© GettyCornwall is preparing for a surge in staycationers this summer - Getty
Britons will find fewer than one in 10 UK self-catering holiday options available across some operators this summer as the nation prepares for a post-lockdown staycation boom.
Just 8 per cent of school summer holiday dates are still available for properties advertised by Oliver's Travels. Self-catering property agency Unique Homestays also said 92 per cent of its available dates have been booked up for the summer months.
Meanwhile, the number of August reservations taken by luxury camping specialist Canopy & Stars are up 185 per cent compared with March 2019. Around 30 per cent of its total guest capacity remains for August.
"Despite record levels of bookings, there is still a chance to book a summer staycation if you are quick and can be flexible with dates and area," said Mike Bevens, managing director of Canopy & Stars. "Keep an eye out for new places too, we have several brand new places lined up to join our collection in the coming weeks," he added.
British families are snapping up domestic breaks following the publication of the Government's roadmap out of lockdown, under which leisure travel is set to resume in England on April 12.
International travel will not return until May 17, at the earliest, and foreign holidays are likely to come with the additional hurdles of Covid testing and potential quarantine - and, possibly, vaccine passports.
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08:51 AMIs Cornwall overrated?
Have your say.
You can read your fellow Telegraph readers' opinions on Cornwall, here.
08:49 AMToday is Budget Day
You can follow all the latest on our live Politics blog here, ahead of Chancellor Rishi Sunak presenting the Budget in the House of Commons at 12.40pm today.
08:45 AMWill I be able to go on holiday this summer if I haven't been vaccinated?
It's a question we get asked a lot, at Telegraph Travel HQ. It's good news... and bad news.
The good news is that, while vaccine passports could be accepted as a means to introduce restriction-free travel, this does not necessarily mean that those who have not received two doses of the vaccine will not be able to travel. The expectation is that countries will continue to accept negative Covid test results, in lieu of a vaccination certificate.
The bad news is that, if you do not have a vaccine certificate, you could well be looking at a number of tests (before travel, on arrival, before travel home, after arrival home) - likely at your own expense, and possibly with some form of quarantine depending on the rules of your destination.
Read our full advice piece on this matter here.
08:37 AMUS states begin easing restrictions
Texas on Tuesday became the biggest state to lift its mask rule, joining a rapidly growing movement by governors and other leaders across the US to loosen restrictions despite pleas from health officials not to let their guard down yet.
The Lone Star State will also do away with limits on the number of diners who can be served indoors, said Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who made the announcement at a restaurant in Lubbock.
The governors of Michigan, Mississippi and Louisiana likewise eased up on bars, restaurants and other businesses Tuesday, as did the mayor of San Francisco.
"Removing statewide mandates does not end personal responsibility," said Mr Abbott, speaking from a crowded dining room where many of those surrounding him were not wearing masks. "It's just that now state mandates are no longer needed."
© APPeople wait in line to receive a Covid-19 vaccination in Dallas, Texas - AP
Read more: Texas '100pc open' after governor ends Covid lockdown and mask mandate
08:34 AMWhere are you hoping to travel this summer?
Participate in our Twitter poll to let us know which of these countries you hope to travel to this summer.
08:30 AMVirus deaths in Brazil hit all-time record high
Brazil registered an all-time record on Tuesday for the number of Covid-19 deaths in a single day with 1,641 people dying from the disease, according to Health Ministry data.
That surpasses the previous single-day high of 1,595 deaths recorded in late July 2020, as Brazil faces a new peak in cases and the hospital system is pushed to the brink of collapse.
Read more, here.
© Jonne Roriz/BloombergHealthcare workers treat Covid patients in a field hospital at the Pedro Dell'Antonia sports complex in Santo Andre, Brazil - Jonne Roriz/Bloomberg
08:12 AMWhat happened yesterday?
A re-cap of yesterday's top stories:
- Spain considering 'green corridor' for British tourists
- Thailand's travel industry lobbies for July 1 reopening
- More summer music festivals cancelled
- Israel trials swapping hotel quarantine for tracking devices
- Germany starts French border checks
- Rome's Mausoleum of Augustus reopens to tourists
- Isle of Man enters 21-day lockdown
Now, on with today's news.