Spain is one of the top holiday destinations for Irish tourists, with thousands set to jet there in the coming months.
Ahead of the busy holiday season, Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advice.
Anyone heading to Spain is asked to exercise a "high degree of caution" by the Irish Government, as is the case with most European countries.
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While most Covid travel restrictions have been lifted, there are still many reasons why a trip to Spain could be risky if you're not aware of local laws and customs.
Tourists can be hit with big fines if they ignore certain rules on things like wearing bikinis, drinking alcohol and misbehaving on balconies.
Bikinis and shirtless
Bikinis are completely fine on a Spanish beach, but that’s where they belong in some areas of Spain.
Topless men and women in bikinis can face fines up to €300 on the streets of Barcelona and Majorca.
Tourists will need to cover up in certain areas to avoid getting a fine, so it’s best to bring a cover up to the beach.
Fines can even be issued on adjacent streets close to the beach, so holidaymakers should keep their shirt on until they hit the sand.
Soap and shampoo
Tourists can be fined a massive €750 for using soap or shampoo at some communal beach shower facilities. This is because the chemicals in these products can be harmful to marine life.
Smoking
Smoking is banned on some beaches in areas of Spain, including Barcelona, the Balearics and the Canary islands.
Tourists will be able to smoke in designated smoking zones, so smokers should watch out for clear signs before lighting up.
Smoking away from a designated area could see a person fined up to €2,000.
Balconies
The DFA has issued advice for Irish citizens to take extra care on balconies to avoid fines, injury or even death.
It says there have been a number of “serious accidents” in recent years involving falls from balconies.
“Several of these have resulted in the death or serious injury of an Irish citizen,” the DFA confirmed.
Issuing advice, it said: “It is important to exercise caution when using hotel and apartment balconies, particularly if you have consumed alcohol or drugs, and to avoid taking unnecessary risks. If you suffer a balcony fall while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your insurance company may refuse to cover any resultant costs.”
Spain is attempting to stop a practice known as ‘balconing’ by introducing fines of up to €60,000.
Drinking alcohol
Drinking alcohol on the streets is banned in some areas of Spain including Barcelona and Madrid. Holidaymakers could be fined up to €600 for breaching the strict rules in the cities.
Tourists holidaying in parts of Majorca and Ibiza will also face new drinking rules this year, including a six-drink limit at some all-inclusive resorts.
Party boat cruises, all-you-can-drink bar crawls and some drink offers will also be banned in a bid to cut down on rowdy behaviour.
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