Leeds family who sold up to travel world with kids give tips to cope with 'quarantine hotels'

Laura and Jon Linklater and their children Sophia, 6, Cary, 4 and two-year-old Theodore were forced to quarantine in a Vietnam hotel after uprooting their family from Otley to educate their children around the world.

Laura and Jon were both teachers in Yorkshire and have home educated their children from their base in Leeds.

However, in January 2020, they made the life changing decision to travel the globe with their children before "it was too late".

The Covid pandemic devastated their plans and they quickly made attempts to change tactic and ensure they could carry on with their attempts to leave the UK.

Jon got a job at the British International School in Ho Chi Minh City in January 2020 through a series of 5am interviews.

Seven months later, in August, the family sold all of their belongings in Otley, donated the rest to charity and headed off on their trip of a lifetime to a new base in Vietnam.

Despite the excitement, the family were forced to quarantine in a hotel on their arrival in Vietnam.

UK nationals or residents returning from 33 “red list” countries will be required to spend 10 days in a Government-designated hotel from Monday.

Mr Hancock told MPs that 16 hotels have been contracted for the hotel quarantine programme, and anyone who attempts to conceal that they have been in one of those destinations in the 10 days before arrival faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

He also confirmed the new “enhanced testing” regime for all international travellers, with two tests required during the quarantine process from Monday.

Laura told the Yorkshire Evening Post life in the quarantine hotel was "really tough".

She said the school where Jon was heading to work had to charter a plane for the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh staff.

Laura said: "We had to wear masks the whole 16 hour [flight].

"The air crew were in hazmat suits, which scared the children a bit.