To go or not to go?
To travel or not to travel abroad? A thought, which I think the majority of the nation have considered at least once this summer, when considering whether it would be a wise decision to travel abroad (via plane) whilst the battle against the virus wages on. Surprisingly, the first suggestion of whether we should travel abroad was raised by my partner Joe (who if you have been following this blog/my instagram for a little while, you will know that he is still undergoing the long-lasting effects of COVID since contracting it back in March this year). His suggestion was prompted after we went away for a night to a B&B in Kent, to mark the date that we were originally meant to be getting married, pre-COVID.
Risk / Reward
Prior to our one-night away in Kent, Joe had been pretty much sofa/bed bound for the majority of the four months leading up to it. This meant that he hadn’t really left the house since the start of COVID-19 (even more than the rest of us) and had not been able to embark on the ‘walks’ that we have all enjoyed whilst being on lockdown, due to not being able to walk more than 500m without suffering chronic fatigue for the next two days or more. Even though, we only took a trip for one night away, the change in Joe was noticeable, as the change in scenery seemed to give him a new lease of life, even if for the most of the night away, he spent it resting in bed.
Following this, Joe thought it would be good to go away for a 2-3 weeks, where he could look out onto a different scenery, rest in warm weather surrounded by nature whilst looking onto the sea whilst focusing on the remainder of his recovery. In addition, it would be a time, where he wouldn’t just spend the time resting by himself, but I would be away from work and would be able to provide him company 24-7 throughout. Which upon your first read, ‘company’ may not sound vital to your recovery, however, if you could imagine a life where you have spent most of your time for the past five months literally laying down recovering, unable to do much, with very little everyday company, due to your partner working full-time (even if that is at home), you can imagine what an awfully lonely experience it is.
Once we had decided that we wanted to take a trip abroad, our main concern of flying abroad, was unlike for some, not the worry of ‘contracting COVID’, as we had already had it and caught it in March. Our concern was whether or not Joe would be able to complete the travel journey and what we would do if were to get stuck out in Ibiza, should another strict lockdown process start across Europe. For the travel part, we were able to register for ‘Special Assistance’ with Easyjet at both airports, which allowed us to use wheelchairs in order to limit the amount of walking Joe would need to do, therefore, limiting how much chronic fatigue he would experience. In addition, we had decided, if were unfortunate enough to get ‘stuck’ out in Ibiza, that we would continue renting our villa and I could and would still work from the villa abroad during this time. Luckily, my work set up, allows me to work in this away whilst still in the region of Europe.
For us the benefits of a change of scenery, looking out to sea, removing current day-today pressures and both focussing on relaxation, mediation and recovery on an Island where we have shared many precious memories outweighed the risks. All of which if any risks appeared, we would be able to manoeuvre.
Our Airport Experience
Surprisingly, the queue to drop our bags off was our busiest experience at the Airport and this was only due to us using the ‘in-person check in’ process due to being registered for Special Assistance, rather than using the ‘Self-Check-in/Bag Drop’ service. Other than that, Luton Airport was a lot quieter than a usual Summer holiday experience. However, even though it was quieter, it still had a lot of people around. Everyone was and had to wear masks wherever they were in the airport and there were notably fewer shops open, as well as only 2 out of the 4 restaurants/bars open.
The Flight
We purposely chose an early Sunday morning flight, as we thought this would be the quietest flight out, with most people choosing to fly on a Friday or Saturday to maximise their vacation time over a weekend. I think flying on a Sunday morning, was our biggest payoff as it was the quietest flight we both have ever flown on. We counted 19 people on the flight, which included the crew members and 2 additional airline staff who were going to pick up another plane in Ibiza. There was a two metre radius, between us and anyone else on the flight. Truthfully, I have seen more people on my post-lockdown trains into London, (which was also deserted) than there were on the flight.
The whole flight was seamless from start to finish, with everyone on-board and in the airport wearing masks throughout, making us feel safer throughout our travel experience.
On reflection, I think you would find more people in your local pub, restaurant, supermarket and shop – all of whom would be in a closer proximity to you along with some people not always wearing masks.
Our Time in Ibiza
It wasn’t until we arrived in Ibiza that we realised that there was a new rule imposed in Spain, where everyone has to wear a mask at all times, whenever, they are in public unless you are in a restaurant/bar or sitting at the beach. However, when you get up from your table or beach bed to travel to another place, for example the toilet, you would then have to put your mask back on. The rules in Spain are stricter than in the UK – and the effect is, that you actually fell safer as everyone is wearing a mask in public. However, the one downside is, that the temperature in Ibiza is a lot hotter than in the UK, so wearing a mask in the heat, is not the most comfortable of things to do. Nevertheless, if it is and has the potential to save a person’s life or not experience the long-lasting effects of COVID like Joe has experienced, then I am all for it.
For us, our overall holiday experience was great. We rented a villa for 2 weeks which is built into the side of a cliff overlooking the sea. We spent the majority of our time relaxing and truthfully it was amazing, especially after the last five months. Staying in a villa also meant that we didn’t really come into contact/interact with many people, which meant we lived a pretty much similar existence as to how we have been living at home, just with better weather, an outlook onto the sea, fresh fish, good food, a pool and plenty of time to rest and relax with one another.
We went out for dinner a few times and everyone was wearing masks to and from their table, as well as with the added bonus that we always ate outside due to the weather, with tables spread out wide from one another. In addition, because we rented a car whilst we were out there, it meant that we didn’t need to use public transport or taxis to get to restaurants, the beach or the supermarket.
Quarantine
At the time of us booking our trip to Ibiza, Spain was not on the quarantine list. However, a week after us booking our trip, Spain and the Balearic Islands were added to the Quarantine List. For many, this changed whether or not they would be able to continue with their holiday plans. However, for us, the ‘R’ infection rate, was still lower in Ibiza than the whole of the UK and in addition, we did not have the worry of contracting the virus, due to us having already caught the it, months before.
Although, the 2 weeks quarantine on our return would mean we would remain a little isolated on our return. Truthfully, we have not really been going out since the ending of lockdown and Joe isn’t the most mobile, therefore, the quarantine versus what we stood to gain mentally from going abroad, was for us, more beneficial and therefore worth the quarantine on our return. We are also quite conscious that it is a possibility that we as a country, may go back into another period of strict lockdown in the Winter months, so for us the change of scenery was vital for us, to hopefully help aid us through whatever is to come in the winter months with coronavirus.
Luckily, I am able to work from home in the 2 weeks that we will be quarantined and we will get our food shop delivered to our home, to tide us over for the 2 weeks that we remain at home.
Entry to Ibiza / Re-Entry to the UK
Entry to Ibiza
48 hours before you arrive into Ibiza you are required to complete a questionnaire, which will ask you numerous coronavirus related questions. For example, if you have been into contact with anyone who has tested positive to COVID in the last 14 days; if you have visited any other countries in the past 14 days; and whether you have any coronavirus related symptoms, as well as your stay location details. The key thing here is you need to make sure that the form is completed before you fly, so that you can receive the necessary QR code which you need to show upon arrival into Ibiza, in order to proceed to passport control and gain entry.
Any additional checks?
Before proceeding to passport control, they were conducting random temperature checks on individuals as they came through and off the plane. Joe was checked on his way through for his temperature, using the same type of temperature gun which you may have already seen being used, when visiting the doctors, dentist and some restaurants.
Re-Entry back into the UK
Similar to Spain, you are required to complete a form within 48 hours from the time you are due to arrive back into the UK. I was not actually aware of this and picked up this information, from other people posting on social media. The questions raised on the form were similar to the questions raised in the Spanish forms. Included in the form are your destination details of where you will be completing your 14 day quarantine. Once again, to help yourself get through passport control smoothly, this needs to be completed before you depart from you holiday destination.
Any further travel advice
During such unpredictable times, I have popped below some further bits of advice, that only came to my thoughts after booking and during our trip. I hope that these would be helpful, should you choose to fly abroad.
- Before booking, check to see what the UK rules are on visiting the country and whether the rules imposed affect your decision as whether to travel or not.
- In the run up to travelling, check in with both the UK FCO Advisory Guidelines and the Country you are visiting Government’s rules on travel, to see if this changes whether you are able/wish to fly, as well any additional things you need to prepare for, for your travel.
- Complete any necessary Entry and Re-Entry paperwork required for both countries, checking to see what timeframes you need to work with.
- Before travelling, check to see what the current Coronavirus rules are in place for that country.
- For example, the day before we left, Spain mandated that every person must wear a musk whenever in public at all times, except when eating or drinking.
- During your travel and whilst abroad, keep up-to-date with the latest coronavirus news in that country, just in case they enforce any tighter coronavirus rules which you will need to abide by.
- For example, whilst we were away, Spain mandated that smoking in outside public spaces was no longer legal and that you were only able to smoke in your own private outside space (your residency).
Final thoughts…
Like always, but even more so during these times, the decision of whether to travel abroad or not, is a personal choice. Ultimately, deciding on what you are wishing to achieve from your trip and weighing up the pros and cons and working out whether the rewards outweigh the risks involved. This post is by no means, an advert or advocation to travel, but more an insight into our reasons for travelling and our overall experience of both the travelling to and from the UK as well as our experience in Ibiza when we arrived. In the hope that this post, may be useful for anyone else who may be trying to work out whether travelling abroad right now, is indeed the right choice for them and what the experience in Spain/Ibiza/Balearic Islands is indeed currently like.
Lastly, on the flip-side, I am a big advocate of travelling within the UK as there are many beautiful places to visit, with some of our most happy experiences being associated with UK holiday destinations. However, for us the promise of good weather and a view of the sea uninterrupted by people was important to us and was what we wanted from our holiday. In addition, the fact, that we had already caught and experienced coronavirus played a massive factor on our final decision of whether to travel or not. Had we not already contracted COVID, then I am really not sure whether we would have made the decision to travel abroad.
To travel or not to travel abroad? Whatever, your decision may be, I encourage you to take some holiday time and travel to a private rental, either abroad or within the UK, before the start of winter. As the change of scenery, really does and will work wonders for your soul. As after being stuck at home for so long and being limited in what we are able to do, for so long, mentally a refresher like this is invaluable and I think it will prove so beneficial coming into the Winter months, should we be required to go back into lockdown.
I hope this post proves to be useful for anyone who is considering the best travel approach for themselves during these unpredictable times. Please feel free to ask any questions you have below and I will be more than happy to add any additional information you may be curious about xxx