Essential Things to Know Before Traveling to Spain

Capital: Madrid
Official Language: The official language is Spanish (Castilian). Other languages spoken in the first language in Spain include Euskera (in Basque Country, northeastern Spain), Catalan (in Eastern Spain, with variations spoken in Valencia and the Balearics) and Galician (in the northwest).
Religions: There is no official religion in Spain. Approximately 73% of the population is Roman Catholic, while 22% has no religion.
Voltage: 220 or 225 volts AC, 50Hz. Generally, round two-pin plugs and screw-type lamp fittings are in use.

PASSPORTS
A passport valid for three months beyond the length of stay and issued within the past 10 years is required by all nationals (i.e. Australian, British, Canadian & USA), except other EU nationals holding a passport or national ID card which is valid for the duration of stay.
If travelling from one border-free Schengen country to another however, EU nationals are not required to show a passport or national ID card. It is still recommended that you travel with your passport or ID card to prove your identity if necessary though. Note that Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania, and the UK are not part of the Schengen area, so a passport or ID card is required if travelling to/from these countries.
EU nationals are not required to possess a return ticket or show sufficient funds.

Visas
Most nationalities (including citizens of the EU, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the US) do not need a visa to enter Spain.

Local Currency
The monetary unit in Spain is the Euro (€).
Be careful with your belongings when anywhere in Spain and make sure that you keep firm hold of your bags and wallet. As with many European cities, tourists can be especially targeted by pickpockets.
XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

Credit cards:
MasterCard/Cirrus and Visa/Plus are accepted in nearly all ATMs, which are common throughout the country. These credit cards can generally be used outside main towns and cities, although cash is your safest bet.

ATM:
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard/Cirrus and Visa/Plus are accepted in nearly all ATMs, which are common throughout the country. There are usually at least one bank and ATM in each village.

Banking hours:
Generally Mon-Fri 0830-1400. Some branches open Saturdays too, from October to April.

Currency restriction:
There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding €10,000 or equivalent must be declared if travelling from or to a country outside the European Union.

Currency exchange:
Money can be changed in any bank, and at most travel agencies, major hotels and airports.

Clothing
As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard-wearing and easily washed
Spain has fairly relaxed attitudes about dress and for the most part shorts and short sleeved tops are perfectly acceptable. However if you intend to visit churches and monasteries it is important to dress more conservatively (i.e. cover shoulders and knees).
Make sure you allow for climate changes and remember that even in the summer, night-time and early morning temperatures can be cold. You will generally find it is better to have several thin layers rather than one thick layer as it gives you more flexibility and warmth.

Telephone:
Most telephone boxes require telephone cards that can be purchased in grocery stores. Call centres and internet cafés allow you to call overseas at a lower rate. Area codes are incorporated within a nine digit number dialed from wherever you are. Emergency calls: 112.

Mobile phone:
Coverage is good throughout most of the country. It is relatively easy to get a mobile phone to use temporarily in Spain. Most service providers like Vodafone, Orange and Telefonica offer prepaid SIM cards (that include data roaming). Spanish mobile numbers begin with 6.

Internet:
Internet cafés are available in most urban areas, and wireless access is widespread in cafés and hotels. It is generally easy to find good and fast connections throughout Spain. Most hotels and airports in Spain offer Wi-Fi access.

Post:
There are efficient internal and international postal services to all countries from Spain. The postal service is generally cheap and efficient. The main postal company in Spain is Correos, but there are also private companies like Fedex and Sears for express delivery service. Airmail within Europe usually takes around five days.

Post office hours:
Mon-Fri 0800-2000 and Sat 0800-1400.

FOOD

Specialties:

• Paella and other rice dishes, especially along the eastern coast (especially Valencia).
• Cocido, fabada, butifarra amb mongetes (delicious hearty regional stews of beans or chickpeas and meat) – popular in Central and Northern Spain, especially in Asturias.
• Tortilla (a rich, chunky potato omeleTte) - a staple throughout Spain.
• Gazpacho (a delicious cold tomato-based soup from Andalucía).
• Jamón (ham), chorizo, longaniza, lomo and salchichón are just a few of the wonderful cured pork products available all over Spain.
• Seafood: Fresh and easily available. Look out for bacalao al pil-pil (a Basque cod dish), pulpo (octopus), pescaito frito (mixed fried fish), navajas (razor shells), arroz con bogavante (rice with lobster), and boquerones (fresh marinated anchovies).

Things to know:
Most restaurants serve a menú del día at lunchtime; this is a three-course meal including drinks that generally costs from €10 to €20 and can be very good value.

Regional drinks:

• Sherry: fino and manzanilla (very pale and dry), amontillado (dry, richer in body and darker in colour), oloroso (medium, full-bodied, fragrant and golden) and various sweet sherries such as Pedro Ximénez or Cream.
• Wine - the national drink and produced throughout the nation. There are numerous excellent denominations, including the well-known reds of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, the classy Albariño whites of Galicia, and the sparkling cava of Catalonia.
• Cerveza (beer): Common brands include Cruzcampo, San Miguel, Mahou, Damm, and Estrella Galicia.
• Spanish brandy such as Carlos I, Osborne and Fundador.

Weather
Spain's climate varies from temperate in the north to dry and hot in the south. As it is a big country with varying terrain and altitudes, climate can be extremely distinctive from one corner to another. Overall, the coastal regions in the South and Eastern parts of Spain are excellent to visit all year round thanks to the Mediterranean climate (mild temperatures and long days). Northern Spain generally experiences colder temperatures than the South, while Central Spain stays hot and dry due to its location on a plateau.

The following chart shows average daytime max temperatures (in Celsius):

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE
More often than not, a service charge is not added to hotel and restaurant bills, so tip around 10 to 15% if you are satisfied with your experience. A couple of Euros for hotel maids and porters is considered appropriate. Round up your taxi fare to the nearest five or 10 Euros if it isn't far off the full fare should you not wish to hand over 10%. Service charge is more casual in the less touristy north than the busy south.
Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES
As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.