Surviving the Spanish heat
The temperature:
The unpredictably of the British summer drives British
holidaymakers to the Spanish Costas in droves for guaranteed
sunshine and beach weather. In fact, British tourists are always
surprised to find that the temperatures in Spain always exceed
the weather forecast printed in the UK newspapers. However, July
and August can witness some extremely hot temperatures and the
constant 'blanket' heat can feel pretty unbearable, particularly
if you have been plunged into the thick of it directly from the
UK.
Although, there is no on/off switch to give you a break from the
suffocation, there are a few preventative measures and cures
that you can take to stop the Spanish weather from spoiling your
enjoyment.
Drinking:
Firstly, surround yourself with water. Start by drinking it and
lots of it! Get into the habit of 'downing' water. Forget about
Cola and alcohol, when you feel thirsty drink plain, old, simple
water.
Don't wait until you feel thirsty, in fact, once you get to this
stage, it is actually a sign that you are already dehydrated. No
other drink will re-hydrate you like water. Get young children
into the habit of drinking it. It is difficult to wean them off
what they are used to but if you don't buy fizzy drinks and
squash, there's nothing else in the house to drink; if they're
thirsty they'll drink water.
Bottled water is cheap in Spain compared to the UK, especially
if you buy supermarket own brands.
Always buy more than you think you will need and in almost every
possible size of bottle. Store them in the fridge and always
keep one by the bedside. Pop a three-quarter filled bottle in
the freezer in the morning, ready to go to the beach in the
afternoon. Stock up at home and take it with you because you
will only end up paying inflated Spanish petrol station prices
when you are out and about.
Ways to keep the temperature down :
Water is key to keeping your temperature down and you should
immerse yourself in water as much as possible. Make sure you
holiday in an urbanisation with a pool or near the beach.
Regular bursts of cold showers are a refreshing way to cool off
for a while.
If you have toddlers buy them a small paddling pool and
supervise them while they splash around. You can pick up
inflatable pools everywhere, the large Spanish supermarkets are
usually quite cheap for inflatable pools, rubber rings etc.
As soon as you arrive go to the supermarket and stock up on
ice-lollies. For small children, you can't beat Mercadona (a
great value supermarket to look out for) for boxes of mini-size
lollies.
You will definitely need an electric fan or two, preferably air
conditioning. However, the only drawback of air con is that
compared with the scorching weather outside, inside can get a
little too comfortable, making it impossible to motivate
yourself to go out. Fans can be bought from Boulangier or the
bigger supermarkets eg Carrefour or Alcampo. Make sure you get
in there before it really heats up as they can sell out very
quickly.
Clothes to bring:
No need to check the Spanish weather forecast before you pack
during the summer, you are guaranteed it's going to be hot! When
packing really think practically about what you will wear in
Spain. When you're in the UK, it's very difficult to imagine
just how little clothing you are going to need. Jeans, long
sleeves and long trousers are out of the question unless you
think you deserve some punishment! The UK has a lot of
competition on the high street, more so than Spain.
Avoid bringing your thick, good quality cotton clothes from Next
and Marks and Spencer's as they will be too warm. In fact, it's
worth trying the 'cheaper' shops such as Primark and Matalan and
even the supermarket ranges especially for children's clothes.
Cheaper clothes are usually made of thinner cotton, which is
ideal for the heat. You could always wait until you get to
Spain, as Spanish clothes do tend to be designed with the
climate in mind. Sarongs and kaftans make great comfortable
cover-ups for ladies especially since many retain fluid and
swell in the heat. The choice in the UK is the best it has ever
been, but if you fancy something different try the Spanish
markets where a kaftan will cost you about ten euros.
Sleep and heat:
The Spanish summer nights can be very balmy and it is not
unusual to see Spanish children in the park at midnight. As far
as sleep is concerned make sure you are well equipped with a fan
and water by your bedside. You will sweat lots at night and
probably won't need even the thinnest of sheets as a cover.
During the hottest period, you will need to change your sheets
every day. Both Carrefour and Alcampo are great for bed sheet
sets 'Juego de sabanas' comprising of a fitted sheet, flat sheet
and long Spanish style pillowcase.
It is worth reviewing your daily routine during your stay. In
Spain, the daily routine is definitely dictated by the weather.
A good starting point is to get into the habit of taking an
afternoon nap during the hottest part of the day. This will
enable you to stay up later and enjoy the more comfortable
hours. If you have children, you may want to adapt their routine
for a couple of weeks, if you're brave enough as there's always
that risk that they won't slip back into their old one when you
return.
Avoid the beach before four o'clock especially if you have young
children. Always avoid the sun between eleven and three. We know
you hear and see this everywhere, but this is what the Spanish
tend to do and they're the sun experts. Remember that you can
burn in minutes so coat on the cream in a high factor, don't
worry you will still tan. Sit as close to the shore as possible
as it tends to be breezier.
Enjoy the Spanish ferias:
If you do have young children, adapting their routine allows you
to make the most of the liveliest time of year in Spain. When I
say lively, I am not just referring to groups of lads on stag
weeks in Puerto Banus. During the summer months, most Spanish
towns hold their annual ferias. The people of Andalucia come out
in their full glory and often Sevillanas costumes to take part
in a party tradition embedded in their culture. The streets are
buzzing with ambiente whilst adults and children alike enjoy the
attractions until the early hours of the morning.
So, prepare yourself in advance and change your routine to
really make the most of your Spanish summer holiday!
Top tips for surviving the Summer weather:
* Water - Drink it, bathe in it, play in it. * Fans *
Ice-lollies * Cheap, light clothes * Lots of bed sheets * Avoid
the beach between eleven and four * Change your routine to adapt
to the weather * Wear sun protection. * Keep checking the
weather forecast, as you may be lucky enough to have a slightly
cooler day to do your sightseeing