Martin Lewis holidays warning: ‘Only’ book travel if you can afford to ‘lose the money’

Martin Lewis gives advice on booking a summer holiday

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Martin Lewis today cautioned Britons who are looking to travel this year. He warned that there is a risk when booking holidays in the coming months. His travel advice comes as the Government reminds Britons that non-essential travel is currently illegal.

Speaking on Sky News yesterday, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “I am Transport Secretary so I absolutely want people to be able to travel but it is a fact that right now it is illegal to leave your home to go on holiday.

“It is illegal to do that in the UK or around the world so I am afraid, at the moment, that is off the cards.”

He continued: “I don’t want to unnecessarily raise peoples hopes.

“The truth is we just don’t know how the vaccine will respond both to the vaccines and, of course, how people respond to social distancing and those kinds of measures and therefore exactly when we will be able to unlock.

“So I am afraid I am unable to give you a definitive will there or won’t there be the opportunity to take holidays this next year either at home or abroad.”

The Government’s stance has left many Britons worried about spring and summer bookings.

In his show tonight, Martin reminded viewers that the act of booking a holiday is not illegal.

“I could book a holiday for tomorrow,” he said.

“It would only be if I went on that holiday that I’d be breaking the law.”

However, the money expert warned of the risks those booking getaways are taking.

“We don’t know what the future situation will be,” cautioned Lewis.

There’s no guaranteeing wannabe jet-setters will get their money back.

“I can’t tell you whether you’ll be able to get a refund on that holiday,” explained Lewis.

“Insurance almost certainly won’t cover it, it depends on the travel company’s policy.”

Only those who can afford it or have good protection should go ahead and book at this stage, Lewis advised.

“I’d only book now if you can either lose the money or you’ve got some travel third type of guarantee that you’ll get the money back,” he said.

Travellers simply have to wait to see what the lie of the land will be in the coming weeks and months regarding whether they can go on holiday or not.

“We’ll know at the time,” said Lewis, “it only crystallises if at that time you can’t go on holiday, then all the processes will come into play.

“But we don’t yet know whether in May we’ll still be blocked from going on holiday.

“So it’s almost too early, but legally you can book, they’re just saying you shouldn’t book.”

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