Some characteristics or Spanish language

Spanish is pronounced phonetically!
However, beware of the trilled r which is somewhat complex to reproduce. The letter b and v are indistinguishable. The letter h is silent.
Formal / informal address
Deference and politeness is expressed by the switch between 2nd person tú and 3rd person usted.
ser vs estar
2 verbs denote the concept of to be. Ser is used for permanent states, estar is used to describe temporary things and to indicate locations.
Inflection, declination and grammatical gender are important features of Spanish grammar
Spanish uses 3 letters in addition to the English alphabet: 'ñ' and the letter combinations 'ch' and 'll', which are treated as single letters. 'W' originally wasn't part of the Spanish alphabet. It has been included to accommodate words of foreign origin.
Vowels in Spanish can carry an accent mark: á, é, í, ó and ú

Travelling to Spain

If you are a citizen of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein: all you need is your Identification Card, or a valid passport. Minors travelling with their ID card must have a document that shows parental authorisation.

Health care and safety in Spain

As a citizen of the European Union you are entitled to free medical and hospital care:
You will need your European Health Card (EHC):
From 1 July 2004, the European Health Card will replace the current temporary stay forms - principally the E-111 and E-128 and is available from the relevant healthcare organisation in your country of origin. It is valid for the period shown on the card and entitles you to the same medical care as that received by Spanish citizens.
Please note that private Doctors and hospitals in Spain do not accept the European Health Card. If you require private healthcare you must ensure that you have an adequate insurance policy or pay your own bills at the time.
In Spain, medication and prescriptions are obtained at pharmacies which can be distinguished by the green cross.
The phone number to ring in case of emergencies is 112 and is free to call in the whole of Spain.

Driving in Spain

If you are a citizen of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein: all you need is your valid driver's licence. If you are from another country, you will need an International Driver's Licence. To drive in Spain you must be at least 18 years old. To rent a vehicle, you must be at least 21.

Travelling with a pet

Before entering Spain your pet must comply with a series of health and identification requirements. These may vary according to its country of origin. In most cases, your pet must be vaccinated against rabies and identified with a microchip or tattoo. Also remember that you may not be allowed to bring your pet into our country if it is less than three months' old.

Currency and currency transfers

In Spain, as in most other countries of the European Union, the official currency is the euro since January of 2002.
There are eight different coins:
1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents, € 1 and € 2.

There are seven different notes:
€ 5, € 10, € 20, € 50, € 100, € 200, and € 500.
One euro consists of 100 cents.

You can exchange foreign currency at all banks which stay open to the public Monday through Saturday, from 8.30 to 14.00 h (except in the months of June through September, when they remain closed on Saturday). There are also currency exchange shops in all major cities, as well as selected hotels and travel agencies. Check with your reception desk to see if they are able to provide this service.

Click here for top tips on how to save money on your currency transfers

Shopping and spending money

Credit cards
Paying with a major credit card is possible at most Spanish shops and businesses..

Traveller's cheques
Traveller's cheques are acceptable at most hotels, restaurants and shops when presented with a valid passport.

National Holidays of Spain
The following days are Spanish national public holidays for 2005.

January 1. New Year.
January 6. Epiphany.
March 25, Good Friday.
August 15. Assumption of the Virgin.
October 12. El Pilar.
November 1. All Saint's Day.
December 6. Spanish Constitution Day.
December 8. Immaculate Conception.