England and Scotland are now subject to strict national lockdown restrictions preventing people from leaving their homes unless it is essential.
Wales was already under the toughest Level 4 lockdown restrictions and while it is scheduled to be reviewed this week it is unlikely to be relaxed.
Northern Ireland’s national lockdown also came into effect on Boxing Day and the home order will come into effect on January 8th.
The restrictions across the UK mean that public holidays, including domestic ones, are not allowed.
If you need help with an international flight or vacation, use our international travel questions and answers. See our airline questions and answers to find out if you are eligible for a refund on a flight.
Find more unbiased travel and coronavirus advice, award-winning research, and legal advice on vacation refunds and canceled flights with Which? travel
Can I still go on vacation to the UK?
No. No one in the UK is currently allowed to go on vacation.
Current travel restrictions for England
You are only allowed to leave your home if you need to do so for shopping, daily exercise, work that you cannot do from home, or medical appointments.
This means that travel on vacation or overnight stays in any other part of the UK (or abroad) is not permitted. It also means that you cannot stay in your second home or caravan if it is not your primary residence.
If you have hotel or vacation bookings you should be offered a refund (see below).
Can I go on vacation or travel to or from Wales?
No. People are only allowed to travel to Wales or outside their region for essential reasons. This non-essential travel ban includes crossing the border with England.
If you have hotel, flight or vacation bookings you should be offered a refund (see below), although some airlines only offer rebooking or vouchers. Train companies refund most tickets. Advanced ticket holders may only be able to receive one voucher.
All properties in Wales are closed except those that may be open to key workers. You should therefore be entitled to a refund.
Can I go on vacation or travel to or from Scotland?
No. You are currently prohibited from leaving your home in mainland Scotland, except for permissible reasons such as caring for others, outdoor sports and work, when you cannot do so from your home.
Travel in and out of mainland Scotland is prohibited except for limited essential reasons.
All vacation rentals in mainland Scotland are closed to tourism. Hotels, B & Bs and self-caterers can only stay open to important customers.
If you have hotel, flight or vacation bookings you should be offered a refund (see below), although some airlines only offer rebooking or vouchers. Train companies refund most tickets. Advanced ticket holders may only be able to receive one voucher.
However, Orkney, Shetland, Na h-Eileanan Siar (West Isles), Coll, Colonsay, Erraid, Gometra, Iona, Islay, Jura, Mull, Oronsay, Tiree, Ulva and all of the Highland Islands except Skye remain under Level 3 restrictions. This means that hotels and vacation rentals can remain open and residents can use them in their area, but only if they are vacationing with their own household. You cannot travel to another Tier 3 region to use holiday accommodation.
Can I get a refund for my UK vacation if the lock prevents travel?
If you have booked accommodation and are unable to travel due to government restrictions, you should be eligible for your money back.
The vacation rental needs to be closed in order to be eligible for a refund. You can accept a rebooking or a voucher, but you have the right to request a full refund.
If your provider claims that the terms of the contract exclude refunds in this scenario, they can be challenged on the grounds that they may be unfair. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) previously stated that refunds should be paid to customers who are unable to use the service due to government regulations.
Does my travel insurance cover the cancellation costs?
The most comprehensive annual travel insurance, particularly through bank accounts, covers UK holidays and should include cancellation insurance for trips booked before mid-March when coronavirus was declared a pandemic. It is therefore worth checking the wording of your policy. Standard annual policies are unlikely to cover travel to the UK, and some insurers have put in place COVID-19 disclaimers for travel booked after mid-March.