The UK’s largest independent travel agency Hays Travel is offering COVID-19 kits for customers to take with them overseas to ensure they can have tests to comply with regulations about returning to the UK.
Freedom day has arrived for England and with 29 countries and territories on its “green list”, Brits are now able to jet off on a well-overdue summer holiday.
However, anyone re-entering the UK must still have proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within the three days before departure, whether or not they have been vaccinated, which can make things a little harder when travelling overseas.
Citing this, Hays Travel has partnered with supplier Collinson Group to provide its customers government-approved tests that can be easily packed in luggage.
Video appointments are also provided alongside the kits so holidaymakers do not need to search for a testing centre when they’re overseas.
Collinson Group staff help travellers take the test during a pre-booked video call and the result comes within an hour, along with the fit-to-fly certificate by email.
Hays Travel said the test kits are available in the chain’s high street shops and are “already in huge demand” as holiday bookings continue to rise.
The agency said Spain and Greece are the most popular destinations this summer, while long-haul countries such as the Maldives, Bali and South Africa are most popular for later this year and 2022.
Jonathon Woodall, Hays Travel chief operating officer, said: “It takes the stress out of trying to find a testing centre while you’re on holiday; there’s help on hand via the video call, and Hays Travel customers can have a discount price of AU$121 per test.
“We’re very pleased to be working with Collinson Group and to be able to offer our customers this additional support so they can enjoy their much-deserved holiday to the utmost.”
Customers need to allow at least four working days before leaving for their holiday destination to ensure the test kit arrives in time.
Collinson also offers pre-departure PCR testing, as well as day two and day eight testing if required.