'I'm off to France instead': Readers react to Spanish travel ban

The UK Government’s decision to reimpose quarantine on all arrivals from Spain, including the Canary and the Balearic islands, has put a question mark over thousands of people’s holiday plans.

Once a “safe” and quarantine-free destination, Spain and its islands now join the list of countries that require holidaymakers to self-isolate on their return to the UK.

We asked readers currently holidaying in Spain, or had upcoming holidays booked, how the addition of Spain to the UK’s quarantine list has affected their holidays. Some have cancelled their trip and are now planning to holiday elsewhere while others are contemplating going ahead with their Spanish holidays, despite the FCO’s advice.

Read on for Telegraph readers on how their Spanish holidays have been affected. Share your own experience below.

‘Two trips we booked have been cancelled’

Ellie Gray

We had a holiday booked in June to Fuerteventura. Obviously this didn't go ahead. We rebooked for September as the Canaries had such low numbers of Covid cases.

It looks as though we won't be going there either. I have no idea why the Canary Islands are now on the list as it appears to be less risky than here in the UK.

I certainly cannot afford to quarantine for two weeks after a 10 day holiday. The decision seems to be totally irrational, but that seems to be this government's mode of operation throughout the Covid crisis.

Two trips we have booked have been cancelled and we had to fight to get a refund for the first trip. Disappointed is not the word.

'My teenagers need to be back in college in September'

Katie Brader

I have a holiday booked for Mallorca at the end of August.

I am now unsure whether I will still travel due to the quarantine rules as my teenagers need to be back in college in September.

‘We are now going to France for two weeks’

Steve May 

We had a four-week trip planned to Spain, leaving tomorrow, which we have now cancelled. We are now going to France for two weeks.

Quarantine would not have been a problem, it is the FCO advice which means we wouldn’t be able to get insurance.

‘I am considering still going to Tenerife’

Jo Stacey 

I am due to fly to Tenerife on Friday and as the FCO has only advised against non-essential travel and flights are still running, I am considering still going.

I am prepared to quarantine as I have been working from home since lockdown started and have been just as productive, if not more, so nothing would change. If it was that much of a risk surely the Government would and should stop flights.

Yesterday Tenerife was not even included in the FCO advisory and I can't see evidence that the risk has changed since then.

I believe the risk is just as great if not greater in the UK as opposed to Tenerife and I have seen no evidence to show me otherwise.

I have friends in Tenerife whose income has been greatly affected by the lack of tourism and if there is a heightened risk, okay, but I find that hard to believe.

‘Quite frankly it’s safer there than here’

Michael Hall 

I am hoping to travel to Spain at the beginning of September. Where I will be going is hundreds of miles from Catalonia and Aragon which are the areas of greatest concern. There have been very few infections and even fewer fatalities. Quite frankly it's probably safer there than here.

Fortunately I am retired and my wife works from home so quarantining would not be an issue – not much different from the last four months really. I am not planning to come back until early November anyway.

‘Travel companies should be more understanding’

Caroline Ferguson 

I currently live in Spain and work in Gibraltar (I am from the UK). I have a trip in less than two weeks back to the UK from Gibraltar and then I will be flying back into Malaga with Ryanair. I have been told by Ryanair that as the borders are still open and the flight is going ahead my only option is to change the flight, and that they are not responsible for what the government has announced!

I have asked for a travel voucher as I don't want to book a fictitious flight that may also have to be changed and have been told that that is not possible.

My EasyJet flight from Gibraltar is in under two weeks. In order to change that flight I would have to pay a £32 fee, so I may as well just lose that flight.

Travel companies should be more understanding in these times, I don't expect a refund but a voucher to use at a later date would be much more accommodating!

My mum was also coming out to visit this week and was flying back on the EasyJet Gibraltar flight with me. She also paid £300 with bags for her Ryanair flight to Malaga and to change her flight to September means she will lose approximately £200 as the flights then are as little as £40. Again, the airline won't give her a voucher for the difference. She won't be coming as she doesn't want to go against the advice.

‘It’s lose-lose all the way’

Lynn Briggs 

I’m supposed to be flying to Spain on August 8th. I have been in touch with travelpedia and they won’t even discuss a refund. Even if I wanted to rebook, I couldn’t afford it and I’d lose two weeks' wages if I had to quarantine so it’s lose-lose all the way.

Has the change in guidance affected your holiday plans? Tell us the comments below.