Likelihood of holiday in Balearic Islands end of August?

[OlderWoman80]

What do you think it is on a scale of 1-10? 1 being it's not happening and 10 meaning pack your bags!?

(We have to confirm and pay by early June )

I have that booked, so I'm hoping it's a 10 😁

I personally say 7. But that’s as good as my neighbour’s dog’s guess.

Honestly, we don’t know. See how the situation is early June. Then reassess again the day before your travel. Are you prepared to fork out £££ for tests on either direction, and/or imposed self isolation when the rules change half-way through your holiday?

10
There might be quarantine (At home ) when coming back tho. Spainish numbers are currently going up and for a while will go back post Easter

Sorry just re-read your OP and it says end of august, I thought end of July for some reason. I change the 7 to a 9. Spain will welcome tourists. It’s all about testing and isolation requirements though, isn’t it.

Ah we are in same position- booked for 1st sept, already changed from last august. To be honest unless it’s going to be ‘as normal’ we are not eager to go. And we can’t delay to next year because we have plans for next summer. I don’t know what to do as don’t want to lose our money by trying to cancel

Also - don’t expect a normal holiday. Spain will allow you in but it’s likely they’ll still have compulsory mask wearing absolutely everywhere, and other Covid measures. If you fancy 14h a day with a mask in 40 degree heat you’ll have no issues!

@EileenGC

Also - don’t expect a normal holiday. Spain will allow you in but it’s likely they’ll still have compulsory mask wearing absolutely everywhere, and other Covid measures. If you fancy 14h a day with a mask in 40 degree heat you’ll have no issues!

We went to Portugal last year and although you had to wear masks inside the hotel on the way to dinner etc you could take them off as soon as you sat down and didn’t wear them outside by the pool. We hired a car so no need to sit on a bus with a mask on and shops were just like here with hand sanitiser at the entrance. We had a great time and it didn’t feel too different to normal tbh.

5

If you fancy 14h a day with a mask in 40 degree heat you’ll have no issues!

Did this in Majorca last year, no problem. Masks required everywhere except when seated at a restaurant/bar table or when on a sun lounger.

It was a joy to be away and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

@ImInStealthMode

If you fancy 14h a day with a mask in 40 degree heat you’ll have no issues!

Did this in Majorca last year, no problem. Masks required everywhere except when seated at a restaurant/bar table or when on a sun lounger.

It was a joy to be away and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Rules have changed and now you should / must wear them in those situation

I’ve also done it with no problem but I mentioned it as some people wouldn’t like to do that during a holiday.

And like EasterIssland, rules are only becoming harsher. It obviously depends on the type of holiday - villa and hire car, you will probably only wear them on the flight. Airbnb in the city centre and lots of sight seeing and museums - mask on from the minute you go on the street to coming back after dinner.

@EasterIssland This is still being debated between Spanish & Balearic governments, after having been publicised as 'certain' on the 30th March, there was backtracking done on the 31st.

Either way I still can't say it would deter me. Where I live (offshore) we can't be more than 4.5 miles away from our home without getting on a boat or plane. I'd accept any number of restrictions for a brief release from the claustrophobia.

This is what they’ve changed this week
“ Article 6 of the prevention and hygiene measures is defined as follows in its first section: "People six years of age and older are obliged to use masks on public roads, in outdoor spaces and in any closed space for public use or that is open to the public." Therefore, the reference to distance is eliminated, making the obligation of the mask outdoors more generic. An obligation that will remain until the Government declares that the health crisis has ended.”

Which means everywhere outside , including pools / beaches and restaurants between the action of eating / drinking.

Some regions won’t enforce the beach thing and they’re debating whether to change it but as of now that’s what the law says.

In restaurants / pubs it’s been compulsory to have it on unless you’re actually eating.

I understand the Balearics and Canary Islands will not be enforcing masks at the beach/pool etc

@AnyFucker

I understand the Balearics and Canary Islands will not be enforcing masks at the beach/pool etc

Your understanding is currently incorrect. I say this as a Spanish person who reads the official news and bulletin reports.

They might relax the rules come summer. Depends on how the vaccination programme goes and how both locals and tourists behave in busy places.

The rule was mainly brought in because people couldn’t be trusted to social distance and wear their mask when it was busy, unless it was the law and they got fines. There’s obviously very little risk when you’re outside by a pool or at the beach, so I hope they get rid of that rule.

However, it depends on how people behave. Last June and July the news were full of tourists who refused to wear masks even on public transport and in shops, as it still wasn’t compulsory in the countries they came from. UK included.

I will go with what you are saying @EileenGC as a person more in the know than me

I heard my version on various forums I am on. Time will tell, I guess. I don’t expect to get to some of my favourite places until at least September and would not be surprised if it slips over into 2022.

@EileenGC

Also - don’t expect a normal holiday. Spain will allow you in but it’s likely they’ll still have compulsory mask wearing absolutely everywhere, and other Covid measures. If you fancy 14h a day with a mask in 40 degree heat you’ll have no issues!

We have a villa booked which has a garden and a pool. To be honest after the year we've had locked down in our tiny flat with no garden we would be incredibly happy to just stay in our villa every day and have home cooked BBQ every night! 🙏🙏🙏

@OlderWoman80 that sounds bliss 😍 I really hope you can get away and enjoy the sun and and BBQs!!

I was on the beach in Spain today all day and I’d say about 20% of people were masked. And it’s still fully-clothed weather. There were a couple of policemen about too. I personally think the masks-on-beach thing in unenforceable and will be amended soon.

I bloody hope so I hated it in the heat so much last summer.

My guess is 8!

@QuentininQuarantino

I was on the beach in Spain today all day and I’d say about 20% of people were masked. And it’s still fully-clothed weather. There were a couple of policemen about too. I personally think the masks-on-beach thing in unenforceable and will be amended soon.

I bloody hope so I hated it in the heat so much last summer.

My guess is 8!

Im jealous of you! . I suspect the beach madness won’t be in summer. But the restaurant one should be. However I’ve to say as well one thing is what the law says , another one what the people do and the next one what police enforces. Many don’t enforce the restaurants /mask rule depending where you’re.

If you saw the results of the copa del Rey you can imagine the scenes in the parte vieja @EasterIssland ...! I fully expect a big surge in case numbers in the next couple of weeks!

@QuentininQuarantino

If you saw the results of the copa del Rey you can imagine the scenes in the parte vieja *@EasterIssland* ...! I fully expect a big surge in case numbers in the next couple of weeks!

I did see and also saw bilbaos images. Saw the 14 day cases number had gone up by 25 today.

Ps gora erreala :)

Does anyone know what would happen if you test positive before flying back? I am reading that tests will be required before travel and before returning. If positive I assume that you would have to quarantine in a hotel in your destination at your own cost. Is this the case? Presumably they would want full tests too which I believe will add around £70 to each person cost there and back so £500 plus for a family of four? Il getting the feeling it may be more hassle and cost than it’s worth.

@HCHY4

Does anyone know what would happen if you test positive before flying back? I am reading that tests will be required before travel and before returning. If positive I assume that you would have to quarantine in a hotel in your destination at your own cost. Is this the case? Presumably they would want full tests too which I believe will add around £70 to each person cost there and back so £500 plus for a family of four? Il getting the feeling it may be more hassle and cost than it’s worth.

That sounds about right. Yes, you’d have to quarantine somewhere, they won’t let you on a plane if you’re positive.

Yes, the cost will be prohibitive for many. Some countries accept antigen tests which cost around £30 for the outbound flight. If there is free antigen testing in your own country for when you return, that could also bring the cost down.

@HCHY4

Does anyone know what would happen if you test positive before flying back? I am reading that tests will be required before travel and before returning. If positive I assume that you would have to quarantine in a hotel in your destination at your own cost. Is this the case? Presumably they would want full tests too which I believe will add around £70 to each person cost there and back so £500 plus for a family of four? Il getting the feeling it may be more hassle and cost than it’s worth.

That’s why you should never travel without an insurance , not even before covid times but now for more reason. Insurances will cover it or at least part of it