Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Gordon Blackstock & Bradley Jolly

Brit hairdresser stuck in 'hell' quarantine hotel in Ibiza after testing positive for Covid

A British hairdresser has been stuck in a "hell" quarantine hotel in Ibiza for days after testing positive for Covid-19 during her trip for summer sun.

Kimberly McIlwham, 28, has warned others considering travelling abroad to think twice after her long weekend in the sun turned into a nightmare.

She's midway through a 10-day stay in a hotel dubbed Ibiza Concentration Camp and must isolate for a further 10 days back home.

Glasgow Live reports Kimberly had to take a compulsory test ahead of her return home as Ibiza is on the UK's amber list.

"If I could go back in time I'd say to myself, 'don't bother,'" the self-employed hairdresser said today.

Kimberly Mcilwham is pictured in her quarantine hotel in Ibiza (Collect)

"I came out here for five days, but it is going to be much more than that. I will be in quarantine for ten days at least.

"After that I'll need to organise a flight home and quarantine at home for ten days after Ibiza was put back on the amber list.

"I've not been vaccinated yet."

Kimberly had enjoyed four star luxury at the Hotel Playosol Bossa Flow near Ibiza's capital, Ibiza Town, reports Sunday Mail.

The 28-year-old was not happy with the food served in the hotel (Collect)

Kimberly, from Neilston, East Renfrewshire, will now have to take more time off work.

She added: "It's having a huge impact on my work and I'm having to cancel clients who were booked for when I return.

"This short trip has just turned into a nightmare.

"People should be wary of how risky a trip abroad is at the moment."

The Spanish government run the La Noria hotel at which Kimberly is self-isolating.

Ibiza was briefly on the green travel list but, one fortnight later, it was moved back to amber. It left thousands of tourists, like Kimberly, stranded.

The hairdresser shared images on her social media platforms (Collect)

The young woman booked the last-minute holiday to meet friends with Jet2.

Kimberly said Covid had stretched her business to breaking point with months of not being able to work and she was looking forward to a short break.

Mandatory lateral flow tests were done before she left, which showed she was negative for coronavirus.

She then spent five nights having fun in the sun.

She said: "It was a great break - until I tested positive."

A day before she was due to fly home she visited a nearby clinic for the required lateral flow test, which cost 35 Euros.

She tested positive before she paid 100 Euros for a separate PCR test from the same clinic to confirm it.

Kimberly tested positive for coronavirus before she was due to fly home (Collect)

She said: "The clinic just told me to go back to my hotel and they would let me know the results of the PCR, but by the next day I still hadn't heard and by this stage had missed my plane.

"I've still never got my PCR results back.

"Hotel staff told me to stay in my room and the Spanish Government would be in touch.

"The next day I got a call telling me to pack my stuff. An ambulance picked me up to take me to La Noria.

"I've been there since Thursday but it's been so confusing.

"Communication has been non-existent, I have no idea what's going on or how long I've to stay.

"Some people say you are released after ten days and others say it's when you test negative.

"No-one knows and hotel staff won't say.

"On Friday night I was tested and I asked 'what happens next?' I was just told to sit tight and they'll call me."

Kimberly, from Neilston, Scotland, enjoyed some sun in Ibiza (Collect)

Kimberly has joined a Whatsapp group with other exasperated tourists who are all as equally confused by when they can leave.

Many are also not happy about conditions in the hotel, which has been dubbed Ibiza Concentration Camp.

Some have been privately booking doctors for tests in the hope a negative result will allow them to leave.

Kimberly said: "I'm still unsure whether I've got covid in the first place.

"I've never heard about the PCR results. I've got a mild cough but feel fine.

"The hotel is basic and we have to stay in our rooms. But the food is appalling.

"It's been like hell for me and I'm desperate to get home."

The Spanish Government has reportedly spent £265,000 to rent out all the rooms at the La Noria hotel to quarantine Covid guests for the summer season.

Yesterday, tourists in Ibiza were queuing outside clinics for Covid tests that would allow them to fly home after last-minute rule changes.

From tomorrow the popular Spanish islands rejoins the list of amber countries for travel restrictions.

Unless tourists are doubly vaccinated, they will be required to self-isolate at home for 10 days after returning.

The decision was made after the Balearics saw a steep rise in cases, the Scottish Government confirmed.

In France British tourists were scrambling to get home before tight new restrictions were brought in.

Ministers say the rise of the Beta - formerly known as the South African strain - was on the rise in the country meaning even people fully vaccinated would be required to self-isolate for ten days on return from Monday.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "From the outset we have said caution is required regarding international travel and people should think very carefully about travelling abroad as situations can suddenly change.

"When we added the Balearic Islands to the green list we said we would be closely monitoring the data, and the increase in cases we have seen means it will be removed from the green list and made amber."

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: "Any British nationals who test positive abroad should follow the directions of local authorities.

"If they require consular assistance they should contact the closest British Embassy or Consulate.

"Consular Assistance and advice is available 24 hours a day."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.