tours with a personal touch

Travel Tips

This section contains helpful tips, advice and hints for planning your trip to Spain.

 

Spain Travel Basics

VISAS: No visa is required for U.S. passport holders for a stay of up to 3 months in Spain.

Vaccinations: No inoculations are required for travelers to Spain from the United States.

Time Zone: Spain is in the same time zone as most of Western Europe, which is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard USA and 9 hours ahead of Pacific Standard USA time. Due to differences in daylight savings, there may be another hour difference.

Calling: To call Spain from the USA or Canada, dial the international access code (011) followed by Spain’s country code (34) and the phone number. To call your home from Spain dial the international access code (00) followed by your country code and the phone number.

Electricity: 220 volts is used in Spain with two round prong plugs for the outlets. Standard American plugs will not fit into Spanish outlets, make sure you have the proper adapters & transformers for your digital cameras, electrical shavers, etc.

Money: Credit and debit cards are the most efficient and convenient way to get money. ATMs are throughout Spain, and most places accept major credit cards (Visa is the best). Before you leave, talk to your bank and make sure that you have the correct PIN and inform them that you will be traveling to Spain, so your account is not frozen after 1 transaction. Travellers checks and cash can be changed at banks and exchange offices, although hours can be problematic.

Value Added Tax (VAT): Non-European Union residents may request a reimbursement of the V.A.T. sales-tax (Value Added Tax, IVA in Spain) when taking goods out of the EU. This applies to minimum purchases of 90.15 Euros (approximately $99.00). See more info on getting a refund of your VAT: http://www.okspain.org/practicalinfo/shopping.asp

Tipping: “Tipping need not be considered mandatory or automatic. Too often, tips are taken for granted or expected regardless of the quality of service. Tipping should be done at your discretion and as a reward for good or superlative service. If there is one standard rule in tipping it is this: If someone renders special service to you along the way, show your appreciation with a tip.” -American Society of Travel Agents, Alexandria, Va.

Tipping Tradition – Visit Europe.com

 

Recommended Packing List

Due to space limitations each client is allowed 1 suitcase / duffle bag and a day pack.

Casual Wear:

  • 2 shirts
  • 1 pair of pants / slacks / leggings
  • 1 pair of walking shoes, sandals
  • 1 pair of socks

Hiking Equipment:

  • 1 pair of hiking boots - Your boots will be your best friend on the trip. Make sure they are well broken in and that you are comfortable walking in them.
  • 2-3 pairs of hiking socks
  • 1-2 pair synthetic hiking shorts
  • 2 quick drying T-shirts
  • 1 long sleeve shirt
  • 1 lightweight fleece sweater / vest
  • 1 wind breaker / rain jacket and pants
  • 1 backpack to carry daily items

Accessories / Other Gear:

  • 1 toiletries kit - small, travel size amounts, shampoo works well for washing too.
  • 1 liter water bottle or hydration system
  • Sun screen and sun glasses
  • A sun hat
  • Bandana
  • A travel alarm clock
  • A small flashlight
  • Moleskin / Compeed / blister kit
  • Medications / vitamins

Optional Items:

  • Camera
  • Swiss army knife
  • Ear plugs for sleeping
  • Book / Journal
  • Bathing suit
  • Rain pants

Jackets, ties, formal eveningwear and jewels will NOT be required at any hotels or restaurants. Please keep in mind when preparing your 1 suitcase / duffle bag.

 

Useful Websites

Spain's Ministry of Tourism
Spain's Airports
Spain's National Train
Yahoo! Weather in Spain
Exchange Rates
Camino de Santiago
Camino de Santiago (2006 is not a Holy Year)
Santiago de Compostela Tourism
Basque Country Tourism
Madrid Tourism

 

A Good Read...

The Story of Spain by Mark R. Williams: “By far the best introduction for students in English to Spain's history and culture...” - Paul Smith, Professor Emeritus, Department of Spanish, U.C.L.A.

Iberia by James A. Michener: “Massive, beautiful...Unquestionably some of the best writing on Spain...The best that Mr. Michener has ever done on any subject...Stunning...Memorable.” - THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

The Basque History of the World by Mark Kurlansky: “A lively, anecdotal, all-encompassing history of Basque ingenuity and achievement. ” - Atlantic Monthly

The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago: The Complete Cultural Handbook by David M. Gitlitz and Linda Kay Davidson: “A fascinating step-by-step guide to the cultural history of the Road for pilgrims, hikers, and armchair travelers alike.” - Amazon.com

The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho: “Part adventure story, part guide to self-mastery, this compelling tale delivers a powerful brew of magic and insight.” - Amazon.com

Driving Over Lemons by Chris Stewart: “His memoir about southern Spain would set a standard for literary travel writing.” - Amazon.com

For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway: “This is the best book Ernest Hemingway has written, the fullest, the deepest, the truest. It will, I think, be one of the major novels in American literature.” - The New York Times Book Review

Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway: “First appeared in 1926, and yet it's as fresh and clean and fine as it ever was, maybe finer.” - Amazon.com

Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell: “Homage to Catalonia is a triumph.” - AudioFile

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon: “Anyone who enjoys novels that are scary, erotic, touching, tragic and thrilling should rush right out to the nearest bookstore and pick up The Shadow of the Wind.” - The Washington Post

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett: “Follett has written a novel that entertains, instructs and satisfies on a grand scale.” - Publishers Weekly

 

 

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