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Entry requirements and
procedures
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What documentation do I need in
order to travel to Spain?
Entry requirements and visas
A full British passport, valid for the duration of the
visit only, is required to enter mainland Spain, the Balearic and Canary
Islands. Children included in an adult’s passport must be under 16 years of
age.
EU, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland citizens do not
require visas for visits whatever their length.
Holders of passports valid for the entire period of the
visit, issued by Australia Canada, Japan and the USA do not require visas for
visits of fewer than 90 days, but a special visa is required for longer stays.
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Climate
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What type of clothing should I
pack?
In Spain, people dress differently according to the
season, the place they are going to, and the circumstances. In the coast,
because of the mild climate, it is usually not necessary to pack warm clothes;
while in the interior, you should dress according to the season. In the
interior of Spain, temperatures vary greatly from one season to the next, with
very cold winters, and really hot summers. Spanish people don't dress up too
much to go out, although of course, it depends on where you are going.
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What is the weather like in
Spain?
Spain, one of the warmest countries in Europe:
Spain's predominant climate is
Mediterranean-temperate, with dry summers, and pretty constant temperatures during
the winter. In Spain, you will enjoy more than three thousand hours of
sunlight. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that this region is one of the
warmest in Europe.
In this sense, we should mention the Canary Islands.
Because of its peculiar location, in front of the African coastline, these
islands enjoy a mild climate, with generous temperatures (the annual average on
the coasts being 22ºC), without a major difference in weather between daytime
and night time.
However, the main characteristic of Spanish climate is
its variety, due in part to Spain's geographical diversity.
This way, if we travel north to the Cantabrian coast
we will find a humid, temperate climate, with mild winters, and gentle summers
that rarely go over 25º C.
In the higher areas of the country, the climate gets
rougher, and snow is frequent from the beginning of winter to the end of
spring. Such is the case in the Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada, the Central Mountains,
the Iberian Mountains, the Cantabrian Mountains, etc.
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Health and safety
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How does the Spanish Health
Care System work?
The Spanish National Health Care System has a vast
network of medical centres and hospitals, spread across the country? They offer
all primary care services, as well as specialised attention. For listings of
Spanish Hospitals visit web
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Where can I find the embassy or
consulate of my country in Spain?
Foreign embassies and consulates in Spain
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Where do I buy my medication?
In Spain, medications are obtained at pharmacies. They
are all marked with a green cross. You will get your prescriptions from your doctor.
If you come from a country in the European Union, or your country has health
agreements with Spain, you will have the same prescription drug benefits as
Spanish citizens.
Can I take my own medicines
when travelling to Spain?
If you have an existing medical condition and require
special treatment or diet you are advised to carry a letter from your doctor,
translated into Spanish, indicating the nature of the condition, treatment and
medicines required. If any of your medicaments fall in the controlled drugs
category, you need to comply with regulations on drugs exports in your own
country. Then you need to apply for the Spanish import license at your nearest
Spanish consulate with the following doccumentation: - License for exportation
of controlled drugs - Full name, current address and contact telephone number
of applicant or Drug Unit.- Flight details (dates) and destination address in
Spain.- A FAX number or address details to send the Spanish Import License once
we receive it from Spain.Special dietary products are available from health
shops and pharmacies.
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Where do I call in the case of
an emergency?
The emergency phone number is 112, valid and free in
the entire Spanish territory.
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Is Spain a safe country?
Spain, one of the safest countries:
In general terms, Spain is one of the safest countries
in Europe for visiting tourists.
As in any country, there are basic security measures
to bear in mind…
Try not to walk around empty streets or poorly-lit
areas, and avoid street gambling stalls. Try to carry only the money you need
for any one excursion. Take care of your possessions in crowded places such as
public transport or department stores. When relaxing in public places, keep
valuable objects like mobile phones and cameras out of view.
Do not forget advice from security experts: Prevention
is the best cure for this kind of problem. If you need help you can contact the
Police on 112.
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As a citizen of the European
Union, what should I know about health care in Spain?
You will require your European Health Card (EHC): The
European Health Card has now replaced the former E111 temporary stay form. It
entitles you to the same medical care as before, identical to that received by
Spanish citizens. It is valid for the period shown on the card.
You are entitled to free medical and hospital care:
Having shown your European Health Card (EHC), you will be seen by a GP during
surgery hours at a local health centre or at your accommodation if you are
unable to make the journey. If you need to see a specialist or go into
hospital, the GP will give you the relevant medical certificate or referral.
Accident and Emergency services are available at general hospitals and medical
centres in holiday resorts. Private doctors and hospitals in Spain do not
accept the European Health Card.
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What you should know about
medical care if you come from a non EU member state.
Countries that have community regulations:
Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. They have the same health
regulations as the rest of the member states.Countries with bilateral
agreements with Spain: Andorra, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Paraguay. You
can also receive free medical and hospital attention in case of emergency due
to illness or accident. For this you must issue the certificate corresponding
to your country. If you have left it behind, you will have to pay any hospital,
medical or pharmaceutical bills in advance, so keep the bills and then seek
reimbursement of your expenses from the organisation to which you belong.Other
countries:Although you will receive medical attention in an emergency, this
will be liable for payment. It is therefore advisable to take out medical
insurance.In any case, you should contact the relevant office in your country
of origin for full details regarding current requirements to receive medical
care in Spain.
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Money
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What is the currency in Spain?
The euro. In Spain, as in most other countries of the
European Union, the official currency is the euro since January of 2002.
One euro has 100 cents.
There are eight different coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and
50 cents, €1 and € 2.
There are seven different notes: € 5, € 10, € 20, €
50, € 100, € 200, and € 500.
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How much money will you need
for expenses during your stay?
The average prices for products
and services can vary according to the province and the season. As a general
guideline, below is a list of approximate prices for some services and
products:
A single metro (underground) or bus ticket costs
around €1.30.
A beer may cost between €1.60 and €6 in a fashionable
venue.
A cinema ticket costs between €5 and €9.
A theatre ticket costs between €12 and €30.
A ticket to the opera or a concert could cost between
€50 and €100.
A full breakfast –coffee, croissant or pastry, and
juice– may vary between €2 and €4 depending on the establishment.
A daily set menu in a mid-range to inexpensive
restaurant will cost around €10.
Accommodation by category (approximate prices per
double room):
5-star: between €200 and €300, 4-star: between €100
and €200
3-star: between €60 and €100, 2 stars or less: less than €60.
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How else can I pay?
With credit cards:
Payment using recognised international credit cards is
also commonly available in Spanish shops. They usually have signs indicating
this option at the entrance to the establishment. When you make a payment you
should show your passport or ID card.
With traveller's cheques:
Traveller's cheques, accompanied by a passport, are
also accepted in many hotels, restaurants and shops.
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Where can I exchange foreign
currency?
This service is available at all bank offices, open to
the public Monday through Saturday, from 8.30 to 14.00 h (except in the months
of June through September, when they remain closed on Saturday). It is also
available at currency exchange shops at all major cities, as well as selected
hotels and travel agencies.
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Is tipping mandatory?
No; in every single establishment in Spain, service is
included with the price of the meal or drink. However, tipping is a common
practice at bars and restaurants, hotels, and taxis, depending on the total
price for the service, and on the generosity of the client. It is usually
around five to ten percent of the total price.
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Timetables and public holidays
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When are the shops open?
The most usual business hours are from
Monday-Saturday, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, and 4:30 to 8 pm. Major shopping
centres and department stores are open all day from 10 am to 9 or 10 pm. The
main department stores and shopping centres also open their doors to the public
on some Sundays in the year. Establishments usually stay open until after 10 pm
in the high season in coastal areas. What's more, in a number of cities opening
hours are unregulated, and shoppers thus have a wider range of opening hours.
Chemists are usually open from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm and
from 4:30-8 pm, although in major cities some chemists stay open round the
clock. There is a rota of duty chemists for night-time and weekend services
which displayed in each establishment and published in the newspapers.
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When are the national public
holidays in Spain?
Certain dates are public holidays in Spain, and they
can be national, regional or local.
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At what time are meals served
in Spain?
Breakfast is usually served from eight to ten in the
morning. Lunch, at restaurants, is served between 13.00 to 15.30 h. Dinner is
served from 20.30 to 23.00 h. Many establishments are open continuously
throughout the day, especially bars and cafeterias; there you can have
"tapas", appetisers, and combo meals.
Cinemas usually have flexible hours, starting around
16.30 to 17.00 h. The last showing is around 22.00, although there are cinemas
with midnight shows in all major cities. Theatres usually have a single show,
which normally starts around 20.00 h.
Night time in Spain has a very special meaning,
specially from Thursday to Sunday. Pubs, bars, and nightclubs usually stay open
until three or four in the morning. In all major cities you can find places
that are open until dawn.
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What time is it in Spain?
The peninsular territory and Balearic Islands go by
the Greenwich Meridian time zone (GTM), plus 1 hour in the winter, and 2 hours
in the summer. In the Canary Islands the time zone is that of the Greenwich
Meridian, plus 1 hour in the summer, always one hour behind peninsular Spain.
OTHERS
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What is the electrical voltage
in Spain?
Voltage in Spain is 220 AC, 50 Hz. Plugs are two pin.
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Which system of weights and
measures is used in Spain?
Spain uses the Metric (Decimal) System, with seven
basic units of measurement, known as the International System of Units (SI),
which is valid throughout the European Union. The system governs all units of
weight, measurement and distance (metre, kilogram, second, litre, ton…).
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Is tap water safe to drink?
In Spain, drinking water is guaranteed everywhere in
the country. Nonetheless, in some areas of the Mediterranean coast and islands
it is more common to drink bottled water.
NEXT POINT:
SOUTH OF SPAIN.
FOR ME, THE
BEST LAND OF THE WORLD
