UP, UP AND AWAY!

Country by country, your guide to the destinations and the sunshine deals

WITH much of Europe set to reopen for the summer holidays, here’s our guide to the leading ‘air bridge’ contenders – and the getaway deals that are ALL between 30 per cent and 70 per cent cheaper than usual:

FRANCE SAYS ‘OUI’

PRESIDENT Emmanuel Macron had refused to lift France’s quarantine on British visitors unless we did the same for French citizens coming here. Now an ‘air bridge’ is set to be formed, opening up our second most popular holiday destination. Expect strict social distancing in restaurants, bars, markets and stores, where shopkeepers reserve the right to demand customers wear face masks. Gatherings of more than ten people in public are banned. Nightclubs are closed.

Bag a Bargain: A fortnight at a cottage for four in Brittany from £1,200 in August including Portsmouth-St Malo ferry crossing with car (brittany-ferries.co.uk); A fortnight at a fourstar beachfront hotel in Cannes with flights and transfers departing from Gatwick in August from £1,400pp (easyjet.com); A week at a villa sleeping six on the Aigues Mortes Marina in Languedoc Roussillon from £950, excluding flights (holidayfrancedirect.co.uk).

British annual visitors: 10.3million

SMILING IN SPAIN

AFTER holding back over Britain’s indifferent Covid record, Spain reopened its borders to UK visitors on June 21. A royal decree to wear face masks has been issued for hotels, restaurants, museums, attractions and shops when social distancing of 1.5 metres is impossible; see spain.info.

Bag a Bargain: A fortnight at the Jardin del Sol Apartments on Gran Canaria from £640pp departing from Gatwick on August 8 (tui.co.uk); A fortnight for a family of four from £2,436 at Cristina Villas in Cala Millor on Majorca departing from Manchester on August 16 (jet2holidays.com); A fortnight for a family of four from £2,156 at Villa La Canada, a selfcatering property with a pool near Frigiliana in Andalucia with Gatwick flights on August 29 (jamesvillas.co.uk).

British visitors: 18.1million

GUNNING FOR GREECE

WITH fewer than 4,000 coronavirus cases, Greece has avoided the worst of the pandemic. Since early May it has been relaxing its lockdown rules with shops, archaeological sites, restaurants, cafes, bars, leisure parks, and spas opening. From July 1, cultural events will be allowed. Ferries have been running for more than a month. Face masks must be worn on public transport, in taxis and in some shops.

Bag a Bargain: A sevennight all-inclusive stay at Crete Maris Beach Resort from £3,332 for a family of four with Gatwick flights on August 7 (bestattravel.co.uk); A fortnight-long three-star, self-catering break in Aghios Georgios in Corfu from £438pp with Luton flights on August 1 (travelsupermarket. com); A fortnight at upmarket Villa Penelope I, sleeping four, with a pool, from £4,691 on August 16 (oliverstravels.com); Easyjet flights for family of four from £828 (easyjet.com). British visitors: 3. million

ITALY IS READY

HOTELS, bars, restaurants, museums, campsites and, even mountain huts have reopened. Face masks must be worn in indoor public places, and in outdoor places where one-metre social distancing is impossible. In Lombardy it is still mandatory to wear masks outdoors. Social distancing on beaches is 1.5 metres. Temperature checks may be requested.

Bag a Bargain: A fortnight at the four- star Grand Hotel Francia e Quirinale in Tuscany from £952pp B&B on August 22 with Heathrow flights (citalia. com); A week at TUI BLUE Astro Azzurro in Piano di Sorrento from £1,076pp all-inclusive on August 24 (tui.co.uk); A fortnight at Villa Le Vignacce in Volterra, Tuscany, sleeping four, from £3,476 for a family of four including Gatwick flights on August 28 (jamesvillas.co.uk). British visitors: 5.1million

PORTUGAL AT RISK

THE possibility of an air bridge to Portugal is still in doubt after its infection rate rose, with an announcement expected next week. But authorities there have introduced a ‘Clean and Safe’ standard requiring hotels and B&Bs to maintain stringent hygiene standards. In public areas, social distance of two metres is required and face masks are mandatory on transport and in busy shops. Golf courses, zoos, oceanariums, restaurants and cafes have reopened. Some extra restrictions have also been put in place in Lisbon.

Bag a Bargain: A fortnight at the Monica Isabel Beach Club in Albufeira, the Algarve, from £ 1,333pp with Stansted flights on August 14 ( onthebeach.co.uk); A fortnight at the Jupiter Algarve Hotel in Praia da Rocha from £1,267 B&B on August 7 from Manchester ( firstchoice. co. uk); A week at the upmarket Pine Cliffs Resort in the Algarve from £3,439 B&B for a family of four with Stansted flights and transfers (destinology.co.uk). British visitors: 3.3million

CYPRUS ON THE MAP

IT WILL have taken a while for Britain to get the tourist thumbs up from Cyprus – 22 countries in the EU were ahead of us.

But it will be worth the wait, especially as visitors have reassuringly been promised free medical attention in the (highly unlikely) event of coming down with Covid. Intensive care units have been set aside and the cost of lodging, food, drink and medication will be covered for those affected and their families. Social distancing is required in hotels, restaurants and bars.

Bag a Bargain: A week at the five-star Azia Resort & Spa in Paphos from £697pp B&B with Stansted flights on August 26 (loveholidays.com); A fortnight at the Avanti Holiday Village near

paphos from £3,476 self-catering for a family of four departing Glasgow on August 1 (jet2holidays.com); A fortnight at the Village and Coastal Villas in the troodos mountains from £1,143pp self- catering with Manchester flights on August 1 (sunvil.co.uk).

British visitors: 1.3million

CROATIA WANTS US

THE chief of the Croatian National tourist Office in London says government officials are ‘actively lobbying Britain – we really value British guests’.

Britons can already visit Croatia, but visitors are required to fill out an online form at entercroatia. mup.hr. they must also provide proof of acommodation has been booked on arrival. Restaurants, hotels, cafes and beaches have been open since May.

Bag a Bargain: A fortnight at Hotel Lapad in Dubrovnik from £1,084pp B&B departing Stansted on July 26 (jet2holidays.com); A fortnight at Villa Ruzica in trogir from £643pp departing from Stansted on July 26 (onthebeach.co.uk); A fortnight at Villa Konalic on the Dubrovnik Riviera from £2,001 for a family of four departing on August 20 from Manchester (supertravelmarket.com).

British visitors: 898,000

MARVELLOUS MALTA

MALTA has established an accommodation hygiene standard, with regular audits. Social distancing is required at hotels, restaurants, bars and on beaches. pool capacity is capped at 50 per cent. Face masks are required in confined spaces.

Bag a Bargain: A fortnight at the St Bluebay Apartments on the Sliema/Gzira promenade from £471pp including Stansted flights and transfers on August 1 (maltadirect.com); A fortnight at the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Valetta from £909pp from Gatwick on August 1 (ba.com); A fortnight at the Ramla Bay Resort with Stansted flights on August 4 from £3,207 for four (onthebeach.co.uk).

British visitors: 640,000

WILL TURKEY TAKE PART?

DESPITE talks between national officials there is a belief that turkey will not be in the first wave of air bridges. Nevertheless, preparations have been made, including temperature checks on arrival.

Bag a Bargain: A fortnight at Club Candan in Marmaris from £1,051pp self-catering with Gatwick flights on August 7 (firstchoice.co.uk); A fortnight at the Dalyan Resort in Dalaman from £2,608 B&B for a family of four departing from Gatwick on August 1 (ba.com); A fortnight at Villa Ebru in Kalkan from £3,655, for six, in August; flights excluded (oliverstravels.com).

British visitors: 2. million

A KEY country for Eurostar services, with Brussels a major hub and many tourists travelling on to enjoy the delightful cities of Bruges and Ghent. Hotels, restaurants and bars have reopened with social distancing. it is recommended to book tables at restaurants. Wearing face masks is mandatory on public transport.

Bag a Bargain: A return journey by train to Brussels from St pancras with a week at the Aparthotel Adagio Brussels Grand palace from £504 for two departing August 9 (eurostar. com); A week at the four-star Augustin hotel in Brussels with flights from Glasgow on August 16 from £490pp (lastminute.com); A week’s stay at the theatre Hotel Brussels from £325pp including Heathrow flights on August 23 (ba.com).

British visitors: 1.8million

DUTCH COURAGE

AMSTERDAM is back, one of Britain’s most popular short break destinations. Groups of as many as 30 people are allowed to gather in public places but a strict 1.5 metre social- distancing rule remains. Hotels, cafes and restaurants are open. Until September 1, cannabis cafes may only provide a takeaway service. Nightclubs are also closed until then.

Bag a Bargain: A return by train to Amsterdam from St pancras with five nights at the Urban Lodge Hotel from £331pp on August 20 (eurostar.com); A week at Hotel de Hallen in Amsterdam from £402pp including Glasgow flights on August 16 ( lastminute. com); Five nights at the WestCord Fashion Hotel Amsterdam from £277pp from Luton on August 6 (easyjet.com). British visitors: 3. million

BELGIAN CHEER