Many leaving the UK experienced mayhem at airports across the country – then by the time they finally reach their holiday destination found it to be cold, raining and beaches have been damaged by storms.
Many beaches on the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol – some of the most popular locations in Spain for British visitors – were a complete mess and covered with debris.
Deck chairs and sun loungers were overturned, stalls have been torn apart and mess covers the usually beautiful sand.
British tourist Dave Prentice, who owns a holiday home in Villajoyosa near Benidorm which has also suffered damage, said: ‘I’ve been coming here for years and this is the worst I have seen the coastline at this time of the year.
‘I was hoping to go back home with a tan but since I got here last week all I’ve seen is rain and more rain.’
Tourists were previously warned to avoid the holiday destination as yellow weather warnings were issued across Spain around a week ago.
Miguel Muncharaz, manager at iconic Marbella beach bar and restaurant Trocadero Playa, said: ‘This last storm has devastated this place. Only the structure is left.
‘It’s a disaster. There’s no way we’ll be able to get everything back to the way it was before Easter.’
Tourist chiefs admitted they were racing against time to fix the damage and refill eroded beaches with dredged sand in time for Easter week, one of its busiest periods.
The head of the Costa del Sol Tourist board has called for the Malaga coast to be declared a disaster zone due to the extensive damage.
Francisco Salado said: ‘The beaches are our biggest tourist attraction and we rely on them being in good condition.’
Estepona’s mayor, Jose Maria Garcia Urbano, said long-term measures to protect the coastline are required.
He wrote in an open letter: ‘Replacing the sand is a medicine whose effects last a few weeks and sometimes just a few days.’
But many owners of beach bars suggest their business over Easter has already been ruined as they have been left with repair bills costing thousands.
كان الطقس سيئًا أيضًا ، حيث كانت إسبانيا أبرد من بعض أجزاء بريطانيا هذا الأسبوع.
كانت درجات الحرارة في كوستا بلانكا بالأمس 12 درجة مئوية فقط ، وكانت أكثر برودة من لندن وأدفأ قليلاً من مانشستر.
إنه أكثر دفئًا ومشمسًا اليوم مع درجات حرارة حوالي 18 درجة مئوية ، ولكن من المتوقع أن يكون أسبوع عيد الفصح عبارة عن حقيبة مختلطة مع مزيج من أشعة الشمس والاستحمام.
استقبلت الأحوال الجوية السيئة السياح بعد أن واجهوا طوابير انتظار ضخمة في المطارات وتأخر وصول الأمتعة وإلغائها في مطارات المملكة المتحدة.