What do Covid rules mean for holiday travel in the UK?

During February half-term many people would normally be thinking of taking a short holiday in the UK.

But coronavirus lockdowns mean non-essential travel is currently banned around the country.

How could things change later on in the year, and what are your rights if you book a UK holiday now?

Under the current coronavirus lockdowns, holiday travel is not allowed in the UK.

Journeys are only allowed for limited reasons, such as exercise, essential shopping and work that cannot be done from home.

You cannot stay overnight anywhere outside your main residence unless you have a "reasonable excuse" for doing so, such as visiting your support bubble.

This includes a second home, caravan or boat, if it isn't where you normally live.

The rapid rollout of the coronavirus vaccine combined with international travel restrictions mean many people have started thinking about booking future holidays within the UK.

But there are still many unknowns.

"My feeling is that we will be able to take staycations from 1 April onwards," Paul Charles, head of the travel consultancy the PC agency, predicts.

"There are likely to be social distancing restrictions but I think it will be very possible to stay in a cottage over the Easter weekend."

He thinks Scotland may adopt a more cautious approach, judging by the tone of government announcements there.

There have been mixed messages from ministers.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he is "optimistic" people will be able to have summer holidays, but it depends on things like the vaccine programme going well.

He said that once the government in England gives more details in its lockdown review on 22 February, "people should certainly be able to plan on that basis".

Similarly, Health Secretary Matt Hancock spoke of his hopes for "a happy and free Great British summer".

But in recent weeks, ministers have been urging people not to book a staycation.

"It's too early to begin to speculate on summer holidays," Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi told BBC Breakfast in late January.

The majority of accommodation and holiday providers are offering flexible booking policies for future trips to try to boost confidence in the sector.

The UK watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), suggests you should usually get your money back if coronavirus restrictions scupper your future holiday plans.

If a business cancels your booking or can't provide the service due to lockdown laws, or you can't go on a booked holiday because the rules would make it illegal, the CMA would expect you to to receive a full refund under most circumstances.

If you decide to cancel a holiday due to government guidance the CMA suggests you should not face "disproportionately high" charges for doing so, and these should only cover the amount of money the business can expect to lose.

Vouchers or postponement can be offered but you are not obliged to accept this over a cash refund.

A few insurance policies will cover you if you miss a holiday because you have been diagnosed with coronavirus, or because you are required to self-isolate, as long as you already held the policy.

If the holiday provider refuses to pay or goes bust and you paid by credit card you can claim from your card company for services not rendered under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. You must have spent between £100 and £30,000 to be eligible.

If you paid on debit card, you may be able to secure a refund under the chargeback scheme.