sethstanley

I'm not sure how – it all happened so fast and the details are kind of hazy -but somehow, we found a way out.

We navigated the complex waters of UK government guidance and skilfully avoided the spotlights of travel insurance.

The window of opportunity was tight. Almost too tight – but with mere hours to spare, we mapped out our route to Liverpool John Lennon airport, hoping to make it onto the plane headed for the beautiful Balearic island of Majorca.

The airport

Security was tight, as expected. Some stores had begun to open in the days leading up, but it did not look like a typical airport operating in UK school summer holidays.

The 'usual' social distancing rules were in full operation: keep 2m apart signs and hand-gel were everywhere. Masks were expected to be worn everywhere, including on the plane.

The flight

Despite the airport being a ghost-town in comparison to normal – the flight was busy. In-flight service was as usual, except there were no hot drinks or hot food, and only contact-less payment was accepted.

On landing two hours later, people were asked to stay in their seats until the row in front of them had exited the plane, and that included having access to overhead lockers.

It was so refreshing to see people wait and follow instructions in an orderly fashion.... Sorry, I can't keep a straight face! It was the usual post-flight bedlam – with people ignoring repeated requests from the cabin crew to remain in their seats until the row in front had moved out. Why people can't follow simple instructions in situations like that is beyond me.

Few things give me more pleasure in life than exiting an airport before someone who has purposefully moved in front of me to get off a plane a few seconds faster.

The hotel

We have stayed in Mar hotels in Majorca before – this was our fourth visit to Majorca in four years. It's an easy holiday for us. The kids love it – and if the kids are happy, we're happy. (Am I right, parents?)

We stayed in Playa de Muro, on the North East side of the island, South of Alcudia. Normally thorough researchers, we booked there on the strength of a five-kilometre stretch of beach, likened to the sapphire blue waters of the Caribbean.

View from our balcony – the theatre bar area

We booked it planning for the worst, but hoping for the best – beaches locked down, the pools closed, even being possibly confined to our room for the whole stay, but none of these things materialised.

Sure, there were things about it that weren't ideal. It's tough enough trying to make yourself understood in English to Spanish speakers at the best of times – factor in a face-covering and you realise just how much you rely on watching people's mouths to read what they're saying. Smiling and showing appreciation with your eyes is fast becoming a skill we must all acquire!

Palm trees – not social distancing

Normally, one of the benefits of staying in an all-inclusive resort is being able to help yourself to an endless buffet of food. Wearing a mask, shuffling around a one-way system in a restaurant and standing in a line to be served sounds like a holiday straight from a Philip K.Dick short story- but it was actually ok, and balanced by some of the more positive elements of the holiday.

Sally Stanley, emerging from a giant turtle

The hotel, like most in the area, were running on 50% capacity, and when a fresh UK 14-day quarantine from Spain and the Balearics was announced a day into our stay – no more British people turned up.

There was no rush for a sunbed, always plenty of choice by either pool. And lots of space in the water too, for aquatic frivolity or more serious strokes. In the evening, a wealth of socially distanced tables and prompt table service, instead of the usual three-deep line at the bar, and barely a person's width to negotiate between the tables.

The main pool – virtually empty, but still no cannonballs allowed

The flip-side was, it's kind of sad. We cry for space, and choice – and we had it in abundance, but there was a distinct lack of holiday atmosphere. Few people to watch and socialise with, fewer kids for the kids to splash around with, and much smaller audiences for the evening acts to play to.

The entertainment staff, reduced to a team of two, begged me and my daughters to come and play Fortnite. One of them even came in on their day off to play!

The beach

The beach at Playa de Muro is beautiful. You can walk it all the way to Alcudia. The warm waters are divided into a double-crescent bay. People windsurf and paddle board on one-side, while families swim and splash around on the other. You can walk really far out without needing to tread water. It's ideal for small kids and poor swimmers.

Playa de Muro – beautiful AND empty

There was ample space to stretch out without coming into contact with other people. Not like images we saw this week from UK beaches, where you couldn't pass a sheet of paper between bathers.

Knowing what we know now, would we do it again?

Before I left, I saw people shaming others on social media for taking vacations, calling them selfish. Honestly – I don't care what people think. My family and I needed this break – mental health is just as important as physical health. I'm glad we saw an opportunity and took it.

Everyone I saw was following the guidelines and I felt safer in Majorca than I do at the supermarkets here where people aren't following the guidelines – hardly anyone wearing masks (including the staff, despite notices at the entrance that say they're compulsory).

Now we're quarantined for two weeks, I don't regret going at all. I feel well-rested and ready to go back to working from home.

I feel positive that the world is trying its best to think its way around new problems as they present themselves and give hope that one day we'll get back to how things used to be.

The old normal – just improved.

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