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Spaniards cannot be counted among Europe’s most polyglot peoples, although the situation is improving. Hotels, restaurants, attractions, and some shops will have English-speaking staff and English is widely spoken in resort areas.
ATMs are omnipresent, while most hotels, restaurants, and shops take major credit cards.
In general, shops are open Monday-Friday from 9am-2pm and from 5pm-9pm, and Saturdays from 9am-2 pm. Department stores and other large retailers are open all day on the first Sunday of the month.
Train travel in Spain is convenient and comfortable and state railways have recently inaugurated speedy AVE bullet trains linking Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga, adding to the existing service between Madrid and Seville.
All the major international car rental companies have branches in Spain, with offices at airports, train stations, and city centers. Beware: Spanish drivers can be creative with traffic regulations and the price of gasoline is four times that in the U.S.
Spain has a full range of hotels for every pocketbook, from five-star palaces to lowly hostels.
With its many distinct regions, Spain has a correspondingly diverse cuisine, and seafood is popular everywhere. In the interior, roast meats such as lamb and suckling pig top the menu while lighter fare is the norm along the Med. Tapas (small plates of anything from olives to fried squid served in bars) are a wonderful introduction to Spanish cooking.
Fiestas large and small – featuring parades, religious rites, dancing, and all-night drinking – take place year round in cities, towns, and villages, though most occur during spring, fall, and summer. Tourist offices can point you in the right direction.
Unfortunately, pickpockets and purse-snatchers are rife in the big cities, particularly in areas frequented by tourists and on the metro (subway). It’s best to keep your passport and jewelry in your hotel safe.
Local tourist offices in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville sell tourist cards good for free entry to museums and monuments and free public transportation, as well as discounts at select restaurants and shops.
