Top Tips To Ensure Your Holiday To Spain Runs Smoothly

Spain is one of the most popular and beloved European destinations, that you wouldn’t want to miss out on. Globally, the Spanish language, culture, and cuisine have had a huge impact on many different cultures around the world.

From the tranquil Pyrenees villages to the amazing cities of Barcelona and Madrid, there is plenty to explore. You will likely feel like going back to Spain every other year for your holiday.

However, before you start wandering off the beautiful streets of Spain, it is important to familiarise yourself with all the essential things you will need to ensure your next holiday to Spain runs smoothly.

Here then are some expert tips on travelling to Spain.

Choose The Perfect Time To Visit

As a rule of thumb, the best time to visit Spain is typically around late spring or early autumn.

During the summer, many regions may become unbearably hot, so it’s crucial to take the weather into consideration before heading off. Alternatively, you may want to take advantage of the ski season which runs from November through to May.

No matter which season you choose, Spain is full of great places to explore. However, be sure to adapt to the local schedule and keep in mind that most places like shops, museums, and cafes have longer lunch breaks, known as the famous afternoon siesta.

Plan Your Transportation

Ave High Speed Train — Ave High-Speed Train

Another crucial part of travelling to Spain is planning your transportation while you are visiting. If you want to experience the culture first-hand, you may consider renting a car.

Car Hire is a popular choice among many tourists, as it is a great way to explore plenty of spectacular locations in one go. Plus, Spain’s transport infrastructure is one of the most developed in Europe.

Additionally, you might want to take one of the many high-speed AVE trains that now link up much of Spain. If you plan to use the popular routes it is always a good idea to book train tickets in advance if possible, or you can or simply buy a ticket on the day and enjoy a wide variety of scenic routes.

Create A Budget

Expenses vary from region to region in Spain, so the destination you choose will affect your budget.

For instance, Madrid and Barcelona are major tourist hotspots, meaning that you should expect prices to be higher than in other areas.

If you want to find cheaper rates, you may want to visit Spain during the cooler months of the year.

Therefore, it’s important to research your destination in detail to determine how much money you should bring and what you can expect.

If you can it's always a good idea to plan your holiday and the costs involved on a word doc sheet or similar. The typical costs should include your flights, airport transfers, car hire, transportation, accommodation, sports activities if needed, souvenirs, food, and an amount for general expenses.

Research Locations

If you want to better organise the logistics of your trip to Spain, you will need to think about the type of locations and attractions you want to visit.

For example, you may want to enjoy a more rural location in a country property or hotel or be located close to the sea. Think about if you prefer to be on mainland Spain or one of the Balearic or Canary Islands.

Spain really does offer a whole range of varied locations to choose from, including the mountainous Pyrenees in the north to the arid lands of Almeria and the wild landscapes of Lanzarote.

You might be interested in doing something active, such as hiking or skiing. In this case, you should visit Northern Spain, as you will find plenty of green landscapes and beautiful hiking routes there.

For coastal destinations and warmer temperatures, Southern and Eastern Spain might be better options.

Choosing Your Preferred Accommodation and Board Type

One of the great things about Spain is the vast offering of accommodation.

Choose from luxury villas by the sea, rural inns, guesthouses of all shapes and sizes, small boutique hotels, large 5-star all-inclusive holiday resorts, a ski chalet in the Pyrenees and much more. You may even be thinking of sailing around the Med staying at one of the many superb yachting marinas in Spain.

Not only is the choice of accommodation immense you will also need to think about the type of board you require for you and your family so make sure to check the deals to see what is included such as a full continental breakfast, and half or full board options.

You really are spoilt for choice here so there is no reason why you won't be able to find the perfect place to stay.

Familiarise Yourself With Spanish Food

One of the most important highlights of visiting Spain is the world-famous Spanish cuisine.

Moreover, each region has its own signature dish, so you may want to learn about your destination’s food offerings.

For example, paella is a traditional rice dish that is native to Valencia and is often served with a variety of vegetables, seafood, and other types of meat.

On a hot summer day, you may also want to try a refreshing tomato-based soup called Gazpacho. This dish is native to the Andalusia region, making it a must-try if you are visiting this area.

Spain´s renowned gastronomy is one of the big drawers for many visitors. To sum up Spanish food, think olives, quality extra virgin olive oil, fresh vegetables, tapas, garlic, chicken, fish, seafood, Iberian cured ham, superb wine, and delicious rice dishes such as Paella or Sardines cooked over an open fire.

We have compiled a useful English to Spanish food glossary of all the most important words you will need when shopping for food or eating out at a tapas bar or restaurant.

Learn A Few Local Words

Although you might be able to get by in bigger Spanish cities speaking English, there are many people in other regions that might speak only Spanish. Therefore, similar to other foreign countries, learning a few of the most important Spanish phrases and local words is always appreciated.

You may want to spend a bit of time studying the language before you leave so that you can try to speak to locals in their native tongue.

Luckily, there are plenty of free and affordable Spanish-learning resources you can find online and practice your language skills.

Useful resources:

Beware of Getting Huge EU Mobile Roaming Bills

When you travel from a non-EU country such as the UK to Spain, you may be liable to pay additional charges to use your mobile phone, as you can enable EU roaming.

There have been many horror stories when people have returned from holiday only to receive a nasty surprise in the form of a large unwanted mobile phone roaming bill.

Thankfully there are some great SIM-only deals that you can use for your next trip to Spain.

The top mobile providers offering SIM-Only deals include Lebara Sim-Only, Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, MasMovil and Yoigo.

Get Travel Insurance

Since the UK left the EU zone, travel insurance is once again a key requirement you will need to consider while planning your trip to Spain.

It will protect you against losses on your holiday, such as loss of passport, checked-in luggage, money, and much more.

Getting travel insurance also helps you compensate against accident or medical treatment costs that you may incur in Spain.

There are also many unforeseen circumstances that might occur, which can result in changes to your travel itinerary, including health problems, and cancellation by the seller of the hotel or travel company.

Travel insurance for single trips can be as low as a few pounds depending on age so it´s well worth taking a look at.

Start Packing

Once it starts getting closer to the date you are due to travel to Spain, you will want to allow enough time to pack what you need. Depending on the type of holiday, you will need to check that you have the appropriate clothing for your particular destination.

Spain is diverse when it comes to geography, terrain, and climate, so it’s important to ensure you have suitable clothing and equipment on hand. In general, it’s advisable to pack plenty of lightweight clothes, along with a few jackets or cardigans.

It is safe to say that you will not need to pack warmer clothing if you plan to visit Southern Spain in the summer months, likewise you would need a jacket and sweaters if you plan to visit Northern Spain and even better winter clothing if you plan a ski trip in November.

Avoid Scams - On & Offline

It is also crucial to avoid falling victim to travel scams when going to Spain.

No matter how often you travel, it seems like scammers and con artists always come up with something new.

Just as you would whilst at home, beware of online scams and stay safe online when travelling to Spain it´s easy to get into holiday mode and maybe drop your guard when clicking on emails and or unwanted publicity.

Not only can scams ruin your holiday, but they also encourage scammers to try again next time. Therefore, you should always keep your belongings safe and beware of the most common scams in Spain. For example, pickpocketing can be a major problem, which can often happen on buses, trains, and metros.

Also, you shouldn’t accept anything from seemingly helpful people on the street.

Get Prepared For Emergencies

Lastly, remember that anything can happen while you are travelling, so you should always be prepared for emergencies. For example, if you are travelling by yourself, be sure to tell someone where you are going and keep in touch with them regularly. Also, don’t forget to pack a simple first-aid kit and a basic hygiene kit so that you can quickly treat common headaches, stomach bugs, and motion sicknesses.

A good idea is to make a note of all emergency numbers in Spain, such as ambulance and health emergencies, as well as the local police number.
The main emergency number in Spain is 112, this is for police, ambulance, fire services or coastguard assistance.

For individual services the numbers are:
• Ambulance Service: 061
• National police: 091
• Local police: 092
• Fire brigade Service: 080