How Brexit might affect your European holiday – everything you need to know

BREXIT uncertainty has meant unprecedented holiday deals for Brits.

But with Brexit date just around the corner, those with travel plans to Europe may want to make sure that they’ve got all basis covered.

Booking a holiday with an EU firm after Brexit? Make sure you check the small print

It all depends on whether Britain is able to seal a withdrawal deal with the bloc in the next few days.

If we can, then things should stay almost exactly the same after we officially leave in March – as we will enter a 21-month transition period.

And after that the real hard work begins on a trade deal and a series of new agreements. But if there’s No Deal, then things could get tricky.

So what should you know about getting ready for your holidays?

Passports

Brits have been warned that they need at least 15 months left on their passports to travel to certain EU countries in the event of a No Deal Brexit.

The UK Foreign Office warned: “If the UK leaves the European Union with no deal, the passport validity rules for travel to most countries in Europe will change from 29 March 2019.”Some passports with up to 15 months validity remaining may not be valid for travel.”

Why do I need 15 months left on my passport?

At the moment, Brits who renew their passport before it’s expired can carry up to nine months over to their new passport.

So a new passport can have the maximum validity of 10 years and nine months.

In a No Deal Brexit scenario, Brits visiting Schengen Area countries, including Spain, France and Greece, will be governed by the same rules as visitors from non-EU countries.

This means that they will need at least six months left on their passport to enter the EU, and their passport must have been issued in the last ten years.

It creates a loophole that makes the extra nine months that were carried over invalid in the Schengen Area.

That’s why Brits who carried over the full nine months when they last renewed would need at least 15 months left on the passport after Brexit – nine months to account for the now-invalid time carried over, plus six months for the required validity.

The Government has a free passport checker that you can use to check whether you need to renew your passport before you travel, which you can find here.

Plane travel

Gloomy Phil Hammond got the nation panicking when he said that under No Deal, planes could be grounded between Britain and the EU. It’s a warning that’s been repeated by countless politicians since, including the EU’s Jean Claude Juncker.

However, earlier this month, the government has confirmed that flights will continue after Brexit.

Eurostar

Trains will still run after Brexit, of course. But there are no guarantees that Eurotunnel won’t have any disruptions.

As part of a raft of No Deal notices last year, the Government said that companies such as Eurostar, which only holds a UK licence, could be affected unless individual agreements are struck with the countries it goes to.

It advises taking out insurance for Eurostar tickets that cover any Brexit disruption.

The insurance provider has already come under fire for suspicious differences in insurance quotes for customers with almost identical policies

Coach holidays and driving

Under No Deal, UK driving licences would no longer be valid in the EU so holidaymakers would need to buy one of two international driving permits.

The Government said: “You may be turned away at the border or face other enforcement action, for example fines, if you don’t have the correct IDP.”

Which one you need will depend on which country you’re going to and you can find out more here.

And you could need a Green Card too – a translation of your car insurance policy – which you can get from the Post Office.

But providing ministers secure the 21-month transition period as planned, this should stay the same.

Ferries

Dover to Calais and other ferry routes could be impacted if extra checks have to be made at borders in the event of a No Deal Brexit.

But there are unlikely to be any extra delays for tourists, as Brits already get their passports checked en route anyway.

Package holidays

No changes should be needed for anyone booking a package deal – unless your booking is with an EU-based firm and made outside the UK, in which case you may not be protected.

Brits should make sure that their holiday is ATOL protected, or ABTA protected if they’re not flying.

The amount of bang you get for your buck will vary between sellers, but will mostly be influenced by the underlying spot rate

Spending money

There was a drop in the pound after Britain voted to leave the EU, meaning Brits will have to stump up more money to get their euros when going abroad on the continent.

But if there’s a Brexit deal signed in the next few days, the pound’s value could increase and make holidays cheaper.

A No Deal could see it drop again, pushing up prices.

European Health Insurance cards

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) may not be valid for Brits after March 29 in the event of a No Deal situation.

Depending on the country, the healthcare offered to Brits may differ – the NHS has offered detailed advice for each EU country.

Brits should still buy travel insurance if they are travelling after March to ensure they are fully protected in case of emergencies.

Pet travel

Pet owners should speak to a vet as soon as possible if they want to take their animals to Europe after Brexit, Britain’s top vet previously warned.

Brits will need to pay up to £200 for the right to take pets on holiday if we leave the EU with No Deal.

If we do get a deal in the next few weeks it should be able to continue as normal.

Roaming charges

Most UK networks say they have “no plans” to bring back roaming charges after we leave the EU.

The bloc scrapped them in 2017, but there have been fears it could cost more to call and use the internet abroad in future.

Ministers have said that any increases again would be limited.

Brits should be fine to keep using their phones abroad after we leave the EU

Visas?

Brits could be forced to apply for US-style waivers after Brexit to go on their hols, Theresa May has admitted.

Unveiling plans to pre-screen EU tourists as part of her new post-Brexit immigration policy, the Prime Minister conceded the arrangements were likely to have to be “reciprocal”.

The US currently charges $14 for every ‘ESTA’ waiver form – raising the prospects Brits will be forced to shell out each time they want to fly to the Costa del Sol.

The EU are set to decide within weeks whether the Brits will need a visa in the event of No Deal.

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