The following Guidance and Tips are designed to offer you comprehensive information that will hopefully be of interest prior to and during your visit.

Before you go
Getting there
Accidents and Breakdowns
On Arrival in Spain
Health
Police
Post Offices
Banks
Driving
A few hints
A few basic rules
Speed limits
Parking
Fines
Seatbelts
Autopista (toll) roads
Road tax and vehicle inspection
Consulates

Customs and Entry Regulations

Disabled Visitors

Electric Current
Emergencies
Etiquette
Excursions
Language
Laundry
Newspapers
Opening Hours
Photography
Public Holidays
Telephones
Time difference
Water
Electricity
Gas
Heating
Opening a Business

Before you Go
Visitors that are entering Spain should have a full passport, which is valid to cover the period for which they will be travelling. No visa is required for members of EU countries or US, Canadian or New Zealand citizens, however visitors from Australia do require a visa, which can be obtained on arrival for a period of up to 30 days. No vaccinations are necessary.

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Getting There
The two international airports of Seville and Málaga serve the region of Andalusia, with a vast number of flights landing at both everyday, especially in the height of the summer season.

Charter flights usually offer the best price deal, although return times are fixed so that the maximum time that you can spend in Spain is four weeks. Package holidays offer great value too, and sometimes the price is so reasonable that you can buy a holiday to an unpopular resort just for the flight, and still afford to stay in the place of your choice.

There are also numerous scheduled flights to Spain from all over the world. Those coming from the US will probably fly directly to Madrid, with connections to either Málaga or Seville laid on, however please note that sometimes it is cheaper to fly to London first, or another European city, before getting a connecting flight to Spain. The super fast trains – the AVE and the Talgo – connect Madrid with Córdoba, Seville and Málaga.

Direct charter flights go from Dublin and Belfast to Málaga during the summer months, and scheduled flights leave all year round for Madrid.

Low-cost flights from anywhere in the world can be arranged through flight agents or by booking a charter flight, and apex or super – apex tickets may be bought directly from the airlines. The travel ads in English Sunday papers or the various London listing magazines are the best places for travellers from the UK to look.

The journey by train from London to Málaga, changing at Paris and Barcelona, takes about 35 hours using Eurostar and the Channel Tunnel. There are various rail passes which offer substantial discounts on rail travel, particularly if you are planning a journey throughout Europe.

Buses leave London for Barcelona, Alicante, Algeciras and Madrid quite regularly and are tediously long, so a stopover inside the Spanish Border is recommended. For those wanting to take their own car to Southern Spain. There area two ferry companies offering direct crossings to Bilbao and Santander from Britain: Brittany ferries and P&O European Ferries. The advantage of this crossing is that the long – and expensive - drive through France is completely eliminated.

If you do plan to drive through France, one of the fastest routes is by Le Shuttle, which runs from Folkestone via the Channel Tunnel to France in 35 minutes; this service for cars continues 24 hours a day throughout the year.

Several ferry companies carry cars and passengers across the Channel, with the quickest journeys being between Dover/Calais, and Folkestone/Boulogne. The hovercraft is even faster, crossing from Dover to Calais in just 35 minutes. Brittany Ferries offer crossings from Portsmouth, Plymouth and Poole directly to Brittany, arriving at St Malo and Roscoff.

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Accidents and Breakdowns
If you are involved in an accident whilst driving in Spain you should exchange full details of insurance, addresses, etc. See also information about bail bonds under Driving. In an emergency, try to find a telephone and dial 091.

On arrival in Spain
To live and work in Spain you have to have permits. There are two very different permits – one to work here and one to live here (residencia). They are issued by the same department of the National Police who like to know who is in their country. In Spain there are three different police forces. It is the National Police forces who you should see to request application forms. Very few of them speak English but it is easy to make it known what you want. If you try to speak Spanish they will admire you and give you a lot of respect although they language is rarely a barrier when you are parting with your money! Your application forms must be returned to the Police along with several important items, as a minimum these will include; three photographs (passport style-in colour) A full passport (original and 2 photocopies), title deeds or a rental contract stating where you live, a work contract (min 6 months long – original and a photocopy), the fee (approx £4.00), a certificate from a bank in Spain, proving that you have sufficient money in the account, or a regular monthly income coming in to support you. Before you can be issued with a work contract you need a National Insurance which you apply for at the Police station. This takes 3-4 days to come through and to apply you need your passport along with a copy. Although the forms are in Spanish, most stations have an interpreter. Getting this NI number is therefore the first thing that you do. If you are staying with somebody else you must got o the local council office and complete an application form for a certificate which states where you live. This certificate is free and easy to obtain. Take with you: your passport and a photocopy, your friend's passport and a copy and a household bill with the address of the property on it. You will also need this certificate if you intend to buy a Spanish vehicle.

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Health
UK nationals should carry a form E111 (available from post offices) produced by the Department of Health, which entitles the holder to free urgent treatment for accident or illness in EU countries. The treatment will have to be paid for in the first instance, but can be reclaimed later. All foreign nationals, including those from the UK, are advised to take out comprehensive insurance cover, and to keep any bills, receipts and invoices to support any claims.
The Spanish National Health Service is available free to Senior Citizens from Britain (Ladies over 60 and men over 65). The service is excellent. However, as in the UK, non-emergencies may be placed on a waiting list. Purchasers of businesses in Spain are obliged to join the Spanish N.H.S. Payments for this service are included in their monthly Spanish National Insurance contribution. If you are under retirement age and do not intend to work in Spain, then it is a condition of Residence in Spain that you take out private medical health cover. Some of the larger private medical health providers in the UK offer schemes suitable for British residents in Spain. Alternatively, there are numerous Insurance Brokers in Spain offering a range of healthcare insurance policies.
Lists of doctors can be obtained from hotels, chemists or the local consulate, and first aid and medical advice is also available at the Farmacia, Pharmacists in Spain are highly trained and can dispense drugs which are available only on prescription in other countries. The Farmacia is generally open from 10.00am – 1.30pm, and 4.00pm – 8.00pm, and those which are open late or on Sundays display notices on their doors, or on the doors of other pharmacies. The address of an English speaking doctor can be obtained from your consulate, the police station the Farmacia or the tourist office.

Police
There are three types of police: the Guardia Civil, who wear green uniforms, Policia Municipal, who wear blue and white uniforms with a red trim and are generally sympathetic to tourists with genuine problems; and the Policia Nacional, who wear dark blue uniforms. The national emergency telephone number for the Police is 091; the local emergency is 092.

Post Offices
The Spanish name for Post Offices is Correos. These are open 8.00am – noon and 5.00pm – 7.30pm in smaller towns, while those in cities and at airports are open for longer hours and do not close at lunch time. Each town has only one post office, so there is usually a queue, but if all you need are some stamps you can buy them from tobacco shops (estancos). Post restante mail should be sent to the person (surname underlined) at Lista de Correos, followed by the name of the town and province. Take a passport along as proof of identity when collecting mail. British visitors can withdraw cash on their UK accounts with a National Girobank post – cheque.

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Banks
Banks are open 8.30am – 2.00pm, Monday to Friday. Main branches are also open on Saturday from 8.30am – 1.00pm. Between June and September banks are open 8.30am to 2.00pm Monday to Friday, and closed on Saturday. Most major credit cards are accepted by hotels and department stores. Girobank operates an international cash card system which allows cash withdrawals on personal UK bank accounts.

Eurocheques backed up by a Eurocheque card, and drawn on bank accounts in most European countries, can be used in banks, and to pay for goods in hotels, restaurants and shops. Most cheque cards, Visa and Mastercard, can be used to withdraw cash from automatic cash machines. Banks will usually change travellers cheques, but be warned they usually charge high commission rates. There are also specialist exchange bureaux. The most competitive rates can be found in the Exchange Facilities at the famous department store El Corte Inglés throughout Spain.

Driving
If you wish to see as much as possible of Spain then having your own car is certainly the best method of transport. The minimum age for driving is 18 and cars drive on the right-hand side.To drive a foreign registered car in Spain you must have with you, your passport, current driving licence, valid insurance and vehicle registration document. Vehicles should display a national identity plate (GB/USA etc), two red warning triangles and a set of spare bulbs. The roads in Spain vary from very poor to very good. The main connecting roads are generally excellent. Roads are classified thus:

- Autopista (motorway) - A or E - prefix to road number, often these are toll roads

- Autovia - dual carriageway, not necessarily with a central reservation

- Carretera Nacional - N or CN - prefix to road number, main roads

- Carretera Comarcal - C - prefix, country roads

- Carretera Local - by-road

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A few hints
At all times expect the unexpected. Cars may indicate right and turn left, cars will stop in the middle of the road without warning and dogs, children and old ladies will constantly challenge your right to the road. Watch out for traffic lights, they are often 20 feet in the air and hard to see in the sun. Watch out for pedestrian crossings - especially if you are the pedestrian, they don't mean much other than to decorate the road. On dual carriageways, cars may overtake on whichever side they feel like and some cars may not show lights when it's dark.

A few basic rules
Give way to traffic from the right, especially at roundabouts. Do not pull into the middle of the road to turn left if there is a solid line in the road. There are often special lanes for this, signposted cambio de sentido. Always wear seatbelts and don't drink and drive - the limits are very low and the penalties very high, as are on-the-spot fines for traffic offences.

Speed Limits

Autopistas/autovias	120kph
Dual carriageways	100kph
Country roads	90kph
Urban roads	50kph
Residential areas	20kph

Parking
As a general rule you may not park in Spain where the pavement is painted yellow or where a no parking sign is displayed. In major cities, non-metered on-street parking is difficult to find but there are parking spaces marked in blue, for which you should purchase a ticket from a machine or an attendant. These spaces are usually for two hours maximum. Penalties for parking infringements vary from town to town and can be heavy.

Fines
Fines imposed for speeding are calculated at 6 EUROS per kilometre over the speed limit and are payable on the spot. Speed traps are becoming quite frequent. Fines for other offences are calculated on the severity of the offence and on the whim of the police officer. All are payable on the spot. The legal drink-drive limit is currently 50mg per millilitre and breathaliser tests are frequent all over Spain. Fines are very high. You can also face a fine if you do not carry with you, a red warning triangle, spare bulbs and a first aid kit. You should also have with you, your current insurance, vehicle registration form and a valid driving licence. You should also be able to produce a passport or ID card.

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Seatbelts
It is compulsory on all roads to wear seatbelts both front and rear where fitted.

Autopista (toll) roads
Spain has over 2,000km of toll roads and more are planned. They are of excellent standard and all have service stations every 40km or so. The tolls are expensive and are usually calculated per km. Some toll roads, for long distance travelling allow you to collect a ticket at the start and then pay the total when you exit the road. For short distances you will pay the toll as you exit the toll road. As you approach the peaje (toll booth), you will be confronted with several lanes. The telepago lane is for cars fitted with a special chip on the windscreen. Automatico is for paying by credit card or the exact change and the manual has an attendant who collects your fee. All useable lanes will have a green arrow, un-usable lanes display a red cross.

Road tax and vehicle inspections
There is a charge for road tax in Spain and this is payable to the local government. The fee is related to the individual vehicle and the area. All vehicles are required to undertake an annual inspection called an ITV, to verify the condition of the vehicle. Most major towns and cities have several ITV stations to which you can take your car.

Consulates
Many countries have consular agents in Andalusia, while embassies tend to be based in Madrid. A list of addresses and locations can usually be found at the local town hall or tourist information office.

Customs and Entry Regulations
There is no limit on the importation into Spain of tax – paid goods bought in an EU country provided they are for personal consumption, with the exception of alcohol and tobacco which have fixed limits governing them.

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Disabled Visitors
Spain is not the most accessible country for disabled travellers, and public transport is particularly difficult for wheelchairs. The Michelin Red Guide España – Portugal indicates which hotels have facilities for the disabled. The Spanish National Tourist Office in your own country is a good source of advanced information, and you are also advised to check with hotels and travel carriers to see that your individual needs can be met.

Electric Current
The voltage in Spain is usually 220 or 225V. Plugs and sockets are of the two – pin variety, and adaptors are generally required. North Americans will probably also need a transformer.

Emergencies
In an emergency, either go to the police or contact your consulate who can offer limited help. The universal emergency telephone number is 091.

Etiquette
As in most places in the world, it is considered polite and respectful to cover up decently in churches and museums. Be sensitive to conservative attitudes away from the cities and resorts, and don’t upset local sensibilities by dressing revealingly or otherwise showing lack of respect.

Excursions
Andalusia is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and as well as its incredible natural wonders, it is packed with castles, Moorish monuments, Renaissance forts and Gothic cathedrals, among , many other spectacular buildings. In addition to these sights, one can normally find a festival in some tiny village or small town which are always great fun to attend

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Language
English is spoken widely in the main tourist areas, but elsewhere you will be grateful for any little bit of Spanish that you have learned. In any case, your efforts to speak Spanish will be appreciated everywhere, and even a few simple expressions are often warmly received.

Laundry
Self-service launderettes (lavanderias) can sometimes be found in major cities, but they are unusual. More common are the service laundries where you are charged for someone else to do the work. For a dry cleaners look for the sign tintorería.

Newspapers
There are several English publications in Southern Spain, aimed at the large ex-pat market and varying form decent glossies such as "lookout" which takes a serious look at Spanish affairs, to news sheets such as The Marbella Times. British and other foreign newspapers are on sale in most cities and resorts, and the International Herald Tribune, published in Paris, offers the latest stock market news from America as well as world news.

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Opening Hours
Shops in Spain normally close for lunch from 1.00pm – 4.00pm. General stores open from 09/10.00am – 8.00pm, and these are found in most provincial capital towns. Once or twice a week, most Spanish towns and holiday resorts hold an open air market, and details of these can be obtained locally. Chemists are usually open the same times as shops, but some are open for longer hours and on Sundays. There is usually a rota of chemists open for 24 hours.

Monuments and museums tend to open between 10.00am- 1.00pm and 4.00pm – 7.00pm with several variations, while many churches only open for the early morning or evening service each day.

Photography
Good quality film and camera equipment are available in the larger towns and resorts of Andalusia, and there are usually facilities for fast processing in these places ( however this is often expensive). Before taking photographs in museums and art galleries it would be wise to check with staff as photography is usually restricted in these places.

Public Holidays
New years day: 1 January
Epiphany: 6 January
Good Friday to Easter Monday
Labour day: 1 May
Corpus Christi: 2nd Thursday after Whitsun
Assumption Day: 15 August
National Day: 12 October
All Saints day: 1 November
Constitution Day: 6 December
Immaculate Conception: 8 December
Christmas Day: 25 December

There are also other feasts and public holidays which are celebrated locally, when almost everything shuts down.

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Telephones
International telephone calls may be made from all Spanish provincial capital towns and most of the major holiday resorts. Dial 07, wait for the dialling tone, and then dial the appropriate country code (44 for the UK, 353 for Eire, 1 for USA and Canada, 61 for Australia and 64 for New Zealand).

Spanish telephones have instructions in English. International calls may be made in either telephone booths, or at a Telefónica office where you pay after the call. For calls within Spain, dial 95 followed by the area code. The number for Directory Enquiries is 003, area codes 009, International Operator 008 for Europe and 005 for the rest of the world. As in most countries, telephone calls made from hotels may be more straightforward and convenient, but they are more expensive.

Time difference
Spanish standard time is GMT plus one hour. Spanish summer time begins on the last Sunday in March at 2.00am when the clocks go forward an hour ( the same as British Summer time), and it ends on the last Sunday in October at 3.00am when the clocks go back an hour.

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Water
Water usage is metered (you pay for what you use). For the average household annual costs are likely to be much lower than in the UK. The water is drinkable, however, most locals prefer to use the inexpensive bottled spring water that is available from the shops and supermarkets. There are virtually never any water shortages on the Costa del Sol. If they do occur it is usually the result of a broken mains pipe rather than any real lack of water.

Electricity
Costs are generally lower than in the UK, with the bills coming every two months. These can be paid by Direct Debit from you bank account. Some of the more outlying countryside properties are not connected to the National Grid System. The Electricity Company will provide a supply, estimates are available prior to purchase. With the exception of TV sets, all your electrical appliances will work in Spain. You will however need to change the plugs. A minor alteration to your TV set, which costs around £30 and can be done in Spain, will enable you to receive the six Spanish TV channels. English programs are available through SKY, Astra and Gibraltar TV. These days most apartments blocks have a communal satellite TV system linked to each apartment – if you want to install your own system it costs around £250 complete for SKY TV.

Gas
There is no piped gas in Southern Spain. Butane Gas is supplied in canisters – similar to English Calor Gas. Costs for a large container are approximately £5, which is much less than the cost of a similar article in the UK. Containers are usually delivered to the door, or for more outlying properties, they can be collected from the local depot.

Heating
This is not a major consideration throughout most of the year. However, December, January and February have their cold days and evenings are always cool when the sun goes down. The most popular and attractive method is to have a wood burning open fire. Many people have a delivery of logs made at the end of the summer which will last them through the winter. Alternatively gas or electric heaters can be used.

Opening a business
Many years ago - before the EEC was formed - then you would have needed a Spanish partner (usually silent) in order to obtain permission to open a business. These days it is no longer a requirement and there are no real bureaucratic barriers to UK citizens opening a business in Spain. The rules and regulations involved are more or less the same for all EEC nationals - including Spaniards.

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