BackpackSpain

Monday, 01 February 2010 09:09 - Alternative problems

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:09:58 +0100

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If you are faced with any problems during your trip you should have a safety plan in mind. Here are some things you should consider:

* Someone should always know your whereabouts and intended route. Make sure you check in with them every few days or if there are any changes to your itinerary.
* Make a list of contact numbers in the country you are visiting for police, emergency services, hospitals, credit card hotlines, embassies and consulates etc. Be aware where these places are in each new city.
* Keep a copy of important documents in your luggage and with someone at home.
* Know the procedure for reporting stolen travellers cheques, credit cards, passports etc.
* Spending a few moments each day reviewing escape or emergency procedures on buses, planes, trains and other situations can save your life in event of fire, earthquake or other emergency situations.
* Remember problems can and will occur. Try to remain calm and focused about what you need to do to rectify the situation.

You may also wish to read up on our emergency procedures and other details in our Health and Safety section. Alternative problems

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Monday, 01 February 2010 09:09 - Membership cards

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:09:46 +0100

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In Spain hostel cards and student / youth cards can save you money on travel (bus, train and domestic air fares), accomodation and museum entry. A European passport if you are under 25 years or over 65 years can also be used for discounts.

STUDENT AND YOUTH CARDS
Student cards from your own country are worth bringing with you, however you may also need an internationally recognised card like the ISIC (International Student Identity Card) or ISE (International Student Exchange Cards). If you are not a student but under 26 years you can qualify for a youth discount card. The ISE card costs US $25 and can be ordered online at http://www.isecards.com

ISIC has three discount cards for teachers, students and travellers aged under 26. The ISIC card is the most widely accepted and many travellers pick up fake versions in Asia. Because of this you may be asked for a secondary identification such as your student university card. The IYTC card is an alternative if you are under 26 and the ITIC card is for full time teachers. These two cards are good if you don't qualify for anything else.

HOSTEL CARDS

Hostels of Europe, VIP and YHA (Hostelling International) all offer excellent discounts particularly for transport and accommodation. It may be worth getting more than one card. Hostels of Europe provides discounts in hostels in Italy and around Europe. You can order it online. The VIP card gives discounts of around 5%. Hostelling International cards can be bought at the hostel premises but may cost more than at Hostelling international offices. They cost approximately US $25 but it does vary from country to country but you can earn points towards a membership if you stay at a hostel at the non-member rate. The card also includes transport discounts for car rental, bus and train travel.

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Monday, 01 February 2010 09:09 - Travel passes

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:09:30 +0100

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BackpackSpain encourages you to buy travel passes through our site. Why? Because we earn a tiny commission that helps us upgrade and improve our pages for you! We have also limited the number of passes we advertise to those companies we believe provide the best services and packages.

RAIL PASSES
BackpackSpain offer passes through Europrail and Rail Connection to destinations in Europe.

Eurail and Inter-Rail passes are valid in Spain. Inter-Rail tickets require supplements on some trains or a compulsory seat reservation. There are youth passes (2^nd class, 12-15 years) and adult passes (1^st and 2^nd class) valid for 3,4, 6 or 8 days within one month.

RENFE is the national railway company and you can buy tickets and make reservations at stations or RENFE offices and travel agencies that display the RENFE logo. RENFE also offers some rail passes. Ask about the Tarjeta Turistica, a pass valid for 4-10 days in a two month period in 2nd class.

The Eurail pass is considered by many as the best option for travelling through Europe, and Spain is one of the countries where you can use it. It is especially good for those with limited time. There are a variety of options that include Spain such as the Global Pass (21 countries) and Select Pass (3, 4 or 5 bordering countries including Spain). Or you can get the France-Spain or Italy-Spain or Spain only pass.

Discounts are available for those under 26 years. Europrail offers Eurail and other European passes. Rail Connection provides passes for all over Europe including the Eurail pass. Also remember that rail passes do not guarantee seats on trains. You still need to book the seats ahead of time as trains, especially the high-speed ones, are often crowded.

BUS PASSES
You may also consider getting a bus pass through Bus About Eurobus or Eurolines. Eurolines is the largest network of international buses in Europe and they operate through major towns in Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga). They also work with local partner Alsa and other affiliates. You can choose from a 15 or 30 day passes or an individual ticket to a destination. You can also plan your route as you travel People under 26 years are around 10% less than the adult full fare. For more information visit the website at www.eurolines.com

Busaboutis another pass option for travellers and will also book accommodation for you in advance. However most of these are camping sites outside major towns. Busabout buses serve the following Spanish destinations: Barcelona, Bilbao, Costa del Sol, Granada, La Linea, Madrid, Salamanca, San Sebastian, Seville, Tarifa and Valencia.

LOCAL TRANSPORT
Within each city there are daily, several day, weekly or monthly passes for local transport. Check our city guides for more details or email us to ask at info@backpackspain.com

DRIVING
Auto Europe offers worldwide car rental services including coverage of Spain. They also have scheduled air from the USA to Europe, 2,000+ three and four star hotels, prestige and sports car rentals, hotel bookings, chauffeur drive and transfer services, European and South Pacific Motorhome Rentals, and European cellular phone rentals.

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Monday, 01 February 2010 09:09 - Problems

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:09:13 +0100

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Travel in Spain does not present any more problems than elsewhere in Europe. In fact Spain has one of the lowest incidences of rape reported in Europe.

Euskadi Ta Askatasuna or ETA (which means Basque Homeland and Freedom), is an armed Basque nationalist and separatist organization in Spain. While the group has been responsible for numerous bomb explosions across the country, an official ceasefire since June 2007 has held. However tourists are not the targets for these organizations.

The most common dangers for visitors are still pickpockets and petty thieves, particularly on the trains and metros. Keep all valuables well hidden and ensure all your bags are closed and out of reach of others. Do not accept drinks or food from strangers. Women travelling alone should be careful as there are reports of sexual harassment.

It is not adviseable to wander around alone at night but if you must the places to particularly avoid would include railway stations, bus ss and deserted plaza's. However there are usually night police patrolling transport areas. Areas associated with crime tend to also be crowded train stations, on the metros or around tourist locations. Watch your bags and wallets carefully.

Be cautious when strangers offer or ask help of any kind, it can be a distraction for accomplices to steal from you. There are also the usual scams involving outstanding traffic fines to be paid or a notification of winning the Spanish lottery which you can only receive by depositing an amount of money into a bank account and so on.

Useful Telephone Numbers if you run into any problems include:
National Police: 091
Local Police: 092

Try to also keep a note of your relevant embassy or consulate in Spain and any other emergency numbers you may require for lost credit cards, travellers cheques, health insurance etc

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Monday, 01 February 2010 09:08 - Cheap flight tactics

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:08:53 +0100

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Getting around in Spain by plane is an expensive but viable option, and it is the fastest means of travelling long distances, such as Barcelona to Granada. Look for special bargain rates that can defray costs.

BUYING A TICKET
Return tickets to Spain are usually cheaper and are a good defence against immigration officials who want to be assured that you are going to leave the country. Get a ticket with an airline that allows you to make changes to the ticket without any problems. If you are working or studying in Spain for more than one year you may wish to get a one-way ticket and utilise the cheap tickets out of London to come home.

Students or travellers under 26 years should always ask for youth / student fares. If you are flying from Australia or New Zealand, ask about sovers to break the journey.

Buying tickets with a credit card can double your frequent flyer points and is an insurance against dodgy travel agents. This way you have time to check you have a ticket and can cancel the charge if there is a problem.

If you are arriving late or departing early check to see if the airport is open all-night so you can catch some sleep on comfy sofas before heading off again. Some places can close down and public transport services s for the night.

STUDENTS
Students or travellers under 26 years should always ask for youth / student fares. Sometimes there are further discounts for passengers 12 or under. Places to check for studying abroad or travelling extensively overseas are StudentUniverse.com, and Smarter Living.

SENIORS
Senior travellers should always ask about discounts that can be 10% off published fares. Age restrictions will vary as sometimes they require travellers to be 62 years and sometimes 65. Airlines also sell coupon books to mature travellers for selected destinations.

CREDIT CARDS AND FREQUENT FLYER POINTS
Buying tickets with a credit card can double your frequent flyer points and is an insurance against dodgy travel agents. This way you have time to check you have a ticket and can cancel the charge if there is a problem. Enrolling in a frequent flyer program is also a good way to earn points towards further travel. However don’t get caught up in earning points at the expense of forfeiting cheap tickets. The points earned may not be as valuable as the money saved.

AIRPORTS
International airports include Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Malaga, Almeria, Alicante, Valencia, Palma de Mallorda, Ibiza and Mao (Menorca). Usually the cheapest destinations are Malaga, the Balearic Islands, Barcelona and Madrid.

AIRLINES
The main Spanish airlines are:
Iberia – Spain’s flag carrier with domestic flights to most airports.
Spanair – also another big carrier with lots of flights.
Easyjet – not a Spanish company but flies from Madrid, Oviedo, Barcelona, Alicante, Bilbao and Ibiza to other European centres.
Clickair – A number of internal Spanish routes including Barcelona to Granada, Alicante and Cadiz.
Lagunair – a small domestic carrier with a few routes.
Air Europa - Flights all over Spain.
Air Nostrum - Iberia's regional airline with a network of internal flights.
Ryanair - Ryanair also offers some internal flights as well as connections with other European centres.

CHARTER FLIGHTS
Charter airline flights can be a way to find cheaper airfares, but they aren’t always priced less than published fares so make sure you compare prices. Charters buy blocks of tickets in advance and resell them to consumers and make their money by filling every seat. This means the flights can be crowded and inflight service compromised. Travel agents and tour operators can direct you to reputable charters.

Charter airline flights do not operate under the same regulations as scheduled airlines. They can change schedules at the last minute, delay flights up to 48 hours or cancel 10 days before if seats have not sold well. Make sure you understand the restrictions and know your rights. We have compiled a list of charter links on our links pages.

COURIER FLIGHTS
Flying on air courier flights is a great way to find cheap international airfares. You can save 20-50% on tickets but there are restrictions. Couriers give most of their baggage allowance in exchange for a discounted round-trip ticket. So you must be good at packing lightly.

Usually the procedure is to meet the courier agent several hours before take off. He gives you an airline ticket and receipts for the cargo he has already checked through. When you reach your destination, a courier representative will meet you and collect the receipts necessary to retrieve his cargo.

If you are willing to fly on short notice your trip may be free, but the length of stay can still depend on how far you travel. Usually you are required to serve as a courier on the return trip. However if you are travelling with a partner it can get trickier. Courier flights are usually for one courier per flight so your partner will need a position on a consecutive day, or fly for a different courier service on the same flight. If none of this works at least one of you has saved on an airfare.

Courier companies are legitimate businesses and you won’t be asked to carry anything illegal. All cargo goes through the usual procedures and paperwork. To check them out go to the International Association of Air Travel Couriers who will provide you with courier flight listings for 12 months for a fee of $50. Or visit the Air Courier Directory website who for $10 will give you access to the Air Courier Directory for 12 months. This has timely information on available courier flights.

CHEAP DEALS
Many of the cheap airlines cut their prices by reducing services i.e you will not be served meals or drinks. They also offer online reservations which cuts out the commissions normally paid to travel agents. Most travel agents as a result will boycott booking for these airlines.

TIVE and Halcon Viajes often have cheap fares from Spain, especially if you're under 26 years.

Auto Europe
Auto Europe can offer bookings from USA to Europe. www.autoeurope.com

Ryan Air
www.ryanair.com
Ryan Air flies to locations all over Europe and the United Kingdom from London Stansted. For flexible travellers these cheap flights are a big saving. However special deals are offered only during certain periods, check their website regularly for details. Flights can be booked by credit card and tickets are picked up at the airport. Ryan Air does not refund cancellations and only 20 kilograms are allowed as weight allowance. Usually one piece of hand luggage is permitted.

easyJet
easyJet also operates out of London but has more limited flights than Ryan Air throughout Europe. easyJet is a ticketless airline, so all you need at check-in is your confirmation number and positive proof of ID (a passport for International flights). Further information is available on the easyJet web site: www.easyJet.com

STA
http://www.sta.com

For other cheap flights check the ads in major newspapers, student newspapers and the free / alternative press.

USEFUL LINKS

www.airports-worldwide.com
www.worldairportguide.com

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Monday, 01 February 2010 09:07 - Travel Tips and tools

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:07:57 +0100

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If you are on a tight budget here are some ideas that may help and some other travel resources:

ACCOMODATION
- consider camping (you can save almost half your accommodation costs)
- if you are aiming to stay somewhere for a few days ask for a discount or offer to work in lieu of your accommodation
- aim to stay in places that provide breakfast as part of the cost. Make sandwiches for lunch and only eat out at night.
- try to keep night time activities and particularly alcoholic drinks to a minimum, as these burn a hole in your pocket
- use the travel network (word of mouth) for cheap options in the places you visit.
- booking ahead through our online reservation system costs no more than if you walked off the street.
- try a house sitting option instead of paying everywhere. There are also organizations you can join where you join a register so you can stay with people abroad and return the favour in your own house.

LITERATURE AND RESOURCES
For Travel in Spain we recommend a guidebook like Lonely Planet, Rough Guide or Footprints. If you want more architectural and historical information you may want to try the Eyewitness Guides, for special places to stay look through the Alastair Sawday range and for adventure travelling consider Hunter Publishing’s Adventure Series.
- Use our online city guides as an option to carrying heavy guidebooks. They are also free!
- Search through the fantastic Amazon.com store for books about travelling cheap.
- We also have a comprehensive guidebook review on our site.

Lonely Planet
www.amazon.co.uk

Rough Guides
www.amazon.co.uk

Footprints
www.amazon.co.uk

Eyewitness Guides
www.amazon.co.uk

Alastair Sawdays
www.amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com
www.amazon.co.uk

Hunter Publishing
www.amazon.co.uk

TRAVEL
- consider staying just outside town for cheaper options or in the old historical centre.
- don’t move around so much. The longer you stay in a destination you actually save money.
- walk around town rather than pay for metros and buses. Or buy all day or three day passes that work out cheaper than individual tickets.
- avoid taxis and get the local bus or tram
- if you are game try hitch hiking (preferably with someone else).

ENTERTAINMENT
- all travel information centres will list free entertainment options which can be just as interesting
- spend a day visiting the free museums or try to schedule your big city visits on the days when museums are half price entry (in Europe this is usually once a month).
- For entertainment information to the big cities try the weekly Guia del Ocio. This is written in Spanish but still useful. It can be purchased at newsstands and is available online.

FOOD AND WATER
- day old bread is usually distributed freely from various bakeries or shops as is other food
- cheap meals are often available at social welfare centres.
- it is much cheaper and healthier to eat out of a supermarket than buy take away food.
- drink water instead of softdrinks and always drink the local water rather than buying it (unless it is not clean). If the water is not clean another option for water purification is a filter, iodine or purification tablets rather than buying bottled water.
- don’t buy your lunch or other food right outside main tourist sights, it will be far more expensive.
- when eating out at night avoid tourist areas or English menus, you will have a cheaper more authentic experience in a local haunt on a side street.

WEBSITE
We hope that you will consider our website your first port of call. Other useful websites include:

Europe for Visitors
http://europeforvisitors.com

Bug Europe
http://www.bugeurope.com

EuroTrip
http://www.eurotrip.com

Boots n' All
http://www.bootsnall.com

Backpacking Europe
http://www.backpackingeurope.com

Euro Destination
http://www.eurodestination.com

Trip Advice
http://www.tripadvice.com

Pick A Trail
http://www.pickatrail.com

PUBLICATIONS
For entertainment information to the big cities try the weekly Guia del Ocio. This is written in Spanish but still useful. It can be purchased at newsstands and is available online. Time Out is also another useful guide for entertainment in major Spanish cities.

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Monday, 01 February 2010 09:07 - Budget sleeps

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:07:27 +0100

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Spain has accommodation for all budgets and tastes. It is generally more expensive in the city or coastal resorts than the country, but accommodation away from the coast is harder to find.

Budget Accommodation

The budget options for staying in Spain are quite extensive and includes hostales, camping grounds, monasteries/convents and pansiyons. Here's a closer look at what you might find:

Casas de Huéspedes – these are a guesthouse that offer basic accommodation but no food and they prefer long term guests.

Fondas – usually found in villages with just basic facilities and rooms, usually located over the bar. Food may be included either with full or part board.

Hospedajes – offer basic accommodation similar to the two places above. Again long term guests are often preferred.

Hostals – these hostels with dorm rooms are the most upmarket of the budget accomodation and usually have a wash basin or shared/ensuite bathrooms. Full board is not given but you often get breakfast. You may be able to request female or male only rooms.

Pensiones or pansiyons – a guesthouse with basic private rooms with or without food. Again long term guests are preferred.

You won't find bed and breakfasts like those in Italy, England or France although beds (camas) or rooms (habitaciones) may be advertised in the windows of private houses, in restaurants or bars. Rural tourism is improving in Spain but again is not quite like other European centres yet and it can be difficult to find accommodation in village and rural centres.

Other places to look for budget accommodation include university dorms during summer breaks or even in monasteries. Although do note these are places of prayer and silence so guests should be prepared to fit in with the way things are done.

Camping grounds are another option for accommodation although they do tend to be a little further out of town so may hinder night time entertainment plans but do offer substantial savings. Often they also have bungalows, cabins or dorm style beds so you may not need a tent. Most campsites in Spain are on the coast and many cater for naturists so check them out first!

Rifugio's on major walking trails like the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain often provide free or very discounted accommodation for "pilgrims" i.e those walking on the route.

If you plan to stay long term somewhere you maybe able to work out an arrangement with the manager but some places do not enourage long term guests and may impose a maximum stay.

Some travellers report that they did not stay in youth hostels in Spain at all as they were not centrally located and the hostales / pensiones were just as good value. Usually the hostals / pensiones will be cheaper for groups of two or more but can be more pricey for singles. Watch out for national holidays or festivals when accommodation can be booked out.

You should also check if the accommodation place accepts credit cards, you may find most take cash only.

Hostels

The Spanish youth hostel association operates about 200 youth hostels in Spain. These are cheaper than privately run hostels, although you may need membership with the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF). There's also the downside of their location (often further out of town) and that you might be sharing the place with school children. If you're travelling with others hostels might not be that much cheaper anyway and it can be better to get a pansiyon room.

Hotels

Hotel accommodation varies from one to five stars and includes VAT (7 per cent) and sometimes a local tax. Breakfast might not be included.

Prices in big cities, coastal resorts and spa towns will always be more expensive, while Madrid and Barcelona are comparable in price to places such as Paris and London. However the places to look for inexpensive accommodation is usually in the old quarter near the main cathedral, handy for most tourists.

Cheaper hotels may have poor heating in winter.

Self-catering

It is possible to find apartments, townhouses, villas, farmhouses or country houses for rent. Do note standards can vary so try to go with a reputable organization when booking. These places are usually booked per week or over public holiday weekends.

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