Palma28/07/2020 04:27
Even if the 14 day quarantine period for British travellers returning from the Balearics was removed today it still wouldn’t lead to a surge in bookings. Unfortunately, the damage has already been done. The announcement by the British government late on Saturday night that quarantine would be re-introduced for travellers from Spain was basically the last straw. The mixed messages both from Spain and Britain have effectively destroyed the summer season for the islands. I think it could all have been done a lot better.
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The host and agencies are not making it any better. I cancelled our villa booking for next Monday yesterday when I could still get 50% back. The host is refusing the refund the other 50%, which I can sort of understand, but they are also refusing to keep the other half as a credit for a future booking. If they accepted this, they would get another 50% when we are allowed to go, but with this short termism attitude they won't get the other 50% and they lost a customer. I feel for the island that's suffering with the loss of tourism, but they could handle things a lot better! By the way, the advice changed yesterday and now the non essential travel ban has been extended to the islands.
"The infamous Calle Punta Ballena party street in Magalluf was closed down because the local authorities are unable to deal with tourists not following the necessary health and safety guidlines." Excuse me...the government made no attempt to control. Photographs in this publication are proof of this. Who told the police to stand by and watch the laws being broken on the Punta Ballena?
It looks like we will be living with this virus for some time. We need to look again at how we geographically deal with outbreaks. If there is an outbreak in the north of Spain how can you penalise the Balearics and the Canary Islands without penalising the parts of France that border the north of Spain. We need to for get borders and concentrate on geographical locations. Will it be easy. No it won’t. But the present system is not going to work over the long period until we can control the virus.
I still intend to come for my 2 weeks from 12 Sept 2020 to Puerto Pollensa so much so I have booked flights on EasyJet and British Airways to hedge my bets. If both airlines cancel the flights then it won't be for the need of trying. Mallorca Is as safe as anywhere in the UK, just be sensible and take the same precautions: mask, wash hands regularly and social distance. Some of us think it's the UK Government trying to keep holiday makers in the UK to spend their money in our economy to kickstart it- conspiracy? I wont, just will save my money and come twice next year for 2 weeks at a time. Be safe, be healthy.
Totally disagree. In 2 weeks time Mallorca will have a massive upsurge in cases. If you let 10 flights a day in from Barcelona and dont check the passengersthen you are asking for it.
"Surely, more warning could have been given?"You're joking right? We were in Lanzarote when the Spanish government locked down the island with about 12 hours notice. We literally escaped from the island via a very expensive flight to Dublin, overnight hotel, and then another flight to get home. Still waiting for a refund from grotty Ryanair. No trips to Spain this summer or winter.
In the end the covid mass psychosis in both countries killed it already over the last couple months.
Your own newspaper reports a rise of infections in the Balearics of 33 since Friday. Everybody should be worried. in Port Andratx the Brits and Germans strut around without masks as though being on holiday immunises them against the virus, no thought for the locals trying to make their holiday worthwhile.
It is all political, boilling down to Spain wanting their rock back. First thing they said, when the Brexit vote happened.