I’ve simply returned from a journey to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands of Spain.

After self-isolation in Llandudno, North Wales for 3 months due to coronavirus, COVID-19, I used to be prepared to journey once more as soon as it was protected to accomplish that.

On Monday sixth of July, the Welsh Authorities lifted the 5-mile keep native rule, and I might lastly journey outdoors of my area people once more.

At this level, I would really like to spotlight that the whole lot talked about inside this weblog publish relies on my private expertise, and you must search authorities recommendation from the right sources.

The rationale why I point out it’s because the guidelines are altering all the time and I needed to share how my journey went to assist paint an image of what your journey could possibly be like so you may make an knowledgeable opinion on should you ought to journey at the second.

Why did I select Lanzarote in the Canary Islands?

At my time of flying, Spain was on the listing of nations you can fly to from the UK with out the want to isolate for 2 weeks after returning out of your journey.

In fact, this might change, however this was one in every of the the reason why I select Spain.

I didn’t fancy flying to a Spanish metropolis due to crowds, however Lanzarote in the the Canary Islands has direct flights from the UK and felt like a greater possibility due to the present scenario.

Plus the sound of the gorgeous volcanic panorama, mountain climbing trails, sunny sandy seashores and regionally sourced meals all tempted me to go to the island of Lanzarote. It was simply what I used to be in search of after being at residence for therefore lengthy.

With my luggage packed and passport in hand (don’t neglect your passport, it’s been some time!) I used to be prepared to journey and discover the Canary Islands.

Round Lanzarote, not all companies have been open for tourism as customer numbers are nonetheless working on low capability.

Nonetheless, companies are slowly opening up once more for tourism, and lots of eating places, customer sights, rental automobiles and a choose variety of resorts have been open for guests on the island.

It is best to guide journey insurance coverage

Please ensure you prepare appropriate journey insurance coverage to your journey earlier than you depart. Some journey insurance coverage suppliers have modified their coverage to adapt to coronavirus COVID-19 so please learn the small print and just be sure you have a canopy.

Correct steerage is to verify the FCO web site for up to date journey recommendation for UK travellers, and usually your journey insurance coverage will observe alongside the strains of the FCO. So, if the FCO says not to journey, then your journey insurance coverage normally is just not legitimate, so please verify the FCO web site regularly for the newest journey recommendation.

Additionally, for these inside the EU, ensure that your E111 card is up to date earlier than you depart. For these inside the UK, you may nonetheless journey and use your E111 card till the finish of December. Keep in mind that the E111 doesn’t change journey insurance coverage, nevertheless it’s good to have it with you always when travelling round the EU, particularly at the second.

Get a journey insurance coverage quote from WorldNomads beneath:

Do you may have to put on a masks in Spain always?

Do you may have to put on a masks all the time? This was a query I had earlier than travelling to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.

In fact, this recommendation will differ from different international locations in Europe. However in Spain and on the Canary Islands, the easy reply is sure. You do have to put on your masks always.

After gathering some native recommendation, carrying a masks is just not solely to shield your self from spreading germs however as a courtesy to defending others.

Any scenario the place you’re unable to maintain your social distance is when you must put on your masks in Spain.

This might be anyplace the place social distancing is difficult, similar to inside retailers, eating places and public transport.

You may take away your masks once you sit down to eat or have a drink. You may withdraw your face cowl whereas on the seashore or when going for a swim in Spain, so long as you may maintain your social distance.

Inside your lodge room or rental automobile, you may take away your masks. In the event you’re going to the lodge breakfast buffet, you must put on your face masks.

I hope the above info clears up some questions you may need.

What’s it like to fly at the second?

It was a weird feeling solely seeing 5 flights on the departure board of Heathrow terminal 5, normally the busiest airport in Europe. It did come as a shock.

Heathrow felt like a ghost city with restricted passenger numbers flying on the day.

All through Heathrow, you’ll have to put on a facemask always from the entrance till you’ve exited at your arrival vacation spot. It’s suggested to swap your face masks each few hours, so you must pack a range to use all through your travels.

My temperature was checked as I entered Heathrow airport and I discovered hand sanitizer positioned throughout the airport.

Examine-in was fairly swift, and lots of airways are permitting free baggage check-in to unlock house in the cabin, which is value profiting from.

Safety has by no means felt so quick; it was a swift expertise and didn’t take a lot time in any respect.

As soon as airside, in regard to locations to eat, I might solely discover one Pret open, which was sufficient to seize a espresso and a chunk to eat earlier than the flight.

Most airways should not permitting foods and drinks service at the second.

I did discover {that a} passenger requested a cup of water which was allowed however typically, nothing will likely be served on the flight except you’re travelling enterprise.

At the boarding gate, passengers have been boarding individually based mostly on row numbers, ranging from the again of the plane in direction of the entrance.

At the check-in desk, the workers stated to permit an additional hour due to further boarding time. Be affected person as it can take extra time to board the flight, however you can at all times guide your seat at the again if you want to board sooner.

As soon as on the flight, cabin crew knowledgeable us that the plane used a sophisticated air circulate filtration system that kills most germs. This, mixed with a face masks and restricted contact, helps to cut back the danger.

As soon as I used to be at my seat, I observed that the airline had used empty seats to maintain travellers at a protected distance from one another as greatest as they might.

In addition they blocked off and restricted entry to the variety of bathrooms you can use. You may nonetheless use them however not as many so that you may need to wait.

Usually, I discovered the flying expertise fairly enjoyable and nice, certainly longer than traditional, however the further steps gave me reassurance fairly than fear.

I wouldn’t need to take a flight with a connection due to the additional time it takes to board and undergo the airport, however one direct flight wouldn’t be a problem.

What was your resort like in Lanzarote?

I stayed at the Sands Seaside resort positioned in Costa Teguise on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.

They’d self-catering choices for households with a big collection of swimming swimming pools to select from, which was nice for social distance swimming.

Swimming is one in every of the issues I missed the most, so it was a a lot-welcomed pleasure to have a couple of laps in the pool every morning.

The breakfast buffet was open, and also you had to order every merchandise individually. This can take some further time, so make sure to arrive early to permit your selections to be accommodated.

I’d go to the native grocery store and top off on breakfast gadgets to make in your room so you may chill out in the morning and take the stress out of breakfast.

Not all resorts are open but in Lanzarote, and a few have chosen to keep closed till September so your selections will likely be restricted.

The Sands Seaside Resort selected to open early to study the additional steps wanted to open up. The Spanish authorities have issued guidelines that resorts should observe to stay open to meet the well being tips and create a protected atmosphere for friends.

One other difficulty is workers. The resort is operating at low capability and it’s been robust getting the crew again to work as some have chosen to wait till it’s safer to return to work whereas others are glad to get again to work once more.

Rooms are required to bear further cleansing after every visitor which is why I’d advocate staying for 1-2 weeks.

Additionally, the inventory has been a problem as the provide chain for resorts has not been open on the island since lockdown and resorts are having to use supermarkets to buy gadgets they want to function.

It should take a while for resorts to open up once more however people who have chosen to open up as quickly as attainable will study from the expertise and adapt to the tips, which can take time for some resorts to regulate to.

What’s it like going to a restaurant?

After cooking for myself for 3 months, I’ve merely run out of sizzling pot recipes and I’m additionally getting a bit bored of baking banana bread.

Being allowed to go to eating places once more and never have to do the washing up was one in every of the most pleasurable moments from the journey.

Getting to style the native flavours once more was an absolute pleasure. Having fun with contemporary seafood and a glass of white wine that’s made on the island was pure pleasure.

If you want to dine out, it’s greatest to name in advance to guide a desk as house inside the premise is restricted due to schedules and social distance.

I observed that temperature checks passed off earlier than getting into the restaurant, and hand sanitizer was at all times discovered at the entrance.

You could put on a facemask till you may have taken a seat at your desk, then you may take it off to take pleasure in your foods and drinks.

Additionally, I observed that the menu might usually be discovered by utilizing a QR code to entry in your smartphone. Ensure you have your Roam Like at House knowledge turned on whereas travelling round the EU as it can come in helpful.

In the event you pays to your meal by utilizing contactless cost, this might be the greatest technique fairly than utilizing money.

Do you want to fill out types earlier than you journey?

Spain requires you to fill in a well being type earlier than you arrive. As soon as the type is accomplished on-line, you’ll get a QR code which will likely be scanned on arrival. You have to be checked into your flight and have your seat quantity earlier than you fill out the type. This info helps with monitor and hint, and you’ll be contacted if wanted.

Additionally, when returning to the UK, you should fill in a type explaining the place you’ve been and the place you’ll be going to in the UK.

After filling in the UK type and putting my handle in Wales the place I will likely be, I immediately obtained an e mail from the Welsh authorities asking me to quarantine and keep at residence for 2 weeks. I used to be not conscious that the guidelines in Wales required two weeks quarantine, however not an issue as I’ve been residence for the previous two weeks and can observe the tips as instructed. One thing to take into consideration as I used to be additionally conscious that these from Scotland had been suggested not to journey to Spain altogether. So, the guidelines are completely different relying on the place you reside.

Did I take pleasure in my journey to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands?

A very powerful query. Did I’ve a good time going to Lanzarote? Had been all the additional steps value it?

My reply is for the most half sure. I do have combined opinions about it although, as I loved the journey, however journey is not regular prefer it used to be and a few enjoyable has been sucked out the expertise.

However I do perceive that that is for my very own and others’ security to permit tourism to open up once more so I’d say that it was value it.

My difficulty was the size of the journey; I want I might have stayed longer to justify the additional time you want to undergo all the further security steps.

So, If I have been staying in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands for 2 weeks, I’d have stated that it was value it.

My recommendation at the second to make journey safer throughout COVID-19

• I’d advocate solely taking one direct flight to attain your vacation spot. Keep away from having to take connection flights as this will increase your danger of a attainable an infection.

• Keep in one resort and take a look at to discover a self-catering possibility so you may put together breakfast and lunch out of your room as buffets should not a protected atmosphere at the second.

• Guide forward to reserve your desk if you want to dine out at an area restaurant.

• Guide a rental automobile to discover your environment and keep away from public transport.

• Use contactless cost and keep away from money when attainable.

• Keep for 1-2 weeks. Travel to your vacation spot will take extra time so you must allocate this time into your vacation to make it extra rewarding.

• Don’t neglect to chill out and luxuriate in your vacation. You’ll have to undergo many further steps to make your vacation protected so please have persistence, stay calm and take your time.

For that reason, a weekend metropolis escape may not be best at the second as you received’t have sufficient time to take pleasure in the precise vacation.

Thanks for studying my weblog publish about my journey to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands

I hope all the above info helps you perceive what journey and tourism are at present like in Europe at this second in time, and I want you a nice future journey! 

This weblog publish was put collectively in collaboration with the UNWTO and the Canary Islands as a part of the #RestartTourism marketing campaign to assist tourism restoration on the islands. I hope you’ve discovered this weblog publish informative.

Right here’s a couple of different posts about the Canary Islands