Spain has become a very popular holiday destination and if you are planning a visit this article outlines some practical information about Spain which will help with your holiday planning.

Accommodation in Spain - If you are planning an independent holiday there are plenty of reasonably priced, good quality holiday rental properties in all areas of the country. There are national tourist offices in every large city and regional offices can be found in the smaller towns.  All offer help with finding accommodation and recommending places to visit during your stay. August is the main holiday month in Spain and many businesses close for the whole month. Because of this you advised to book your accommodation well in advance and expect the roads to be busy! Try to find out if your visit coincides with any local fiestas as thet tend to attract more tourists.

Visas and Passports - Visa are not required for citizens of EU countries, Iceland or Norway.A list of entry requirements, which is available from Spanish embassies specifies 35 other countries, including New Zealand, Canada, USA and Australia whose nationals do not need to apply for a visa if visiting Spain for a period of less than 90 days.  If you are planning a longer stay, you can apply to the Gobierno Civil for an extension.  Please note that you will need to show proof of employment of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay. If you intend to stay in Spain for longer than 90 days you are advised to contact your nearest Spanish embassy well before your visit. British visitors to Spain must provide a full passport.

Spanish Time- In winter, Spain is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and in summer one hour ahead of British Summer Time.  La madrugada is the small hours. Morning in Spain lasts until the late Spanish lunchtime at about 2pm.  La tarde is the afternoon and la noche is the evening.

Electrical Adaptors - The electricity supply in Spain is 220 volts, but the 125 volt system still exists in some of the older buildings.  Plugs for both have two round pins.  Take with you a three-tier standard travel converter which enables you to use appliances from abroad on both supplies. Heating appliances should only be used on 220 volts.

Mind your manners! - the Spanish are generally friendly and many will greet and say goodbye to strangers they see in public places. It is not unusual for them to talk to poeple they do not know and tourists are no exception. Men shake hands whenever they meet and women tend to kiss on both cheeks.

Disabled facilities - the national association for the disabled in Spain is known as the COCEMFE and it has a tour company Servi-COCEMFE which publishes guides to facilities in Spain for the disabled. Tourist offices and the social services departments of town halls can also assist in providing details of disabled facilities in Spain. A travel agency Viajes 2000 specialises in holidays for disabled travellers. RADAR and Holiday Care Services in the UK offer limited information for the disabled in Spanish resorts.

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 14th, 2007 at 7:09 pm and is filed under Accommodation Advice, Travel Information. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.