What's actually happening with holidays this year?

On April 5, and then again on April 12, the Department for Transport's Global Travel Taskforce will be announcing the plan for restarting overseas holidays, as we've known since Feb 22. It is likely they will announce the resumption of overseas holidays to a limited number of destinations on or around May 17.

OK, so why does the news say "holidays banned until July on pain of a five grand fine?"

On Feb 22, Boris Johnson announced that holidays would be banned until May 17 ("at the earliest").

Currently, that ban is achieved through the "stay at home" rule - the one that says you can't leave your house except for specific reasons, and holidays aren't one of them.

That stay at home rule comes to an end on Monday (29 March). Thus, the government needs a new rule to stop people going on holiday between Mon 29 March and Mon 17 May. Without a new rule, we could all have hopped on a plane on Monday. That's all it is - a little gap in the legislation that they needed to fill with a new rule, doing what they always said they were going to do.

Why does the new law last until July then?

Just in case. The thing that could still cause a problem is a new variant that's resistant to the current vaccines. But right now, there doesn't seem to be one. As soon as overseas holidays start again, which we expect to be on or around May 17, we expect they'll either repeal or supersede the law that coming in from Monday.

What should we do for the moment?

We understand the UK government still advises holidaymakers to wait until their report in early April before changing any travel plans. Matt Hancock, the Health Minister, said to Sky News on last week "the questions of whether people will be able to travel abroad this summer are going to be addressed by the Global Travel Taskforce, which is reporting around 12 April…the earliest date by which we will allow for international travel…is 17 May. That has not changed."

So, it's up to you whether you want to book ahead for the summer now. There are arguments for and against - with the main argument in favour, of course, being that once the announcement is actually final, everyone will want to book at once, prices will likely go up and packages will likely sell out.

If you do book now, it’s recommended that you make sure you've booked with as much flexibility as possible and that your holiday can be cancelled or amended easily if your plans need to change.

Once you’ve booked, then of course it’s time to think about what to pack so don’t forget your essentials – Techniblock sunscreen andPeaceful Sleep insect repellent. And even if your plans change, our products have no expiry date because they are aerosols (except for the face cream and lip balm) so you don’t have to worry about use by dates if that much-needed holiday gets pushed back a few weeks.

People do the strangest things in the hope of avoidingmosquito bites. They burn cow dung, coconut shells or coffee. They drink ginand tonic. They eat bananas. They spray themselves with mouthwash or slatherthemselves in clove/alcohol solution. And they rub themselves with Bounce! Youknow, those heavily perfumed sheets that you put in your tumble dryer!!! None of these techniques have been tested tosee if they actually do keep mosquitoes away, but that doesn't stop people fromtrying them apparently!

Most people, however, opt for an insect repellent and wethink we have one of the best in Peaceful Sleep. Manufactured in South Africa,this is the number one choice for safari rangers who spend all day, every dayin an environment that is rife with bugs of every kind.

Peaceful Sleep contains DEET, which has been shown to beboth safe and effective. DEET isshorthand for the chemical N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, the active ingredient inmany insect repellents. A 2015 article in the Journal of Insect Scienceexamined the effectiveness of various commercial insect sprays, and productscontaining DEET proved the most effective and long lasting. Although there wassome early concern about its safety, tests, observational studies andintervention trials have found no evidence of adverse side effects associatedwith recommended DEET use.

Peaceful Sleep, as well as being highly effective atpreventing insect bites, is also reasonably pleasant to use. The clean, clear spray is light andnon-greasy on the skin, which makes it great for people with sensitive skin,and it deters bites from mosquitoes, flies, midges, ticks and fleas for 8+hours. It’s available in an easy-to-apply spray or a stick to target morespecific areas such as the ears, face and neck.

Stock up at today!

We may not be able to travel now but there’s nothing stopping us from dreaming about the next adventure or reminiscing about the last one.

We were lucky enough to squeeze in a visit to Vietnam just before the world shut down and, as you would expect from a company that sells sunscreen for a living, we are already planning our post-pandemic adventures.

We discovered Techniblock sunscreen through our love of travel. This superb South African sun protection kept us sunburn-free during the relentless searing heat of an African safari. It was hot and sticky searching for lions and giraffe in the bush but Techniblock prevented us from burning and kept on doing it’s job when we hit the pool for a much needed cool off the minute we returned to our safari lodge. That was many years ago and Techniblock is as good now as it was then. We’ve enjoyed many amazing holidays since and have never had a single incident of sunburn, despite long days on the beach and several dips in the sea to freshen up.

We are in unprecedented times at the moment but it won’t last forever, things will return to some semblance of normality and we hope and pray, for the sake of the travel industry, that it will be sooner rather than later. In the meantime, we’re spending our lock down days compiling a must-visit wish list and counting the days until we can pack our suitcase and jet off to somewhere hot and sunny once again.

This SPF 50 Active Performance Sunscreen has been designed for outdoor enthusiasts, athletes and is the perfect skin protector when training, enjoying water sports such as windsurfing, sailing and scuba diving. Just one application will provide protection for several hours, even in high temperatures.

The main base for many of the more traditional sun lotions and creams available today are oils and emulsifiers; these ingredients are used to encapsulate the UV filters which, when applied to the skin, tend to leave behind a greasy residue, especially with a high factor protection. The higher the SPF, the more UV filters in the formula, and this often makes them sticky and uncomfortable to apply and wear. These filters also stain light clothing but Techniblock’s anti-stain technology helps to minimise the risk of staining*, caring for your clothes as much as your skin.

Also, oils and emulsifiers break down in water and, therefore, the lotion has to be re-applied frequently, particularly after swimming.

Techniblock is different. UV filters are encapsulated in an ethanol-based spray that evaporates on contact to leave a transparent but effective and very water-resistant UV barrier. Even while swimming, Techniblock keeps on working to protect so you can enjoy the water for longer, safe in the knowledge that the powerful, modern formula will keep working.

The new Techniblock SPF 50 range is revolutionary and one of the first of it's kind on the market. Designed to protect in even the harshest environments, it is ideal for water sports because it can be applied directly to wet skin. Recommended by the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) the SPF 50 Wet and Dry is a firm favourite with boaters and sailors, as well as perfect for water babies who love to keep cool in the pool.

Non-greasy, fragrance-free and breathable, Techniblock has anti-pore blocking technology, making it very suitable for sensitive skin, particularly if you’re prone to prickly heat. This irritating skin condition is aggravated by high temperatures and rubbing thick and gooey creams into the skin just makes it worse. According to our customers,Techniblock keeps prickly heat at bay so you can enjoy the sun without worrying about nasty and irritating skin rashes.

It also provides instant protection in one quick application, unlike some other sunscreens where you have to wait for up to 45 minutes before going out in the sun in order for the protection to take effect, so it’s easy and convenient to use. The ideal solution for people who hate the fuss and bother of applying sunscreen. It can also be applied to the head, thus reducing the threat of sunstroke.

Developed in South Africa, where they certainly know a thing or two about the sun, Techniblock is a tried and trusted brand that has been protecting skin for over 20 years. Packaged in a sealed, airtight container, the formula is not compromised after opening so there’s no need to discard half-used product, making it great value for money, and the twist-top locking lid ensures no risk of spillage in the bottom of a bag.

Techniblock has broad spectrum protection.This means that it protects against both UVA and UVB protection. UVA is associated with skin ageing because it affects the elastin in our skin which leads to wrinkles and brown pigmentation. UVB is more associated with sunburn and has strong links to skin cancer.

A large can of SPF 50+ will provide an adult with all over sun protection for an average of 10-12 days. Apply in a sheltered area to ensure even coverage and enjoy a sunburn-free summer.

*To minimise yellow staining on light clothing, apply sunscreen and allow to dry thoroughly before dressing.Do not spray directly onto fabric.If staining occurs, this can be removed by pre-wash soaking in Vanish Gold or similar.