Spain travel advice: Country goes into lockdown and flights are cancelled as coronavirus cases near 8,000
THE UK government has warned against all but essential travel to Spain, with airlines cancelling all flights to the country after a 15-day state state of emergency was declared and entire region goes into lockdown.
As cases of coronavirus in Spain approach 8,000 with 294 confirmed deaths, here is everything you need to know if you have a holiday booked.
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Is it safe to travel to Spain?
The UK government advises against all but essential travel to Spain as the country has declared a state of emergency - the first time in 10 years.
Flights are also being cancelled - Jet2, easyJet and TUI are stopping all flights, with a limited service to bring stranded passengers home.
Bars, restaurants and schools are being closed, with public gatherings banned and people advised to stay at home unless making an essential trip as the country is locked down.
Public transport services are also being reduced.
The highest number of cases have been reported in the region of Madrid, with over 3,500 people confirmed to be infected and 213 deaths.
There are also 715 cases in Catalonia, where Barcelona is, while 151 cases have been reported in Alicante where Benidorm is located - while the coastal resort has no cases, tourists face £25,000 fines if they ignore the lockdown.
All of the beaches in Benidorm have been closed.
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To find out more about where the cases of coronavirus have spread to in Spain, click on this interactive map.
The islands are also being affected by the travel quarantines, with the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands also facing travel restrictions.
Flights are being cancelled, clubs are closing down and tourists could be kicked out of the country.
Can I cancel my holiday to Spain?
Airlines are cancelling their flights to Spain as the country goes into lockdown, and Brits who are affected will be offered a refund or alternative flights.
All Jet2 flights were forced to turn around mid-air while TUI has axed all flights to Spain.
EasyJet are suspending all flights to Spain until March 29 while Ryanair are "severely reducing" their routes to the country.
If your flight is still going ahead, you might be able to change it for free - airlines such as easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways are allowing travellers to move their flight dates free of charge to a later date.
If you have a package holiday booked, you will also be able to claim a refund if it is ATOL protected due to the change in government advice.
Independent hotels are not even required to refund money in this instance, so if you have paid in advance and choose not to turn up then you will lose your money.
If the hotel is a large chain, it could be worth asking to change your stay to another location or delay your trip but they are under no obligation to grant this.
Holidaymakers are advised to check with their travel insurance providers to see if there is something they can do instead, or contact their credit card provider if they paid with a credit card.
We've explained everything you need to know if you want to cancel your holiday.
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