Travel in Covid-19 Times – My Trip to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, 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 Government lifted the 5-mile keep native rule, and I might lastly journey outdoors of my local people once more.

At this level, I would love to spotlight that every part talked about inside this weblog submit relies on my private expertise, and you need to search authorities recommendation from the appropriate sources.

The cause 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 may very well be like so you may make an knowledgeable opinion on for those who 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 could possibly fly to from the UK with out the want to isolate for 2 weeks after returning out of your journey.

Of course, this might change, however this was one among the explanation 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 state of affairs.

Plus the sound of the gorgeous volcanic panorama, climbing trails, sunny sandy seashores and domestically 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 overlook your passport, it’s been some time!) I used to be prepared to journey and discover the Canary Islands.

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

However, companies are slowly opening up once more for tourism, and plenty of eating places, customer points of interest, rental automobiles and a choose variety of resorts had been open for guests on the island.

You ought to guide journey insurance coverage

Please be sure 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 remember to have a canopy.

Proper steering is to examine the FCO website for up to date journey recommendation for UK travellers, and sometimes your journey insurance coverage will comply with alongside the strains of the FCO. So, if the FCO says not to journey, then your journey insurance coverage often will not be legitimate, so please examine the FCO web site incessantly for the newest journey recommendation.

Also, for these inside the EU, guarantee that your E111 card is up to date earlier than you depart. For these inside the UK, you possibly can nonetheless journey and use your E111 card till the finish of December. Remember 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 under:

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

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

Of course, this recommendation will differ from different nations in Europe. But 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 will not be solely to defend your self from spreading germs however as a courtesy to defending others.

Any state of affairs the place you’re unable to maintain your social distance is when you need to put on your masks in Spain.

This can be anywhere the place social distancing is difficult, corresponding to inside retailers, eating places and public transport.

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

Within your resort room or rental automobile, you possibly can take away your masks. If you’re going to the resort breakfast buffet, you need to put on your face masks.

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

What is it like to fly at the second?

It was a weird feeling solely seeing 5 flights on the departure board of Heathrow terminal 5, often 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.

Throughout 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 need to pack a variety to use all through your travels.

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

Check-in was moderately swift, and plenty of airways are permitting free baggage check-in to liberate area in the cabin, which is value making the most of.

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

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

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

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

At the boarding gate, passengers had been boarding individually primarily based on row numbers, ranging from the again of the plane in the 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 would take extra time to board the flight, however you could possibly all the time guide your seat at the again if you want to board sooner.

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

Once 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 finest as they may.

They additionally blocked off and restricted entry to the variety of bathrooms you could possibly use. You can nonetheless use them however not as many so that you might need to wait.

Generally, I discovered the flying expertise moderately stress-free and nice, certainly longer than common, however the further steps gave me reassurance moderately 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 difficulty.

What was your resort like in Lanzarote?

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

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

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

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

I might go to the native grocery store and refill on breakfast gadgets to make in your room so you possibly can 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 probably be restricted.

The Sands Beach Resort selected to open early to find out about the additional steps wanted to open up. The Spanish authorities have issued guidelines that resorts should comply with to stay open to meet the well being pointers and create a protected atmosphere for company.

Another situation is workers. The resort is operating at low capability and it’s been robust getting the group again to work as some have chosen to wait till it’s safer to return to work whereas others are completely satisfied to get again to work once more.

Rooms are required to endure further cleansing after every visitor which is why I might suggest staying for 1-2 weeks.

Also, the inventory has been a difficulty 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 will take a while for resorts to open up once more however those who have chosen to open up as quickly as potential will study from the expertise and adapt to the pointers, which can take time for some resorts to regulate to.

What is it like going to a restaurant?

After cooking for myself for 3 months, I’ve merely run out of scorching 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 among the most satisfying moments from the journey.

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

If you would like to dine out, it’s finest to name in advance to guide a desk as area inside the premise is restricted due to schedules and social distance.

I observed that temperature checks came about earlier than getting into the restaurant, and hand sanitizer was all the time discovered at the entrance.

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

Also, I observed that the menu might sometimes be discovered through the use of a QR code to entry in your smartphone. Make positive you might have your Roam Like at Home knowledge turned on whereas travelling round the EU as it would come in useful.

If you possibly can pay to your meal through the use of contactless cost, this could be the finest technique moderately than utilizing money.

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

Spain requires you to fill in a well being type earlier than you arrive. Once the type is accomplished on-line, you’re going to get a QR code which will probably 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.

Also, when returning to the UK, you could 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 inserting my handle in Wales the place I will probably be, I immediately bought 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 comply with the pointers as instructed. Something 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?

The most essential query. Did I’ve a good time going to Lanzarote? Were all the additional steps value it?

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

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

My situation 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 had been staying in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands for 2 weeks, I might have stated that it was value it.

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

• I might suggest solely taking one direct flight to attain your vacation spot. Avoid having to take connection flights as this will increase your danger of a potential an infection.

• Stay in one resort and check out to discover a self-catering possibility so you possibly can put together breakfast and lunch out of your room as buffets will not be a protected atmosphere at the second.

• Book forward to reserve your desk if you want to dine out at a neighborhood restaurant.

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

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

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

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

For this cause, a weekend metropolis escape won’t be splendid at the second as you received’t have sufficient time to take pleasure in the precise vacation.

Thank you for studying my weblog submit about my journey to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands

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

This weblog submit 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 submit informative.