By Amileh Begum, Travel Ambassador Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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As Brits scan for flights to one of the UK’s favourite holiday destinations, Spain, are we as quick to check up on the latest travel advice and local laws as the best places to party and get a last minute booking?

Extreme Weather

Spain and other parts of Southern Europe often experience extreme temperatures and as well as impacting your skin and overall health, they can lead to wildfires.

Being mindful of driving and travelling through woodland areas is therefore really important – lighting cigarettes, outside barbeques and leaving bottles around is a recipe for disaster. Causing a forest fire is a criminal offence and you can get heavily fined even if it was unintentional.

As for looking after yourself – staying hydrated, taking shade at high points of sun and heat during the day and looking after your skin all help keep issues like sun stroke at bay. And while we’re talking about getting ill while you’re away, having Travel Insurance is a must. Also make sure you get your free Global Health Insurance Card – while this doesn’t cover you like travel insurance does, it does give you access to medical treatment at the same cost as residents of Spain and it’s free to get one so it’s definitely one to sort.

Entry info

The Schengen area passport requirements require your passport to;

• have been issued less than 10 years before the date you arrive (if you renewed before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago – so definitely check!)
• have an expiry date at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the area

You can travel without a visa here for up to 90 days in any 180-day period if you’re a tourist, visiting family or friends, attending business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training.

ID

You have to provide photo ID if asked by a police officer – this includes Guardia Civil and national, regional and local police forces. You can be held at a police station until they’ve confirmed your identity. So it’s worth taking a copy of the photo page of your passport, or having other photo ID with you.

ID can sometimes be asked for in shops when using your credit or debit cards – some accept driving licence or a copy of your passport, but some may ask for your passport, so it’s worth being aware of if you’re planning on a shopping spree.

Hotels, tourist accommodation and car rental companies have a legal duty to register passport and other details of tourists who check in or collect a vehicle. Be sure to wait until they’ve taken a copy of this rather than leave your passport to collect later.

Local laws to be aware of

There are a number of laws and bans you should be mindful of when you’re visiting Spain to avoid fines, being evicted from your hotel or more serious charges from the police.

• You cannot drink on the streets in some areas of Spain, including public beaches
• Some resorts like Magaluf, Palma and Ibiza have limited sale of alcohol which includes happy hours, open bars, and pub-crawls
• You can be fined for dangerous drunken and disorderly behaviour at hotels and bars, and you can get evicted from your hotel for behaving dangerously on your balcony
• It’s illegal to smoke on all beaches in Barcelona, and many other beaches in Spain
• A lot of places like restaurants and resorts have banned clothing like bikinis, swimsuits, swim shorts, strapless tops and footie shirts so check for any dress codes
• Speaking of restaurants, unless you want to foot 20% of the average bill, make sure you show up to your reservation!
• It seems tempting to attend a party on a boat or cool ‘underground’ event but unlicenced events can get everyone involved, including attendees, heavily fined
• Noise pollution is also something Spanish authorities are trying to curb as part of their anti-nuisance laws so make sure you’re not blasting music out on the beach or attending loud parties near the local population
• There are severe penalties for illegal drug offences too – including cannabis, even in small quantities.

Outdoor activities

There’s lots to do outdoors when you’re in Spain but there are also a few things to be mindful of to keep you safe whether it’s relaxing or adrenaline seeking you’re after.

• Hikes around Spain’s beaches and cliffs are a perfect antidote to busy tourist areas. But it can get extremely dangerous in the heat, or if you’re under the influence. Be sure to plan your trip, think about timings and heat and make sure you’ve done your research.
• Travel insurance is unlikely to cover instances where the accident occurred due to drink or drugs and many policies will specific the need for safety equipment. This is why add-ons to your insurance policy may be critical as well, many activities won’t be included in a standard policy so check what’s in yours
• When you’re driving – always carry your UK driving license (and Provisionals are not valid). Also check your travel insurance covers driving in Spain and your length of stay
• Earpieces while driving are illegal and motorcyclists/moped drivers must wear an approved safety helmet at other protective clothing

For the Travel Advice low down check out the FCDO’s page on Spain here.

Lots of tips for sticking with your mates and having a safe holiday here and for some tips on getting the right travel insurance here.

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