Spain Mainland Holidays, Beach, City, Golf

More than 45 million tourists come to Spain every year, making it the third most visited country in the world The sophisticated, elegant and exciting cities of Barcelona, Sevilla and Valencia are well worth a visit. Take in a bullfight, see a fiesta, dine late into the night as is the Spanish custom, enjoy glasses of Rioja accompanied by the great Spanish invention tapas. It's almost impossible to summarize Spain as a single country. Catalunya is vibrant and go-ahead; Galicia rural and underdeveloped; the Basque country fighting post-industrial depression with spectacular new civic initiatives; Castile and the south still, somehow, quintessentially "Spanish". There are definite highlights to Spanish travel: the three great cities of Barcelona, Madrid and Sevilla; the Moorish monuments of Andalucia and the Christian ones of Old Castile; beach-life in Ibiza or on the more deserted sands around Cadiz and in the north; and, for some of the best trekking in Europe, the Pyrenees and the Asturian Picos de Europa. Whatever holiday you want spain has it all. For information on Spain and the Spanish resorts please use the links.

Costa Blanca
Costa Brava
Costa del Sol
Balearic Islands

Spain lies on the Iberian Peninsula on the far southwestern edge of Europe. Occupying an area of 504,788 square kilometres, it is home to 39.2 million people. Situated at the crossroads between Europe and Africa The glorious sunshine in which the country basks has long made it an ideal destination for sun seekers

Widely known for Flamenco music and dance, bull-fights, fantastic beaches and lots of sunshine, Spain has much more to offer than that from the perfect family beach holiday on the Costa del Sol, to the thrill of the village fiesta in Andalucia, and the cultural highlights of Madrid, Seville, and Granada. The sheer variety of this huge country, which in the north can look like Ireland and in the south like Morocco, cannot fail to impress. More than 45 million tourists come to Spain every year, making it the third most visited country in the world The sophisticated cities of Barcelona, Sevilla and Valencia are well worth a visit. Visit an abundance of tourist attractions, dine late into the night as is the Spanish custom, enjoy glasses of Rioja accompanied by the great Spanish invention tapas. It's almost impossible to summarize Spain as a single country. Catalunya is lively and energetic, Galicia rural and unspoiled; the Basque country offering spectacular new city initiatives; Castile and the south still, quintessentially "Spanish". There are definite highlights to Spanish travel: the three great cities of Barcelona, Madrid and Sevilla; the Moorish monuments of Andalucia and the Christian ones of Old Castile; beach-life in Ibiza or on the more deserted sands around Cadiz and in the north; and, for some of the best trekking in Europe, the Pyrenees and the Asturian Picos de Europa.

Restaurants & Food
One of Spain's greatest attractions is, without a doubt, its cuisine, which is one of the best in the world for both quality and variety. Really one cannot talk of a national cuisine but rather of a multiplicity of regional cuisines influenced in each case by the climate and local way of life. Eating out in Spain is one of life's most enjoyable daily rites. The sheer variety and range of the cuisine make it easy to find a good meal, whether in the big city or in some small country village. Ranging from traditional home cooking all the way up to famous five-star restaurants. A menu listing the prices is usually displayed at the entrance to restaurants, which also usually offer a daily set menu at a somewhat reduced and/or fixed price.
Service is included in the price shown; yet it is usual (though not obligatory) to leave 5%-10% of the bill by way of a tip.

Accomodation, Hotels, Aapartments, Villas, Matadors in Spain
There is a wide range of accommodation available all over the country, ranging from luxury hotels, pensions, boarding houses and inns to simple guesthouses, manor houses, campsites and youth hostels.

Hotels : A variety of hotel-type accommodation is available including apartment-hotels, hotel-residencias and motels. Grading: Most accommodation in Spain is provided in hotels, classified from 1 to 5 *.

Guest Houses: Pensiones are common throughout Spain and vary in quality from austere to relatively luxurious. They are usually run by the family on the premises and provide bed and board only.

The government-run paradores offer very good value and are often situated in places of scenic beauty in converted castles, palaces or old inns offering modern tourism facilities, and quaint and personalized means of accommodation.

Weather in spain - Best time to Go
Mild year round. Summers are dry and clear, with warm sunshine extending long into Autumn. Winters are moderately cool and are the rainiest time of year, except in subtropical Madeira, where there is little rain. Mid-Summer temperatures range in the 70 F, while Winter temperatures range from the low to mid-50s.

Banks and Currency in Spain
Spain accepts the Euro and cash can be exchanged at all banks -open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (except in summer, from June to September, when they close on Saturdays)- as well as at exchange bureau in the main cities. A good number of hotels and travel agencies will also change money. In addition, traveller's cheques and leading international credit cards are accepted by most hotels, restaurants and shops.

Visa Requirements for Spain
Spain, along with Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal, forms part of the border-free travel zone subject to the Schengen Agreement. US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Israeli citizens are among those who may enter Spain as tourists without a visa and stay up to 90 days. EU passport holders can come and go as they please

On entering Spanish territory, travellers are required to present a passport. Presentation of a National I. D. Card will suffice in the case of citizens of EU Member States, Switzerland and the Principalities of Andorra, Monaco and Liechtenstein.

Driving tips and car hire in Spain
Drivers from all non-EU countries except Switzerland, must hold a Green Card, the insurance policy covering the cost of assistance in case of accident. Spain has an extensive road grid covering close on 340,000 kilometers, and of this total 7,000 kilometers represent highways (toll motorways, freeways and dual-carriageways). This highway network, a great part of which is toll-free, makes it possible for the visitor to drive in comfort from the Pyrenees all the way down to Andalusia, either along the Mediterranean coast or, alternatively, inland via Madrid. A comprehensive network of petrol stations and roadside rest areas offer the widest possible range of en-route services.
Driving is on the right hand side in Spain. Speed limits in Spain are 50KPH in urban areas, outside built up areas 100KPH and 120KPH on motorways. On the spot fines are applied for speeding and other traffic fines.

Seat belts are compulsory in front and rear of vehicles at all times. Children under the age of 12 years can only sit in the front of the vehicle if in a proper child seat.

The alcohol limit in Spain is 0.5%. Spain has an extensive road grid covering close on 340,000 kilometers, and of this total 7,000 kilometers represent highways (toll motorways, freeways and dual-carriageways).

This highway network, a great part of which is toll-free, makes it possible for the visitor to drive in comfort from the Pyrenees all the way down to Andalusia, either along the Mediterranean coast or, alternatively, inland via Madrid. A comprehensive network of petrol stations and roadside rest areas offer the widest possible range of en-route services.

Essential information about Spain
Capital City - Madrid
Language - Spanish (cstilian) Catalan, Galician, Basque, English
Currency - Euro
Electricity - 220V
Flight time - On average from London 2 to 3 hours
Time Differece - 27 March to 30 October GMT +2 otherwise GMT +1

For more information see the
Spanish Tourist Board

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