Brits hoping for a summer getaway were given a glimmer of hope yesterday after France's PM said the country was entering a phase in which “freedom is the rule and restriction the exception.
The country is set to reopen bars, cafés and restaurants nationally from next week.
More importantly for people yearning for a holiday abroad,campsites, hotels, B&Bs and gîtes will reopen in some places on June 2.
In all of "green zone" mainland France, all sites will reopen but in the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris, it is delayed until June 22.
The move will see over 8,000 campsites reopen across the country - but travellers should expect new rules.
Wearing a mask may be required in enclosed places, such as on-site restaurants, whilst entertainment and activities must comply with social-distancing rules.
And deckchairs around swimming pools could be removed, whilst tape markings could show people how to queue for water slides safely.
Vice-president of the national federation of outdoor hotels,Christophe Lelièvre said: “Pool water is chlorinated so there are no worries concerning the virus", but campsite managers are encouraged "to limit the number of deckchairs, or even take them off”.
The use of pools can be "limited or filtered, thanks to coloured bracelets for example", and tape on the ground can space out the queue for water slides, suggests Mr Lelièvre.
Mr Philippe said he hoped "travel in Europe will be possible" this summer.
But he warned: “The less we move around, the less we spread the virus.
“I call on all French to show the same kind of responsibility as they have been showing throughout the crisis.”
France, where more than 28,600 people have died of coronavirus, is now hoping to remove internal border restrictions with many European countries without mandatory quarantine measures.
This would exclude Britain, where a strict 14-day isolation rule is set to start on June 8.
News of caravan parks opening in France gave hope to members of the British Holiday and Home Park Association (BHHPA).
Its director-general, Ros Pritchard, has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson asking why holiday parks in England would have to wait until July to reopen, possibly alongside pubs, when social distancing for those with a holiday home "will be identical to what they do at home".
She wants the green light given for parks to open next month.
The Welsh Governement's easing of lockdown restrictions includes the opening of “accommodation businesses without shared facilities” at the same time as “non-essential retail”.
Reacting to the Prime Minister's announcement last night about easing lockdown restrictions even more, Ms Pritchard said: "It's sadness rather than anger.
"We need consumer confidence and we need community confidence.
"The social distancing logic isn't there. If we're out shopping and we're out in parks and we're in groups of six which aren't our family but we can't go to a holiday caravan, we can't see the logic.
"It's just sad."
In Scotland self catering homes and caravan parks might be allowed to open earlier than hotels, the deputy first minister has said.
The Daily Record reports that John Swinney revealed he is looking at the timing after claims it is possible to stick to social distancing rules in accommodation such as caravans and self-catering lodges.
Under current plans, restrictions will be lifted in four main phases. All accommodation providers are listed together in phase three, which could be after summer.
Concerns were raised with him by the convener of Holyrood’s Covid-19 committee.
Swinney said: “I understand exactly the point you are raising with me. It’s been raised with me by businesses within my own constituency, by individuals and also very much with the tourism minister, Fergus Ewing.
“The government is looking at the all of these questions to determine if we have the timing correct.”
Ms Pritchard added: "We have got the Welsh government, Scottish government, French government and others across Europe recognising holiday caravans, self catering, without shared facilities are in a different category. So the one government that hasn't is England."
