From now onwards, the only way is up

Simon Calder’s Travel Week [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Simon Calder’s Travel Week [Simon Calder]( January 29, 2021 [Simon Calder]( [Twitter]( Travel restrictions will soon start to ease Optimism is not abundant in the travel industry right now; there are simply too many examples of things going very wrong. [Fewer than half of the world's trained pilots are working](, and as we discovered on Thursday night travel plans can go awry in an instant. Tens of thousands of people with bookings from or through the UAE to the UK discovered they suddenly needed to make fresh plans due to the [addition of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the other emirates to the UK's “red list”](. Those who are able to get back on indirect flights fairly sharpish should avoid what is called “managed self-isolation” – the government’s term for hotel quarantine. But sluggish returnees will find themselves marched from the airport to a hotel where they are obliged to spend the next 10 days in far from splendid isolation. At least Mark Jones has put a helpful spin on the concept with [a guide to the world's best quarantine hotels](. It's important occasionally to remind ourselves what extraordinary times we are living in. The home secretary, Priti Patel almost casually declared on Wednesday: “There are still too many people coming in and out of our country each day.” [She was particularly critical of influencers](. The UK government wants to keep us all in, and keep the outside world at bay. This is the same country from which I legally and safely travelled just last month to [Gibraltar](, for a sunny few days in a beautiful location. The only drawback was that I could not straight across the border into Spain, for fear of triggering quarantine on my return. [Alternate text] Under the influence of Dubai (file photo) I have marked Friday 29 January in my diary as what I hope will be the lowest point in this stretch of the coronavirus cycle. We know that anything like normal life, from haircuts to holidays, will be impossible before the second week in March at the earliest. But even though ministers in both London and Edinburgh are doing all they can to deter people from booking holidays, they can't stop you dreaming and planning. Once lockdown eases, with the dreadful death rate diminishing, the barriers that the government is building will start to tumble. Stay hopeful, stay flexible: you will soon be able to explore a world full of wonders. [Alternate text] On the rails around Romania – without quarantine Destination of the week: Romania Last week I mentioned how the Seychelles plans to open up from mid-March onwards, on the basis that most of the adult population will be immunised against coronavirus then. Romania – which is closer and cheaper – has come up with a complementary vision. Anyone from the UK who has had both doses of the vaccine and arrives in Romania more than 10 days after the second dose avoids quarantine. And the Balkan nation is also offering credit for people who have had the disease. People who have recovered from Covid-19 within the past three months can enjoy the culture, countryside and cuisine without self-isolation first. Antibodies are the antidote to despair. . New Year. New perspective Save 40% when you subscribe to The Independent this January for unrivalled clarity on the issues that matter most. [Subscribe now]( . Bargain of the week Feeling lucky? There is a school of thought that says the great reboot of pan-European travel will begin over the last weekend of March, when the summer air schedules take effect. Wizz Air evidently subscribes, since its new route from Luton to Dalaman on Turkey's Mediterranean coast starts on Monday 29 March. Seats are available outbound that day or two days later for £37 one-way, with the same fare coming back a week later. Question of the week My favourite travel question this week came from Liam W, who asked: "What are the chances of Interrailling in June or July?" Even for an eternal travel optimist, it is too early to say when the railways – and more particularly the frontiers – will start to open for free and easy adventures across Europe. Fortunately these unlimited travel passes are not priced according to demand: the cost will not increase if you wait until the day before travel. Interrail is made for impetuous traveller. Your travel question welcome: @SimonCalder on Twitter or email s@hols.tv Stories you may have missed [I'm an image]( [Dubai blamed for virus cases abroad; questions swirl at home]( [I'm an image]( [Virus variant from South Africa detected in US for 1st time]( [I'm an image]( [When can I book a holiday to Spain?]( News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [Alternate text] [Find out more]( . Let me know your thoughts on Twitter [@SimonCalder](. If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email. You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Travel email. Add us to your safe list of senders . If you do not want to receive The Independent's Travel email, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Travel_Newsletter_CDP). 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