Since April, whenever anyone on our travel team has returned from a European trip, we’ve invariably gathered around to hear how they fared in the great EU entry-exit System (EES) lottery. So far we’ve concluded: Venice – bad; Malaga – good; Gdansk – excellent; Prague – very bad; Florence – terrible; Milan Linate – buckle up, because it could go either way.
This week, readers have shared their own experiences of EES, reporting malfunctioning gates, failed biometric registrations, manual passport inspections and long queues, with passengers missing flights despite turning up hours in advance. On the flip side, plenty of travellers are having seamless experiences, passing through border control in minutes. Perhaps the most infuriating part is that it all seems so nonsensical; these changes are in no way beneficial to us. But we were given what we asked for when we elected to leave the European Union: to become third-country nationals and make travel to the EU significantly more frustrating. When we bid farewell to EU citizenship, we also shut the door on freedom of movement and ushered in a more stressful holiday experience.
This week, as The Independent reflected on ten years since the Brexit vote to leave the European Union, I was asked to share the ways in which travel has been made worse, which made for a rather depressing list. Beyond the shambles of the EES implementation, we’ve already contended with changes to passport validity – ones that even our own government initially struggled to grasp – as well as restrictions on the number of days we can spend in the EU without a visa. And once EES is straightened out, we’ll then be faced with the rollout of the Etias travel authorisation scheme, which is planned to start in the final quarter of this year and remain optional for the first six months. Although I’m not confident about that timeline (and I suspect the European Commission isn’t either).
I was also asked to share how travel has improved thanks to Brexit – and it’s a much shorter list. So far, I’ve got: duty-free is back (on booze and cigarettes). If you can think of a better one, please feel free to drop me an email, because I’m struggling…
For exclusive analysis on how Britain can rebuild its relationship with Europe, sign up for our weekly Europe: The Way Back newsletter here.
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Visitors charged to use shower on Spanish beach
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Ryanair seat policy change for parents flying with children
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First look at Europe’s new largest river cruise ship
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European holiday spots with extreme heat warnings
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Dover’s £40m EU border control site opening delayed
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An adventure to meet thriving female cowboys and learn how women helped shape the American West.
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Padraig Prendergast speaks to the engineers, pilots and professors behind Qantas’ Project Sunrise.
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With a layered, multicultural identity, the Belgian capital makes for a captivating – and walkable – mini break.
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This week I spoke with Christian de Boer at London’s Climate Week as we grappled with the thorny question of how to travel while also being kind to the planet. The term “sustainable travel" is one I often groan at due to the amount of greenwashing that occurs in this industry, but what Christian has done with his hotel in the wonderful town of Siem Reap in Cambodia gives me real hope that positive impact travel can be more than just buzzwords.
Sitting on the banks of the Siem Reap River, Jaya House River Park is an 100 per cent single-use plastic free hotel (the first in Cambodia), employs only local staff, supports local suppliers, makes donations to Landmine Relief and local NGOs on behalf of each guest and has planted 4,327 trees in public areas to date.
Plus, the hotel uses local guides to show guests the remarkable city of Siem Reap and the surrounding countryside. After I requested that we escape the crowds, my guide Lee took me cycling through the jungle where we wandered among ancient Khmer temples without another person in site. It’s a truly remarkable stay.
Read about Jaya House River Park in our round-up of best places the travel desk stayed last year
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It’s been exceptionally hot lately. While we all enjoy a bit of sunshine, there comes a point when staying cool becomes the priority. My top picks for beating the heat, (whether you’re at home, commuting or travelling abroad) include Shark’s new handheld fan, which earned full marks in my review. Combining a fan, cooling plate and misting spray in one compact device, it provides fast, targeted relief when temperatures soar.
I’m also a big fan of Sony’s wearable cooling system, which acts like a personal air-conditioning unit and feels remarkably like pressing an ice cube against your skin. Or, if you're looking for something cheap, this £11 handheld fan is the most powerful budget model I’ve tested to date.
If you’re lucky enough to have a holiday booked, today is your last chance to take advantage of the Amazon Prime Day sale and stock up on travel essentials. I’ve rounded up the best iPad deals in the sale to help keep you entertained on long journeys, while the Loop Quiet 2 earplugs are currently discounted for those hoping to get some sleep on a plane, coach or train. Our tester awarded them full marks, praising their comfort and discreet design in busy environments.
Other travel essentials worth considering include a reliable pair of travel socks, particularly if you’re prone to swollen feet, legs or ankles during flights. If your luggage has seen better days, there’s also 30% off Antler’s cabin suitcase in the Prime Day sale. And for anyone looking for a travel-related read, History of the World Map by Map is reduced by more than 40% for Amazon Prime members – but you’ll need to be quick, as the sale ends at midnight.
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Why heatwaves cancel trains
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As we contended with sleepless, sweltering nights, closed schools and hosepipe bans over the past few days, many travellers were dealt an extra blow when they learned that their trains had been cancelled. Which begged the question: why? Network Rail said that hot weather can affect overhead power lines, causing them to expand. But one of the greatest concerns in extreme heat is rail tracks “buckling”. Steel expands when it gets hot, causing rails to lengthen and create tension against neighbouring sections of track. When this happens, trains are stopped for safety, as “if there is no room for the rail to expand, the rail can buckle and we need to close the line to fix it before trains can run again,” Network Rail explained.
Is there a solution? John Lawrence, chair of the Institution of Engineering and Technology Railway Technical Network, said rail operators can tackle overheating tracks by painting them white, which can lower track temperatures by 5C, as well as lubricating rail joints to allow for expansion.
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Would you rather take a river cruise or a tall ship out at sea?
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Soaring temperatures in the UK this week have sent many to the seaside, but if you were planning a holiday on the water, would you rather take a river cruise down Europe’s waterways? Or take a tall ship out at sea to more tropical climates? Vote by selecting the buttons above.
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The Travel Insider community was almost split down the middle last week, but hot holidays just edged it, with 55 per cent of readers saying they’d rather chase the sunshine than escape it.
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Looking ahead to your next escape? Save up to 20% on selected sailings with Ambassador Cruise Line. Choose from a range of exciting itineraries with full-board dining, entertainment and daily activities all included. Find out more.
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Experience the thrill of driving two iconic Ford classics, followed by an exhilarating high-speed passenger ride. Available at 25 UK locations.
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