Borders will reopen soon
 

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

Hi all, is the border between Portugal and Spain now open ? If so do you think the car hire firms will allow the cars to cross the border into Spain?

Thanks Mel

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

The border between Spain and Portugal is closed until 1st July (not sure what time).

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

I understand the Guadiana Bridge and all other crossings will re-open on the 1st July to tourists and NOT before. This was Portugal's decision not Spain. HTH.

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

Hola

Usually the time is midnight (between 30th June and 1st July or one minute past midnight on the 1st July

Davexf

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53177282

Airbridges to be decided maybe as soon as Monday

Jon

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

Is that PT or ES midnight?

[I would guess that as it is a PT decision it would be PT time, but who knows for sure?]

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

Un fortunately PT is not yet included because of a 2nd peak around Lisbon. Therefore transit via Faro (or specifically return to UK via Faro) will be a problem atm..To be sure fly via Seville (or Jerez if it is open) and car hire from there.

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

There are two reported hotspots on the Algarve, Albafarue and Cabanas have been mentioned.

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

Thank you for the replies to my question. Would love to get back to our Esuri home and the flights and car hire are very reasonable but I am concerned that if there is a spike somewhere the border may close again. Will the border be manned and I wonder if Spain will be happy to allow cars rented from Faro in ? Having said that flights to Seville are at good prices too. The government's stance is still only essential travel and although we think a beer in Laguna Square and at the CE shop/cafe is vitally important not sure Boris would agree. Happy to be there but it is the close contact with others on the flight for myself and our family is a worry but we do need to support the airlines and the Ayamonte businesses.....just my witterings !!

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

Currently Portugal is not on the "air bridge" list and nobody can say when this will change. As long as its traffic light is Red you will have to quarantine when you fly back from Faro. A couple of my friends have recently returned from Esuri via Faro and are in lockdown atm. Maybe safer to fly to Seville, it's not much longer to drive. Word of advice: don't get a flight that arrives late evening and it is delayed slightly you may find the car hire desks are closed - happened to my son and he had to wait in Seville airport until 8.00 when they reopened 😡

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

Thanks Mike, appreciate the heads up on late arrival at Seville as that would not have crossed my mind

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

Good news for anyone flying into Faro. We flew in this morning, cleared the airport in 30 minutes ( our rental car was covered in cling film with a note saying it was sterile). Absolutely nothing on the bridge, shopped in Lidl and 90% of people wearing masks and down to isla canela. Our pool had people in hazmat spraying the pool area with disinfectant during seista. No sun loungers though. So looks like spain well prepared (at least in our block) and easy to get here. Lovely to be back!

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

Just a quick question on this thread. I know of the form to fill out for arriving in Spain with health details, is there an equivalent for Portugal? Many thanks

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

We ventured over the bridge for the first time since lockdown, went for a walk on the Monte Gordo boardwalk, hardly anyone wearing face masks and was very busy, don’t seem to be treating it very seriously.

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

When we landed in Faro there was no forms for the Portuguese authorities (although the airline we traveled on required a form). No checks in the airport and no checks on the bridge. My daughter flew into Malaga on the same day and had to complete a form for the Spanish authorities (in addition to the plane form) and had her temperature taken. The beach in isla Canela is being patrolled by multiple health teams and there is a one way system on and off the beach. Very impressive although my teenage boys were stopped throwing a rugby ball which seemed like over kill!!!

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

thank you!

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

I know during lock down no ball games were allowed, I have not been for ages and cannot remember what the normal signs say.. I think some allow beach balls only, which makes sense to me.

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

In Punta Del Moral, I did not see any kind of Patrol / limeted Access or whatsoever. This Morning , I went walking with our dog on the Portuguese Beach just next where Giardiana enters the sea. Saw some other people with dogs and the GNR who said hello. I felt very safe and our dog had a lot of fun diving in the Atlantic.

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

We are reading a news article that Huelva has closed some beaches Apparently there has been an outbreak with the workers in the fields.

​​​​​​Of course its far more difficult for them as many live in cramped, impoverished conditions. Very difficult for them to distance and hygiene is questionable. With low wages as well it is not easy.

Its upsetting to see the huge camp in Lepe, just opposite the newish shopping centre, (Worten etc) with the makeshift homes... In the heat!! We were there early last year I am guessing that the camp is still there....or somewhere nearby.

If anyone gets it, the conditions are there for it to spread.

I am disappointed daily with the lack of consideration of many people, not distancing etc. Some people have forgotten the most basic rules.

However we went for a few drinks yesterday, and they wouldn't let us take our seats till they had disinfected the chairs, table and laminated menus. 10 out of 10! We are hoping that we will see some of this when we return when quarantine rules are relaxed

Jon

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

The huge camp in Lepe is not there anymore. It disappeared. I have no clue what happened toit and the People who lived there. In elmundo and elpais , I did not find anything on new cases in Huelva.
Cheers,

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

The camp burnt down

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

Hi Mav
We got the news via a press alert taken from the foreign ministry.

The migrant workers are a necessity for the huge e.g fruit picking industry, as you know we get lots of fruit from the Lepe - Huelva region in Northern Europe.

So they must be in a 'camp' or camps somewhere. The conditions aren't likely to be any better, logically. Earlier we heard of a spike in the Lepe area.

So I am concerned for them and the possibility of a spike there.

However our area (including Algarve) is excellent for low population density, fresh air and a low infection rate vs the Spain/Portugal average. We just need to keep taking precautions. We still have a great social life whilst keeping 1m distancing for example.

Can't wait to get back :)

Jon

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

Jon, Awake at 05.56 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Crikey, I was sound asleep then. You don't sleep much ? Just an observation. ha ha.

Keith ....................also missing our lovely holiday home, especially as the weather here in Hampshire this week has been fairly grotty !

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

Sleep, wots that :) I'm an insomniac and its rare that I get my '8 hours worth' of zzz's. Thank goodness for wireless headphones + N-flix! (No commercial connection with them :) )

Interesting point though. I'm on EU time so an hour ahead of UK, though I've never even thought which time is used on the post's timestamp. Whether its local time or the time on the BE server. Just checked, its 07:42 on my side = EU time which is right for me.

Hampshire will be even more beautiful at the weekend according to BBC. But I've heard its baking in CE, made more uncomfortable with mask wearing. But with half price lunches coming in the restos, in the UK there's a bonus there :) :thumbsup:

Jon

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

Keith Jon's post registered at 07.56 European time ( GMT + 2 ) on my PC in Gib.
I was in the pool at that time.

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

Thanks Fred... I honestly never thought of the time stamp in all the years on the forum.

The pool.... in the morning... bliss :)
Jon

Re: Borders will reopen soon
 

No SCREAMING UNDISCIPLINED brats at that time ;)