Brian Taylor
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We’ve opened a new section to cover from July 2021 – hopefully a more active phase than the last 6 months have been! The new section is on this link.
Restaurants and shops – what’s open?
Richard also replied to a query about which restaurants & shops are open – “Spar, Tapas Tapas, Tex Mex open on site though they say Maroa will open Saturday. Valentino’s (& the one next door), Caba su Oest & Montsemar along the front open. Going to Arguineguin today so will see what’s there today.”When Pam & I were out, albeit back in October, Palm Garden was open & very good. Close to it Cabosuroeste have a panorama restaurant which we didn’t go to as not open every day but said to be good.
In Puerto Rico the new-ish shopping centre is very good and has several restaurants in the plaza area. The Indian is very good and others look good. You can park underground, which was free when we were there.
Richard Weston is at Anfi now and travelled out last Tuesday (Richard is double vaccinated) – he posted on our Facebook group about his travel and said –
“I came out on Tuesday. Double vac SpTH app QR got through in seconds and NHS app vac QR was what Anfi needed.” – Richard did not have to take a test going out Anfi accepted his NHS proof of double vaccination (which is in line with Hello Canary info).
You need to fill in the Spanish Health form before you go out & the English one before you come back
The BBC amended the statement about tests on return and later said antigen (or PCR) before you fly back to UK, and PCR after you return
Info on gov.uk website – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england
and the BBC updated the text on it’s own webpage https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57763173Plus a BBC summary published yesterday, which gives ages for children and test requirements – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52544307
I doubt you missed todays announcement but:-
Covid-19: Amber list quarantine for fully vaccinated to end on 19 July 🙂 🙂
(and the guidance to not travel to amber list countries ends too, see below)Fully vaccinated UK residents arriving in England from amber travel list destinations will no longer have to quarantine from 19 July.
They will, however, still need to pay for PCR tests before and after their return, the transport secretary said.
Grant Shapps told MPs that under-18s returning from amber list places would also be exempt from quarantine.
Currently, anyone returning from amber or red list countries must isolate for 10 days, regardless of vaccine status.
“To be clear, a full vaccination means 14 days have passed since your final dose of the vaccine,” Mr Shapps said.
He added: “In essence, this means that for fully vaccinated travellers the requirements for green and amber list countries are the same.”
The transport secretary went on to say that, from 19 July – which is also the day when most Covid rules in England are due to end – the guidance that people should not travel to amber list countries will be removed.
But he cautioned “an amber list country could still turn red”, meaning hotel quarantine would become a requirement.Sadly James has had to resign from the Committee, due to a change in personal circumstances, and we wish him all the best for the future.
As you will have heard, the Canary Islands did not move from the “amber” list on yesterdays government announcement. The infection levels in Gran Canaria have come down and are very low, under 20 per 100,000 so it has to be one of the other factors affecting the evaluation – the overall rate for the islands is currently 56 mainly pulled up by Tenerife which has the highest level at 102.
You can see on chart below the Gran Canaria rate
thanks Peter, be good to know what AVC say about RCI – other members have used it this year. When using RCI to book somewhere, some have commented that what is available from RCI isn’t as good as Anfi, others seem happy.
You could use RCI to book back into Anfi in the future – I believe the rules say you can only do that 1 year in 4. But 2 of our members seem to have used RCI to book back virtually every year.
Other point is, if you haven’t signed a new contract and were considering it, you’ll no doubt find Anfi can put your 2020 points into 2022 and/or offer other incentives or voucher & all those AVC rules just go 🙂
Regards, Brian
Hi Peter
I remember the sales ploy well! I wasn’t aware of the cumulative restriction you mention on using points via AVC on external booking, though I haven’t used this option with AVC myself.
Would Anfi still bank the points with RCI for you or is that subject to the same limit? – I ask as some members have banked points or weeks via AVC to RCI every year for years.If you bank into RCI you then have up to 2 years to use the points – or if you bank weeks it’s 2 years from date of your week.
Kind regards
BrianHi Daniel
Thanks for the update and warning, these cold callers are real pests.
The new style contract actually has a clause that formalises your right to hand back the contract, though Anfi have always been very good about that if people wanted to hand back.
If you are looking at the new contract there is more comment on this in the Forum and our Facebook group. Definitely, in my view, you should be getting something from Anfi if you do agree to sign, as Anfi are very keen to have the contracts signed to avoid risk of legal claims – Anfi have offered vouchers for weeks not used, roll over of points due to expire, and various other incentives.
Some members have signed because they like idea of a new “legal” document, others have not signed, some have signed because of incentives.Kind regards, Brian
Expect more news about when masks need to be worn on Thursday – Canarian Weekly report – https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/where-will-masks-be-used-after-june-26
Sounds as though masks might still be needed in some situations where social distancing cannot be maintained: –
As of this coming Saturday, June 26th, masks will no longer be mandatory in outdoor public spaces, as announced by the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, although there will be some conditions and some exceptions. This reform is to the national law that has established, since March last year, that masks must be worn at all times in any situation in a public space, even if there is a safety distance between people.
This regulation was also the one that the Inter-territorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS) agreed to “make more flexible” to stop the necessity of masks on beaches, by swimming pools, and other places of relaxation in an aquatic environment, when sunbathing, swimming, and not moving around.
Conditions and exceptions of the new regulation:
Broadly speaking the proposal is that masks in outdoor public spaces are only mandatory when:
– Any situation where the safety distance cannot be maintained.
- It remains to be established if this is to be 1.5 metres, 2 metres, or more, for people who do not live together or who do not belong to the same ‘social bubble’.
- The text, which legal services and Public Health experts are working together on, will probably introduce other exceptions in which, despite being outdoors and at a distance, a mask is still mandatory, but at this stage, they haven’t revealed what they are.
- For example, they could implement a clause that it only applies at certain alert levels when the risk of contagion is classed as low, so that maybe only territories in Level 1 are exempt, as they have done with nightlife and other regulations. If that were the case, masks would still be mandatory in Tenerife and Lanzarote at the moment.
- You will more than likely still need to wear one when walking around the terrace of a bar or restaurant, as you are on the premises of a business and distancing will not be guaranteed when you pass between tables.
- This will probably also apply when you enter a shopping centre even though it may be open-air before you go into the shops, as again, you are on commercial property and spacing can’t be guaranteed.
- However, all will be revealed on Thursday, and whatever the exceptions are, it is a huge step in the right direction for a return to normality.
Members may know that Anfi Beach only opened for a short period at the end of last year and has since been closed – Puerto and Emerald have remained closed as well with people being accommodated at Monte and Gran.
Latest info is that Beach is expected to open shortly, possibly around the 10th to 12th July. So Anfi must be expecting a pick up in numbers soon. The EU initiative to ease travel between member states especially for fully vaccinated tourists may be part of Anfi’s rationale, and the EU were hoping to bring in the digital certificate by or in July.
Whilst we in the UK wait for the next travel review, though the Prime Minister sounded very cautious about prospects for international travel when speaking a day or two ago.A very good brief article on the travel position for popular destinations including Spain and Canary Islands – BBC guide to Spain, Portugal and other holiday hotspots – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-56997931 – if you click on the links it takes you to the relevant UK government advice so you can check for latest. Noteworthy that although Spain doesn’t require tests, the Canary Islands do if you are checking into regulated tourist accommodation, like Anfi – the government website actually says you should check with the accommodation provider prior to travel:-
“In some parts of Spain, a negative COVID-19 may be required when checking in to tourist accommodation. This currently applies in the Canary Islands. Children under the age of 6 are exempt from testing. Tests permitted are PCR (RT-PCR for COVID-19), Transcription Mediated Amplification (TMA), and Antigen tests. You should check with your accommodation provider prior to travel.” (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements#testing-requirements-for-arrivals-from-the-uk)
Canary Islands allow everyone 16 or over ages to request Covid-19 vaccine.
Its reported the Canary Health Council announced on Monday that the Canary Islands are the first Spanish region to allow all eligible people aged 16 or over to register for an appointment to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
It’s reported more than 30,000 people registered their details on the first day, crashing the government website on occasions. Vaccinations are at one of the vaccination points set up throughout the Canary Islands.
Spain has so far administered one dose to 35% of the country’s 47 million-strong population and 17% have received the full inoculation.
the San Roque covid tests are on this link – https://hospitalessanroque.com/en/medical-specialties/covid-19-diagnostic-testing-unit?center=hospitales-san-roque-in-maspalomas
Antigen test is listed as €30 but have read that if you get a statement from Anfi reception that you are staying at Anfi the cost is reduced to €15
If you haven’t got a car the website lists the public transport – or you may prefer to use a test centre closer to Anfi
I’m sure you’ve heard on the UK news today speculation that the Balearic and Canary Islands might be on the UK green list on it’s next update scheduled for 7th June – Grant Schapps cautioned that it is not just the covid incidence, but also the vaccination rate and ability to sequence the virus DNA to check for variants. More on the BBC – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57254963
Meanwhile to tempt us the Guardian published a guide to holidaying in the Canary Islands, and reported some tour operators are resuming holidays even though the islands are in the amber group – https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/may/25/a-holiday-guide-to-the-canary-islands – we can but dream for now!!! – other than our members in EU countries.
when the UK is able to travel to Anfi, or risk going with the amber rating, on test costs interested to see recent post on the German Club Facebook group about info on low cost test
“At the reception in Anfi you get a form that lets you do the antigen test you need for the flight for only 15 euros at the San Roque hospital in Meloneras” – if correct that is a very low price, so worth asking Anfi reception (the San Roque clinic provides medical staff to the Anfi medical centre so perhaps they have a deal)
A second post mentioned “using the medical centre at the Whale Fin roundabout Arguineguin. Set up an appointment by phone 1-2 days before” – though didn’t state the costAnother says “There are several medical centres in Arguineguin. You can just set up an appointment. Just Google the medical centre and you’ll find several providers. Cost of rapid test between 30 and 50 euros”
There is more on BBC news about Spain’s announcement to allow UK tourists from Monday, and about the EU travel policy and digital certificate – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57199791
Members may be wondering if Anfi Beach or Puerto will be opening anytime soon (even though from the UK we can’t really travel at present). The latest we’ve heard is that currently occupancy at Monte and Gran is very low, under 20%, and that there are no immediate plans to reopen another resort.
Perhaps with the easing of travel and quarantine for various EU countries including Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Austria and Belgium then usage may pick up before long.
And you may heard that Spain announced today that travel from UK will be allowed from Monday – the UK government has said people should not travel to amber and red list countries for holidays (though it is not illegal, it does require extra tests and from amber countries self isolation on return, plus the current significant delays at airports for checking status)
I hadn’t heard about points being recouped as accommodation vouchers. Some members have had their points “rolled over” i.e. so they expire a year later than they would have done.
Some fixed week members have had vouchers to make up for lost 2020 weeks when they signed a new contract. I haven’t seen the details on these in terms of expiry etc, though I think one member said a month or two ago that his voucher would be valid to end 2022.Perhaps other members have info on these vouchers issued to make up for lost points.
Please remember rental adverts for weeks up to end of June are free – just draft and then email me with advert reference (treasurer@anfiukmembers.co.uk) and I’ll make your advert live.
Also for members with surplus floating weeks and points in 2021, and I’m not sure if much availability will be available from Anfi & very doubtful for later in the year, but by all means raise an advert for your floating or points weeks, email me and I’ll make it live for free up to the end of June.
BRITISH TOURISTS COULD BE TURNED AWAY AT PORTUGUESE AIRPORTS DUE TO EU TRAVEL BAN
Info about Portugal but see the comment about Spain and EU/UK agreement on 20th May and on EU restrictions on travel.
https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/british-tourists-could-turned-away-portugal
Portugal has warned it may be forced to refuse entry to tourists even though they are on the UK’s green lists, because of a continuing EU ban on non-essential travel from countries outside the bloc. Portugal is on the UK government’s so-called ‘green list’, which allows travel to certain nations with the need for Covid-19 testing but not quarantine, from Monday.
While the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice has been updated to allow non-essential travel to the country, Portugal faces a trickier decision, because while its government wants to take UK tourists, it is currently prevented from doing so because of the EU rule.
The country is in a difficult position as it holds the rotating presidency of the EU, making it hard to simply ignore the policy, and officials in Lisbon have expressed fears they’ll be faced with thousands of arrivals on Monday who they’re technically not allowed to let in, saying that thousands of British visitors would have to be “turned away” at the airport unless the rule was relaxed in time.
Portuguese hotels have reported a huge surge in bookings since the UK Government confirmed the end of the travel ban, and Grant Shapps announced the green list countries, saying that the last few days have been “absolute madness in terms of reservations,” and the country’s largest chain, Pestana, said demand has jumped by an astonishing 250% since Friday.
But most other EU states aren’t expecting a rush of Brits until later in the summer, when the digital green pass is operational, and even when the continent-wide ban is lifted, individual states will each set the terms under which visitors can arrive. Greece is keen to welcome back Brits as soon as possible, but France has said they won’t accept tourists until next month, whereas Spain hopes that an agreement between the EU and UK will be in place by next Thursday, May 20th.
For members looking to go out in June:-
The Canary Islands are currently grouped with Spain and classed as amber. The travel lists will be reviewed every three weeks “from early June” – the first update is expected to take place between 1 and 4 June. Any changes will then come into effect a week later (8-11 June). (see website links further down in this post)Currently Spain and islands are amber – Spain is trying to get the islands grouped separately – infection levels are coming down over the last few weeks. The Canarian government is hoping to be on green list on next review or the one after & these updates are every 3 weeks. [This news hopes UK will add to green list 7th June – https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/torres-uk-green-list-imminent ]
Currently, for amber before return to UK, travellers need a pre departure test which can be lateral flow, then PCR tests on day 2 and 8 when back & these must be pre booked for you to get back in UK without further delays. You can have a day 5 test to release as an option, as otherwise 10 days quarantine, so 5 days minimum.
If islands go green, which may not be likely until sometime in June, then travellers need pre departure test and a test by day 2. Again has to be prebooked to avoid delay at UK end.
The test booking info has to be on the form you fill in before you return, this form has to be done to avoid a fine.
Anfi have a list of local test centres, see link below, and there is a Canaries website with list of centres, just check that they are ones the UK gov accepts.
For outgoing flight watch out for what tests are needed for the flight and for getting into Gran Canaria – Spain should be announcing details soon, or the gov.uk website has info. Other thing to watch out for is whether Spain holds back on letting UK in, currently Spain’s ban runs to end of May – with the Indian variant this may cause a delay in opening – Germany has recently classed the UK as of concern, and other EU countries may follow suit. [the EU has a general ban on 3rd countries entering other than listed exceptions which does not include the UK – watch out for possible announcement around the 19th May as EU has meeting and it’s rumoured the UK travel and digital certification is a possibility. Again spread on Indian variant may affect this, as was sounding positive a few days ago]
Look out for deals from airlines and airports for test packages – Gatwick are doing for £60 & other airports have deals. The Gatwick contractor does Edinburgh and Manchester and I think Newcastle. Heathrow have deals too.
Collinson’s have recently announced reduced prices, from £66, so perhaps others may come down – (Collinson offers onsite testing at Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, City, Manchester, East Midlands and Stansted airports, will cut PCR and lateral flow antigen test prices to £66 and £32 respectively from 17 May. It also announced it will be rolling out same-day result Lamp tests across the UK’s airports. These can be used by travellers returning from amber countries in order to leave quarantine early on day five (providing the result is negative), and will be priced at £76.
Collinson is the only government-approved testing provider to currently offer same-day results for the test-to-release scheme, meaning quarantines can take a test on day five and stop self-isolating the same day.)Then for insurance, the FCO have advice not to travel to Spain, but Canaries are currently OK (if you travel against FCO advice, holiday insurance is not valid)
As members may know Anfi currently has Monte and Gran open. Beach may open in June if sufficient numbers, which may occur with some UK tourists and more so Germany, Netherlands, Denmark and others who have in last few days classed islands as low risk – so they don’t need quarantine on return
1. Check UK government website regarding the timing of tests and the type required: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england
2. Book at test at an authorised medical facility. The list is here: https://www.hellocanaryislands.com/coronavirus/centrosautorizados/
(please note it does not work well on some browsers. The Anfi postcode is 35120.)
One of our committee used the the Medical Centre Arguineguin https://www.facebook.com/medicalcenterarguineguin/ there is also the Norwegian clinic in Arguineguin. https://www.norsklegesenter.com/enAlso check the local Canary Islands requirements before travel – https://www.hellocanaryislands.com/coronavirus/tramites/
I read yesterday that Ryanair are cancelling all their June flights, not sure if that’s correct?
Regards, Brian
thanks Peter, it should appear as in this image with the menu at the top
