Ecstatic Brit holidaymakers hit the Algarve’s bars, beaches and swimming pools within minutes of arriving in Portugal.
Retired police officer Barry Thompson, 63, and his wife Lisa were soaking up the sunshine at their Vilamoura hotel.
Their first stop was a nearby sports bar where they enjoyed breakfast overlooking the famous marina.
“I had a full English breakfast and Lisa has two pina coladas,” laughed Barry, from Northwich, Cheshire.
"I promise it's the only one of the holiday.
“It’s crazy to be sitting here after months of being stuck in the UK. It’s glorious. We couldn’t be happier.
“We haven’t got much planned for the week other than sitting by the pool and having a few drinks.
“We were in Cornwall last week and, while we had a couple of good days, it doesn’t compare to this.”
Hundreds of Brits made the journey to Portugal today, with many more due to fly out this week, despite some concerning coronavirus clusters in the UK.
Outbreaks of cases of the Indian variant of the virus across the country has led some scientists to question the sense of lifting lockdown restrictions and allowing indoor pubs and restaurants to reopen today.
At the 19th Hole bar in Vilamoura all of that and the bleak weather battering Britain on Monday seemed a far away concern however, with Tracey Mooney, 54, and her husband Jerry, 52, enjoying the views.
The couple were supposed to be in Whitby this week but changed their plans at the last minute.
“No offence to Whitby but this is far better,” said Tracey, a nurse from Huddersfield, West Yorks.
“We got our flights for £9.99 on Friday and had the PCR tests done on Saturday.
“We booked into the airport hotel in Manchester on Sunday night and still hadn’t had the results.
“Luckily we got the email just after 11pm and then had a nice sleep knowing we were jetting off in the morning.”
Sipping a pint of Sagres lager, Jerry added: “It’s beautiful here, the weather couldn’t be better.
“We didn’t even tell our friends we were coming because we were worried it would all fall through.
“They are going to be so jealous when they find out we’re in Portugal in the sunshine.”
Ellie Bull, 20, and her boyfriend David Johnson, 25, hit the beach within hours of arriving into Faro.
They soaked up the rays on sun-loungers outside the trendy Puro Beach bar in Vilamoura.
While Portugal announced plans to extend its 'state of calamity' on Friday until the end of the month - meaning localised lockdowns can be imposed - the coronavirus case rate in the country is both low and steady.
Ellie, from Blakeley, Manchester, said: "This is the life. We still can't quite believe we're here. We've no regrets whatsoever in coming here."
Despite today’s influx of Brits the pristine beaches of party town Albuferia were all but deserted.
And pals Julian Marciniak and Jordan Catterall, from Leyland, Lancs, had the pick of the best spots on the sands.
The pair, both 20 and duty managers at frozen food store Iceland, had jetted in on the first flight from Manchester this morning (MON).
And after landing they wasted no time in taking a much deserved dip in the sea.
Jordan said: “By chance we both had holiday to take this week so we booked the flights last week. It was just a coincidence really.
“We were waiting to see if Portugal would open up to the English tourists and thankfully it did.
“I had to cancel three holidays last year so this is fantastic. We are just buzzing to be here.”
Julian said: “We just wanted a bit of normality. We took a chance on these flights. We don’t know what is going to happen with the virus, so let’s make the of the time we have now.”
He added: “It was an early flight but it was the right decision because we have had almost the entire day here. It is brilliant.
“The town and the ‘strip’ is pretty quiet but I think by the weekend it will be busier as more people arrive and more places start to open up.”
