Spain in the blog

Find out which months bring genuinely swimmable water, when holidays from Poland cost least, and which islands to avoid when the summer trade wind picks up.

Ten January destinations with sea between +25 and +29°C, plus three closer ones where the sun shows up but swimming does not. Water and air temperatures, flight times from Warsaw after this season's changes to charter routes, indicative prices for a week for two, and every form and fee to sort out before departure.

Eight warm-sea destinations ranked by flight time and water temperature, with indicative prices for a week for two and the paperwork each one needs from residents of Poland.

We look at where the sea is still swimmable in November and where the trip becomes sightseeing instead. With water temperatures, flight times from Warsaw and indicative weekly prices in PLN.

In October the Mediterranean closes its season from north to south, while Egypt and the Canaries hit their peak and Dubai and the tropics open their winter sun. We break down where from Poland you can still definitely swim, where the water is best, and where it pays to wait - with prices, flight times, weather caveats and entry rules.

Spain's beach fines aren't a municipal whim - they trace back to a 1988 law that declared the coastline state property. We explain how that single principle grew into an entire system of penalties, from €100 for a speaker on the sand to €300,000 for an illegal structure, who actually issues the fines, how the appeals process works, and ten specific violations tourists get caught for most often this summer.

In August the Spanish themselves leave their own cities, and that's the best signal of where not to be this month. We break it down honestly: how hot it gets in Madrid, Seville and along the coasts, why the Canary Islands are cooler than the mainland in August, what's shut for the whole month, how much the Catalonia tourist taxes now cost, and who should move their trip.