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Spain

Welcome To Spain Travel Guide

Spain is one of my favorite countries in the world. With so much fascinating history, amazing architecture, festivals, world-class beaches, and renowned nightlife. Spain will give you an experience like nothing you can ever imagine.

With their love to connect with others and socialize, you will find tapas bars on every corner, serving some of the best-tasting wine any day of the week. Spaniards are fond of the nightlife and find every reason possible to come together to celebrate and enjoy life.

Depending on your vacation desires, you will find that Spain has much to offer from hiking the Pyrenees, visiting the Great Cathedral and Mosque of Cordoba, running with bulls in Pamplona, or soaking up the sun on a beach in Costa Del Sol.

Spain is an inexpensive place to visit, and so if you are tight on cash, this would be an excellent choice for you!

Things to See and Do in Spain

Beautiful beaches in Malaga
City of Three Cultures in Avila
Cathedral of Cordoba
The Alhambra of Granada
Walk the El Camino de Santiago
Visit Gibraltar and see the monkeys

Typical Costs When Travelling

Accommodation – A hostel is the cheapest type of accommodations, spending around $15-$20 per night. Private room hostels will cost an additional $10. All hostels typically come with free WiFi and some with free breakfast. The mid-range hotel will cost around $50-$75 per night. My recommendation is to stay with an Airbnb, ranging from $35-$100 per night. The Airbnb locations were great and within walking distance to sightseeing locations.

(I recommend using www.Airbnb.com when looking for moderate price accommodations within a nice neighborhood)

Food – Spaniards enjoy small meals throughout the day, so you will find many options in tapas that range from $5-$15. If you want a sit-down restaurant meal with wine, you may expect to pay around $15-$18. Spain has so many good restaurants that you most likely will find something wonderful to eat, depending on your appetite. Visit one of the many “corner stores” to buy snacks, fruits, bread, and lunch meat to eat on the road while visiting the sights.

(Use www.TripAdvisor.com when trying to locate a restaurant within your budget range)

Transportation – All major cities have extensive metro systems. If you stay in one of the larger cities such as Madrid, you will want to purchase a combo pass, saving you money overall. An average ten trip pass will cost you between $12-$15.  RENFE is the rail line in Spain, offering both high-speed trains and regular trains. High-speed trains are more expensive but will save you a lot of time. You may also utilize a Eurail Pass if you are traveling throughout Europe. Traveling by the Alsa bus is the cheapest option. A trip from Madrid to Barcelona starts at around $35. Each city has a bus system. Ask your hotel concierge for assistance. BlaBlaCar is a ride-sharing option if you have a flexible schedule.

Suggested daily budget – Average daily budget should be approximately $131 per person, including hotel, transportation, meals, and sightseeing. A two-week vacation for two people costs roughly $3,600, staying at mid-range hotels.

Money Saving Tips

1
Purchase a Barcelona Tourist Card if you plan a Barcelona visit, which provides unlimited public transportation and free admissions into museums. (Tickets to have a few exclusions). Throughout Spain, cities offer a city pass and are a good investment if you plan to visit multiple museums, attractions, and activities. The savings can be around 20% and include free transportation.
2
Most restaurants have a ``menu of the day`` during lunch, which is less expensive and offers delicious Spanish food typically served between 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Tip: In Spain, they usually eat their large meal of the day at lunch and enjoy tapas for dinner.
3
Stop in a local supermarket and pick up drinks and snacks to eat with you while traveling. This will save you money and time when traveling from one sightseeing spot to another.
4
Throughout Spain, you will find free WiFi. You may have to sign in with your email and accept the t&c's or ask for the password.
5
Check out the free walking tours offered, as this will give you a better understanding of the city's layout.
6
Spaniards typically do not tip for food or drink services. If you feel you had excellent service, it is okay to round up your bill and give it to the waiter.
7
Museums will offer admission on various days and times of the week. Check their websites and schedule your visit accordingly. Discounts are offered to those that 65 or older, so bring your identification.
8
As you enjoy a nice dinner at a restaurant, don't feel the need to order wine by the bottle as the glass price is very inexpensive. Always select the wine yourself. It is said that in Spain, many waiters would choose the most expensive wine on the menu.
9
There is a sales tax, called IVA in Spain, which is a value-added tax of 16% on retail sales. You can get a refund on this if your purchases are at least 90 EUR at one store. Look for stores with Tax-Free signs. They will give you a receipt showing the taxes you paid. You to claim these taxes at the airport upon your departure. The airport inspectors will stamp your form and drop the form in a mailbox where you will receive a refund on your credit card in about two months.
10
If you plan to drive a car, visit the Via Michelin website to plan your trips.
11
Within the big cities of Spain, you will have VIPS, a chain restaurant, which are American style cafeterias that serve inexpensive meals at any time of the day.
12
Spanish law says that every restaurant must post its menu outside the door. Most restaurants will bring a basket of bread. If you do not plan to eat the bread, tell them you are not interested; otherwise, you may be charged a few euros. Do not ask for butter for your bread because the Spanish do not eat butter. Avoid restaurants that have signs in English as they may charge you differently than the natives.

What can I expect from Spain?

Spain is a smorgasbord of bustling cities, scenic countryside, and sunny islands. Beyond the typical vacation destination in the sun, here you can climb the snow-capped peaks in the Pyrenees or be a part of one of the biggest festivals, Running of the Bulls.  Although the summer months are the most popular times to travel to Spain, I recommend September to November.

There are so many things to see and do in Spain. Your challenge will be narrowing down your options.

  • Language: The official language spoken in Spain is Spanish.
  • Currency: The currency in Spain is the Euro, and the current exchange rate is 1Euro = $1.14 USD. Mastercard and Visa are accepted at most machines as well as restaurants and shops. If you are spending time in remote areas, make sure you have enough cash.
  • Plugs: The plugs in Spain are type C and F. The standard voltage is 230V, and the standard frequency is 50Hz. Purchase a universal adapter to attach to your hairdryer and hot tools.
  • Safety: Spain is a safe country to visit; however, always take precautions and beware of your surroundings.

Things to Explore in Cadiz: Spain’s Oldest City

If you visit southern Spain, you must spend a day enjoying Cadiz, where you will find beautiful beaches, iconic cathedrals, peaceful parks, plazas full of flowers, and plenty of restaurants.

Day Trips from Malaga, Spain

The southern region of Spain, called the Costa del Sol, is filled with the Moors’ history, gorgeous natural landscape, picturesque whitewashed villages. Cities to visit for a day trip are Nerja, Frigiliana, Granada, Benalmadena, and Marbella.

Things to See and Do in Malaga

In the heart of the Costa Del Sol is the sunny city of Malaga, one of the most visited by Europeans for a summer vacation.

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