In the post-covid travel landscape, with vaccine passports and increased airfares, it looks like it’s going to be trickier to getaway than before. Although the UK is one of the best vaccinated countries on the planet, Brits might be hoping for a few choices for their summer break in 2021. At the moment though there are few countries on the travel list, but one of these is Portugal.

With flights booking up fast, getting to Portugal by airline looks increasingly like a challenge. But Brittany Ferries, the French run service operating between several UK ports and northern France, there might be a new option.

Brittany Ferries have announced that they are considering running a UK to Portugal ferry service, possibly by the end of May 2021. The service will depart from either Portsmouth or Plymouth, the main UK bases for the company – and head to Porto in northern Portugal.

With services from Plymouth and Portsmouth to Santander and Bilbao in northern Spain, this would offer a new opportunity for Brits heading to the Iberian peninsula. Portsmouth is the most likely point for departure as the port city is relatively centrally located in the UK.

Prices have not been announced but are expected to start from £150 per passenger (€170). It’s also anticipated that the ferry service between the UK and Portugal will be open only to vehicle traffic, not foot passengers. The plus side is that you’ll easily be able to take your car to Portugal for a summer holiday in this beautiful country.

However the downside is that the trip is expected to take around 30 hours.

But with people increasingly wary of avoiding proximity to other passengers, environmental concerns, and even travelling in relative comfort, the ferry to Portugal from the UK might offer a refreshing alternative.

Keep an eye on the Brittany Ferries website for further updates into 2021.