Can I still travel to Europe after Brexit?

With Brexit now just a few weeks away, we thought you might be looking for ways to Brexit-proof your summer holiday. No one wants the risk of paying for a lovely trip to the sandy, sunny beaches in Europe, only to be told, ‘Sorry, you can’t fly’! After all some of our holiday destinations, depend solely on us as tourists and the money we spend there, such as Italy, Southern Spain and Greece, so really, do they want to keep us away? Listed below are a few bits of advice to put your minds at rest.

There are already processes in place that should ensure your holiday WILL get off the ground and not leave you stranded in an airport. Even if we leave Europe with a ‘No Deal’ the EU has already said that travel will not be restricted immediately, bringing into play a 12-month contingency plan which will allow Brits the whole of 2019 and some of 2020 to fly to Europe as normal, whilst the powers that be come up with a long term deal on flights. So, the short answer is, No, you wont be left stranded in a European country if your on holiday in Europe when Brexit comes into play. 

However, there are other factors to consider such as money.

A weak pound will inevitably mean more expensive holidays, but if you book your holiday now with your Travel Counsellor before the Brexit deadline and order your currency, you will get your 2019 holiday post Brexit, at pre-Brexit prices. If you’re worried about buying currency now, or simply don’t have the funds right now, you can lock in your exchange rate with a currency card, there are several around to choose from.  It’s worth noting that it is generally the exchange rate involving countries that use the Euro as their currency, that may cause you problems. European countries such as Poland that use the Polish zloty as their currency, will not generally affect the sterling pound exchange rate.

From 2021 you will may well need a new document, the European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS), to travel to Europe. But that won’t affect plans made this year or next. If we leave with a ‘no deal’ it is advisable to make sure your passport is less that 10 years old and has 6 months still to run on it, before you travel into Europe.

If you like to hire a car to get around in Europe, be aware that with a no deal Brexit or a deal that doesn’t cover driving licences, you will need an International Driving Permit to be able to drive there.  These cost around ￡5.50 and can be bought generally from any Post Office over the counter. Similarly, the EHIC insurance card for health care abroad may no longer operate after March 29th, so it is advisable to take out your own medical insurance. 

Flights may well go up in price due to the pound being weak, this is due to fuel costs that is bought in US dollars.

In all, there’s no need to panic Mr Mainwaring! Speak to Bjorn de Kock, your Travel Counsellor for advice on any fears or concerns you may have about travelling into Europe over the next 12 months.

So……where are you thinking of going? Spain, Italy, Tenerife (yes folks, it is part of the EU), get in touch and let us do all the work for you.