Every year, I visit London in May/June/July timeframe and this is the first time in over ten years that I’m not in the city and to be honest, I miss it.  I even miss the political discussions that ensue once the black cab driver hears my American accent. I miss my friends, my walks along the Thames and fun nights in the pub watching local sport. It’s no secret, I would live in London if I could but alas visa/immigration is a hurdle I’ve not been able to clear despite years of trying.  Tomorrow, June 8th, the UK Home Office implements yet another barrier to London, the UK 14 day quarantine for visitors. Essentially, summer in London has been canceled, or at least it seems that way.

Travel Covid Testing and Quarantine

With the world slowly coming out of lockdown, we are seeing “travel bubbles” or “air bridges” being formed between countries for travel (i.e. Australia and New Zealand) and borders closed to American visitors by many countries that are still coming to terms with their covid19 crisis and recovery.  The last thing anyone wants are resurgent waves in a destination that spreads around the world again that stresses the health system and puts us back on stay at home orders.  Can we 100% keep that from happening?  Probably not, but for now, governments around the world are trying to navigate the best steps to restart their economies while many of us sit at home waiting for the green light to travel again, to emerge from our homes and see what the next phase of the world looks like. For now, it seems that it will be a patchwork of requirements by each country or collection of countries working together.

One big unknown which changes daily is whether travelers will be subject to a mandatory quarantine, testing or other upon arrival.  St. Lucia opened to visitors last week (June 4^th) and are one country requiring covid19 testing results done prior to arrival (max 48 hours).  That’s tough for some folks still not able to get testing where they live.

Australia, on the other hand, has had a hard line and will continue to do so until 2021.  They closed borders to all but their citizens returning home.  Citizens are subject to a government paid mandatory 14 day hotel quarantine with strict guidelines.  You can read about a few Australia quarantine experiences which were imposed even for those who live in Australia.  They weren’t allowed home to quarantine for fear of breaking isolation.  Personally, a hotel room closes in quite quickly if you can’t get fresh air (open windows or go outside) so I’m not sure I could mentally handle a 14 day hotel quarantine. My friend has canceled all future plans to go home to Australia to visit family due to quarantine requirements.

London Travel Quarantine for Visitors

So what about London?  Can I just jump on the plane for a London weekend visit as I have in the past?  Find a points award flight (availability is wide open) to go meet friends for dinner and pick up my favorite London chocolates and Blondie’s Kitchen cookies?

Right now, the answer is not really.   During the stay at home period, which started in March, the UK did not quarantine arrivals to the country as they kept their borders open and now, starting tomorrow, June 8^th, they will have a mandatory quarantine (self-isolation) of 14 days upon arrival. So technically I could go to London but the quarantine time and cost is prohibitive. Who can afford 14 days in a London hotel room or long stay apartment?

Logic would have said to implement this when the virus was spreading, when everyone was on home lock down but that didn’t happen.  Travelers could come and go. Mind you the number of travelers were only a handful of a normal day but still, why disrupt it all now?  Why not just close borders like Australia has?  I know, despite my over twenty years of London visits and following UK politics, I still ask silly questions. The travel and tourism industry has been decimated by the world’s pause of the past three months. This quarantine could be the final nail for many businesses that won’t survive without a summer season.

London Quarantine – Business Travelers and Tourists

For business travelers, this 14 day mandatory quarantine is a non-starter and they will likely stay home until a quarantine is no longer required.  Many business trips from the US to London are less than a week (five days) and already expensive to stay in small hotels rooms.  I couldn’t, in good faith, approve a business traveler to go through that process.  I would ask them to zoom that meeting which would save time, money and preserve sanity.

For the U.S. leisure traveler, a quarantine is not an option unless they are wealthy with a boatload of vacation time to use and enjoy staying indoors for a fortnight.  If they are retired and housesitting, well that is the only way I see this working out right now.  With the UK not scheduled to open until late June/early July, why bother with planning a trip this summer.  You would have spent three months at home waiting for the day to travel again only to land in the UK and self-isolate for 14 days relying on takeaway and food deliveries – no thank you!  I’d rather roadtrip in the US as it’s less restrictive.

It pains me to say “don’t go to London or the UK this summer” as London in summer is marvelous. There’s so much to do, see, eat, drink and enjoy in the city and surrounding cities and villages. But right now, they are technically not open to receive you.

If you do need to travel to the UK in the short term, be prepared as this could change at any time.  You will need to complete a form indicating where you will self-isolate for 14 days (at your own expense) and be subject to spot checks and a 1000 GBP fine for violations. If you are an athlete (or other deemed essential person on the list), then you are exempt from UK quarantine which has caused a lot of backlash for the determination of “exempt vs. non-exempt”.

London Travel Quarantine Backlash

Backlash over the mandatory 14 day London travel quarantine has been swift with British Airways and other airlines filing a lawsuit claiming “unfair exemptions” and “disproportionate” restrictions on visitors. Traffic to London airports is down 97-99% and this won’t help them restore flights in my opinion. BA is already having a row with pilots, the unions and staff.  The best scenario is to get everyone back to work in the already decimated travel industry.

From an outsider view, it’s definitely full of contradictory items.  For example, employees and self employed folks who travel weekly between the UK and EU are exempt from quarantine rules but travelers from the EU have to quarantine.  Athletes from cricket and F1 (the British Grand Prix will be in July) are exempt.  You can see why folks are a bit chuffed.

The policy notes it will be evaluated every two weeks so as my British friends like to say “watch this space” as things are fluid and changing each day.  It’s the UK so with politics afoot as well as business interests for the City of London and travel industry there’s a lot of input, anger and confusion with what seems a quickly put together moving target of a policy enforcement.

European Summer Travel Without Quarantine

Countries experimenting with courting tourists without quarantine are Portugal, Spain and Greece for summer travel in Europe.  Other European “air bridges” are being created for residents of x, y, z countries to visit neighboring countries.  But of course, some are claiming discrimination in the selection of countries and quarantines mandated. The U.S. and UK have been hit hard by covid19 cases and deaths so it’s not hard to understand the reluctance of the world to allow those citizens into their countries as they protect their citizens. Don’t even think about a European cruise right now!

For Americans, as of now, only Portugal (great country to visit) will be ready with open arms and no quarantine in July.  Iceland is planning to test tourists arriving into the country starting in July.    The list of entry requirements is changing almost daily with a good amount of commentary from around the world.  I suggest researching the destination visitor website for up to date government requirements.  Don’t rely on the airline, train or ferry information regarding immigration needs.

London Travel Quarantine – My Status

I’m trying to remain positive here and hopeful that my annual November/December visit to London will be able to go forward.  It will be the longest time I’ve been away from London – whatsapp, skype and zoom can’t replace the pub nights, the hugs and the feeling of home that I’m missing.

Thoughts on the 14 day London quarantine going into effect tomorrow?