Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Italy, San Marino and Vatican City added to quarantine list …. but Crete removed

Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission.  See here for all partner links.

The Government announced this afternoon that anyone returning to England from Italy, San Marino or Vatican City will need to quarantine for 14 days.

The quarantine requirement will be come into force from 4am on SUNDAY morning.

Note that the cut-off date has moved to Sunday from Saturday, presumably in an attempt to make it easier for people to return home on their existing flight bookings.

Crete has been removed from the quarantine list. This follows the removal of Lesvos, Santorini, Serifos and Zakynthos last week. Mykonos is still on the quarantine list.

Italy, San Marino and Vatican City will presumably soon be removed from the list of countries exempt from the Foreign Office ‘do not travel’ list (click here). This is usually the trigger for being able to abandon your holiday plans and make a successful travel insurance claim.

The official ‘travel corridor’ list is on this page of the Government website.

Comments (61)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • BrotherBear says:

    Arriving back late Saturday night from Crete. Hmmmm.

  • Julian says:

    Israel or Italy? Seems to be typing mistake

  • TGLoyalty says:

    Italy currently has a rate of infection 1/3 of the UK

    You’d be safer anywhere in Italy vs Liverpool, Manchester or Newcastle.

    • Harry T says:

      Are you saying I’m not safe? 😉

      • TGLoyalty says:

        You have a colourful history of post summer holiday quarantine additions.

    • Heathrow Flyer says:

      Italy, however, is the ‘other’. The government want you to think that in someway visiting Italy is a much worse thing to do than visiting Newcastle.

      When our rates are skyrocketing how quarantine has helped in any way I have no idea.

  • Rob says:

    OK, I got lucky. The Guardian had rumours of this a few hours ago, so I grabbed 4 Club Europe to Crete on the 24th. This is my 5th attempt to get away for half term following Oman, Dubai, Barbados and Turkey biting the dust!

    • Harry T says:

      I hope you get a holiday this time, Rob.

    • ChrisW says:

      It will be extremely quiet in Crete by late October! You might want to check local restaurants are still open…

      • Rob says:

        We really don’t care at this point 🙂

        • Anna says:

          If you like historic sites and it’s open, Knossos is worth a visit (and will impress the kids’ history teachers!). It wasn’t busy when we went in October some years ago so I imagine it will be very quiet atm. A fair drive from most resort areas but stunning scenery.

        • JC says:

          Staying at Domes?

    • Voldemort says:

      Domes of Elounda this time? I see it in your image!

    • Char Char says:

      There are no lounges in Crete afaik so club is often not worth anything over economy

      • Rob says:

        There are 4 of us though, so 2+2 for a 4-hour flight is a lot better than 3+1 down the back.

        • Chrisasaurus says:

          Obviously you haven’t met my kids, I’d be happy to be the 1 down the back!

      • Peggers says:

        Lounge access at HER, no lounge at CHQ – though it is a nice modern airport..

    • Alex Dudko says:

      Went to Crete for half term last year, weather was lovely, not too hot but sunny enough, one rainy afternoon. Stayed in all inclusive hotel so ventured out only few times. In Heraklion and Cania most places were open, out of the cities mostly shut. Booked Rhodes this half tem, fingers crossed.

    • Yuff says:

      Which hotel Rob?
      I had Turkey which i need to cancel tomorrow. Never bothered with Dubai this year but grabbed 3 in CE to Crete on the 18th.
      Economy and business showed plentiful availability when I booked at around 6pm cet, looked about an hour ago no availability and economy seats £400 return

    • ankomonkey says:

      Well done! I was looking to do similar but couldn’t see flights back on Avios and the cash prices were high. Did you use the Gold ‘open up seats but pay double’ trick?

      • Rob says:

        No, but I got them at 2pm vs 5pm when the news came out. ‘Double Avios’ can only be booked 30 days in advance.

    • Mark says:

      I was wondering if you were still going ahead with Barbados. I looked for us in January as I have Virgin miles and credit card vouchers to use, but on balance it looks a little to much hassle and stress to be worth it. Antigua could be a better bet, but no Upper Class redemption availability at the moment and who knows how things will be in 3 months… Could be a potential last minute option though.

  • Harry T says:

    Enthusiastically went to find flights to Crete… none from MAN, EDI or NCL. Oh dear!

  • Lottie says:

    Am I correct that there is no testing required for entry to Greece?

    • TomH says:

      Correct if flying from UK, but a patient locator form is needed

    • C says:

      But they could test you on arrival in Greece and there are some horror stories about people with no symptoms testing positive and being thrown into Isolation at some not very nice hotels. It’s the risk you have to take.

      • Harry T says:

        Yes, the FCO guidance clearly states that the Greek authorities will test some arriving passengers and quarantine can be imposed. It’s not straight forward.

      • GeorgeJ says:

        They are getting between 20 and 50 positive cases a day at the airports, mainly asymptomatic. That is about ten percent of the daily total for the country. No idea what the passenger numbers are.

    • Mark says:

      Possible testing on arrival though.

  • Andrew says:

    To be more accurate – it’s a list of exemptions from the government’s advice against all but essential travel. Italy was on the exemptions list, but has been taken off, and Crete wasn’t on the exemptions list and has now been added.

  • meta says:

    I had Crete booked in the Avios sale. I was looking at covid rates and knew it would have to come off the list given very low per 100k (currently 3.5). I was holding off booking accommodation as everything good was non-refundable or cancellation period too short.

    UK is also safe from being put on Greek list for now. Review was on Tuesday. Not sure when the next one is, but hopefully not before next Thursday.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.