Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with spain

Warmish places to go in Europe?

walla — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:44:37 -0800

Where in Southern Europe should we go for a few winter months? We work remotely and are considering spending January through March in Europe. We've done this before in Northern Europe (Germany, northern France & Italy), but because of the season we're thinking about going south. Ideally we'd rent an apartment for a month in each of 2 or 3 places.

We love smallish, walkable, affordable cities - Freiburg, Germany was one of our favorites - but we're flexible. It's great if there are day trips nearby, as we won't have to start working until 3 PM.

Thanks for any ideas!

Taking pictures in Barcelona and Madrid.

scooterdman — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:00:35 -0800

What are the best locations for taking pictures of Barcelona/Madrid? We'll be spending about 10 days there. Barcelona from 12/25 - 12/28 and Madrid from 12/29 - 01/02.

I'd really like to take some nice photos, specifically of the landscape, the cities from above and the surrounding environment.

I'm also interested in taking pictures of normal touristy things, but will likely stumble into many of them on my own. (Feel free to recommend these, too, though.)

What are your thoughts? Where ought I point my camera?

How to use an iPhone in Spain without running up a ridiculous bill?

scooterdman — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:03:14 -0800

How can I use my iPhone in Spain without running up a ridiculous bill? I talked to AT&T, and, not surprisingly, their plan is nonsense. You pay an extra nominal fee and get (a whopping!) 25 megabytes of data before they start issuing major fees.

I basically want to use my phone while there to check email, use Google Maps, access Wikipedia, etc. Nothing fancy.

What should I do? Is there a reasonable way to go about using an iPhone in Spain? Or am I out of luck?

FYI: I also have an old iPhone that I would be open to hacking/jailbreaking if that would be of any use, as well. Would rather not mess around with my new 3GS.

Do I need to get a multiple entry visa for Spain/Andorra travel as a US citizen?

anarchivist — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:21:55 -0800

I'm going to Spain (Barcelona) for 10 days, and I'm a US citizen, which in my understanding grants me a de facto 90-day single entry Schengen visa. I've been thinking about going to Andorra, a non-Schengen country, which suggests to me that I would therefore require a multiple entry Visa. Preliminary research confirms this. Stupid question: do I need to do this before I leave? Can anyone else who has gone to Andorra from Spain attest to the strictness or laxity of the immigration controls?

The Rain in Spain... Please Entertain (my bf)

samthemander — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:50:50 -0800

Madrid this Friday and Saturday: Any way to get my boyfriend to a sports game? My boyfriend and I are from San Francisco, spending this Friday and Saturday in Madrid at the end of a two-week trip for a wedding. We fly out Sunday morning. He's been nothing but patient with my interests the last week of the trip (museums, dancing), so I'd love to do something that's of more interest to him. He's a VERY active guy and into all types of sports, but unfortunately, it's raining where we are now (Sevilla).

Any suggestions on games, places to check out, ticket web sites, etc? Any links you can provide would be wonderful! Thanks!

Barcelona Gyms

yellowcandy — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:33:41 -0800

Where can I work out during a week in Barcelona? I'll be in Barcelona for a week and need to find a decent gym where I can get in a few workouts to counteract the debauchery. What I'm looking for in particular is simple: a clean facility with good elliptical machines and decent isolated exercise machines.

I want to hear from people with first-hand experience only, please.

Spanish Trails

PaulingL — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:55:44 -0800

What are your favorite running/hiking routes in Spain? I am dying to get out on a good run. I currently live in Salamanca, Spain, but am used to running in the Rockies back stateside.

What are some must-run (hike) routes/trails in Spain [b]that I could conceivably do in a weekend's time?[/b]

If it is a smaller/lesser-known place [b](which I would prefer)[/b], I would extremely appreciate some help in knowing how I could get there.

Thanks a lot! Hopefully afterward I can get some pictures linked to my profile here!

Where should I buy a ticket for in Camp Nou?

ascullion — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 05:05:38 -0800

I'm going to Barcelona in October and am going to take in a football match at Camp Nou. Tickets are currently freely available in the stadium - is there a particuarly good or bad place for a neutral/tourist to sit?

USD to EUR/Spanish Debit Cards

PaulingL — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:51:53 -0800

LivingAbroadFilter: What can I, in particular, do to avoid conversion fees from USD to EUR? I am currently living in Spain. I will be returning to the states as of summer 2010. All my money is in American banks.

Is there something I can do to avoid fees? If not, what would be the best solution so as to keep them to a minimum?

Extra Questions

I have an online ING Direct account, with one of my banks attached to it. 1. Could I withdraw money from the ING location that is near where I am now?

2. Could I open a Spanish account, and use the online ING account to transfer funds between the two? I would like to get a Spanish Debit card.

Thanks!

Affordable Spain!

lattiboy — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:46:38 -0800

What are some of the best things to do in Spain in October? Going on an 11 day trip of Spain:

We will be spending the 1st, 2nd, 3rd days in Madrid, hopping the bullet train and then spending the 4th, 5th, and possibly 6th day in Barcelona. After that we're going to play it by ear, but we're thinking of going to Valencia and different spots in Catalonia (I lined up a rental car) and driving back to Madrid (it's my scheduled drop off point for the car).

Looking for awesome stuff to check out. We'll have a car from the 6th to 11th day of the trip. It would be great if things could trend toward the affordable as I'd like to have some of our savings when we get home.

Also, is there a "city pass" type thing for Madrid and/or Barcelona? We saved a bundle on our last trip to San Francisco by getting one of those. It included metro and museum entry for a flat fee.

Study Abroad Prep

PaulingL — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:59:44 -0800

What do I need to do/know/remember before studying abroad? Monday night I fly to Spain, where I will be living for the next 6-8 months, in Salamanca. I will be studying there at the University of Salamanca.

Details:
For the first semester, I will be living with a host family. They consist of a homemaker (female, age: 60 ) a retiree (male, age: 64) and their son who comes home apparently for "meals" living just outside of town.

For the first month, I will be alone. After that, another student will be joining me, but I will have my own room still.

The second semester I switch to my own room in the "Reisdencia."

Where you come in:
What things to do I need to do beforehand that I may have forgotten?
What should I know about studying abroad/Europe/Spain that I may not?
What must I remember to do now, during, and after my experience?

Any anecdotal advice/comments/suggestions/questions/etc. are extremely appreciated!

How do we make the most out of our trip to Spain?

scooterdman — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:03:41 -0800

How do we make the most out of our trip to Spain? We are flying into Barcelona on Christmas morning and flying out of Madrid January 2. My girlfriend (who is well-traveled and speaks fluent Spanish) and I want to make the most of our trip but want to avoid overkill.

We are working on a spending budget of around $1500. We are looking for ideas regarding daytrips, transportation, lodging and other variables we should be taking into consideration.

Cheap, but fun Europe!

lattiboy — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:19:10 -0800

Help me plan an October European vacation (starting/ending in Madrid) on the cheap! Since AskMe was SO helpful last time, I thought I'd try a bigger project:

I picked up a pair of airline tickets to Madrid for an incredible price about a month ago and now I'm freaking out about 10 days in Europe and the costs associated with that. I'll be traveling with my fiance and we're open to just about anything (we would like to avoid non-private hostel rooms). The travel dates are from October 1st until the 10th.

We'd like to see as much as possible (Paris and London especially) for as little as possible.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

PS The conversion rate being what it is, if EASTERN EUROPE is realistic, I'm all over that!

Habla inglese?

djgh — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:37:09 -0800

Getting from Benicassim to Madrid. Speaking no Spanish, trying to get three bus/train tickets from Benicassim to Madrid on the 21st July, arriving before 19:00, is proving virtually impossible.

Can anyone point to a website in English where this route is available, on that date for that time?

Many thanks for any help which you can offer.

Where to go in Southern Spain?

curious zoe — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:45:27 -0800

I'm going on holiday to Spain with my mother. We're flying into Barcelona in August (bad time, I know!) for four days and then have 12 days to make our way to Casablanca before she starts a tour of Morocco. So I need to plan our time in Spain. I thought five days or so in Menorca, but it seems difficult to get to cheaply. I thought about catching a train to Valencia for a few days, then heading to Seville/Grenada/Cordoba before Morocco- what must we see or avoid? Further points to make: We don't have a car, so we need to go places we can get around on foot or by public transport and the odd taxi.

My mother is 60, super fit, but not a fan of crowds. I am a little worried about the heat in Spain in August, hence trying to stick to the coast where (I hope) its a bit cooler.

We want to see Spain (first time for both of us) but also relax and have a holiday - and avoid 'lager lout' resorts!

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

Please help me to determine if moving to Madrid will make me go into debt.

heliotrope — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:39:51 -0800

How does the cost of living in Madrid compare to NYC? How much should I expect to pay for a one-bedroom apartment in a desirable neighborhood in Madrid? I currently work in NYC, and there may be an opportunity for me to work in my company's Madrid office for a year. This is something that I would very much like to do. However, I have just learned that typical salaries for my role in Madrid are generally between €20k-30k. My current income, adjusted for cost of living differences, equates to about €40k. While I hope to negotiate close to my current salary, I would like to determine the minimum salary that I could accept.

Any general advice about the cost of living in Madrid would be greatly appreciated. I am particularly concerned with the cost of renting an apartment. How much should I expect to pay for a one-bedroom apartment in a desirable neighborhood? The office is near Chueca and La Castellana, and I would like to have a convenient walk or commute. Also, I would prefer to avoid shared housing/roommate situations. Super bonus question: do any MeFites know of a reputable broker in Madrid that I might contact for advice?

Thanks in advance.

Por que no?

furnace.heart — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:54:16 -0800

Spanish visa for over 90 days? As always... For my ladyfriend who has no mefi account:

Okay, I got an under the table job as an au pair in Spain for roughly three months, but technically I'll be there for over 90 days (somewhere in the 95-98 day range depending on flights). I am trying to get a visa.

The visa I need is a tourist visa (or non-lucrative visa) since I will not be formally employed or enrolled in a school. The nearest embassy to me (I live in Portland Oregon) is in San Francisco.

Do I need to actually travel to SF to apply for this visa? Everything on the embassy website says that applications must be made in person. I can't seem to get a person on the phone or through e-mail. How do people all over the country acquire visas if they live outside the 6 or 7 major U.S. cities that have embassies?

If you have any experience procuring this type of visa, or experience in dealing with an embassy outside a city such as your own, I would love to hear how you handled the situation. Thanks!

(And thanks to my lovely manfriend, who let me jack his mefi account...)

How will Fiesta Nacional de España effect my trip?

lattiboy — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:26:38 -0800

I'm going to be in Spain RIGHT before October 12th (Fiesta Nacional de España), will anything be open? Got a RIDICULOUS airfare from Seattle to Madrid and wasn't aware of the holiday. My vacation is from October 1st, leaving the 11th.

Peace and quiet in Catalunya mtns

computech_apolloniajames — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:57:46 -0800

Off the beaten track in the Catalunya mountains? Similar to my question last year about my trip to Scotland (which was awesome, btw), this query pertains to my planned trip to Spain later this summer. I have got it into my head to go to Barcelona. Upon some initial research, Barcelona sounds like a nice city but a bit of a zoo in August (which again, is my best time frame for vacation), but I really don't imagine wanting to spend my entire 9 days there. Could anybody recommend a place in the mountains where I could chill out away from the maddening crowds, and do some hiking? Or should I just grit my teeth and wait till September. Bonus points for access by public transit, and for being not expensive. The books that I have looked at so far do not offer a ton of info on accomms, etc.

Thanks in advance!

Trip to Spain/Portugal

arm426 — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:35:08 -0800

I'm planning a trip to Portugal/Spain for late July/early August. Could use some tips/suggestions on locations/travel, etc... I know that similar questions were asked previously, but I'm looking for some tips that are better suited for a 25 year old guy who will be traveling solo in all likelihood. I'd like to mix some culture, with good night life and beaches.

For some reason, I envision scenes from Sun Also Rises when I think of this vacation, so hopefully that paints a decent picture of the things I'd like to do.

I'd prefer to stay at mid to higher end hotels or hostels. I'm open to renting a car, traveling by bus, train or plane to get to different locations within Portugal and Spain. I have a working knowledge of Spanish (if that).

Any help/guidance appreciated.

Recommendations for Nerja, Spain area

aelish — Mon, 25 May 2009 16:03:14 -0800

Please recommend day trips around Nerja, Spain.... The BF and I are travelling to Spain in late July...staying in Nerja. We're looking for "you-can't-miss-this" things to do or see. (I would spend the whole time on the beach and in the water, but he's more of a sight-seer). Balcony of Europe: we're a ten minute walk away and will be there; caves: we're not too far from those and will undoubtedly go as BF is a geologist-wannabe; what else should we see or do? Restaurant recommendations welcome as well. thanks!

Help me get from Santiago to Serbia.

acidic — Mon, 18 May 2009 23:03:06 -0800

What's the cheapest or best way to get from Santiago de Compostela, Spain, to Croatia/Serbia/Slovenia? Optional: a detour through the Netherlands. I'm backpacking through Spain this summer and ending up in Santiago de Compostela or thereabouts. From there I have the option to go to the Netherlands for a month and then Croatia/Serbia/Slovenia etc for a little less than a month, then flying out of Prague, or going straight to central/eastern Europe and spending a bit more time there. Wherever I go I'll be WWOOFing for part of the time but also camping and couchsurfing in larger cities. I'm interested in:
- The best way to get out of Santiago, and
- Thoughts on spending a month in the Netherlands-- how expensive is it? For a young female traveling solo how does it compare to central/eastern Europe? Would it be worth it to skip the Netherlands and spend almost 2 months in Croatia/Serbia/Slovenia and other surrounding countries? Eventually I need to end up in Prague, although I don't plan to spend much time there at all.

Any additional advice regarding any of my destinations would be appreciated as well, of course! Previous threads about Dubrovnik and Ljubljana are what convinced me to head to that part of the world in the first place.

Seville or Cordoba?

macrowave — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:22:38 -0800

My boyfriend and I are traveling to Madrid next week. We'll be in the area for seven days, and plan to spend the second half in either Seville or Cordoba and then on to Granada. Seville or Cordoba? We need to book hotels asap and can't agree on this leg of the trip. We're both in our late twenties, live in Chicago, and have never been to Europe. I'm not really sure what we're looking for in either location other than "neat!" stuff. Any recommendations? Must-see must-do things that you can suggest to sell us on either place? I realize that the two destinations are rather close to one another, but given our time frame, I think it'd be wise to narrow it down.

Thanks for your help!

How can I deal with the second hand smoke on my visit to Spain?

TurkishGolds — Sun, 10 May 2009 14:59:15 -0800

I'm really looking forward to my upcoming trip to Spain, but I'm afraid that the second-hand smoke is going to drive me crazy. Tips? I'm a recent ex-smoker, within the past year. I'm very happy as a non-smoker, and there is absolutely 0 chance that I'm going to be tempted to light-up. I'm at the point where I find it repulsive. Repulsive to the point where I'm afraid that all of the second hand smoke in Spain is going to get in the way of me having a good time.

We're going to be in Austurias (primarily Gijón) for 4 nights, and then in Madrid for 2 nights.

I've resigned myself to telling people that I'm "allergic" to smoke. I hate how it smells, I hate how it feels in my eyes, and I hate having to breath something so toxic. I had to spend about an hour in an enclosed smoky room about 6 months ago, and I thought that my head was going to explode. I was miserable the entire time, and I could still feel it in my throat the next morning.

Here in Massachusetts, I don't have to worry about it too much because smoking is strictly banned in all bars/restaurants.

From what I understand, people will be smoking in almost all bars, restaurants and clubs. Bummer, because there are my fav places to frequent on vacation. Looking for places to hang outside will be a priority, but I'm sure that we won't be able to do that exclusively.

Also, I know that I'm going to have to visit with a friend's mother who is planning on cooking for us in her home. I can't wait to meet her and enjoy a delicious home cooked meal, but I'm afraid that her smoking indoors is going to ruin the whole experience for me. My traveling companion believes that it would be rude and hard for her to understand if we request that she doesn't smoke inside while we're there.

So, my question is two fold: A) How do I avoid smoke as much as possible? Will this even really be an option? Specific establishments or areas? B) Assuming that I'll have to deal with it, as some point, what are some techniques that I can use to make it less painful, put it out of my head, and just enjoy myself?

(I hope that it goes without saying that telling me to just take up smoking for the week that I'm there is not an option!)

More money por favor.

run"monty — Sun, 10 May 2009 14:38:59 -0800

What can two people with little money do in Madrid (and in particular, Aranjuez) during a week at the end of May? We'll be there around the 23rd of May. We won't have much money to spend. What's FREE in Madrid?