Current 2021 bargain holiday deals won’t be available after vaccine roll out, warns travel expert
AIRLINES and tour operators have launched some amazing deals this Black Friday, including 40 per cent off package deals and free upgrades.
However, travel experts have warned that these bargains are likely to be short-lived, due to the news of a vaccine.
The messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine developed by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is said to be now 95 per cent effective, as senior advisers hope to roll out the vaccine before Christmas.
Britain has secured 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine – enough to immunise a third of the UK population.
This has provided hope for many of families looking for their next holiday, with thousands being forced to cancel them this year.
This is likely to lead to a price increase once the vaccine is rolled out to the general public.
- Seven nights in Greece with easyJet – from £149pp
- Seven nights in Majorca in May with TravelSupermarket – from £163pp
- Seven nights in Spain with TUI – from £199pp
- Seven nights in Greece with TUI – from £236pp
Emma Coulthurst from holiday price comparison site, TravelSupermarket explained: “There are some really good package holidays prices at the moment due to the continued uncertainty which the virus creates.”
“People have had their confidence buoyed by recent vaccine announcements and have started locking in holidays for 2021 now and we expect that to continue as people have some time off over Christmas.
“Once quarantines are cut dramatically or completely and there is cheap and widely available testing and an extensive roll-out of covid vaccines, there are unlikely to be the rock bottom prices which you can currently snap up. “
However, she added it is a “buyers market” for winter holidays right now, as well as Easter and summer holidays.
Package holidays are especially popular, with deals for as little as £165pp for seven nights in the Mediterranean, due to the protection they offer over flight-only bookings.
Ms Coulthurst also explained that once coronavirus tests come down in price, Brits will also start travelling again – pushing prices up.
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Many destinations including Greece and Spain require negative coronavirus tests, which cost between £100 and £200, although Gatwick currently offer them for £60.
Here is everything you need to know about getting a negative coronavirus test for your holiday.
The 14-day quarantine is also to be reduced after lockdown to just five days, with a coronavirus test on the first and fifth day.
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