‘There’s too much risk’: Britons on changing holiday plans amid Iran war
The Middle East crisis, now in its 11th week, has resulted in higher fuel prices for drivers and prompted fears of jet fuel shortages, rising air fares and cancelled flights,Given the uncertain outlook, prospect of higher travel costs and potential disruption, we asked whether people had changed their holiday plans,Here are some of the responses,Raffaele Brancati, 77, who is retired and lives in Wiltshire, says he delayed making a holiday booking “because of Trump’s war with Iran”,He and his wife, Linda, 78, had planned to travel to Italy to visit relatives, or to Sicily, “in June, July, or September”, but have held off because of the geopolitical situation.
“It looks like there’s still too much uncertainty about a permanent ceasefire to make a booking with any confidence,” he says.“I believe there is too much risk that flights will be subject to change or cancellations.There would also be difficulty and extra cost involved in securing additional accommodation or alternative means of travel and sudden travel cost increases, all driven by war in the Middle East.”The couple has not made any other holiday plans but may consider having a break in the UK in late June or July, or investigate “travelling by train via Eurostar”.“We are frustrated and disappointed as we needed a break after my wife’s health problems,” says Raffaele.
“But it’s nothing compared with what the victims of Trump and Netanyahu’s war are suffering.”Danie Jones*, a senior administrator from East Anglia, has changed her travel plans this year amid rising costs and uncertainty.She and her husband had planned two trips – one to see friends in Rotterdam and Munich next month and another to Gdańsk in August.For the first trip, they planned to drive but have since decided to travel by train.“When all the headlines about the strait being closed and all of that started coming in … we began to worry about driving.
We were worrying about where we’re going to find fuel as friends in France have told us about shortages,” she says.“We were looking at the cost of fuel as well because of the distance that we were going to drive, we realised it was going to cost a fortune.”The couple are now looking forward to their train adventure.“I think it will be fun and also allow my husband to enjoy the trip from the start rather than having to worry about driving,” she says.The couple have, however, decided to cancel their annual Gdańsk trip altogether owing to the risk of disruption after reading that airlines were cancelling flights.
“Our friend has caring responsibilities … he can only get carers for a set amount of time,” she says.“He can’t risk getting stuck somewhere.”Jones says global events have made travel feel more uncertain, but also opened up new options.“It’s a bit of a pain … but on the other hand, it’s giving us a wonderful new experience doing long-distance train travel in Europe.”Phil and Alison Cantor, from rural north Essex, have decided to travel overland to try to avoid any flight delays or cancellations that could derail their non-refundable dream holiday.
“We took the plunge and booked a trip-of-a-lifetime cruise in Norway, spending much more than we’ve ever spent on a holiday,” says Phil.The trip includes five nights in Oslo, a three-day train journey through Flåm to Bergen, followed by a six-night coastal cruise.But when they began reading reports about potential fuel shortages, they reconsidered.“When we heard about possible cancellations for lack of jet fuel we realised if the flight doesn’t go, we would lose all the money we had already paid,” he says.Their insurer confirmed they would not be covered, as disruption would be classed as an “indirect act of war”.
They created an alternative route via Eurostar, an overnight coach and a ferry through Denmark, building in flexibility to ensure they could still reach Norway even if flights were cancelled.Phil says they are now embracing the change and that their “keep-me-up-at-night panicky fear has transformed into an anticipated added journey of discovery … We are calling it our race across the world.”“I just hope the war comes to a better conclusion.There are far worse things going on than holidays being disrupted,” he adds.Ash, 33, from London, was planning a driving and camping holiday in the Alsace region of France this month after competing in an ultramarathon, but the rising fuel costs prompted a rethink.
“I looked at flying to Zurich and hiring a car, but again, costs had gone through the roof,” they say,They then investigated travelling by rail, expecting it to be “prohibitively expensive”,“I was pleasantly surprised to find that I can do London to Strasbourg, which would mean taking the Eurostar to Paris Nord, a short walk to Paris Est station and then taking the TGV to Strasbourg, in under six hours, for £230 return,” they say,Ash’s potential fuel costs – if they had driven as initially planned – would have come to £220, but they would also have had to add on the cost of their Eurotunnel ticket,“The Eurotunnel ticket for my car was approximately £230, so that would be about £450 in total at current fuel prices,” says Ash.
“I estimated (prewar) that the trip would cost £330-£350, so the rise in fuel prices has increased the price of that journey by about 30%, if my maths serves me right.”While the camping holiday is no longer an option for this trip, Ash has now decided to have a city break in Strasbourg instead – once they have completed their 50km (31 miles) run, that is.“I’m really looking forward to a railway journey with no driving stress or fear of fuel costs, and I can feel smug avoiding the CO2 impact of air travel,” they say.*Name has been changed
‘Hold the line’: Burnham tells allies in parliament he still has options to return
Andy Burnham has told Labour MPs they should hold the line and that he has options to return to parliament after several seats identified by his allies failed to materialise.Two seats that backers of the Greater Manchester mayor had described as “nailed on” as recently as Monday night are now out of contention after the MPs concerned got cold feet.Burnham spoke to a number of MPs by phone on Tuesday and assured them that he still intended to seek an imminent return to parliament.The Guardian was told by two MPs on Wednesday that Jeff Smith, who represents Manchester Withington, an affluent suburb of the city, was in talks about stepping aside for Burnham, but his friends denied it. Asked whether he was about to make way, Smith told the Press Association he was not
EU proposes end to ‘five tabs, three apps and a prayer’ for cross-border train bookings
Cross-border train journeys through several European countries are the stuff of many a holidaymaker’s dreams.But the reality of trying to buy the tickets, navigating multiple websites without knowing who can help if a connection is missed, can prove less than relaxing. As one MEP puts it, it can often require “five tabs, three apps and a prayer”.Now, however, the European Commission has proposed that before the end of the decade passengers should be able to buy one ticket for one journey and be better protected when trains are late or cancelled.“Europeans will be able with the click of a button to plan, compare and purchase multimodal journeys across borders while benefiting from stronger rail passenger rights, greater transparency and better protection every step of the way,” the EU transport commissioner, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, said on Wednesday, as he published new rules intended to transform the “excessively complex” experience he said rail travellers met when booking tickets
What is the king’s speech and what is the state opening of parliament?
The king’s speech is the centrepiece of the state opening of parliament, the main ceremonial event of the parliamentary calendar, and the only regular occasion when the three constituent parts of parliament – the sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons – meet. It marks the start of the new parliamentary year,Although delivered by the monarch in their constitutional role as the UK head of state, the speech is written by the government to outline its policies and proposed legislation for the new parliamentary session. Formally called the “speech from the throne” because it is delivered from the throne of the House of Lords, the monarch reads it out in a neutral tone. Whatever their private feelings the monarch must not show any preference for any political party or its policies.The event is taking place as the prime minister, Keir Starmer, fights for his future in Downing Street after heavy losses in the 7 May elections
Online safety campaigners reveal Starmer frustrations after Phillips exit
Internet safety and children’s rights campaigners have accused Keir Starmer of failing to act on proposals to stop children sending and receiving nude images on their phones, after Jess Phillips resigned from the government saying she was tired of seeing “opportunities for progress stalled and delayed”.The Labour politician was one of four ministers who quit on Tuesday and joined more than 80 MPs calling for the prime minister to go.In a coruscating letter she focused on a lack of urgency and boldness in tackling child abuse images, accusing Starmer of failing to take action to stop children being able to take or send naked pictures.She said: “Over a year ago I presented solutions, long worked on by brilliant civil servants, that would end the ability for children in the UK to take naked images of themselves.“We could stop this abuse
Are working-class voters lost to Labour for good? | Letters
It would be helpful for progressive parties and the media to focus more on why so many people voted for Reform UK. Your article (What’s behind surge in support for Reform and Greens across England? Five key takeaways, 10 May) indicates that it gained more support in deprived areas – but this doesn’t answer the question why.What sort of UK do Reform voters want? Do they want councils that reduce local care services for their vulnerable elderly relatives and children, to save a few pennies off council tax? The ending of environmental protections? The scrapping of equal-opportunities policies that protect women and minority groups?When Reform voters are asked about the party’s policies, they fail to articulate much apart from “stop the boats” – because Reform’s plans have very little detail or real‑world application.The Labour government has been in power for less than two years and has delivered the Renters’ Rights Act and the Employment Rights Act, removed the two-child cap on universal credit, increased provision of free school meals and facilitated millions more NHS appointments.The focus on personality-driven politics has left the door open for local governments to be led by privately educated multimillionaires who dismiss the climate crisis and favour cryptocurrency
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