The policy might feel harsh, but it’s there for consistency. There normally isn’t a “travel mode” or a temporary pass. Trying to use a VPN to pretend you’re in the UK while you’re actually in Spain is treated exactly the same as any other VPN use. It carries the same ban risks. The safest move is to acknowledge you will lack access until you’re back on a UK internet connection. This protects your account from any disciplinary action.