What to do if you're due to visit Portugal in the next fortnight
If you thought green meant go, you may have to think again. Travellers who were all set to head off to Portugal from Monday may now have to wait until at least May 30 to be allowed in. The government in Lisbon yesterday extended the “state of public calamity” – the second highest level of alert – which imposes Covid-related restrictions on the mainland for a further 15 days from today. For those who were hoping to travel, here are some key questions answered.
What does this mean if you have a package holiday booked?
If your booking is due to depart before May 30 and tourism is not allowed to restart on mainland Portugal then, legally, your tour operator must cancel the holiday and offer you a cash refund within two weeks. If you decide to cancel unilaterally you will forfeit that right – so don’t act hastily, wait until you hear from the operator. Tui, the UK’s biggest holiday company says it is monitoring the situation closely and will provide a further update as soon as soon as it has clarification from the Portuguese Government.
What if you are travelling independently?
If you have booked your flight and accommodation separately you don’t have the same level of cover as with a package. At least some flights are likely to go ahead – Ryanair and BA are currently still scheduling several to mainland Portugal on Monday, while EasyJet has flights on Friday. Others may be cancelled, in which case passengers are entitled to a refund. If your flight still operates then no refund is due if you don’t travel. However, you are likely to be able to transfer to a later departure without penalty (although you’ll have to pay extra if that flight is more expensive).
As for accommodation, that will depend on the terms under which you booked. If there is still time to make a free cancellation then obviously you can take that option. If the hotel, villa or apartment is not allowed to open because of the state of calamity, then you should also get a refund. If it is available to stay in and you can’t get there, then you are on weak ground. If you can’t get a refund, try to negotiate a stay at a later date.
Will insurance help?
Almost certainly not. Very few – if any – policies cover the refunding of cancellation costs in these circumstances.
What is the situation after May 30?
We just don’t know yet. But if you are anxious and don’t want to travel, do not cancel without talking to your tour operator and being clear what the consequences are. Most are being extremely flexible at the moment, though they won’t offer you a refund until they are actually forced to cancel, they will almost certainly allow you to rebook for a later date.
What’s the situation in Madeira?
Madeira and the neighbouring island of Porto Santo (as well as the Azores) are not included in the state of calamity and so holidays should restart there as normal. Tui has confirmed it will be operating all holidays to Madeira and Porto Santo as planned from Monday.
What would happen if I do try to board a plane to Portugal on Monday, if travel is not allowed?
The current Portuguese immigration rules say that you can only enter the country for "essential purposes". These include travelling to live with immediate family members, or for professional, educational, health or humanitarian reasons – there is no guidance on, for example, travelling to check and maintain a second home.
If your trip doesn't meet these requirements you will either be denied boarding, or (more likely) refused admission at the arrival airport and have to book a return flight to the UK. However, the interpretation of what is "essential" may depend on the discretion of the immigration official who questions you on arrival – and it is a somewhat grey area.
