Can I travel to Portugal? SandyBlue answer your questions!

Last updated: Wednesday, June 16th 2021

Following the UK governments decision to add Portugal to the Amber list, many people are wondering about travel to Portugal. Is it still possible? Is it a safe destination despite the decision?

We of course disagree with the decision. Portugal is still considered safe for non-essential travel by the UK's Foreign Office...so what is going on? Many of our guests have the same confusion - they simply want to enjoy their well deserved holiday without interference and last minute changes. We have been busy answering many questions over the last week, so we decided to put them all in one place.

SandyBlue's Portugal Travel FAQ's

Am I still allowed to travel to Portugal on holiday?

As far as the Portuguese government are concerned, unrestricted holiday travel to Portugal is allowed for all but a handful of countries (India, South Africa and Brazil). For our UK guests, The Foreign Office is still allowing non-essential travel to Portugal and the travel advisory has not changed. For our Irish guests, it looks like non-essential travel will resume from 19th July. Fingers crossed and we want to welcome back all our guests from across Europe and the world as soon as possible!

Will I still have the same experience?

Yes! All beaches, restaurants and bars are open and we have many guests here already enjoying our piece of paradise.

Are airlines still running their flights?

Yes. The majority of airlines are still running flights from across Europe. Some schedules have changed and in fact, prices have come down on certain routes.

Is Portugal safe?

Yes. Portugal has amongst the lowest Covid rates in Europe. In the Algarve, there are very few active cases with only 2 people in ICU and no pressure on the hospitals. All Portuguese establishments follow ‘Clean and Safe’ protocols and restaurants and bars have been open since 4th April.

Will I have to quarantine when I get home?

This obviously depends on a country by country basis but rules are becoming clearer by the day. Assuming Portugal is still in ‘amber’, the majority of our guests from England are opting for the 5-day‘ test to release’ scheme. Details can be seen here. Please check with your local government home office if you are not sure.

I’m worried about the inconvenience of testing

There are many testing providers now offering convenient ‘packs’ at reduced rates, all of which can be done from the comfort of your home or villa before you fly back. There are also many ‘walk-through’ testing centres here in the resort and airport. Our guest experience team can help organise anything you need.

UPDATE (16/06/21): Portugal have announced that tourists can travel without a PCR test - they can now opt for the cheaper and quicker lateral flow antigen test.

What’s the weather like there now?

Summer has arrived and the forecast is amazing from now until the end of September. Don’t just take our word for it, jump on a flight and come and see for yourself!

Do SandyBlue have any last-minute availability and special offers?

Yes, we have some great last-minute options, with some tempting discounts available. We have set up a special category for last-minute availability and another category with some great deals.