Irish holidaymakers heading to Spain this month are warned to prepare for some interruptions to their holiday plans.
While Spain is well known for its guaranteed sunshine, tourists have been warned of “extreme” heat in the coming days.
Meanwhile, popular tourist spots in the country are struggling with a crisis that could cause people issues as they try and enjoy an evening out.
However, it’s not all bad news as recent changes to Covid entry requirements could mean a holiday abroad will be less hassle than before for some.
Here are all the things to be aware of before you head away on a Spanish holiday in June:
Weather warnings
Irish tourists heading to Spain should remember to pack the factor 50 as “unusually high” temperatures have been forecast for the country this week.
A heatwave has struck the holiday hotspot with the mercury set to exceed 35C in some areas from mid-week.
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Spain’s meteorological agency Aemet issued an update on Monday, warning of “intense heat for the next few days”.
It said: “As of Thursday, we will exceed 35C in large areas of the Peninsula; more than 30C - 32C in the Balearic Islands and the south of the Canary Islands.”
The national forecaster also warned of “tropical nights” with temperatures not dropping below 20C in some areas. It said these high temperatures are not typical for this time of year and are between 5C and 10C above the normal average.
The most popular holiday spots, including the Canary Islands, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, and the Balearic Island, Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza, will be the most affected by the “extreme” heat.
Changes to Spain's Covid entry requirements
Tourists visiting Spain from Ireland will no longer have to show their Digital Covid Certs upon arrival.
Since last week, Spain now no longer requires proof of Covid-19 vaccination, recent recovery or a negative test from EU travellers.
“The improvement of the epidemiological situation” in Spain and other European countries, and Spain’s high vaccination rate were the reasons for the relaxation, the country’s Health Ministry said.
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María Reyes Maroto, Spain’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism said the decision was in part due to the improving Covid situation in the country.
However, restrictions will still apply to travellers from outside the EU.
Evening out issues
As holidaymakers flock to Spain this summer post pandemic, they could be in for a nasty surprise as the country faces a new crisis.
Across the nation, restaurants and bars are crying out for staff and some places cannot open due to a shortage of waiters.
According to business groups, in Spain, there is a shortage of at least 100,000 workers in the tourism industry, a figure that will be difficult to fill.
Some bars and restaurants in popular resorts such as, a popular tourist destination, Benidorm have already had to reduce their hours or shut for entire days at a time due to a lack of staff.
Spain’s Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz blamed the issue on low salaries for waiters or hotel workers.
But Alex Fratini, of the Association of Bars, Restaurants and Cafeterias of Benidorm (Abreca) did not agree, saying that waiters were not badly paid, with most taking home about €1,200 per month and collecting generous tips from tourists.
“The problem is because of the pandemic many staff left. Now we have to get them back in time before the high season this summer,” he told inews.
