When planning a vacation in Spain, the first thing to consider is where you want to go. It is a diverse country divided into regions, each with their own distinctive character. All major cities have at least one airport and there are also many located close to coastal resorts.
The official language of the country as a whole is Castilian Spanish and some regions such as Catalonia also have their own language. Many people working in the tourism and leisure industry do speak English, especially in the more popular tourist areas. But that said, not all do, and locals really do appreciate it when visitors try to communicate with them in their native tongue. So keeping a phrasebook to hand is always a good idea.
There are many different types of accommodation options and most can be booked ahead. Online brokers are a good place to start and individual establishments and chains also usually have websites. If you're not able to find something before you leave tourist offices in airports can help.
Generally the cheapest way of getting around the country is by public transport. Trains tend to be faster than buses and the national and regional rail networks are pretty comprehensive. If you're going to be traveling over long distances and short on time, the best option may be to take internal flights.
There are also plenty of car rental companies operating in Spain, including international brands and national and local providers. If you're thinking of hiring a car, it's also worth bearing in mind that motorways have tolls. And sometimes they're not cheap! If you have time to spare it may be worth taking a more scenic route along non-toll roads.
If you're planning a vacation in Spain during one of the main fiestas it's worth booking well in advance. But whenever you go you're bound to stumble on some sort of local fiesta as these are widespread and celebrated throughout the year. The main reasons for so many parties are the Saint's days and there's one celebrated somewhere every day!
The official language of the country as a whole is Castilian Spanish and some regions such as Catalonia also have their own language. Many people working in the tourism and leisure industry do speak English, especially in the more popular tourist areas. But that said, not all do, and locals really do appreciate it when visitors try to communicate with them in their native tongue. So keeping a phrasebook to hand is always a good idea.
There are many different types of accommodation options and most can be booked ahead. Online brokers are a good place to start and individual establishments and chains also usually have websites. If you're not able to find something before you leave tourist offices in airports can help.
Generally the cheapest way of getting around the country is by public transport. Trains tend to be faster than buses and the national and regional rail networks are pretty comprehensive. If you're going to be traveling over long distances and short on time, the best option may be to take internal flights.
There are also plenty of car rental companies operating in Spain, including international brands and national and local providers. If you're thinking of hiring a car, it's also worth bearing in mind that motorways have tolls. And sometimes they're not cheap! If you have time to spare it may be worth taking a more scenic route along non-toll roads.
If you're planning a vacation in Spain during one of the main fiestas it's worth booking well in advance. But whenever you go you're bound to stumble on some sort of local fiesta as these are widespread and celebrated throughout the year. The main reasons for so many parties are the Saint's days and there's one celebrated somewhere every day!
About the Author:
The Skytours Holidays 2014 list of travel options for vacationers offer great choices and value for all kinds of summer and winter holidays as do the many options with Airtours holidays 2014. Find out even more with Simon Jones of My Holiday Co.
