Any suggestions on traveling to Spain?

Question

I'm planning a trip to Spain next summer with 3 friends. Any advice or things we must do/see. What about currency? How does that work? Any suggestions welcome. Thanks!

Answer 1

Allow me.  The currency is the Euro, don't have any idea what the exchange rate will be then.  You can use credit/debit card to withdraw Euros directly, none of the hassle of banks/lines, and you get the best exchange rate.

We spent time in Barcelona, Majorca, Ibiza, Formentera, with smaller amounts of time in southern France and in Andorra.  If I was going with three friends, I would rent a car, and travel the coast (the harbor towns are so very picturesque, you will not believe it).  The food is nothing to write home about (I guess the reason we don't see Spanish restaurants on every corner), but we eventually stuck with pizza, Greek salads and tapas.  There are lots of old castles/walled towns, take in a few.   We took the overnight ferry across to Majorca, something I would recommend.  Formentera is the best.  There is a white sand beach there, with few tourists, that is the best I think I will ever see in my life.  Wine is CHEAP, we bought entire cases of it for about two Euros (that comes out to about 47 cents a bottle!)  It is not the best you will taste, but surpisingly not bad either.

The civilization/cities were built before good sewage systems, so be prepared for some bad smells.  There is little/no airconditioning and when available is somewhat anemic.  They don't believe in using ice to the degree that I was used to in the US, you must ask for it, then get one or two cubes.

It was HOT.  I learned after a few miserable days, to put down the caffeinated drinks and drink lots and lots of water.  It helps your body cope/adapt.  I never felt unsafe, it was a comfortable vacation in that regard. The people were friendly, helpful and reasonable. Took our eight year old daughter.

Do NOT miss La Sagrada Familia if you choose Barcelona.

Answer 2

Prepare financially. My bf went to Europe for 5 weeks and spent way more than he expected to. Everything is so expensive out ther.  Must see the Cathedrals.

Answer 3

yes..don't go

Answer 4

currency is easy, leave it up to the exchange rate and banks. all you have to do is use the money.

Barcelona might be the greatest city in Europe, besides Berlin. and check out Salamanca too. it's rad and the people party hard cause it's a college town and tourist destination. then check out the small beach towns on the south coast. Valencia's sweet.

Answer 5

Spain is a very beautiful place!!! good luck! have fun! sorry no ideas

Answer 6

Currency is no trouble, just use your credit card at cash points... The Euro is now worth about 1,20 US$.

As to places to visit, the whole country is interesting... The two main cities are Barcelona (largest city) and 2nd. is Madrid, the capital. Both have monuments, museums, architectural marvels, excellent food, and charming people... Then you have the smaller cities such as Santiago de Compostela in the north which is absolutely gorgeous.  Burgos and León with their magnificent Cathedrals, Salamanca which is one of the first university cities in the world, Toledo which is monumental in itself, Aranjuez with its Royal Palace (superb). The walled city of Avila., Merida with its roman theater, still in use in summer theater festivals. Zaragoza with its Basilica del Pilar. Valencia which has built some magnificent modern areas in the last few years.

In Andalucía you have Seville, Córdoba and Granada, easy to visit if you make Málaga your base, you can take day trips to all the andalusian cities.and return to Malaga in the evening for a swim in the Mediterranean  or a dip in your hotels pool. On the eastern coast you have Alicante, Valencia, Castellón and Tarragona (besides Barcelona and Girona further north...

Then there are the islands

The Balearic Islands such as Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, and the smaller Formentera...all have spectacular beaches...

And the Canary Islands are also exquisite with the highest mountain in Spain, El Teide, which you can visit on camelback!

No matter what part of Spain you visit, you'll want to come back to see more!!!

I haven't ennumerated more than a few of the many wonderful places worth visiting...

I've lived here 34 years, and still haven't seen everything!

:-)

Answer 7

The person who said the food is not so good is nuts! The some of the best restaurants in the World are in Spain right now and San Sebastian in the Basque Country has more Michelin Three Star Restaurants than anywhere else in the World.

Yes Spain has great beaches but there is so much more to the Country than the Coast and the islands.  Some very good suggestions have been made, I have rented a car several times

and driven around the scenery is beautiful and the variations are amazing.

For a first Trip I would do Madrid, then take the AVE (very fast train) to Cordoba on to Seville and then rent a car and drive to Granada, check out the coast and drive back up to Madrid via Toledo if you have around 10 days...The Mesquita in Cordoba and the Alhmabra in Granada are must sees.  Also, be sure to do a Saturday night in Madrid -- nothing like it!

It is really HOT there in the summer especially in the South.  Seville is the hottest City in Europe bu Granada can be 20 degrees coller as it's near the mountains and close to the sea.

There are plenty of hotels with good AC these days, of course they are more expensive.

Also, many of the cities were built in Roman times and the Roman had good sewage systems.  I never notices any bad smells anywhere.

Answer 8

Well you can´t miss the capital! Although I´ll be honest and say that just about anywhere in Spain you´ll have fun. I´ve been living here 5 years now and Spain is best explained as an ever increasing Onion. You´ll scratch the surface to begin with but keep vcoming back for more. The more layers you uncover the more you realise its different to what you previously thought!

Try my website for ideas on what to do in and around Madrid if you decide to stop by and don´t get sucked in to doing the whole beach thing!

http://www.madrid-guide-spain.com