Brits travelling to Spain urged to take 'extreme precautions' on holiday
Holidaymakers heading to Spain have been urged to take "extreme precautions" as the country swelters under blistering heat that will leave Brits reeling. Temperatures have soared to 32C in Seville this week, with Madrid hitting highs of 35C and Barcelona reaching 31C.
Summer in Spain always sounds like a great idea, but with the temperatures reaching the 35C mark, holidaymakers wishing to spend a couple of days in the hot peninsula might want to be careful.
Spain's State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), equivalent to Britain's Met Office, warned: "The danger of wildfires continues at very high or extreme levels in most of Spain, despite the likelihood of showers in many areas. We are at the most critical moment of the season. Take extreme precautions." In other travel news, it comes after a warning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain.
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The country has issued a rare "red" emergency alert with the "maximum" threat facing UK tourists, reports Birmingham Live.
AEMET posted on X: "11/08 11:36 Active warnings today and tomorrow in Spain for maximum temperatures, storms, rain, and suspended dust. Maximum warning level: red. This, combined with the high level of sunshine typical of summer, is causing temperatures to be higher than usual for this time of year, resulting in a heat wave."
"[Today, Monday] temperatures are expected to rise further in the Ebro basin, the southern and eastern thirds of the Iberian Peninsula, and the eastern Cantabrian Sea. Temperatures will begin to fall in the northwest, most noticeably in Galicia."
It continued: "Temperatures will therefore continue to reach 37-39C across the interior of the Iberian Peninsula, also extending to the Júcar and Segura regions and the interior of the Basque Country, where temperatures could even exceed 40C locally."
"In the lower Guadalquivir, highs could reach over 42C, and although with low probability, this threshold could also be exceeded in the Ebro Valley and the northeastern depressions, where this day is expected to be the hottest of the episode."
Meanwhile, a yellow heat health warning has been issued for the UK as most areas have seen the mercury soar past 30C. This is the fourth summer heatwave, with England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all experiencing blistering temperatures.
A number of water companies were compelled to impose hosepipe bans for activities such as watering gardens, washing cars and filling paddling pools.
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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
I tested the Butlin's all-inclusive drinks package to its limit – here's everything I drank in one day for £30
WITH Europe's mega hotels luring Brits abroad with the promise of free booze, Butlin's has now launched its own all-inclusive drinks package that can be added onto your reservation. Known for its great-value family breaks, Butlin's offers a lot for guests staying at one of its three UK seaside resorts. 11 Last year, the holiday park chain launched an all-inclusive drinks package for £30, so I signed up and headed to Bognor Regis to see if it was really worth the money. Within the initial cost of your stay, your booking includes accommodation, evening entertainment, a huge swimming pool with a wave pool and slides, playgrounds, children's activities and shows, and an on-site fairground where the rides are free. Four-day, mid-week, term-time breaks start from just £49 for two adults and two children, which is great value for younger families wanting a fun-packed holiday on a budget. The three-day breaks, which typically fall over the weekend, are usually priced higher. During the summer holidays, a weekend break at the Skegness Resort costs £348 for two adults and two children, which works out to £87 per person for three days. For a family weekend and with so much on offer, it's still a very good deal. So how does the all-inclusive booze package work? Geared up for my holiday, I did wonder if the deal would be worth it and whether the drink on offer would be half decent. In the school holidays, the Butlin's all-inclusive drink deal is £30.95 per adult (15+) per day and £10.50 per day for kids aged 6-14 years (children under five drink for free). On a three-day break, this would be an extra £92.85 per adult - but is it worth it? Never one to shy away from important journalism, I headed to Butlin's in Bognor Regis with my mate Gen and four kids ranging from five to fourteen. I wanted to know if we would drink enough over three days to justify the £304 extra spend for all six of us - and to see how easy it was to use the plan and get into the holiday, ahem, spirit. I tried the new Gladiators event at Butlin's with some of the TV stars… and my kids were obsessed Our basic holiday package for one adult and two children, staying in a Comfort Room was £468 (£52 per person, per night). I had one room, sharing with my two children Finn, eight, and Isobel, five, and Gen had a separate room, sharing with her sons Cole, 14, and Stephen, 10. To add the all-inclusive drinks package onto the booking, it was an extra £41.45 for us and £51.95 for Gen and the boys per day. An overall £124.35 and £155.85 respectively. When you check in, you are given a wristband and a QR code to use when you want to order drinks during your stay. But with with the amount of activities and entertainment, I was unsure whether I would get through £42 worth of drinks in one day. Ever keen to hydrate, we checked in at midday on Friday and headed straight to the on-site Costa coffee shop. After a 2.5-hour drive from London, a large caffeinated beverage was a must, and Butlin's heavily advertises that Costa coffee is included with the all-inclusive drinks deal. Joining the line of fellow, sleep-deprived parents, I eventually made it to the front where I hit my first roadblock… Despite Costa Coffee being included, I soon realised that, crucially, you can't order said coffee from the dedicated coffee shop at the resort. If you have an all-inclusive package, you have to head next door to the generic bar, where Costa-branded coffee is served from a coffee machine. No barista-whipped macchiato with this wristband, pal. The big kids went for Coca Cola and Sprite, which usually cost £2.50, and my younger kids opted for a small orange squash (usual cost 80p). Gen and I stuck with the coffee that would have been £3.85 to purchase, which I actually thought was on the high side, given the instant coffee machine situation. However, despite my initial disappointment, it was perfectly pleasant. We grabbed a table outside in the sun. Cocktails and mocktails are included With people arriving for their weekend of fun, the resort was already starting to get lively, so we headed to the fairground for a spin on the Waltzer and a slide down the classic Helter Skelter. I was impressed that the fairground rides are no extra charge to enjoy. As a parent, amusement parks where rides are priced individually can become very expensive, so I generally avoid them at all costs. Of course, the kids wanted to go on the Go Karts, which are slap bang in the middle of the fairground. These are not included, but at £7 per kid, I stumped up for tickets. Besides, it was almost 1pm and with them occupied for 15 mins, Gen and I could enjoy our first cocktail of the weekend along with some adult conversation. Alcohol is served from 11am at the resort. A glass of house wine is £4.90 and a pint is £5.95. I'm more of a cocktail girl, so I decided to get into the holiday spirit with a margarita, usually £7.75, but free with my wristband. Gen had a 'Butlin's on the Beach', the family-friendly version of the Sex on the Beach cocktail. From the main pub, The Beachcomber, the pre-mixed cocktail tasted fine, but was unsurprisingly pretty basic. My margarita had no salt rim or picturesque garnish and came in a plastic beaker. But, with the sun shining and the kids tearing up the race track, there were no complaints from me. Doing a quick tally, it wasn't even lunchtime yet, and I'd spent over a third of my initial £30 a day outlay already. The kids had gone wild at the fairground and large outdoor playground, so they were keen to neck their all-inclusive drinks too. However, you can only order drinks on the all-inclusive deal at selected places and with both the wristband and a QR code, which is sent to your email. Only the adults wear the band, so it does mean that kids can't go up and order their own drinks. If you have a big brood, expect to be in and out, whipping out your iPhone and flashing your wrist every 15 minutes when one of them inevitably spills their drink or wants something else. However, it was easy to get drinks, and despite the resort being very busy in high season, none of the bars were too crowded or had a long wait. I liked that you could pick up a drink in a plastic cup, rather than a glass, and roam around the resort with it. That meant you were not restricted to designated places, and the kids could have fun while the grown-ups relaxed. For lunch, we got a takeaway Papa John's pizza from the on-site restaurant and had a picnic on the grass. With my purple arm candy, I paired it with a cold beer AND a Coke. Hey, it's all-inclusive, so I went wild. I am on holiday, after all... Meanwhile, the kids were thrilled to be stuffing their faces with pizza and guzzling the unlimited soda drinks. I certainly needed the caffeine and sugar, as after this, we headed to the new state-of-the-art indoor PlayXperience. This massive games room is 50,000 square feet and has Lazer Tag, Neon Golf, Glow Pong, Escape Rooms and a VR arcade. The games here are charged separately, but I thought £9 per person for laser tag and £7 for golf was pretty reasonable considering the prices places elsewhere charge. There is also a cool bar here, HotShots, and the cocktail game was much stronger. This time, my margarita did come with salt and a slice of orange on the side, while my friend had a mojito, complete with fresh mint. Better still, happy hour at this bar starts at 4pm, so it was two cocktails for £12.50 for anyone not on the drinks plan. The setting at HotShots was much calmer and classier than at the main bars in the resort, so we stayed for an extra round, and the kids were happy because they nagged us into a few more plays of golf and a go in the VR room. A small price to pay for some adult conversation and a relaxing drink. 11 11 11 There is a huge choice of entertainment options at Butlin's, including a Peppa Pig show and a circus (which has an extra charge). However, we were all excited for the Stephen Mulhern 'Out of this world' magic show, which saw the TV star doing his trademark tricks on stage and performing stunts. All the kids loved it. The theatre was packed and the audience was clapping and cheering for the TV star. It was a great atmosphere. Here, I went for a Gin and Tonic (usually £5.20). There was a bar outside, and I managed to get two in before the end of the show. Luckily, it was 6pm and time for dinner after this, otherwise I might have got too tipsy to keep a tally. By now, I had easily eclipsed the £30 outlay for my drinks of the day. There was still time for a cheeky wine at dinner and another cocktail at the evening show on the main stage, Iconic. Should you book the all-inclusive drinks with your Butlin's holiday? There is no question, if you like a beer or cocktail in the sun or you plan on drinking at lunch and dinner, with a few extras like coffee and a lemonade in between, £30 a day is well worth the money. Even non-alcohol drinkers would likely break even with two or three coffees, a few Cokes and a non-alcoholic beer or mocktail, but it wouldn't work out such great value. One catch to the deal is that everyone on your booking must pay for the package. So if you have one non-alcoholic adult in the party, they can't opt out. All the kids on the booking also need to pay for the package. The daily cost for two adults and two children (over 6) is £82.60 a day. Gen's older kids definitely made use of the all-inclusive Coke Zero and Sprite, but my children, who are younger, probably only just reached the minimum spend. With squash only 80p a glass, they needed to drink more than ten glasses in a day, and generally, they drink water. It's worth factoring that in when you are calculating for the whole family. All in all, we drank the equivalent of a £69.45 bar tab, exceeding the £42 outlay, but not by much. Even without the package, drinks are very reasonably priced. It wouldn't be a jolly holiday without a happy hour, and Butlin's is no exception. In fact, if you bar hop, starting at Beechcomber Pub at 2pm, and moving to Bar Rosso in the main pavilion or HotShots at PlayXperience, you can actually enjoy Happy Hour(s) until 6pm. By then, some people were very happy indeed. The following day was much the same, but we did spend over three hours at the incredible pool and water park, Splash Waterworld. As well as a huge wave pool, there are seven slides and a kids splash pool. It's absolutely fantastic, especially considering the cheap term-time package prices. I was only able to get the kids out and dried off with the promise of more unlimited soda and orange juice. 11 11 11 Despite the fact we were at the pool for a good proportion of the day, we still managed to drink our quota of beverages. I was impressed with the drinks package but I do think after five days and nights, the novelty of all-day drinking and downing cups of sugary drinks would wear off. Certainly for me, but probably for the kids too. And cold water is free across the whole resort. They actually do seven and 10-night breaks at Butlin's too. For seven nights, the adult deal would be £350 on drinks alone - that's a big spend for a budget break. It's worth doing the maths in advance and making sure it's within budget. I would certainly not drink enough over a whole week to make it worthwhile, as I doubt I would want to drink alcohol every day. I'm generally a light drinker though, so if you do like your beer or wine and you want to relax and have fun on your holiday, it's easy to get your money's worth and excellent value. However, on the three-day breaks I would definitely recommend the all-inclusive package. It's a worry-free way to have a drink and enjoy yourself while the kids are also having a great time. Just remember, your code will stop working at midday on the day you leave - so make sure you get a big coffee in before the drive home.
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
UK weather: Exactly when Britain will be hotter than Ibiza with major 31C heat blast forecast
Weather maps show when the UK is set for more scorching conditions where temperatures could hit the 30Cs again after the current heatwave and sun lovers won't have to wait too long Brits are set for more scorching temperatures ahead with weather maps turning red and it is set to be hotter than the holiday island of Ibiza. The UK is currently enjoying its fourth heatwave of the year with temperatures have soared above 30C again in parts of the country. In unusually hot conditions the warmest day so far was recorded in Faversham, Kent, where it reached 35.8C last month and the outlook is for more heat in the week leading up to the end of the month. A map from Ventusky shows temperatures remain warm but drop to the low 20Cs and high teens for much of the country in the second half of this coming week. But they will begin to climb again the week after, spiking on August 26, with a map mid-afternoon showing a high of 31C in the southeast of England compared to the high 20Cs in Ibiza. Many Brits have headed over to Spain this month during the school holidays but for those who have stayed behind they are having no shortage of sunshine. After the current heatwave peters out, the mercury is set to rise again on Sunday, August 24, where there will be widespread temperatures in the high 20Cs for England while in England it will be cooler in the mid to high teens. The UK will be influenced by a high pressure system over the Continent but a front bringing unsettled weather starts to come in from the Atlantic meaning that for August 25 and 26 it remains hot in the south east but temperatures will cool elsewhere dropping down to the low teens in the west of Wales and northern Scotland. And the outlook from the Met Office from August 21-30 highlights the dry weather at the start but then it says a low pressure will sweep in, linked to Tropical Storm Erin. It states: 'High pressure is likely to be the dominant feature at first, initially centred near to Iceland, allowing a north to northeasterly airstream to affect much of the UK, leading to rather cool conditions. High pressure is likely to progress SE across the UK for a time, bringing widely fine and dry conditions and for some, an increase in temperatures, relative to the previous few days. "Whilst this is happening a deep area of low pressure is likely to develop in the North Atlantic, linked to Tropical Storm Erin. The final week of August may see Atlantic weather systems progress over the UK, especially in the north and west, with a small chance of widely wetter and windier weather developing. The evolution of this is highly uncertain though.'
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Brilliant theme park 90-minutes from Liverpool and Manchester that kids won't want to leave
This theme park in North Wales is set against the stunning backdrop of the Snowdonia mountains and home to a large variety of unique rides and nature-focused experiences This theme park with enough attractions to captivate both younger and older children is every parent's summer wish come true. It is even more enticing with it comes with a picturesque setting that offers a touch of escapism for grown-ups as well. There's absolutely no question that GreenWood theme park in North Wales boasts an idyllic location - proudly eco-friendly and nestled against the breathtaking Snowdonia mountain range. Should you be planning a family break in North Wales this year, or simply fancy a relatively straightforward day trip from Manchester, this park ranks among the finest attractions around. It comes after sunbed wars see Brits forced to queue for 'over an hour' just to get to the pool. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes by car from Manchester, but it follows one of the most uncomplicated routes possible (via the A55 beyond Llandudno and A5 through Bangor). The stress-free journey also provides magnificent coastal vistas along North Wales. As one Manchester Evening News writer discovered, travelling with two children aged 9 and 5, the theme park provides a thoroughly packed day out with an abundance of activities - plus a genuine diversity of rides that sets it apart from typical theme parks. Consider, for instance, its Green Dragon rollercoaster - marketed as the "world's first people-powered rollercoaster". It's apparently the only theme park attraction of its type in the world- but don't fret, it doesn't require everyone to run Flintstones -style to power the ride. The attraction utilises funicular technology, first introduced in Welsh slate mines two centuries ago. All passengers clamber into a carriage which descends a hill, powering the rollercoaster up the incline. There are plenty of very unique features to encounter at this family attraction. Another is the Barefoot Trail - where you kick off your shoes and stroll through the woodland, allowing your feet to feel an invigorating variety of surfaces from water to straw and stones. There is stilt walking for beginners, archery, and during the first week of the school summer holidays, there are virtually no queues for any of the 20+ rides across the site. The only unavoidable wait will likely be for one of the park's more spectacular highlights - the colossal Solar Splash water ride. Another world-first, this ride is powered by solar energy, and allows both kids and adults to zoom down two massive central chutes, or a spiral chute next to them, before making a splash landing at the end. All the wild woodland play features scattered across the site, add an extra dose of intrigue. The park is nestled against a hillside so be prepared for some gentle inclines as you explore the grounds. The on-site Woodbarn restaurant boasts a large soft play barn inside, ensuring your little ones are kept amused while you order food and wait for it to be served at your table. The attraction has recently introduced alpaca walks that you can book as an extra (for £20), where children aged over 4 accompanied by their parents can meet and feed the three resident alpacas on the site. You can then embark on a guided walk with these furry creatures around their enclosure. Treetop Towers, filled with slides and climbing adventures, are situated across the park, and you can walk up to the top of the site to take in the view from the Snowdonia View Point. Entry is £25 per person for anyone over 1m, while those under 1m pay £10. A family ticket saver option is also available, costing £95 for a family of four (saving you a bit at £23.75 each). GreenWood is offering a 'Pay Once, Visit Twice' deal for the summer holidays. If you visit between 19th July and 24th August, you can return within seven days at no extra cost. Dogs are also allowed in for free, provided they're well-behaved and kept on leads.
