|
|
Spain: FAQs,
Insider Tips & Links
Here are some
useful links and information we thought would be useful when traveling
to Spain. If you need more information, please contact
Ana, the Travel Advisor for Spain. |
|
National Holidays
|
|
Official
holidays are:
January 1 - New Year's Day
February - Carnival
August 1 - Emancipation Day
August 31 - Independence Day
December 31 - Boxing Day
Spain celebrates most, if not all, American Holidays, in addition
to their own holidays. The Embassy and other official buildings will
usually be closed on these days. The Hindu and Muslim festivals of Divali and Eid-ul-Fitr, respectively, are public holidays in Trinidad
and Tobago. Where the public holiday is a religious observance, the date
is selected in accordance with the particular religious calendar. For
example, Divali and Eid-ul-Fitr fall on changeable dates which will be
announced closer to that time. When a public holiday falls on a Sunday,
the holiday will be celebrated on the Monday immediately following. |
| Telephones |
|
You
can buy phone cards at the PTT Office or – just about any gift shop.
This is the best and cheapest way to call home. Don’t call from the
hotel! It is MUCH CHEAPER sometimes – 10 times cheaper to call on a
phone card. Use any phone on the street and just insert the card and
make your call. It’s really easy. Also ask at the hotel front desk
about the services provided/not provided for phone service. They will
be more than happy to tell you what you will and will not be charged
for. The emergency phone number for emergency service throughout
Europe is 112. |
Spanish
Currency |
|
Spanish currency is the Euro (EURO
or €). For more information visit the Euro web sites at http://europa.eu.int/euro/
or http://www.euro.ecb.int/. For a quick and current exchange chart go to
www.oanda.com.
The exchange rates change so quickly because of the high inflation rate.
Prices change so quickly that most merchants do not even put prices on their
merchandise!
Money tips to remember:
1) One Euro is divided into 100 centimes. There are eight different coins
worth 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 centimes, and 1 and 2 Euros. Banknotes come in 7
denominations: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 Euros.
2) Tourists may bring up to 6,010.12 Euros (approximately $5,724.00) without
declaring the amount at customs. Any amount exceeding 6,010.12 Euros must be
declared on arrival. Upon leaving Spain, tourists carrying more than 6,010.12
Euros (or equivalent in any other form of currency) must declare it. The
current rate of exchange is approximately $1.00 = €1.05, but it may vary from
week to week. For an updated exchange rate, check with newspapers or banks.
3)Exchange rates vary from bank to bank both in the U.S. and Spain. In general
you will be able to get the most favorable rates at any of the exchange
facilities at any airport in Spain. Traveler's checks in U.S. dollars should
be exchanged in banks or exchange offices as there are not very widely
accepted. Banks in Spain are usually open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 2 pm.
4)Major credit cards are accepted throughout the country in most restaurants,
hotels, gas stations and toll booths. ATM cards can also be used for cash
withdrawal in any of the thousands of ATMs available in Spain provided that
the signs at the back of the card match the signs on the ATM machine. However,
ATMs in Spain only accept four digit PINs so it is very important to make sure
you have a four digit PIN before traveling.
Information from:
http://www.okspain.org/practicalinfo/money.asp |
| People |
|
The people of Spain identify themselves
as Spanish, though there are strong regional affiliations as well,
particularly in Catalunya and the Basque Provinces.
|
|
Languages |
|
The official languages of Spain are
Spanish, Basque, Galician and Catalan. |
|
Population |
|
39 Million |
|
Capitol |
|
Madrid |
| Photographs |
|
If you want to take photos
of 'cute, ethnic locals', ask permission first. Sign language
works fine, and means that you don't insult anyone unintentionally. Also
some museums do not allow you to take pictures. |
Rental Cars |
|
|
Bus
Transportation |
|
Buses
-
Madrid's extensive bus
services consist of over 150 lines that reach virtually every corner of
the city and outskirts. Although the buses tend to take longer to reach
their destination than the metro, they have a few distinct advantages:
they cover a larger area of the city, you get to see where you're going
and (quite importantly) they're air-conditioned in the summer. For buses
from and to the airport, see the arriving and departing page of the
transport section. For buses to destinations outside Madrid, see our
information section. Routes from Madrid to surroundings:
http:// www.ctm-madrid.es. Also
routes to Parque Empresarial, Las Rozas, Brunete, Las Matas and
Villanueva de la Cañada:http://www.autoperiferia.com/presen.htm
City Buses - Most bus stops have detailed city maps posted
(useful even if you're not planning to take a bus) which include the
various bus routes. Prices are 0.95 euro for a single journey or 5 euro
for ten journeys. Monthly passes, which are also valid on the metro, can
be purchased in Estancos where you'll need your DNI card (for Spaniards)
or your passport (for non-Spaniards) and a passport-sized photo. The
buses run from 6:00am to 23.30pm, after which you will have to rely on
night-buses (called 'buhos', meaning owl - see below) or taxis.
Usefully, the ten journey tickets can be shared for travel by more than
one person on a journey.
Buhos (night buses) - If you need a lift after about 23.30pm
you'll have to rely on either the 'buhos' or taxis for transport. There
are 20 buhos bus lines. All start at Plaza de Cibeles,at 24.00 pm (on
map C2-[d4]) leaving every half hour (on the half hour) between midnight
and 3:00 am and every hour on the hour between 3:00 am and 6:00 AM. For
more information: EMT (Municipal Transport Company): 91 406 88 10 /
00.We suggest to visit the site of the Consorcio de Transportes de la
Comunidad de Madrid: www.ctm-madrid.es
Long Distance Buses
Estación sur de autobuses Méndez Alvaro (Main Bus Station) |
|
Taxis |
|
Taxis
Taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced and drivers are on the whole
fairly honest. On busy streets they can be found and flagged down at
virtually any time of the day or night. All official taxis are painted
white with a red diagonal stripe across the front doors. The meter
starts at 1.05 and there are surcharges for things such as extra
passengers, pick-up from a phone call, pick-up at the airport, loading
of luggage etc. Make sure the meter is running, otherwise you risk being
being overcharged. When taking taxis from the airport, train and bus
stations, it is advisable to use the official taxi ramps as roaming
touts who offer lifts are often on the look out for an easy rip-off.
Taxi telephone numbers: (+34)
91 405 5500 / (+34) 91 447 5180 / (+34) 91 445 9008 |
|
Rail/Train Transportation |
|
|
|
The Metro System
|
|
The Metro System
Madrid's Metro
system is cheap, extensive and efficient. The metro is made up of ten
lines and covers most of the city. Prices are 0.95 euro for a single
journey and 5.00 euro for 10 journeys. Ten-ticket passes are also
valid on the
buses. Basic monthly passes which
cost 32.30, can also be used on the buses and on the
Cercanías trains
within the city. Monthly passes can be purchased in
Estancos
where you'll need your DNI card (for Spaniards) or your passport (for
non-Spaniards) and a passport-sized photo.
The
official website for the Madrid metro is
http://www.metromadrid.es
Information Telephone Number for the Users:
(+34)
91 552 5909
Metro Information Center:
C/
Cavanilles, 58
28007 - Madrid
Schedule for information office: Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to
2:30 p.m.
|
|
Airports |
|
There are more than 26 airports in Spain.
The two major airports are in
Barcelona and Madrid. There are other major airports in Andalucia,
Valencia, Alicante, Mallorca, Seville, Bildao and Ibiza that have
regular flights in and out of the country. |
|
Health Tips
|
|
Many of my friends have
visited me and they never get ill from the food or water - but always be
prepared. Take along some medicine like Pepto Bismol or Amodium AD.
|
|
Tipping
|
|
A tip is customary for
cabs, porters, guides, waiters, and personal services. For taxi rides
and restaurants, a 10% tip is sufficient. In many restaurants the tip
is already included in the check, so be careful not to over tip. |
|
Weather and Climate |
|
"While the famous
Mediterranean climate exerts its influence over much of the peninsula,
the landmass of Spain and Portugal gives it a continental climate,
i.e., extremes of temperature, hot summers and cold winters, with
short spring and autumn. Galicia and Portugal's west coast, though
bathed by the Gulf Stream, face the Atlantic and can be cold and
rainy. The Cantabrian regions of Spain (Asturias, Cantabria and the
Basque Country) have a temperate climate with a great deal of
rainfall. The Levante (Castellon, Valencia and Alicante) often suffers
from tremendous rainstorms, usually in autumn, which can cause a great
deal of material damage. In the Pyrenees, too, flash floods can be a
hazard. The peninsula as a whole, though, is extremely dry, especially
in those long, hot summers which are its main attraction for many
tourists." from:
http://spainforvisitors.com/sections/weather.htm |
|
Religion |
|
Roman Catholic |
|
Time Zone |
|
To see time zone go to:
www.worldtimeserver.com. |
|
Music
|
|
The music of Spain is a
combination of Spanish and Portuguese cultures. There is specific
music for different events and always a variety of shows to go and
see. Probably the most popular is the Flamenco dancing and music. Also
enjoy the influences of Basque culture in music and the many other
cultures of Europe that have made their way into Spanish music and
culture. |
|
Public Toilets
|
|
Now that we talked about
water lets talk about toilets. Good bladder control is often a great
thing in Spain. Public toilets are few and far between. Your best bet to
find a clean rest room is in a restaurant or hotel. The bottom line is
don't drink too much and go to the bathroom whenever you find a good one
even if you don't have to.
|
FAQ
What Medical Services are available in Spain?
|
|
"I don't speak
Spanish and am worried about communicating if I have to go to the
hospital" - Pauline
The medical services in Spain are
excellent. There are even specific clinics that promote that they have
English speaking facilities. A website that has this information is:
http://www.embusa.es/cons/. If you can't get a hold of
an English speaking clinic, don't be afraid to take advantage of the
U.S. Embassy and their support. The U.S. Embassy for Spain is located in
Madrid,
website:
http://www.embusa.es/emba/indexen.html. |
FAQ
Traveling in Spain
|
|
"I'm excited about vacationing in
Spain. I want to visit many different places there. What are the travel
services that are provided? - Diana
As you can see from the sections above on travel, that there are many
services provided to travel throughout Spain. The main stations that
serve most of Spain are located in Madrid, and go to both sides of the
country. For great travel suggestions go to
http://cyberspain.com/
or
http://www.holidaysgo.com/europe/spain. Happy traveling! |
FAQ
Christmas in
Spain |
|
"I'm thinking of taking a holiday
vacation in Spain. What are some traditions or things that I can
experience during this time?" - Robert
Christmas is a very special time in Spain. Beginning the first
week of December and ending around January 8th, the Christmas season is
celebrated by holding festivals/celebrations for specific saints that
are important to the country of Spain. Each specific celebration has
uniquely delicious foods that are associated with that celebration. Also
enjoy the many manger and other holiday displays! For more information:
http://cyberspain.com/life/navidad.htm. |
|
FAQ
Six Days in
Spain
|
|
COMING
SOON! |
|
|
|
More
Useful Links for Travelers
|
|
