A couple on honeymoon were amongst the first Mancs to arrive in Portugal as travel restrictions were eased this morning.
British holidaymakers took the first opportunity for a holiday in many months and boarded a flight from Manchester Airport to Faro.
Among those jetting off to Portugal’s southern coast at 6.15am today were newlyweds Camilla and Calum McNally, from Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, The Mirror reports.
The couple - who tied the knot on Saturday - had to cancel an earlier honeymoon to Greece because of Covid restrictions.
They booked their flights to Portugal as soon as the government announced which countries were accessible to Brits under the latest rules.
Calum, 23, said: “We were desperate to have a honeymoon,” said Calum, 23.
The civil servant said they were both ‘pretty excited’ to get away.
“We want to relax and have some good food by the pool,” he said. “I feel a lot of people are wanting to do that and we feel very lucky to be able to do that today.”
Camilla, 22, added: “It was pretty stressful leaving it to the last minute but it is worth it. We have not been away for so long now.”
Ryanair flight FR4088 was the first plane to leave the tarmac for Faro today.
It’s one of 17 planes taking holidaymakers from throughout the UK to the Algarve.
First in the check-in queue at 3am were Louis Myers, 23, and Elle McLaughlin, 23, together with their 18 month old son Kruz.
The couple, from Manchester, have booked a one week holiday to Vilamoura.
“We can’t wait to get away. We think we deserve it after what has been such a horrible year for everyone,” said Elle.
“This is Kruz’s first time on a plane. We are so excited.”
Construction worker Louis added: “We booked it as soon as we could last week and we are glad we did because the prices have started to go up.”
Meanwhile, friends Kim Howard and Olivia Sheridan from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, were looking forward to lounging around the pool at their hotel in Albufeira.
Hairdresser Kim, 28, said: “I want to have a break, sit down around the pool, get a sun tan, have a drink and have some good food.
“Like a lot of people I struggled during lockdown. People have had enough of it now.”
Olivia, 27, who runs Olivia Rose Beauty in Urmston, said the pair were desperate for a break after working flat out in recent weeks.
“We are both in the beauty industry so it has been non-stop since the end of lockdown,” she said.
“People have been having their hair done at 2am. I’ve been doing nails at 10pm. It has been crazy.”
She added: “I just love going on holiday. I can’t wait.”
Portugal is one of just a few countries on the UK government’s 'green list' for travel.
Travellers visiting a green list country will not be required to quarantine when they get back to England.
However they must fill in a passenger locator form, provide a valid notification of a negative test result prior to travel and take a sequencing test on day 2 after arrival.
Masks are compulsory for both travellers and staff inside Manchester Airport and social distancing is advised.
Portugal’s secretary of state for tourism Rita Marques said “everything is open”.
She said: “Some restrictions apply, of course, so you have to wear a mask, you have to maintain social distancing.
“Masks need to be used all day long, except when you are on the beach, of course.
“So if you are going to a restaurant near the beach you should wear a mask, but if you are near the sea you don’t need to wear a mask.”
She added: “At the end of the day, the experience will be great.”
