The Sunday Times November 28, 2021 9
governments decide to
close the slopes to outsiders,
but only if your policy was
bought before the situation
deteriorated.
Given that Europe has
been said to be the epicentre
of the pandemic once again,
this winter might be a good
one for travel further afield,
to destinations that have just
opened up and aren’t likely
to be locking down again
quite so soon.winter, but if you haven’t
already booked, it might
be best to leave any
arrangements until the last
minute. As well as keeping
an eye on Covid trends in
different countries, you
should have a robust
insurance policy in place.
Of the typical European
winter getaways, ski holidays
tend to be more expensive —
these are more likely to be
covered by insurance ifbookings when airline
companies and hotels are
still legally allowed to host
you are most likely to count
as “disinclination to travel”
— not something covered
by insurance, as frustrating
as that may be.SHOULD I HOLD OFF ON
BOOKING A EUROPEAN
WINTER BREAK?
It’s not yet curtains down
on a European trip thislockdown, or you booked on to
a tour that has been cancelled
by the provider. A typical
Christmas market is not a
ticketed event, so if you are
travelling independently you
will not have incurred a direct
loss through the cancellation.
Of course the market may be
your only reason for going to
Nuremberg or other cities that
have pulled the plug on
festivities, but deciding then
to cancel flights and hotelfrequently than you might be
used to doing in the UK.
Booster shots are also
becoming a key issue. France
will tie the validity of its health
pass to getting a booster, firstly
for all over-65s, and then all
adults from January 15.
Although it specifies getting a
booster five months after a
second dose, the European
Commission is proposing that
EU countries should agree on a
nine-month grace period.
Check the destination-specific
rules on booster shots and
whether your “fully
vaccinated” status is likely to
expire by a certain date before
you make travel plans.WILL INSURANCE COVER
THE CANCELLATION
OF MY TRIP TO VISIT
GERMANY’S CHRISTMAS
MARKETS?
Unlikely, unless the city you’re
visiting is subject to a widerNuremburg
in Bavaria,
Germany, left.
St Stephen’s
Cathedral
in Vienna,
Austria, rightNEIRFY, GEORG HOCHMUTH, GEORGE PACHANTOURIS/GETTY IMAGESSouth Africa
goes red
How will the new variant
affect your travel plans? See
thetimes.co.uk/travelTravel
T