The UK Foreign Office has issued a winter sun warning to Brits looking to head abroad for a holiday this autumn and winter.
With the days becoming darker, the rain more frequent, and temperatures dropping, yamny of us are checking out Skyscanner for the cheapest deals that can take you somewhere overseas during the remainder of 2024.
One such deal can take you to the so-called ‘Garden of Europe’, where there’s €2 pints and flights to the city for under £15.
But there are a number you should be wary of visiting, according to the latest advice from officials in government.
Sending out the latest updates this week, the Foreign Office has told people to avoid more than 15 specific countries due to ‘ongoing hostilities that could escalate quickly’.
The warning is in relation to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East concerning Israel and Lebanon, which was reignited in September after thousands of pagers exploded in Lebanon, killing 42 people and wounding approximately 2,750.
Israel’s secret service, Mossad, had sold these in an undercover operation.
Brits love visiting Dubai in the UAE (Getty Stock Images)
Now, fresh advice from the Foreign Office states: “Ongoing hostilities between Israel and Lebanon could escalate quickly and pose risks for the wider region.
“Monitor this travel advice and other media as the situation is changing fast.”
The warning covers both Lebanon and Israel, but also a number of other countries in the Middle East, including tourism hot spots that are incredibly popular with UK tourists.
Included in the update travel advice is Egypt as well as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is home to Dubai.
Morocco is also on the list as well as Tunisia, and Qatar, the latter being home to capital city Doha.
Abu Simbel temple in Egypt is hugely popular with Brits (Getty Stock Images)
In total, countries that have had their travel advice updated this week to reflect this are Egypt, Bahrain, Algeria, the UAE, Tunisia, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Morocco, Libya, Iran, and Kuwait.
Brits are known to visit the likes of Dubai in the winter, given it is cooler at around 25C compared to the summer temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius.
Egypt has been loved by Brits for as long as history has allowed, given its rich history through the likes of the Pyramids of Giza.
Qatari officials have spent years turning Doha into a tourism destination (Getty Stock Images)
As it stands, the Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of Saudi Arabia, parts of Egypt, parts of Israel, Libya, and Lebanon.
The Foreign Office says: “There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
“UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out more about the global threat from terrorism.”
If you’re thinking of heading to this part of the world, you should check what the Foreign Office advice says for the country you’re planning on visiting as well as the region of that country.
Due to the conflict, flights to Australia and Asia have increased in time due to airlines such as Virgin Atlantic and British Airways avoiding flying directly over Israel, instead travelling over Egypt.