Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the new restrictions for seven Greek islands. Mykonos and Santorini among islands from which travellers will have to isolate for two weeks.
Lesvos, Tinos, Serifos, Mykonos, Crete, Santorini and Zakynthos are being removed from England’s list of locations exempt from 14-day Covid-19 quarantine.
Similar rules are in place for Wales, for the islands of Mykonos, Zante, Lesvos, Paros, Antiparos and Crete, where the quarantine restrictions are already in place.
Shapps, announced that arrivals from the Greek islands will have to isolate for two weeks on their return to England from Wednesday at 4am, but not those arriving from the rest of the country.
Since the announcement, tourists have had to scramble to make alternative plans, with many frantically booking last-minute flights so they don’t have to self-isolate for two weeks once back in Britain. But holidaymakers are reporting huge price hikes for their journeys back, with some having to pay out three times more than they planned, according to Daily Mail.
Andrew Flintham, managing director of TUI UK and Ireland announced that with little notice TUI had to cancel holidays to Crete, Santorini, Zakynthos and Mykonos just hours before customers are due to travel due to the change in travel advice. Any customers due to travel to these four islands before Tuesday 22 September will be able to amend for free to another holiday on sale or request a full cash refund.
British travelers can still choose to travel to Turkey as the country is exempt from 14-day Covid-19 quarantine. However, holidaymakers on those Greek islands can’t travel to Turkey since Greece keeps extending its travel ban and restrictions for Turkey.
