TRAVEL TIPS

AIRLINES
The international airline is “Iberia” and it has a smaller brother using the name “Aviaco”. The major airports on the mainland are Madrid, Barcelona and Seville. Between them they operate an extensive schedule of flights between the major cities of Spain and it's other Provinces. However, due to the needs of the tourist industry several of the lesser airports also are equipped to handle International traffic.

There are airports on the mainland at - Alicante - Almería - Ampurias (Gírona) - Oviedo (Asturías) - Badajos - Barcelona - Bilbao - Burgos - Cáceres - Córbada - Granada - Jerez (Cádiz) - La Coruña - Logroño - Madrid - Málaga - Murcía - Puigcerdà - Pamplona - Reus (Tarragona) - Salamanca - Santander - Santíago de Compostela - Seu d'Urgell – Seville - Valencía - Valladolid - Vigo - Vitoria - Zaragoza.

Iberia Office - International
Ireland
- 54 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 - 010 353 1779 846
Canada (Montreal)
- 2020 University Street, Montreal H3A 2A5 - 514 849 3352
Canada (Toronto)
- 102 Bloor St. West, Toronto - 416 964 6625
UK (Birmingham)
- 15th Floor, The Rotunda Building, New Street, Birmingham B2 4PA - (0)21 643 9726
UK (Glasgow)
- Stock Exchange House, 7 Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow G2 1QY - (0)41 248 6581
UK (London)
- 130, Regents Street, London W1R 5FE - (0)71 437 5622
UK (Manchester)
- Room 2, level 5, Manchester Airport, Manchester M22 5PA - (0)61 436 6444
USA (Boston)
- 20 Park Plaza, Boston, Mass. 02116 - 617 426 8335
USA (Chicago)
- 205 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill. 60601 - 312 819 2900
USA (Dallas)
- 8111 LBJ Freeway, Suite 941, Dallas, Texas - 214 669 3336
USA (Miami)
- Suite 1308, 150 South East Second Avenue, Miami, Fla. 33131 - 305 381 8301
USA (New York)
- 509 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022 - 212 644 8843
USA (Washington)
- 1725 K. Street, Washington DC 20006 - 202 293 6970

BUSES & COACHES
Major cities have within their area good, efficient, and cheap bus services. The "Autobus" is normally clean and smoking onboard is not allowed. A bus terminal is named "Estacion de Autobus". To make a bus stop at a given stop during its route can be a challenging experience. It is important to attract the driver’s attention and this may require very demonstrative signals. Weekend schedules tend to be very limited in comparison to those of the weekdays. It is also advisable to have the correct change available when boarding as this can avoid possible annoyance. Inter-city buses or coach companies are numerous and can be confusing; however they are usually very clean and dependable. Please take not that "Left Luggage Offices" are hard to find.

There are comfortable and efficient coach services exist between Spain and its immediate neighbours, Portugal and France, and excursions are available to other countries.

DRIVING IN SPAIN
The Spanish Highway Code is reputed to be the most comprehensive in Europe. Sections besides actual codes for driving and rules of road cover such items as first-aid, vehicle maintenance and even loads relating to vehicles.

If your Driving License is less than one year old you are not to drive faster than 80 KPH and your alcohol level must not exceed 0.3g (normal level of 0.5g) for a period of the first two years of the License.

A Driving License from any EU country is automatically valid in Spain. All other countries (including the USA), can drive for only 6 months in one calendar year after which the driver must obtain a Spanish License as the driver will then be considered as a resident of the country. A Driving School will arrange the necessary paperwork and assist the driver in this respect.

It is recommended that you consult the following Site in the English language: http://www.dgt.es/index.html

The Spanish Traffic Police are considered efficient in applying their laws and it is highly recommended that if stopped, friendly cooperation with their requests should be appplied.

Some useful hints!
- Always give way to traffic on the right unless otherwise indicated - especially at all roundabouts.

- When turning to the left across the oncoming traffic, do not complete this manouvre if there is a solid white line to be crossed. Special turning points to achieve the same result are normally provided and signposted as "Cambio de Sentido". Always respect and do not cross the continuous white line dividing the two directions of moving traffic.

- Seatbelts should be worn at all times (also, when fitted in the rear seats), when the vehicle is in motion.

- Alcohol limits are set low whilst the “on-the-spot” fines for exceeding the limit is expensive. A test showing high levels of alcohol will mean the impounding of the vehicle and a heavy fine.

- Use of Mobile Phones whilst driving is banned in Spain. Drivers in the case of an emergency are permitted to park on the roadside to make a phone call. The fine for the offense is up to € 300.00. Motorists are permitted to use “hands-free” kits but not an earphone connection and the kit has to fitted directly to the power supplied by the car.

FINES
- Speeding fines are calculated by multiplying the excess speed by a given number of Euros. The figure is subject to change and the number at present used is € 6.00 per kilometer.

- Fines for other offences are calculated more or less on the discretion of the Police Officer. Immediately “on-the-spot” payment of all fines is applied.

METRO
Some of the major cities have a “Metro” underground travel system. They are cheap and reasonable for effective travel but obviously become very crowded in peak hours. Please remember that smoking on trains is forbidden.

PARKING
Regardless of other vehicles creating an illegal impression it is not permitted to park on the pavement, or, where there exists a painted yellow line. Street parking may be difficult to find but parking spaces marked in blue are available by purchasing a ticket from a machine or an attendant. Penalties for parking infringements can vary according to locality where the offense is committed.

- Illegal parking with foreign plates will inevitably attract the attention of a "tow truck" with the resulting inconvenience and subsequent fine.

RENT A CAR
There are many international and smaller Car Hire companies operating throughout Spain and their offices can be found in main cities and the tourist areas. Hiring a car will require proof of Driving License and a minimum age between 21 and 25 depending on the company used. Although sometimes more expensive tt is normally best to use an established company and remember to check the details on the Hire Contract before signing.

ROADS
When driving in Spain the law requires the driver to have in their possession proof of their identity, current Driving License, valid Insurance Certificate, and the Vehicle Registration documents. Visiting vehicles must display a national identity plate (GB/USA etc). The law requires that every vehicle carries two Red Warning Triangles, a First Aid Kit, a Fire Extinguisher, and a set of spare bulbs.

Types of Road
Autopista (Motorway) - These are often Toll roads and they require payment in order to
use them for travel - Max. speed 120 KPH
Autovia (Dual-Carriageway) - Max. speed 120 KPH
Carretera Nacional - Prefix with N or CN and indicates a major road - Max. speed of 90 KPH
Carretera Comarcal - Prefix with C and are considered minor roads - Max. speed 50 KMS
Carretera Local - Rural road - Max. speed 50 KMS
Urbano - Roads in built-up areas - Max. speed 20 KMS

Road Tolls
- Spain has more than 2,000 kilometers of roads which are subject to Toll payment. They are well maintained and have Service Stations at regular intervals providing all necessary services and the recommended breaks in a long journey.

- Tolls are calculated per kilometer traveled by the vehicle - this payment can be charged either at the beginning of a Toll road or when exiting. There is normally a lane reserved at the Toll Boxes for the "Telepago" traffic which should not be used by visitors. These lanes are only for the use of locally owned vehicles equipped with a special payment system. The "Automatico" lane is for paying by Credit Card or by the exact change. The lanes for handling the change when necessary are all marked with a green arrow.

TAXIS
Authorized “Taxis” display their special City License so it is recommend you only use these vehicles. When any Taxi displays a green light on its roof then it is available for hire, either at a marked Taxi rank, or passing in the street. Fares are set by the authorities whilst a tip of 5% to 10% is suggested. There is normally a surcharges for each baggage accompanying the passenger. Again smoking whilst traveling in a Taxi is not allowed.

TRAINS
Spain is well served with mainline rail service running between major towns. The national service is run under the name of “RENFE” which provides an overall reasonable service and acceptable prices. There is a big variety of services within the system. "TALGO" and "Inter-City" is best taken between major cities. The "FERROBUS" which literally translates to a "metal bus", is a service which stops at almost every station on each route. Tickets can be purchased prior to the journey and are available from main stations, ticket agents and travel agents.