Posted on Monday, 13 July 2020

If you're not a fan of thronging tourists, taking a holiday this summer could be a wonderfully relaxing experience.

Each summer, thousands of UK families enjoy an overseas holiday - a well-deserved break after months of work or study. But after the Coronavirus lock-down, the desire for a beach break in Spain or Greece is likely to be stronger than ever.

Now that the lockdown - and quarantine requirements for most popular destinations - have been largely lifted, what can you expect from a trip to places like Mallorca or the Amalfi Coast?

In the short term, it's unlikely tourists will return in vast numbers. When Spain opened up for tourists from the Schengen area at the end of June, a fraction of routes resumed; Barcelona Airport was operating at just 5% capacity.

The situation has meant some beaches are very quiet compared to a normal summer.

Speaking to the Guardian during her holiday in Mallorca, Nicola Brett said he was having the "best holiday ever". For Nicola, the quiet beaches and streets were a big plus.

She said: “The airport was quiet and the flight was early. It was great. And then [when] I got here there weren't too many Brits getting drunk and I've been able to spend more time with the locals. There is hand sanitiser everywhere and they've made it really easy. I'd prefer it if it didn't get busier actually. I really like it being nice and quiet.”

For other UK tourists, however, social distancing has limited their ability to have fun - particularly when it comes to dancing and socialising.

For locals who depend on tourism for their income, there are mixed feelings. They need the money, but they don't want another coronavirus spike.

Tourism chiefs in places like Spain have thus imposed strict rules on opening times of drinking establishments. There is to be no crowding around bars - with table service the norm in many bars and cafes. Night clubs are not permitted to open.

Quarantine restrictions lifted

From July 10th, UK tourists have not had to self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return, meaning Britons can enjoy the beaches and cities of most of Europe (although notably not Portugal as of yet).

In theory, this means sunseekers can hop on a plane and enjoy a break as they would have done last year while observing social distancing measures.

A truly peaceful summer break

But tourist numbers are unlikely to return to normal for some time, which means now could be the perfect time to explore cities like Paris and Rome without huge crowds of tourists. Likewise, the beaches Andalucia and the Greek Islands are likely to be very peaceful this summer.

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