According to official Spanish tourism data, 17,262,286 British tourists visited the country in 2023. Spain welcomed 11,768,265 visitors from France, 10,989,659 from Germany, 2,802,773 from Portugal and 2,758,683 from Belgium. Some were Europesure Travel Insurance customers enjoying holidays in Spain.
With such huge numbers of tourists heading to Spain from countries Europe-wide, it can seem like a safe destination. For the most part, it is. However, every year, some of those holidaying in Spain have to call on their travel insurance policy – or realise how foolish it was to travel without insurance. Some of these will be British nationals, some British expats and others nationals of other European countries. When it comes to travel risks, nobody is immune.
So what are the risks of which to be aware, if enjoying a holiday in hugely popular Spain, whether on the Costa del Sol, in a city such as Barcelona, Madrid or Seville, or in the glorious mountain ranges? Europesure has put this travel insurance guide for Spain together for you.
Vaccinations and mozzie advice
It may come as a surprise that a tetanus vaccination (and booster if over 10 years since the last jab) is recommended for Spain.
With mosquitoes in many locations, and even dengue fever a risk in places such as Cadiz, Catalonia, Murcia and Ibiza, it is important to try to reduce the risk of being bitten by mozzies. Travellers should wear insect repellent containing DEET and, particularly in the evening, wear long sleeved clothing and trousers, to reduce the amount of skin exposed to hungry female mosquitos. Lighter coloured clothing is less attractive to mozzies than dark. Accommodation equipped with mosquito/insect screens can be advantageous but, if lacking these, keep windows closed as much as possible.
Terrorism
There is a continual warning about terrorism in Spain and British nationals, in particular, need to be cautious and be aware of the latest advice about how to act in the event of being caught up in a terrorism incident. This threat is not typically covered by a standard travel insurance policy but, with Europesure, there is a terrorism add-on available. Find out more here.
Altitude sickness
Altitude sickness can be a real danger for those venturing to heights above 2500m. Be very careful, therefore, if venturing around the Pico da Teide in Tenerife (3718m) or Mulhacan in the Sierra Nevada (3479m). Other areas may also present a similar problem. Try to ‘acclimatise’ to altitude for a few days and be very aware of the signs of altitude sickness. Read more about this here.
Photo by Lucrezia Carnelos on Unsplash
Medical care
You should not rely solely on an EHIC or GHIC health card, if visiting Spain. This will only provide the same level of care as available to a citizen of Spain. This means it only covers state healthcare and treatment that is medically necessary.
Some tourist areas, however, may only have private hospitals and local ambulance services may also be privately run. If a traveller finds themselves receiving care in any such private facility, their EHIC or GHIC card will not cover the costs.
To add to the confusion, some hospitals and health centres (centros sanitarios), offer both state and private care. On admission to a hospital, to be on the safe side, you should highlight that you want to be treated via the state healthcare system. If upfront payment is requested, you are most likely being treated privately. The state healthcare system is known as Asistencia Sanitaria Pública or Asistencia Del Sistema Nacional de Salud.
It is fairly common for a hotel to call a private medical team to the aid of a guest who has fallen ill, so make sure everyone in your family or group understands this and can check the situation.
If you have travel insurance, your emergency helpline number should quickly be able to ascertain your situation. Another advantage is that they will be able to liaise with doctors in Spanish and handle any translation for you, so you know what is happening at every stage.
If you take the huge risk of travelling with just an EHIC or GHIC as your medical back-up, do remember that, as well as potentially leaving you exposed to private medical costs, such a card will not reimburse or provide for any medical repatriation costs, or any new travel or accommodation arrangements that need to be made. These are elements that a travel insurance policy, on the other hand, which provide a vital health and financial safety net.
It is also worth noting that dental care is not available on a state healthcare basis in Spain, so if you needed any dental treatment, that again would not be covered by an EHIC or GHIC.
Theft risks
There is a risk of theft and pickpocketing in many Spanish tourist locations. It is always best to try to blend in as much as possible and keep valuables as well hidden as you can. Keep your phone on your person and not in your back pocket. Do not leave it on a table, in a bar or restaurant, or other public location, even within your hotel.
Keep a watchful eye over luggage, especially at the airport, train station and hotel lobby. If travelling on public transport, wear a bag or rucksack on your front.
Download the AlertCops App on to your phone, as this will help you report crime, either as a victim or witness. Also note the emergency services number for Spain, which is 112.
Cities come with areas to avoid, so research these before you travel. In Barcelona, these are Raval, La Mina, La Rambla and El Born. In Madrid, the Centro Madrid, San Blas and Carabanchel are higher risk zones. Be careful also in La Latina, lovely by day but rather more worrying by night.
Seville is a beautiful but very poor town, with shanty town areas in EL Vacie and much poverty in Los Pajaritos. Poligono Norte is another area in which to exercise caution. If you are in Valencia, the El Cabanyal district is one known for issues, illegal squatting and drug dealing.
There are similar areas to beware of in Majorca and Ibiza has issues in certain towns. Illegal taxi scams also operate in Ibiza, so only ever get into a cab that has a round SP sticker. Watch out for individuals or groups of people behaving strangely and stick to main streets, not back alleys or short-cuts.
Water safety
Photo by Sandra Wei on Unsplash
Each year, around 500 people in Spain die whilst swimming. Make sure that you get used to water temperature before plunging in and only swim where it is safe to do so, as indicated by flags. A beach with a lifeguard is probably a better place to go, if you can.
In 2022, Spain’s Guardia Civil, took the threat of riptides around the coastline so seriously that it issued a special warning. Riptides can occur almost anywhere and can be fixed – for what can be days or even weeks – flash riptides, which come and go, or ones which are a permanent danger, occurring around structures such as piers and jetties.
Learn how to identify an area of the sea that might have a riptide – often smoother and calmer water, ironically. You could also perhaps detect a line of sea foam, debris or seaweed that is moving out to sea, or sandy and dirty looking water flowing out to sea.
If caught in a riptide, it is vital not to panic and not to fight it. To try to swim against it will be almost impossible and leave you short of energy very quickly. To discover the best way to deal with this scenario, read our blog here.
This blog will also provide other advice about swimming in the sea, whether you are in sunny Spain or another location.
When around the pool, make sure you supervise children continually and always know the depth of the water. Again, acclimatise to water temperature, rather than diving straight in. Also watch out for uneven paving stones around the pool, or wet slabs on which you could slip. There could also be broken glass, so take care and try not to walk around the pool barefooted or in slippery footwear.
Invalidating your travel insurance
Your travel insurance policy – whether you are insured with Europesure or not - will most probably not pay out for a scenario caused by your intoxication with alcohol or due to consumption of drugs. Similarly, it will not cover the cost of injuries or fatalities that resulted from behaviours such as balconing, jumping from height (unless in an emergency), owling or planking on a building, or climbing, sitting or lying on a building. What might appear a holiday prank is actually usually a highly dangerous thing to do and something that can result in tragedy. Do not even contemplate it, either to show off or as a dare.
If travelling to Spain from the UK, EU, EEA, Monaco or Gibraltar for your holidays, Europesure can offer you comprehensive cover, with the added security and stability that comes through Lloyd’s of London backing. Head to https://www.europesuretravelinsurance.com to purchase cover that suits your needs and is to the level for which you wish to insure.
