Summer holidays 2020

Author
Discussion

Shnozz

27,419 posts

270 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
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aaron_2000 said:
Is motorhome/camping travel still permitted in France and Spain?
Can't speak for France but road tripping in Spain across regions now is far from straight forward. We have a curfew in place nationwide at night, and various regions are closed for entry or exit.

Details can be found here:

https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2020/10/25...

Amateurish

7,696 posts

221 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
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aaron_2000 said:
Is motorhome/camping travel still permitted in France and Spain?
Yes in France, but there is a curfew from 9pm to 6am.

0a

23,879 posts

193 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
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Any tips for Gran Canaria? Where to stay etc.

Harry H

3,379 posts

155 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
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0a said:
Any tips for Gran Canaria? Where to stay etc.
Playa del ingles if you like sports bars and a party. Maspalomas if you like it classy.

Although they're quite close so you can flit between the two with a short cab ride if you can't make up your mind. Car hire is cheap.

Both of them lead on to one of the best beaches in the world.

0a

23,879 posts

193 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
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Super thanks Harry!

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
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The only resort on Gran Canaria where you're rather less likely to be mixing it 24/7 with hordes of the usual British and Irish beer, bingo and chips morons having it large in the Canarian sunshine is Puerto de Mogán in the far south of the island. Unless your budget stretches to a really good quality hotel like the Cordial Mogan Playa I'd avoid the big resorts altogether, hire a car and a villa and go self catering somewhere remote well away from the crowds.

Inland GC is probably the prettiest of all the Canary islands. There's some great driving roads along the west coast and round the mountains and valleys in the middle. Maspalomas is a beach apart from all the rest - which are nothing special at all and always crowded - and certainly worth a visit but it's got quite a reputation for some pretty unsavory activities in the more remote areas of the dunes you certainly wouldn't want kids to see.

Like all the other Canary islands GC can be seriously windy on the east coast and the better weather is usually toward the south. The Spanish tourist board is desperate to get visitors back to the islands and I'm told are currently offering complimentary travel insurance including Covid cover.



chris7676

2,685 posts

219 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
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Would always chose Tenerife over GranCan unless you want to do gay bars of Playa de Ingles.
And no, it's nowhere near one of the nicest beaches there (but admittedly lots of sand).
And the harassing (physically too, at least before Covid) African women in Maspalomas are vile (unless they have been locked for harassment, doubt it).

vaud

50,287 posts

154 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
quotequote all
Amateurish said:
aaron_2000 said:
Is motorhome/camping travel still permitted in France and Spain?
Yes in France, but there is a curfew from 9pm to 6am.
Though I am hearing of a tighter lockdown about to come into force.

stevemcs

8,592 posts

92 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
quotequote all
We have stayed here quite a few times in Gran Canaria

https://www.lopesan.com/es/hoteles/espana/gran-can...

There are a few bars and shops (posh watch shops) outside of the hotel but to be honest we spend most of the time behind the closed doors of the hotel on a HB basis. We tried Tenerife once and hated it, possibly because everytime you went out time share touts hunted you down.

LuS1fer

41,083 posts

244 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
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stevemcs said:
We have stayed here quite a few times in Gran Canaria

https://www.lopesan.com/es/hoteles/espana/gran-can...

There are a few bars and shops (posh watch shops) outside of the hotel but to be honest we spend most of the time behind the closed doors of the hotel on a HB basis. We tried Tenerife once and hated it, possibly because everytime you went out time share touts hunted you down.
This why I go to Fuerteventura. No pushy touts, none of that two for one crap, no pushy restaurant greeters. They can all just feck orf.

stevemcs

8,592 posts

92 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
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I've only had the touts in Tenerife, although Lanzarote/Playa Blanca seems to be getting a few of the deaf and dumb clip board people.

ninepoint2

3,260 posts

159 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
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Looks like pre visit tests are to be introduced before visiting the Canary Islands

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
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LuS1fer said:
stevemcs said:
We have stayed here quite a few times in Gran Canaria

https://www.lopesan.com/es/hoteles/espana/gran-can...

There are a few bars and shops (posh watch shops) outside of the hotel but to be honest we spend most of the time behind the closed doors of the hotel on a HB basis. We tried Tenerife once and hated it, possibly because everytime you went out time share touts hunted you down.
This why I go to Fuerteventura. No pushy touts, none of that two for one crap, no pushy restaurant greeters. They can all just feck orf.
I'd agree.

Overall big picture carefully selected accommodation away from the resorts in Furteventura is about as good as the four large islands gets. It's generally much quieter with a very laid back vibe and the beaches beat all the other islands hands down.

Far less Brits and Irish go there too which is a bonus.

lost in espace

6,135 posts

206 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
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Canary Govt has just found a loophole which means you have to get a test or they won't let you into your accommodation. Looks like 15 days from now it will be compulsory, luckily I am due in Tenerife on the 7th phew.

stevemcs

8,592 posts

92 months

Tuesday 27th October 2020
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In fairness if I was in the canaries the last thing I would want is the british traveling to the islands

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Wednesday 28th October 2020
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stevemcs said:
In fairness if I was in the canaries the last thing I would want is the british traveling to the islands
If I lived there I wouldn't want the Brits back either.

Last time we spoke to friends who live in Lajres in north Furteventura they told us Tenerife and Gran Canaria had a far higher number of Covid cases than Lanzarote or Furteventura and most of those are in more residential areas with a particularly high number in north Tenerife. Unlike what they've seen on the UK news everyone where they live is being very careful and respectful of others and going to great lengths to prevent the spread of infection.

They also told us even though the islands economy has been devastated with the loss of tourism the general themes in conversations are worrying about friends and relatives in mainland Spain and South America and most Canarians don't want holidaymakers returning until the crisis has passed.

vaud

50,287 posts

154 months

Wednesday 28th October 2020
quotequote all
vaud said:
Amateurish said:
aaron_2000 said:
Is motorhome/camping travel still permitted in France and Spain?
Yes in France, but there is a curfew from 9pm to 6am.
Though I am hearing of a tighter lockdown about to come into force.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavi...

I wouldn't personally choose France at the moment...

Shnozz

27,419 posts

270 months

Wednesday 28th October 2020
quotequote all
vaud said:
vaud said:
Amateurish said:
aaron_2000 said:
Is motorhome/camping travel still permitted in France and Spain?
Yes in France, but there is a curfew from 9pm to 6am.
Though I am hearing of a tighter lockdown about to come into force.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavi...

I wouldn't personally choose France at the moment...
Worst case I guess you can travel to return home but the constant stress of movement would ruin the experience IMO.

We contemplated a quick trip back to the UK to collect my UK car and drive it down to Spain as its been sat unused since June. We've shelved the idea as regionally it all seems a bit on the precipice of another lockdown, a regional lockdown, curfews and various measures that are enforced with more force than perhaps the UK.

Harry H

3,379 posts

155 months

Wednesday 28th October 2020
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
This why I go to Fuerteventura. No pushy touts, none of that two for one crap, no pushy restaurant greeters. They can all just feck orf.
Same here, the south of Fuerteventura every time for me. Laid back, no hassle, no sports bars or Full English and the best beaches by miles. Not so good for the young that may want a bit more "life" about the place but perfect for me.

Could live there 6 months of the year no problem.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 28th October 2020
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Jaguar steve said:
stevemcs said:
In fairness if I was in the canaries the last thing I would want is the british traveling to the islands
If I lived there I wouldn't want the Brits back either.

Last time we spoke to friends who live in Lajres in north Furteventura they told us Tenerife and Gran Canaria had a far higher number of Covid cases than Lanzarote or Furteventura and most of those are in more residential areas with a particularly high number in north Tenerife. Unlike what they've seen on the UK news everyone where they live is being very careful and respectful of others and going to great lengths to prevent the spread of infection.

They also told us even though the islands economy has been devastated with the loss of tourism the general themes in conversations are worrying about friends and relatives in mainland Spain and South America and most Canarians don't want holidaymakers returning until the crisis has passed.
I think it’s like the U.K. tbh with some favouring stricter lockdowns and restrictions and others favouring the economy and opening up, depending often on age and if or where they work.

I know people who’ve retired to lanzarote that favour restrictions and others who are younger and working in tourism who want tourism to continue.

Remember there’s been tourism, there since July 1 from many European countries. It’s just that the U.K. has changed the quarantine rules for those returning. You could still go to the canaries from the U.K. before just that the quarantine on return put off lots of people.