Tourists throwing out their bus tickets could face fines while on holiday
Credit: Shutterstock
Spain is one of the most popular destinations abroad for Brits to take their summer holidays.
17 million British tourists a year
According to Statista, more than 17 million British travellers headed South for a trip to Spain.
However, tourists can be at risk of paying hefty fines if they aren’t in the know of some of the Peninsula’s laws.
Bus ticket fines
One such law includes a €100 fine if tourists throw away their bus tickets before reaching their destination.
Tourists taking public transport could face a fine if they are unable to show a valid ticket, especially in cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, where there are strict public transport rules and frequent, but random, ticket inspections.
It is advised that Brits should purchase their tickets before boarding and ensure that it is valid, as well as make sure to keep them for the entire journey as proof of purchase, to avoid paying the fine.
Taking public transport without a valid ticket can result in an on-the-spot fine of up to €100.
Public transport isn’t the only place to receive a potential fine while holidaying in Spain.
Littering fine of up to €3,000
Littering is also taken very seriously in Spain, especially in the large cities pushing for sustainability.
If you are caught littering you could face a fine ranging from €100 to a staggering €3,000, depending on the severity and location of the offence.
Thankfully, most tourist destinations have designated recycling bins and large waste bins dotted around, making it easy to dispose of your waste without paying an extortionate fine.
Drinking alcohol outisde
The expert always warned against consuming alcohol outside of designated areas, including bars and licensed premises.
Drinking alcohol on public streets or parks can see you paying a fine upwards of €600.
This rule is particularly enforced in tourist hotspots, where it is common, to maintain public order and cleanliness.
These warnings come in preparation for a new rule being introduced this fall.
New traveller s report being introduced in October
From October 1, anyone in Spain who rents out accommodation or a hire car to tourists will have to fill out a traveller’s report.
This report demands details that are not available on a tourist’s normal form of identification, such as a passport.
The new information required includes things such as payment methods, bank details, email addresses and telephone numbers, as well as much more.
CEHAT argues against new report
CEHAT, the Spanish hotel association, stated that this new requirement could cause chaos as hoteliers won’t be able to cope with the added workload at reception, at an already hectic time.
Additionally, CEHAT pointed out that many travellers will arrive at accommodations where there is no reception at all, such as Airbnb’s.
These new regulations have been previously announced but postponed twice, first in October 2021 and next in November 2023, postponing to the now expected date of October 1, 2024.
In response to the new rules, CEHAT has launched a legal challenge, stating the reports are not legal, and demanding an urgent meeting with the Ministry of Interior.
CEHAT stated that For hoteliers, it is impossible to collect and certify the authenticity of some of these data, which would cause organisational chaos at receptions to the detriment of users and flagrantly contravening the data minimisation rules of European directives and their protection.
Sign up for personalised news
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our
Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Originally from the UK, Harry Sinclair is a journalist and freelance writer based in Almeria covering local stories and international news, with a keen interest in arts and culture. If you have a news story please feel free to get in touch at [email protected].
Leave a comment Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment for robots
Known as the PEOPLE’S PAPER, Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain. And it’s FREE!
Covering the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Almeria, Axarquia, Mallorca and beyond, EWN supports and inspires the individuals, neighbourhoods, and communities we serve, by delivering news with a social conscience. Whether it’s local news in Spain, UK news or international stories, we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home.
With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month, EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain. The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close.
Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP), Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall). All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers. All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE.
Sign up for personalised news
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Close
