We're all going on a Covid Spanish Holiday

[Discobar]

Spain, the world's second most visited country, has announced it will lift its two-week quarantine rule on arriving overseas visitors from 1 July.

Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said the "worst was behind us".

"In July we will gradually open Spain to international tourists, lift the quarantine, ensure the highest standards of health safety," she tweeted.

Earlier, Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto called on tourists to start booking holidays for July.

Earlier this month, EU officials promised thatsummer is not cancelledin Europe.

However, sweaty hands in gloves is A Thing

@Changednamesorry I think we should walk away from this thread. As the two resident people in Spain the abuse seems to be ramping up. We were giving honest advice as we are living this! I will not be giving any more.

Leave them to it.

Do you remember 3 weeks ago when we were told by the PM that we could take our DC's out, then we couldn't, then we could just take them to the shops! Then we could, after 12, for an hour only.

That was a fun evening! The advice and law changed hourly. Yet posters are believing they can come here and have a holiday

All the best in BCN, I know it has been awful there, I'm in VLC and here too.

Right, off to Mercadona, wish me luck! Like you say, horrible atmosphere. I got shouted at last week for not taking my gloves off as I left.

We were due to go to Sitges in July, when I saw that Spain was allowing visitors after 1st of July I was very thankful we already have our refund. Those still waiting on refunds may not get them now as their holiday may be able to still go ahead depending on the hotel chosen.

@SimonJT, exactly right! good for you.

I'm tempted later on on July or beginning of August.
Even if I have to have two week isolation when home. So long as it would take me over the time I'm expecting to be back into work it's be okay.
A nice villa with a pool with some shop access for food - even if rest wasn't fully open it could work.

@BillieEilish I agree. People have absolutely no idea what it is like here.

And I'm tired of expecting people to care about others. They clearly don't.

Changed

It's possible neither of you know what it's like in other parts of the country. Some places have come out of the strictest point of the lockdown earlier than big cities like Barcelona, as you acknowledged, and in those places it's currently possible to go to open air markets, non essential shops and sit outside bars and restaurants as long as less than 50% capacity and tables spaced out. I know this because I know people in these places who are doing these things. Billie is wrong that they didn't include the UK in the announcement about removing quarantine for foreign travellers, as pp pointed out. They did. It's my understanding that as long as cases continue to fall all these "phases" were supposed to be over by end of June?

This was published 17 May (I speak Spanish, it's for the benefit of others):

english.elpais.com/spanish_news/2020-05-17/coronavirus-deescalation-plan-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-changes-in-spain-on-monday.html

But yes there are risks and issues for any foreign tourists travelling anywhere in Europe or beyond this year. It's likely travel insurance won't cover you for anything COVID related so it's a case of whether you are willing and able to take the risk of getting ill abroad or stranded there. The UK may also retain the 14 day quarantine. Or not. Who knows?

as a reminder as of this year you can still use the European Health card if travelling to Spain and getting ill hence no need of travel insurance.

no, totally covered

True, true, I don't know what I'm talking about, I am an ignorant English woman, living in Spain, I don't speak Spanish, not a word, I am lying for the sake of it. My Dc's and DH aren't Spanish. Not at all. I have not lived here for decades.

You ABSOLUTELY must ignore me. I really have totally limited experience of the country, along with @Changednamesorry plus comprehension issues.

Totally wrong, soz.

Oh and yes, rock up to a Spanish hospital with a European Health card and see what happens. Seriously, best of British, you all know so much more. This is the best, most comprehensive advice. Go to a Spanish hospital with a European health card

A facemask totally won't give you a heat rash, I don't know what I'm talking about... I am an idiot.

I was posting merely to piss you all off.

Benidorm? Have I been subject to racist remarks on the back of this? Nah, should I provide a link?

unluckily I had to use my European health card on a hospital few months ago as my son was quite poorly. I didn't have any problems. can you tell me what happens...

to be honest seems like you dont want British to go ... but that's not a problem for Mumsnet users, specially those who have holidays booked in the coming weeks/months. if you have a problem with this, then write to your local council and also to Pedro Sanchez.

as you're from valencia, have you seen the images from la marina yesterday? as still haven't seen you complaint about them... only the brits that go to the uk

Jesus Christ. I AM BRITSH, unlike you. I WANT MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO VISIT.

I am imagine you spoke Spanish and got out your SIP card sharpish when your DC was admitted to hospital?

You shouldn't give such bad advice, people might believe it.

You are SPANISH not English, this is a different situation for you. Comprendes?

My son doesn't have a SIP card, neither do I, we had to provide a passport and his European health card at the hospital. same way my father when he fall in when visiting me had to provide it to the nhs. so no, your assumptions are wrong.

and sorry, but at the moment the European health card (until the end of this year) is valid in spain hence it's not a bad advice, those people that want to visit spain and dont have a health insurance that covers them. btw it's not a poor advice, the British gov provides this advice
www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/health

@BillieEilish
I am English, living in England and I agree with much of what you say. If I were in your situation, I would not want lots of foreign tourists visiting this summer from any country. In fact, I worry about tourists visiting the UK this summer.

We are a quiet, sensible family and we love Spain but this year we will not be holidaying in Spain or any other foreign country, due to potential risks, because we feel the holiday would not be very enjoyable and because we feel we should support businesses in the UK right now.

We may not even holiday in the UK, perhaps just visit local areas for day trips. So, I do understand your concerns.

However, it would help your argument if you were not so antagonistic and offensive.

I really don't care any more. It is certainly not me who is being antagonistic. This seems to be a ridiculously contentious subject. I want no more of it. It is now verging on the racist. I have real life to get on with.

A DD to homeschool. My British friends and family to zoom as I have advised the people I love NOT to even think about coming this summer.

Thank you for your understanding reply this is all wearing a bit thin now. It started off as advice and has descended into ridiculousness. Anyone with a brain will see it is not a good idea to travel here, in the middle of a pandemic with no travel insurance to Spain, which is still on lockdown.

I really am leaving this here now. People can draw their own conclusions. I hope my advice was listened to by some and that they return when safe to do so.

@EasterIssland - I know what you mean about travel insurance with medical being included, but people may still want travel insurance for medical repatriation in the event of a long illness, personal possession coverage, cancellation coverage, some policies may even offer legal support.

Yes totally agree with you there @MRex I've got my own travel insurance which would cover those things you mention. I only suggested the health card as I new insurance policies won't cover now Covid but health card will til the end of the year.

@WhatHoJeeves thank you for understanding.

I understand why @BillieEilishis getting frustrated. Much of this thread is either speaking about what it's like in Spain whilst not actually living here, people having zero empathy for those of us who are worried about our homes becoming overrun with tourists from countries with a far higher infection rate than ours, all in "holiday mode" not understanding the situation here properly.

And sure. You could come here with your European health cards and they might still work (but you might come uo against resistance due to brexit and whether you are right or wrong if you don't speak Spanish you may struggle) but imagine if 20 million people were planning on descending on the UK with daily new infection rates 10 times that of the UKs on some "well no worries, I'll just use the EHIC and take advantage of the good old NHS"..... Hmmmm. As things are at the moment people need to be a little more socially responsible.

The comments on WELL I SHALL TAKE MY MONEY ELSEWHERE THEN..... Honestly? Very arrogant. Spain relies on tourism for 12% of its GDP more or less. We aren't all desperately waiting for Northern Europeans to come with their wonderful money ot we will crumble. There are other industries here which are very successful.

Finally, I was due to go to Mallorca with my children in end of August. We go once a year, huge treat for the children. We aren't going this year because we come from a big city and we don't want to overwhelm the islands resources.

We are staying in a country house 25 minutes from home for our holiday. It has a garden and a swimming pool. Luxury given we have no outside space where we live.

Its one summer. We will cope.

If you can't understand why we are apprehensive after what just happened in terms of lockdown and the virus, and why we might have been hoping for a summer where our streets wouldn't be crammed with tourists
I can understand that and won't be going abroad until this is over. Never said otherwise. Myself and the other poster were referring to our longer term holiday plans.

I understand the sentiments of those living in Spain.

My parents are desperate to get back home to Cyprus, but they have had a very hard lockdown and I don't blame them for not wanting a spike in cases. They are not going this year.

Lots of bars in Benidorm and Salou are actively encouraging visitors in July/August. You can't blame them really.

As soon as the FCO says we ok to fly, there will be a big influx I think. I really hope the virus doesn't spike again.

You will be able to get insurance for COVID treament, just not cancellation. AXA offer it I think. They are offering this for July. It makes you wonder if they knew something all along.

@PeppermintSoda in that case I'm sorry. I misunderstood. I don't even care much about the very worst type of tourists under normal circumstances. If i did i would not live in the center of Barcelona anymore.

But as things stand this year, the usual crowds of people in my street sometimes up to the point of blocking the entrance to my flat smoking weed and drinking mojitos from plastic cups, sometimes throwing up and generally acting crazy which we have now experienced every July and August since around 2014 is a terrible prospect in the midst of a pandemic.

But if you're government say Spain is open for business can you blame people for wanting their holiday.

It sounds as if you should really be contacting your local representatives to stop tourists coming.

You have specifically mentioned the Brits and how badly behaved they are. You have tarred us all with the same brush.

You do really many Brits are going to lose money if they don't go on their holiday. The fact your govt has said we can means that they most likely won't be cancelled. And people will not be able to claim refunds.

That will hurt British people and the British economy.

I will lose money. Thankfully not a large amount and I can absorb the loss, but many peopme are not as fortunate as me.

So before you slag off a the Brits, maybe start realising its not been a bed of roses here either and people are scared here too.

I'm hoping France don't follow suit and make the same announcement to get out of paying refunds as I'd like dd's school trip to Paris in July refunded.

Changednamesorry

I think many people are worried about what is going to happen now that countries are beginning to reopen. We are all anxious to make sure our efforts haven't been wasted. The UK lockdown may not have been as severe as that in Spain but we have still been staying home, not seeing family or friends, and everything has been closed. From that position of relative safety, any opening up feels risky so the idea of international travel seems crazy to many of us, I'm sure.

I expect some people will want to hop on the first flight available, others will be desperate to see family and yet others will want to travel rather than lose their money. However, I would guess that far fewer people than usual will be travelling abroad this year.

I hope we can all try to be a bit forgiving of people's heightened fears and emotions at present and look forward to a time when we can visit much loved places safely again.

All good wishes