Brits brave going abroad
Manchester passengers who booked foreign holiday as the lockdown eased, tell of their experiences
WEARING a protective face covering in 30 degree heat might not be particularly comfortable, but it’s a must for the Britons venturing abroad this summer.
From temperature checks at the airport to socially-distanced sun loungers, there’s plenty to negotiate. Not to mention the potential risk of picking up coronavirus while in a different country.
But for some, it’s a risk worth taking after months of being locked down.
Sarah Roberts said her experience of travelling to sun soaked Spain was easier than she expected.
“It was not how I expected it,” she said. “I actually thought it was quite lenient. I had to wear a mask in shops but not while you’re just walking around.”
Sarah, 41 and from Macclesfield, , spent a week at her friend’s villa in Nerjalast month, before more stringent restrictions regarding facemasks were introduced.
While waiting for her doggy daycare business to reopen, Sarah took a gamble and booked Ryanair flights for £52 return in the hope her holiday could go ahead.
“I’m lucky I did because the day after they went up to about £300,” she said.
She flew from Manchester Airport on June 28. Everyone had their temperature checked before they went through security.
“On the plane, everyone was wearing a mask. Nobody was allowed to leave their seat unless they pressed a buzzer and they would be allowed to go up to the loo one at a time.”
Though Sarah says she felt very safe in restaurants and bars, she admitted this was largely because they were so quiet.
“It was a bit strange because they’re usually packed,” she said.
When she returned home she quarantined herself for two weeks.
Neil Hanley, 55, is currently having a similar experience at his holiday home in La Cala de Finestrat, near Benidorm.
“I was one of the first few people to get back into the country,” he said.
Despite reports of bathers being turned away from the beaches due to overcrowding, Neil insisted that was not the case.
“They have a fixed number of people they’re allowed to let onto the beach before they have to stop but that’s not happening from what I’ve seen,” he said.
“The Spanish are very good.
“They’ve used rope and sectioned off square spaces and each family bubble uses that space. It’s actually better than normal in that nobody is going to come into your space.”
Zayn Khalil Hussain, from Hulme, Manchester, recently returned from a week-long Salou and Barcelona with his partner Chris.
Zayn said some parts of Barcelona were heaving with people and the beaches were packed in Salou.
“There’s no social distancing anywhere,” he said.
“There were people with sunloungers just finding a gap anywhere and putting their towels down by people’s feet.
“The police are everywhere. They were stopping lots of people who were getting told off if they didn’t have a mask on. We just embraced it.”