Once ugly Covid is out of the way and restrictions are lifted, you will still be able to visit Spain relatively easily. Things have changed and so it means you just need to be that little bit more prepared.

Out with the red, in with the blue

First things first, passports. If you are looking to travel outside of the UK, you should be in the process of replacing the red EU passports and getting a new Navy blue one.

Get your Visa Sorted

Similarly, to travel to the US, you will need to apply for an electronic visa waiver called ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) which costs 7 Euros and lasts for three years. Anyone travelling under 18 does not need to pay for an ETIAS.

The travel requirement isn't just for the UK but for many non-EU countries.

Health Insurance

 You must make sure you have either:

-       a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

-       a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)

-       travel insurance with appropriate healthcare cover

 What they Cover

An EHIC or GHIC covers state healthcare, not private treatment and it gives you medically necessary treatment in Spain on the same basis as a Spanish citizen. This means that you’ll get healthcare services for free or at a reduced cost.

An EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance ie: it does not cover everything, such as mountain rescue or being flown back to the UK (medical repatriation). Make sure you have both before you travel to Spain.

You can apply for a GHIC on the NHS website quite easily, and it’s free, click here

 Money

Sadly the value of the pound just keeps going down. Back in 2015, £1 would get you about €1.40. Today, it's nearer to €1.12.

It really is worth looking at specialist travel credit cards that give better rates, or shopping around for cash before you go, and as we’ve all learnt, never change your hard-earned cash at the airport!

Check Roaming Charges with your Operator First

It is advisable that travelers travelling to any EU countries to check their mobile phone provider's roaming charges.

The UK's trade deal with the EU does not rule out additional costs for UK customers using their mobile phones in EU countries.

The biggest UK operators have said they do not plan to reintroduce roaming charges, however it is worth checking before you travel to avoid any nasty surprises after your trip. It is worth noting though that 85% of UK networks currently say they have no plans to charge people roaming fees.

This should be the basics covered to help you plan for your next trip to Spain.

Hope you found this useful! Happy travels!