Travel Advice

EUROPEAN ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Entry/Exit System (EES) – Expected from 12 October 2025
(Please note: the implementation date is yet to be confirmed)

Who is affected?
All non-EU passport holders, including UK citizens.

What will happen at the border?
Upon entry to one of the 29 Schengen countries, travellers will be required to:

This new digital system will gradually replace passport stamping. Biometric data will be valid for three years.

For children:
All children will have a photograph taken
Children aged 12 and over will also be required to provide fingerprints

Exiting the Schengen Area will involve a simplified check, although procedures may vary by location.
Travellers already in the Schengen Area when the EES is launched will be able to leave without issue.

What to Expect
A phased six-month rollout, with some variation in traveller experience depending on the point of entry
Possible queues and delays during initial implementation
No cost associated with EES
No change to existing travel rules (90 days in any 180-day period for short stays)

UK Departures: Ferry Ports & LeShuttle
At Dover, Folkestone, and St Pancras, EES checks will be conducted on UK soil.
All passengers, including coach travellers, will be required to disembark for processing
Accessible facilities will be available to support all passengers

Other Notes
Gibraltar will apply EES checks at its external border
Airport transit passengers will not be affected unless entering the Schengen Area (i.e., going landside)

 
Looking Ahead: ETIAS (Expected 2026)
ETIAS is a separate online travel authorisation system, anticipated to launch in late 2026
It will require an advance application and a fee of approximately €20 per person
ETIAS is not yet live – please disregard any offers to apply at this time

We will continue to monitor developments and share confirmed updates as they become available. We also recommend keeping an eye on Gov.uk and the Travel Aware website for the most up-to-date guidance from early September.

If you have any questions or require further assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 

TOURIST TAX

Tourist tax is currently being charged at hotels in some major cities across the UK & Ireland. This is a council/Government-led levy which is beyond our control and is not included in our prices. Please check before arrival.

 

CLEAN AIR ZONES

More UK cities are signing up to be Clean Air Zones (CAZ). Please ensure you check prior to travel whether your vehicle will need to pay. To avoid being charged in a clean air zone, your vehicle must meet the following minimum standard:
Buses, coaches, heavy goods vehicles: Euro VI
Vans, minibuses, taxis, private hire vehicles, cars: Euro 6 (diesel) and Euro 4 (petrol)
Check for the current list of cities HERE
You can enter your registration to check if charges apply: HERE

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expanded across all London boroughs on 29 August 2023, check your vehicle registration ULEZ CHECK HERE

ISLE OF MAN COACHES

Click Here

 

DRIVING IN EUROPE – REGULATIONS

For information about driving regulations, low emission zones and access regulations across Europe, click HERE

VISITORS TO VENICE

Visitors to Venice who have not booked accommodation in the city or surrounding islands will face a separate entry fee. This is applied as an alternative to the tourist tax and is likely to mostly public holidays and weekends. For further information, please visit City of Venice website.

DRIVING IN ITALY – ZTL PERMITS & FINES

If you are touring in Italy, you need to be aware of the restrictions that exist entering towns and cities. These can vary considerably across the country.

ZTLs (Zona Traffico Limitato) are zones which restrict entry and circulation at certain times and affect all vehicles including local ones. In order to avoid unexpected fines, you need to get a permit ahead of crossing a ZTL. Signage for these zones is not always clear, so we recommend you find out ahead of travel, where they are and if you are likely to cross them.

Click HERE for information for individual Italian zones

Milan Access in Milan centre is only allowed with Euro 6 coaches.

 

TRAVEL ADVICE & USEFUL LINKS

Other Useful Information:

FCO pages for individual country advice – Click FCO HERE

Health & Safety Executive

Information on managing risks and risk assessment – Click HSE HERE

Confederation of Passenger Transport

CPT details rules and regulations on coach operations – Click CPT HERE

Visit Britain

International Road-Users

ETOA

Information, networking site for information about travel throughout Europe – click ETOA HERE

 

SEA CROSSING TERMS & CONDITIONS
If a ferry/sea crossing forms part of your tour(s), please note that individual operators’ terms & conditions apply. These may vary and apply to all coach passengers. For the most up-to-date information, please see the links below:

P&O Ferries
DFDS
Irish Ferries
CalMac
NorthLink Ferries
Isle of Man Steam Packet
Wight Link
Brittany Ferries Channel Islands
Stena Line
Brittany Ferries
Eurotunnel – Le Shuttle
Eurostar