Before

You Go

Forward planning is essential to any successful trip. Be prepared for all eventualities by considering the following points before you travel.

Passports and Visas

EU nationals may visit for an unlimited period, registering with local authorities after three months. Citizens of the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand can reside without a visa for up to 90 days. For those arriving from other countries, check with your local Spanish embassy or on the Exteriores website.

Exteriores

exteriores.gob.es

Travel Safety Advice

Visitors can get up-to-date travel safety information from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the US Department of State and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Australia

smartraveller.gov.au

UK

gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

US

travel.state.gov

Customs Information

An individual is permitted to carry the following within the EU for personal use:

Tobacco products

800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars or 1 kg of smoking tobacco.

Alcohol

10 litres of alcoholic beverages above 22 per cent strength, 20 litres of alcoholic beverages below 22 per cent strength, 90 litres of wine (60 litres of which can be sparkling wine) and 110 litres of beer.

Cash

If you plan to enter or leave the EU with €10,000 or more in cash (or the equivalent in other currencies) you must declare it to the customs authorities.

Limits vary if travelling outside the EU, so always check restrictions before travelling.

Insurance

It is advisable to take out an insurance policy covering theft, loss of belongings, medical problems, cancellations and delays. EU citizens are eligible for free emergency medical care in Spain provided they have a valid EHIC (European Health Insurance Card).

EHIC

ec.europa.eu

Vaccinations

No inoculations are necessary for Spain.

Money

Most urban establishments accept major credit, debit and prepaid currency cards. Contactless payments are common in cities, but it’s always a good idea to carry cash for smaller items. ATMs are widely available throughout the country, although many charge for cash withdrawals.

Booking Accommodation

Spain offers a diverse range of accommodation, including a system of government-run hotels called paradors. A useful list of accommodation can be found on the Turespaña website.

Book your accommodation well in advance if you plan to visit in the peak season (July and August). As a winter-sun destination, the Canary Islands are busiest from December to March.

Most hotels quote their prices without including tax (IVA), which is 10 per cent everywhere except on the Canary Islands, where it is 6.5 per cent and called IGIC.

Turespaña

spain.info

Travellers with Specific Needs

Spain’s COCEMFE (Confederación Española de Personas con Discapacidad Física y Orgánica) and Accessible Spain provide information and tailored itineraries, and companies such as Tourism For All offer specialist tours for those with reduced mobility, sight and hearing.

Spain’s public transport system generally caters for all passengers, providing wheelchairs, adapted toilets and reserved car parking available at airports and stations. Most trains and some buses can accommodate wheelchair users. Metro maps in Braille are available from ONCE (Organización Nacional de Ciegos).

Accessible Spain

accessiblespaintravel.com

COCEMFE

cocemfe.es

ONCE

once.es

Tourism For All

tourismforall.org.uk

Language

Castellano (Castilian) is Spain’s primary language, but three others are also widely spoken: català (Catalan) in Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands; galego (Galician) in Galicia; and euskara (Basque) in the Basque country. As a visitor, it is perfectly acceptable to speak Castilian wherever you are. English is widely spoken in the cities and other tourist spots, but the same cannot always be said for rural areas.

Closures

Lunchtime

Many shops and some museums and public buildings may close for the siesta between 1pm and 5pm.

Monday

Many museums, public buildings and monuments are closed all day.

Sunday

While most points of interest are open on Sunday, churches and cathedrals are closed to the public during Mass. Some public transport runs less frequently.

Public holidays

Most museums, public buildings and many shops either close early or do not open at all.

Need to know Before You Go

At a Glance

CURRENCY

Euro (EUR)

alt image

Average daily spend

Need to know Before You Go

ESSENTIAL HINDI PHRASES

alt image

Need to know Before You Go

Electricity Supply

Power sockets are type F, fitting a two-prong, round-pin plug. Standard voltage is 230 volts.

alt image

Need to know Before You Go

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

1 Jan New Year’s Day
Mar/Apr Good Friday
1 May Labour Day
15 Aug Assumption Day
12 Oct Spain's National Day
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
6 Dec Spanish Constitution Day
8 Dec Feast of the Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Christmas Day
..................Content has been hidden....................

You can't read the all page of ebook, please click here login for view all page.
Reset
52.91.0.68