxury, what about a castle or private island?
Look for this logo for additional reassurance locally from Visit England.
Find out more about Great British Breaks.
Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for the latest Government overseas travel information.
