Lodgings in Spain

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1- REGIONS IN SPAIN.

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2- LANGUAGES

Spanish (castellano) is the oficial language in Spain. There are also the Catalan in Cataluña, the Gallego in Galicia, the Vasco in the Pais Vasco and the valenciano in the Comunidad Valenciana.

3- TIME

On the Peninsula (mainland Spain) applies Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) plus 1 hour. In summer allies summertime (Daylight-saving-time). On the Canary Islands applies GMT.

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4- RELIGION

The majority of the population is Roman-Catholic, but the freedom of religion is guaranteed in the Spanish Constitution.

5- DRESS HABITS

The dress habits usually change depending on the season and the climate of each area, although there are not any rules. In the coast, due to the proximity of the sea, there is not a lot of difference in temperature between winter and summer, therefore the people usually dress very lightly. In central Spain, however, there are low temperatures in winter and (very) hight ones in summer. Leisure time dress habits are normally very casual, but for certain circumstances formal wear is applied.

6- PASSPORTS AND VISA

For members of the European Union the possesion of a valid National Document of Identity Card (ID-Card) is required at every entrance point to Spain and its islands. Attention!! For members of the European Union apply the rules of Schengen Agreement, that means, normally the officials will not do any passport control at the border. Nevertheless, you are required to have the above mentioned ID. Those rules apply equally for citizens of Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco and Liechtenstein. For further information and for Non-European-Union Citizens please contact the nearest Spanish Diplomatic Representative (Consulate or Consulate Department of the Spanish Ambassy).

European-Union Citizens have to provide a valid driver-licence if they intend to drive in Spain. Non-European-Union Citizens, (except citizens of Switzerland), please contact the next available Diplomatic Representative for driver-licence requirements.

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7- CUSTOMS

Travellers are authorized to take some belongings with them: a portable typewriter and a videotape camera or two photographic cameras with ten movie rolls for each one. You can also introduce a portable radio if there exist some external signs of use. The sport equipment of personal use is also authorized, the jewels in property and the camping material. Regarding the tobacco and the alcohol the maxima authorized by person is 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco and a bottle of wine and another one of any alcoholic bottle.

Bank- or travellers cheques in foreign currencies and cash do not have any limitation.

8- TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS

International access code is 00. Afterwards the country code indicator, then the area code and the personal connection.

Concerning calls TO Spain, after the indication of your corresponding international access code, you have to mark 34 as the Spanish country code, followed by the area code (without the number 9) and the personal connection. For more information please indicate (INT+34)+1003.

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9- HOW TO GO TO SPAIN AND TRAVEL THERE?

BY CAR

Cars grant all the freedom you want, e.g. access to the areas without coverage on public transport. Without any doubt, it is the best way of traveling in Spain because of the size of our territory. The possibility of visiting all the historical cities around your home, enjoying our beaches, the nature... is worth bringing your car or having a rental car.

Cars are not the cheapest means of transport for a single person, but for more people you can save money traveling this way. Renting a car in Spain is cheaper comparared with the cost in other European countries.

The net of highways in Spain is also very extensive and with great quality. The roads in Spain measure about 340.000 kilometers, of which about 7.000 correspond to roads of great capacity (highways, free highways and main approach roads). A complete net of petrol stations and rest areas along the roads offer complete convenience to any traveler.

To obtain information on the state of highways and on traffic in general: www.dgt.es or call to Teleruta at the 900 12 35 05.

Some of the biggest rental car companies are Avis Rent to Car (www.avis.com) and Hertz Rent a Car (www.hertz.com).

BY PLANE

Almost a third of the international travelers entering Spain use the airplane for its comfort and speed. Iberia, www.iberia.com, has connections to all mayor domestic destinations and a variety of cities in the world. Their subsidiary Aviaco covers only some domestic routes.

Air Europe (www.g-aireuropa.es) and SpanAir (www.spanair.com) sometimes offer cheaper rates in both, domestic and international flights.

TICKET RESERVATIONS

Airports telephones:

Álava: 945 16 35 00, Alicante: 97 691 90 00, Almería:  950 21 37 00, Asturias: 98 512 75 00, Badajoz: 924 21 04 00, Barcelona: 93 478 50 00, Cantabria: 942 20 21 00, Córdoba: 957 21 41 00, Coruña, TO: 981 18 72 00, Fuerteventura: 928 85 12 50, Girona: 972 18 66 00, Granada: 958 24 52 00, Guipúzcoa: 946 66 85 00, Iron, the: 922 55 37 00, Ibiza: 971 80 90 00, Sherry of the Frontier: 956 15 00 00, Lanzarote: 928 81 14 50, Madrid: you Shuffle 91 393 60 00, Four Winds: 91 321 17 00, Málaga: 95 204 84 84, Melilla: 95 269 86 14, Menorca: 971 15 70 00, Murcia: 968 17 20 00, Navarrese: 948 16 87 00, Palm: 971 78 90 00, Palm, the: 922 41 15 40, Palms, those: 928 57 90 00, Reus: 977 77 98 00, Sabadell: 93 728 21 00, Salamanca: 923 32 96 00, Santiago of Compostela: 981 54 75 00, Santa Cruz of T.Norte-the Rodeos: 922 63 58 00, South-queen Sofía 922 75 90 00, Seville: 95 444 90 00, Valencia: 96 370 95 00, Valladolid: 983 41 54 00, Vigo: 986 26 82 00, Biscay: 94 486 93 00, Zaragoza: 976 71 23 00

BY BOAT

This way of accessing Spain is excellent at the ports of Algeciras, Ceuta, Santa Cruz and Tenerife. The maritim transport company Transmediterránea, www.transmediterranea.net joins the Peninsula regularly with the north of Africa, the Balearic islands (from Barcelona and Valencia, daily) and the Islas Canarias (from Cádiz, weekly). On the phonenumber  91 322 91 00 passangers can make reservations to these destinations.

Other companies are: Pitra S.L., www.pitra.com that has ferry services between Denia and San Antonio in Ibiza. Besides that, Marine Representations, Ltda. is another one.

BY TRAIN

Spanish trains are relatively new and the service is usually punctual but the network of train stations is, still, limited to bigger cities.

The rail net has an extension of about 15.000 kilometers. The high-speed line Madrid-Seville (AVE)  monopolizes 471 kilometers and the distance is completed in two hours and fifteen minutes. The Talgo is a quick train that unites Madrid and Málaga, and Madrid and Cádiz with Huelva.

The national company of railroads is RENFE and it establishes a series of special rates according to the season. The "Tourist Card for Non Residents" allows the free circulation in all its lines to the non residents. Keep in mind, that you have to book in advance. The price of this card varies depending on the days of use.

There is a series of tourist itineraries as the 'Al-Andalus Express' for Andalucia, the Train of the Strawberry between Madrid and Aranjuez and the 'Transcantábrico' in the north of Spain from San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela.  In www.renfe.es  you can obtain extra information and ticket reservations.

BY BUS

Unlike the trainsystem, buses have a bigger coverage of the territory and in the big cities. Despite of regular trafficjams within the city limits, they are the most preferable alternative (except in case there exists an underground). The most known companies of passengers' transport are ALSA (www.alsa.es) that has service among Madrid, Asturias, Galicia and Castilla-León, and with Portugal, Morocco, France Italy and Poland; Car-Res/Cunisa, CORP. (91551 72 00), from Madrid to Castile-León, Extremadura, Galicia and Valencia;                Linebús (93 265 07 00) that covers France, United Kingdom, Holland, Belgium and Italy.

BY UNDERGROUND

Even the connections with the corresponding suburban areas of the major cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia is not very established for the time being, this transportation means is the quickest alternative in those cities. Metromadrid (www.metromadrid.es) offers information and reservation.

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10- HABITUAL SCHEDULES

People in Spain usually have lunch at 2 or 3 in the afternoon after a break at 12 pm. We have dinner relatively late, at 10 in the evening and we sometimes have an afternnon snack called "merienda" at 5 or 6 in the evening. It seems we never eat quite enough!

The most habitual commercial schedules are from Monday to Saturday from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm and of 4.30 to 8 pm. The banks don't open up for the afternoon neither on Saturdays. The big commercial centers and department stores they have a continuous schedule from 10 am until 10 pm. They also open their doors some Sundays a year. In the regions of the coast in peak season the establishments open up beyond 10 pm.

On Thursday to Sunday nights the streets live intensely and for that reason the pubs and night clubs open up to 3 or 4 am while the discos don't usually close until the dawn. There exists some discos called "afterhours" that open from 3 or 4 am until lunchtime the next day. We really like to have fun!

11- THE TIPS

Tipping is not an obligatory practice although is habitual in bars and restaurants, hotels and taxis. The price includes the payment for the service and the amount of the tip depends on the donor's generosity. It usually oscillates between a five and ten percent of the total amount.

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12- THE ELECTRICITY

The plugs terminals correspond to the European system of round pills and the electric apparatuses work to 220 volts CA. 50 HZ.

13- THE MEASURES

The measure units, weight and distances are governed by the system metric decimal.

14- THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS

When crossing the customs it is necessary to have into consideration that, although there is no quarantine in Spain, it is required a certificate of a veterinarian that the pets or animals have good health and, in the case of dogs and cats, that they have been vaccinated against the rage. This certificate has to be approved by the Consulate of Spain in your country.

There exist in Spain lots of veterinary clinics and some establishment dedicated to the attention of the animals. Pets are admitted in some hotels under special conditions. The restaurants, shops and public transportation are not so favorable to admit domestic animals however.

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15- WHERE TO GO? THE LODGING IN CASASPAIN™

If you want to enjoy an area of Spain during a certain season, we have great offer of apartments and villas to let. In the country areas you also have available some country houses. You are to decide which area you want to visit. We just give you some information of the different alternatives in Spain.

When visiting any region of Spain you should check the geographical diversity, enjoying the landscape view and learn the culture that characterizes us. Despite this diversity, the 'Comunidades Autónomas' come together to defend their common tourist characteristics. In all these groups you can find CASASPAIN tourist properties:

15.1-THE GREEN SPAIN

It coincides with the geographical north of Spain and it gathers characteristics such as intensely green landscapes, humid climatology and characteristic gastronomy, with other tourist attractions as the beach, the mountain and the country tourism. This are the regions and its provinces: Galicia: A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense y Pontevedra. Principado de Asturias: Asturias. La Rioja: La Rioja. Comunidad de Navarra: Navarra. Cantabria: Cantabria. País Vasco: Álava, Guipúzcoa and Vizcaya.

Valcarlos Landscape in Navarra.

16- SUN AND BEACH

The Spanish beaches have a substructure of high quality and very modern. Not in vain, the sun and the sea are the main attractions in Spain. Our climate with many hours of sun allows enjoying the beach and the sun throughout the year. You can also participate in other typical activities in each tourist area.

The regions of sun and beach in those you can find tourist properties CASASPAIN are:

Comunidad Valenciana: Castellón and Alicante

Andalucía: Huelva, Cádiz, Málaga, Granada and Almería

Cataluña: Girona and Tarragona

Region of Murcia: Murcia

The beach cities more remarcable are:

Comunidad Valenciana: Valencia.

Cataluña: Barcelona.

Mallorca. Cove 'sa Font de sa Cala'.

The insular Spain: it is one of the destinations preferred by the tourists for its splendid coast. We suggest visiting beaches and  enjoying the nautical sports. You should visit the Balearic Islands: Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca. They are tourist destinations known worldwide.

Ibiza view from the port.

 Canarias: Gran Canaria, La Palma, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gomera and Hierro

Tenerife. Beach of 'Las Americas'.

Ceuta and Melilla: the easy communication with the Peninsula enables you to enjoy the beaches and to purchase at interesting prices.

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For more information: www.tourspain.es

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