Britons shun foreign holidays amid quarantine chaos

Britons are shunning international travel sending holiday prices plummeting as more nations are put on the UK’s quarantine list.

The cost of holidays to quarantine-free Turkey and Greece has plunged by 28 per cent on average while a week-long trip to Italy has halved in price, comparison website Travel Supermarket found.

Experts fear the last-minute introduction of quarantine in various countries could be to blame for Britons avoiding overseas trips.

The cost of holidays to quarantine-free Turkey (a beach in Turkey pictured earlier this month) and Greece has plunged by 28 per cent on average while a week-long trip to Italy has halved in price, comparison website Travel Supermarket found

A source told The Times: ‘Operators are clearly starting to “price dump’ seats”.

‘Given the situation we are in, any revenue is good revenue.’ 

France was this week added to the UK’s quarantine list in a savage blow sparking chaos for an estimated 500,000 British holidaymakers in France.

The quarantine came into force at 4am this morning forcing families to make a last-minute dash across the Channel from France.

One couple forked out £1,000 for business class Eurostar seats while another drove for 12 hours to get home.

Experts fear the last-minute introduction of quarantine in various countries could be to blame for Britons avoiding overseas trips (Epanomi pictured in May)

Experts fear the last-minute introduction of quarantine in various countries could be to blame for Britons avoiding overseas trips (Epanomi pictured in May)

One mother was forced to leave two of her children behind with her husband when she fled France on the last Eurostar train.

The woman – who had to return to the UK before quarantine began due to her job – was only able to get tickets for herself and her baby.

She now fears her two daughters – who will return on Monday – may not be out of quarantine when their school goes back.

Families made a last-minute dash across the Channel last night ahead of the 4am cut-off this morning when France was added to the UK's quarantine list. Pictured: A family arriving from Dieppe last night

Families made a last-minute dash across the Channel last night ahead of the 4am cut-off this morning when France was added to the UK’s quarantine list. Pictured: A family arriving from Dieppe last night

Passengers disembarked from the penultimate ferry to Newhaven from Dieppe last night before the 14-day quarantine rules kicked in

Passengers disembarked from the penultimate ferry to Newhaven from Dieppe last night before the 14-day quarantine rules kicked in

People queue in line to check-in for a British Airways flight to Heathrow Airport on Friday at Nice airport, southern France

One family was seen cycling after getting off the penultimate ferry to Newhaven from Dieppe last night - before the quarantine rules kicked in

One family was seen cycling after getting off the penultimate ferry to Newhaven from Dieppe last night – before the quarantine rules kicked in

The woman, who did not provide her name, told Sky News: ‘This has completely ruined our summer. I don’t know what I’m going to do now. I am so upset about this.’

Others were forced to charter a fishing boat to make it home on time. The Dunedin Consort – a musical ensemble from Scotland – wrote on Twitter: ‘Au revoir France! As exits from concerts go, this one is quite unique. We’re sailing back to the UK on a fishing boat overnight to beat the quarantine.

But some people weren’t as lucky. Alexis Walmsley from Basingstoke missed the last Eurostar train meaning both she and her disabled son now have to quarantine.

She wrote on Twitter: ‘So near and yet so far. Reorganised my return from France to ensure my disabled son didn’t have to quarantine but our TGV was so delayed we are going to miss the last Eurostar home.’

She added: ‘Made new booking for me and my disabled son (who won’t understand quarantine) from Avignon to Paris for the Eurostar. 

The 11th-hour move sparked chaos for an estimated 500,000 Britons in France with some forced to charter a fishing boat (pictured)

The 11th-hour move sparked chaos for an estimated 500,000 Britons in France with some forced to charter a fishing boat (pictured)

The Dunedin Consort - a musical ensemble from Scotland - wrote on Twitter: 'Au revoir France! As exits from concerts go, this one is quite unique. We¿re sailing back to the UK on a fishing boat overnight to beat the quarantine'

The Dunedin Consort – a musical ensemble from Scotland – wrote on Twitter: ‘Au revoir France! As exits from concerts go, this one is quite unique. We’re sailing back to the UK on a fishing boat overnight to beat the quarantine’

Meanwhile, France is likely to impose to impose tit-for-tat quarantine restrictions from Monday for people arriving from Britain, meaning British travellers will have to self-isolate on arrival there too. Pictured: A queue of cars fleeing France via the Channel Tunnel

Meanwhile, France is likely to impose to impose tit-for-tat quarantine restrictions from Monday for people arriving from Britain, meaning British travellers will have to self-isolate on arrival there too. Pictured: A queue of cars fleeing France via the Channel Tunnel

But some people weren't as lucky. Alexis Walmsley from Basingstoke missed the last Eurostar train meaning both she and her disabled son now have to quarantine

But some people weren’t as lucky. Alexis Walmsley from Basingstoke missed the last Eurostar train meaning both she and her disabled son now have to quarantine

‘We’d have made it home but for a massive delay at Lyon. Now I don’t even know where we will sleep tonight.’

There are also fears that the new rules will cause thousands of children to miss the start of the school year as pupils who do not return to the UK by Tuesday night will still be self-isolating at home when the majority of schools go back on September 2.

But with limited capacity on flights, ferries and the Eurotunnel, many will have no choice but to stay in France – or pay high prices for some of the remaining tickets.  

Some tourists had less time to avoid quarantine after the Scottish and Welsh governments demanded the rules be introduced a day earlier. 

Meanwhile, France is likely to impose to impose tit-for-tat quarantine restrictions from Monday for people arriving from Britain, meaning British travellers will have to self-isolate on arrival there too.

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