Travel

Holiday travel warning for Britons heading to Spain, USA and France – latest update


Holidaymakers jetting off this week have been warned to stay up to date with relevant information from the government. Various travel warnings are in place for a number of destinations popular with British tourists. From extreme weather to political and social unrest, the government has reminded tourists to stay informed when abroad. At the time of writing, there are travel warnings in place for some British tourism favourites including Spain, France, the USA and Portugal.

The FCO is also warning travellers to stay up to date on Brexit advancements when travelling across the European Union.

France

Political unrest in both France and Spain have led to travel warnings. In France, some protests are expected over the weekend which are linked to the yellow vest movement. While these protests tend to be peaceful, the FCO has warned that violence can break out and tourists should expect “heavy police or gendarmerie presence.”

They added: “Motorists travelling through France may continue to experience some delays or blockages caused by local demonstrators – you should drive with caution as protestors may be present on roads, motorways and toll booths. In all cases, you should avoid demonstrations wherever possible and follow the advice of the local authorities.”

Spain

Protests in Spain have already turned violent over the last week. Riots broke out among citizens following the imprisonment of nine Catalan separatist politicians.

Reports of fires and violent crowds have circulated in the media, meanwhile, protestors and police stormed Barcelona’s El Prat airport on Monday, resulting in delays and cancellations.

Many concerned travellers took to Twitter to ask whether it was safe to head to the region amidst the unrest.

One tourist asked: “Is Barcelona safe for tourist right now? #Barcelona #BarcelonaTravel #BarcelonaAirport”

A man reached out directly to FCO, asking: “@FCOtravel – we are supposed to be going to Barcelona on Sunday, is it safe?”

The FCO has been periodically updating their website in line with updates.

At present a warning is in place, stating: “There have been large gatherings of people in Barcelona and other areas of the Catalonia region in relation to political developments there. Further gatherings and demonstrations are likely to take place. You should exercise caution in the vicinity of demonstrations as they may occur with little or no warning. Demonstrations intended to be peaceful can escalate and turn confrontational.

“Demonstrations may cause disruptions to transport including access to airports, roads and the railway and metro systems.”

Barcelona Tourism has additionally launched a telephone line for tourists who have missed their flight or have been unable to get to their hotel.

The Spanish government have also said they are working towards calming the protests and ensuring peace.

A statement from the government reads: “The Spanish government’s objective is and will always be to guarantee security and harmony in Catalonia and it will do so if necessary in accordance with its commitment to robustness, proportionality and unity.”

Portugal

In neighbouring Portugal, the FCO has issued travel advice for Britons heading to the country for the Rangers FC game on Thursday. While Portugal is largely safe at the moment, the government have reminded tourists to be up to date with their travel documents and stay in the know about how to get to and from the stadium. The latest travel update on the FCO website says: “Rangers FC take on Porto FC in the Europa League at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto on Thursday 24 October 2019. If you’re travelling to Portugal for the match, check out our dedicated advice page.”

They offer an additional warning to keep tourists away from fake taxi companies, saying: “taxis are beige-coloured or black and green; they’re available at the airport and at taxi ranks around the city; you can flag down taxis in Portugal.”

The USA

On the other side of the Atlantic, a weather warning has been put in place for the USA. The popular vacation destination is currently in the middle of a hurricane season, which has been raging since1 June. Tourists are reminded to stay up to date with relevant weather updates right up until the season’s close on 30 November. Many spots along America’s western coast have already felt devastation at the hand of the extreme weather. Britons were warned against travel to the Bahamas earlier this month after Hurricane Dorian wreaked havoc on the islands, taking 53 lives. Meanwhile, the Carolinas were hit with a major rain and storm surge, causing devastation to both property and wildlife in the area.

At present, there are two storms which could place the USA in their paths -Storm Priscilla, which is 70 miles southeast of Mexico, and a developing storm located 1000 miles east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. Weather forecasters continue to keep an eye on their size and direction.

The FCO travel update warns: “You should monitor the progress of approaching storms on the US National Hurricane Centre website and follow instructions issued by the local authorities, including any evacuation orders.”

European Union

A final overarching warning is in place for the entire European Union. As the Brexit departure date approaches, Britons are advised to stay up to date on political developments. Everything from travel insurance to passport and visa requirements could rapidly change, so those travelling to the continent should make sure to follow the relevant guidance.

A spokesperson from the Foreign Office said: “If the UK leaves the European Union without a deal, visiting the EU will change.”

There are four main areas that will be affected, and the new guidelines surrounding each are causing confusion for many British travellers.

“Check your passport, get travel insurance which covers your healthcare, check you have the right driving documents and organise pet travel,” advised the FCO spokesperson.

The good news is not everyone will have to purchase a brand new passport. However, there are some situations in which travellers will have to renew their travel identification following a no-deal departure.

According to the FCO website, when travelling to Europe holidaymakers must ensure their passport has at least 6 months less and is less than 10 years old. Failure to follow these guidelines may mean travellers are barred from entry to their destination.



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