Will the EU drop harmful restrictions for UK tourists?

Q You described the UK decision to ban European Union citizens from visiting with only their ID cards as “pure self-harm”. Do you think EU countries like Spain will see the pure self-harm in the “90-days-in-any-180-days” limit on British tourists and also roll back?

Harry G

A Just to put everyone in the picture: my article was about the immense benefits of inbound tourism. Visitors from abroad provide the closest a nation can get to free money and improved amenities. So I described the UK’s post-Brexit decision to exclude all 200 million-plus European Union citizens who have identity cards but not passports as pure self-harm.

Another piece of post-Brexit red tape: UK travellers to the EU (and wider Schengen area) cannot stay more than 90 days within a spell of 180 days. Were you to fly south to Spain for the winter tomorrow, you would need to leave by 3 February 2024 and would not be allowed to return to anywhere in the zone until 3 May 2024. For many people who like to winter abroad, this rule is extremely inconvenient.

The decision to limit the stay of British visitors in this way was taken not by the European Union but by the United Kingdom. After the democratic vote to leave the EU, the deal that British negotiators secured was for the UK to be treated in the same way as Tonga and Venezuela – with passport holders “third-country nationals”. It was entirely clear that the “90/180” rule would apply; while a member of the European Union, the UK was instrumental in establishing it.

The rule to which we asked to become subject cannot be waived unilaterally by a member state. What EU nations can choose to do, though, is issue a cheap and fairly long-stay visa – often known as a “D-visa” – for their own territory. The ideal for British visitors would be something like the Estonian model, where a one-year visa costs €100 for those who can prove they have the means to support themselves. A long-stay visa has the added benefit that any days spent in the issuing country do not count towards the 90-day allowance.

It remains to be seen if Spain, Portugal or other EU nations that are climatically more favourable than Estonia will offer a competitively priced visa.

open image in gallery

Q Which of these would you recommend for a city break with my 19-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter: Amsterdam or Berlin?

Nicola C

A Both cities are rewarding for visitors of all ages, but I recommend Amsterdam for several reasons.

Amsterdam has two standout museums that, in my experience, engage teenagers as successfully as they do adults. The Anne Frank House at Prinsengracht 263 is one of the most heartbreaking locations in Europe – yet also a powerful tribute to the human spirit. Through the chronicle of the young teenager Anne, it tells of life for a Jewish family hiding in an attic from the Nazi occupiers during the Second World War.

Only Otto Frank, Anne’s father, survived; the rest of them perished in Nazi death camps. He published Anne’s diaries, which met with wide acclaim, and the house subsequently became a draw for tourists keen to understand more.

Book well in advance for the tour, which you should also do for the other standout, the Van Gogh Museum. Vincent van Gogh endured a brief, troubled and unsuccessful decade as an artist. Yet today his art is sold for record sums, and the museum that boasts the best collection of his work is the most visited attraction in Amsterdam. It also includes works by Picasso, Monet and Gauguin.

For a major European capital, Amsterdam is concise and walkable, with a wealth of places to eat, drink and stay. It is also the most accessible continental capital from the UK. From southeast England, the Eurostar train reaches Amsterdam Central in less than four hours from London St Pancras.

From East Anglia, the ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland (50 miles southwest of Amsterdam) provides reasonably fast access, as does the overnight sailing from Newcastle to IJmuiden, on the coast about 15 miles northwest of Amsterdam. And wherever you live in the UK, there is likely to be a nearby airport with direct flights to Amsterdam Schiphol.

Berlin is 370 miles further east than Amsterdam, but ideally you could combine the two, using the overnight sleeper train between them.

open image in gallery

Q When do you suggest is a good time of the year to go to Valletta?

Bernie N

A I have been fortunate enough to visit the Maltese capital six times, ranging from deep midwinter (December/January) to high summer. I strongly recommend the former. Valletta is about the same latitude as Los Angeles – and like the Californian city, it has predominantly good weather all year round. Unlike some Mediterranean islands, Malta is open for business all year round. Let’s take a spin through the year, bearing in mind that the weather seems to be increasingly uncertain.

From December to February, assume an average daily high of 16C, with five hours of sunshine. This is my favourite time of year because the difference in the weather – and daylight – compared with the UK is at its most beneficial. Evenings are distinctly chilly, but locals still enjoy an aperitif at outdoor cafes.

As spring and summer get underway, the temperature rises swiftly – peaking at 32C i July and August. I find September more agreeable at 28C, with October (25C) and November (21C) equally enjoyable.

If, though, you are averse to rain, I must warn you that October to February are, relatively speaking, wet – averaging 80mm (3 inches) of rain each month. In which case I commend March and April: they get just over an inch of rain on average, with seven or eight hours of sunshine likely.

What if you are a keen seawater swimmer? The Met Office says: “Malta enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with sea temperatures higher than in any other part of Europe.” The warmest month is August, at 26C, but October is still doing well at 23C.

Finally, my choice is also informed by price. Experience shows that late November/early December can deliver some superb value for flights and accommodation. Perhaps you might be able to set up a trip in a couple of weeks...

Email your question to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder