Is it safe to travel to Lanzarote and Gran Canaria? Latest coronavirus advice as Spain goes into lockdown
THE UK government has warned against all but essential travel to Spain, with the Canary Islands also affected as the country goes into lockdown.
As cases of coronavirus in Spain hit 8,700 with 294 confirmed deaths, here is everything you need to know if you have a holiday booked to the islands including Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote.
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Tenerife was the first island in the Canaries to be affected by coronavirus, after a hotel was locked down due to an outbreak, while the youngest UK victim aged 59 has died after returning from Fuertuventura.
Can I cancel my holiday to Spain?
Because the government has updated the advice for "all but essential travel," Brits who have booked package holidays can get a full refund if they are ATOL protected.
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.
However, airlines are not obligated to issue refunds unless booked through an ATOL-protected tour operator.
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.
Thousands of Brits have stranded in Spain as airlines cancel flights back to the UK.
Here is the latest travel advice if you are also heading to the Balearic Islands.
Hundreds of flights were cancelled to the islands and Spain last month due to Storm Dennis, with 50,000 passengers affected.