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Spain - PRACTICAL INFORMATION |
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Currency
From January the 1st of 2002, the currency in circulation is the euro. There are some notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros. The nominal values of the coins are the following: 1 cent (or 1/100 of euro), 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 euro and 2 euros."
Business hours
Businesses open from 9.00 to 14.00 and from 16.00 to 19.00 in general ; from 9.00 to 15.00 in July - August (from 9.00 to 14.00 to the public including on Saturday).
Transportation
Road
The road network is excellent, the main cities are reached via highways. The "Autovias" are free, the "autopistas" highways have tolls. The Web site of the Spanish Head Office of Transportation (both in Spanish and in English) provides with information on the condition of the roads, traffic, etc... www.dgt.es The police is very strict on speed limits: 120 km/h on highways, 100 on main roads and 50 km/h in cities. The fines are high and foreigners have to settle them at once and in cash. Car pounding is systematic in case of unauthorized parking. The fine may amount to 120 Euros.
Rail
Good, especially the TGV (high speed train) : AVE (Madrid - Seville) and Euromed (Barcelona - Alicante). It should be pointed out that a new high speed line should connect Madrid to Barcelona in 2002.
Air
Good, but the domestic traffic is very jammed: delays in flight schedules are frequent.
Internet
The Internet suffix is:
.es
Basic conversation guide
Yes = S?
No = No.
Thank you = Gracias
Hello = Hola
Good morning = Buenos dias
Good afternoon = Buenas tardes
Goodbye, Goodbye = Adios
I do not understand = No entiendo
What's the price? How much does it cost? = ?Cuanto esta? ?Cual es el precio?
I would like to buy = Me gustaria comprar...
Do you accept credit cards? = ?Aceptan tarjetas de credito?
Where is? = ?Donde est?
Post office = el correo
The bank = el banco
The police station, the police force = la estacion de policia; la comisaria de policia
The pharmacy = la farmacia
An airport = el aeropuerto
The train station = la estacion del tren
One ticket to..., please. = un billete para..., por favor.
Would you have any available rooms for tonight? = ?Tiene habitaciones para esta noche?.
Official language: Spanish. Commercial languages: English, French.The constitution of 1978 officially acknowledged other regional languages. As far as commercial languages are concerned, it is important to note the growing use of English as well as French.
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Last modified in
January 2006
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