Revealed: The 18 European 'amber list' countries where you can go on holiday from Britain WITHOUT having to quarantine on arrival - as Spain welcomes first UK tourists
- Spain is now allowing British tourists in without need for quarantine or vaccination proof
- But Ministers are still urging people not to go there as is on the government's 'amber list'
- France has hinted at tougher restrictions on Britons amid concerns over the Indian variant British holidaymakers can visit 18 European countries on the 'amber list' without having to quarantine upon their arrival, it emerged today - as tourists faced fresh confusion after Spain welcomed Britons despite being on the UK Government's 'amber list', while France prepares to impose tougher restrictions on travellers.
All passengers returning to Britain from amber list countries must stay at home for ten days and take a PCR test on days two and eight - as well as a lateral flow test before the return flight. They can also pay for 'Test to Release' on day five to end self-isolation early.
However, the rules vary when arriving in amber list countries - and the restrictions back in the UK were not deterring tourists from travelling to Spain this morning after the country starting letting them in without any requirement for quarantine upon arrival.
However, ministers have again urged sunseekers not to head to Spain - even though it is now legal to do so.
Meanwhile, French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has suggested his country will go the other way and impose tighter controls on visitors from the UK due to fears over the Indian variant.
Mr Le Drian also swiped at Britain's past 'failures' to control the virus in the latest barb as EU leaders face criticism over their lockdowns and vaccine rollout.
The confusing picture will leave would-be travellers scratching their heads over whether and where to go on foreign holidays this summer.
It came as British travellers arrived at Malaga Airport today on a Ryanair flight from London Luton, while back in the UK there were queues at check-in at Heathrow Airport as Britons prepared to go abroad.
Portugal is currently the only major tourist destination on England's 'green list', meaning people can go without the need to quarantine on return.
But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has hinted the roster could be expanded imminently amid pressure for France, Spain, Italy and Greece to be added.
And after fines for non-essential travel were scrapped, thousands of people have been defying the UK's advice and heading for 'amber list' countries anyway.
Today, the first British holidaymakers to jet to the Costa del Sol spoke of their joy at Spain's long-awaited decision to lift its UK tourist ban.
Families and couples who had gone months without a foreign holiday touched down to shorts and T-shirt weather at Malaga Airport with temperatures nearing 75F (24C).
People sunbathing on the beach at Fuengirola in Spain today as British tourists start arriving in the country
Fuengirola beach near Malaga is pictured today as UK holidaymakers set their sights on a trip to Spain
Three women talk to each other while sunbathing on the beach at Fuengirola near Malaga in Spain today
The bright sunlight in Fuengirola is too much for this woman enjoying a break on the beach as she pulls her hat over her eyes to have a nap
This woman takes a moment to have a sit down while cleaning the sand from the beach off of the bottom of her feet while holding her belongings
The conditions looked ideal for those deciding to visit Fuengirola today as the Spanish government added the UK to the list of countries not needing to quarantine
At Malaga Airport today, Janean Holbrook, 50, from Norwich, travelling with husband Rory, 58, said: 'We've been desperate to come because we've got a holiday place in Fuengirola that suffered flood damage'
Covid-19 cases in a selection of the 'amber list' European countries where Britons don't have to quarantine upon arrival
Several passengers on Ryanair flight FR7784 from London Luton, which arrived ten minutes after schedule at just before 11am, had been refused permission to board earlier planes due to reach Malaga before Spain's near five-month-long Covid veto on British tourists was removed at midnight.But any worries they had about a new setback were eased as they sailed through customs and walked into bright sunshine outside the arrivals terminal.
Vicky Ashton, 52, who had travelled to Malaga from her home in Derby with husband Tony, 61, and her parents, said: 'It feels fantastic to be here.
'I'm staying for 10 days. I'd rather not have to quarantine obviously when I get back home but it's a price I'm willing to pay. We're so happy to be able to be travelling again. I've got a holiday home in Marbella and am looking to buy another with relatives.
'I think Boris Johnson should put Spain on the green list as soon as possible. I wasn't worried about the British government advising against travel to Spain because it's an amber list country at the moment.
'We knew we were going to feel totally safe here because of the outdoor life and the fact the rules during lockdown have been very strict in Spain and people have respected them.
'We were refused permission to board a Ryanair flight on Friday from the East Midlands even though we had a solicitor's letter saying that we had a valid reason to come to Spain because I was looking to buy another property here.
'There were other people on this morning's flight who had been stopped from getting on the same plane.'
Vicky's developer father John Blount, 77, travelling with wife Elaine, 75, added: 'I've been coming to Spain for 40 years and this is my first trip here since last October. It's been a long eight months.
'We tried to get on two Ryanair flights on Friday, one from East Midlands airport and another from Birmingham but were turned away even thought the second one would have seen us landing in Portugal and having to drive across the border.
'We booked today's flight hours after the Spanish announced they were opening up to British holidaymakers. It feels wonderful being back.'
Sarah Dickinson, 22, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, travelling with her 28-year-old boyfriend Jake Dougherty, said: 'Jake's got a friend who lives in Puerto Banus and he's got a one-way ticket because he wants to stay around and look for work but I'm here on holiday for a week and am then going back home.
'This is my first foreign holiday for eight months. I want to soak up the sunshine, hit the beach and generally have a good time. I'll deal with the quarantine when I get back to the UK. It wasn't going to stop me coming here and enjoying myself.'
Mother-of-two Jenna Davies, 35, from Loughborough, Leicestershire, who jetted to Spain with mother-in-law Lynne Brooks, 68, added: 'I've got a place in Marbella I haven't been able to visit for months.
'I had to quarantine after my last visit here at Christmas and I'm only here till Friday so I'll have to self-isolate again. But I've got two young daughters I look after at home so it doesn't affect me too much.
'Being able to get here today has been a godsend. I tried to fly last Friday before I heard Spain was lifting its ban on UK holidaymakers and got turned back at the airport even though I had a solicitor's appointment.
People sitting in a restaurant on the beach in Fuengirola near Malaga in Spain this afternoon
At Malaga Airport today, John Blount, 77, travelling with wife Elaine, 75, added: 'I've been coming to Spain for 40 years and this is my first trip here since last October. It's been a long eight months'
The first flights from Britain arrive at Malaga Airport today after Spain has lifted the travel restriction from the UK
Mother-of-two Jenna Davies, 35, from Loughborough, Leicestershire, who jetted to Malaga Airport today, said: 'I've got a place in Marbella I haven't been able to visit for months'
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