Back in April last year, I wrote A Travesty Unfolds, which took a tongue-in-cheek look at older cyclists who pass their winters on the Costa Blanca. The upshot was that Brexit might curtail their winter sorties, and they would, once again, clog up the UK’s winter roads. Now that we’re on the eve of the end of the transition period, I unravel what the new year will bring for all of us who enjoy stretching our legs under the European sun.
Can I go to Mallorca next spring?
Yes, you can enjoy your week in the sun, assuming that COVID travel restrictions don’t stop you travelling. There are, of course, a few things to note:
Your passport must have over six months left and be less than ten-years old.
You will not need a visa.
You may need health insurance.
You may need an International Driving Permit if you plan on hiring a car.
Can I spend the winter cycling in Spain?
Yes and no. From Jan 1 the UK will no longer be in the EU, and it is not a member of the Schengen area. This means that you will only be able to spend 90 days in any 180-day period within the Schengen area.
To give you an example, if you spend January, February, and March—let’s say that’s 90 days—cycling in Spain, you cannot return to any Schengen country until July. Of course, this doesn’t matter for most of us, but if you’re retired or a digital nomad, be warned.
Can I take a ham sandwich for the journey?
No, unless you eat before touchdown. From Jan 1 you may not take meat, milk, or their products into Europe. Maybe it’s time to go veggie and avoid the hassle.
Can I rent a car at the airport?
Yes, but you may need to produce an International Driving Permit (IDP), which you can buy from the Post Office before you leave the UK. The IDP is in addition to your driving license—you will need both documents.
There are different IDPs, so you have to check which one you require for your country of travel. For example, Spain requires the 1949 IDP, although it is not clear whether Spain will insist that Brits hold an IDP.
What if I crash my bike?
If you are unfortunate enough to need medical care for any reason, remember that healthcare—including emergency medical help—is not free in most European countries.
Currently, you don’t have to pay for this healthcare because you have a European Health Card (EHIC). [Update] If you have an existing EHIC, it will continue to be valid while travelling in an EU country. If you don’t have an EHIC, you will need to have appropriate insurance and, in most cases, you will not be able to apply for a new EHIC.
The most common types of insurance are travel insurance with medical provisions or private medical insurance with European cover. Check before you travel because you will be liable for any medical costs, and these can be colossal.
Will I be able to post my best cycling selfies?
Yes, you’ll have no problems posting to your social accounts.
Free EU roaming and capped charges for data, texts, and calls are all because of EU regulations. From Jan 1, these restrictions will no longer apply to UK phone contracts. Technically, this means that phone operators can raise their charges to almost any amount they feel fit—a possible return to the old days of horrendous phone bills after a holiday. The good news is that most mobile operators have said they will not raise charges next year (at the time of writing: EE, O2, Three, and Vodafone). We must wait and see whether they change their charges for 2022 and beyond.
Conclusion
So, there you have a pragmatic guide to post-Brexit cycling in Europe. All the information in this post comes from the UK Government’s Visit Europe from 1 January 2021 web page. Overall, the picture isn’t too bad, and we can all continue to cycle on the continent; the bad news is that we’ll have a few more costs and restrictions. Let’s all hope that 2021 brings an end to COVID-19 and travel restrictions, and we can all enjoy some European sun.
