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Spain
Spain is much more than a package holiday destination. With a very diverse range of landscapes, cultures and languages, Spain is defiantly a place to stop and experience what is going on around you.
Regions |
Articles |
Recommended Spain
- Barcelona
- Tapas
- San Sebastian
- Pamplona
- Santiago de Compostela
Campsites and free camping in Spain
Campsites are found in all popular coastal regions, and many inland areas. Free camping is possible in many areas. Read more.
Vehicle ferries to and from Spain
There are many ferries to chose from when getting a vehicle to and from Spain. See the ferry section.
Driving in Spain
Spain has the second highest accident rate in western Europe, but with care you should have no problems. Read more.
Crime
Spain is a relatively safe and crime-free country. Vehicle break-ins are amongst the biggest problems, so always secure your vehicle, and leave nothing on display. Sensible parking can also reduce you risk of a break-in.
Costs in Spain
Spain is cheaper than France, but not as cheap as Portugal. Fuel is the cheapest of the western countries. Food is good value.
Information
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Capital city | Madrid |
| Time zone | +1hr GMT |
| Religion | Catholic and Muslim |
| Emergency numbers | General emergency 112 Police 092 Local police 091 International operator 1008 |
| Electricity | 220v continental |
| Border crossings | Spain is a Schengen state |
Geography
Spain is the second largest country in western Europe, after France. Spain is the second most mountainous country in Europe. The north of Spain is endless mountains, as the Pyrenees become the Picos de Europe mountains. These landscapes are stunning, and well worth visiting. The Atlantic ocean has left a rugged and beautiful coast line, with some of the best surfing in Europe.
The south and eastern coasts of Spain are lapped by the warm and calm Mediterranean ocean. A world apart from the northern shores.
Inland the capital of Madrid, high on its perch, is boiling in summer and freezing in winter.
Spanish food and drink
Spain is home to pallea and the wonderful experience of tapas. Seafood is cheap and excellent. Wine and beers are good. Read more.
Spanish languages
Almost everywhere in Spain the Castillian language, what we know as Spanish, is spoken (Castellano or Espanol in Spanish). It is spoken at breakneck speed. Knowing some will help you out, as English is not so widely spoken in Spain as it is in France and Portugal.
Below is a guide to the languages spoken in Spain. Do not consider Catalan and Galego to be dialects of Castillian (or Spanish), they are all considered seperate languages.
| Language | Region | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Castillian | Central Spain, and generally all over Spain | What we know as the "Spanish" language. Also spoken in South America. |
| Catalan | Catalunya (Barcelona) and The Balerica Islands. | A distinct language, but has similarities to Castilian and French. Is difficult to understand. |
| Basque (Euskara) | Basque (Euskadi) | Unlike any other language. Signs are written with a distinct font. |
| Galego | Galicia | Sounds like a combination of Catalan and Portugese |
| Babel | Asturias | A minority langague |
Health
Health care is excellent and generally free, but European residents need to get a E-111 card from your home country. In towns at least one pharmacy will be 'on-call' and open around the clock. Manned by highly trained staff, they can be a good first of call as many prescription drugs (like antibiotics) can be bought over the counter after a consultation. No drugs, even ibuprofen, are available from supermarkets, only the pharmacy.
Opening hours
Spain's traditional long lunches, and in some places, siestas, are still common. General opening hours are 10:00 - 14:00 and 17:00 - 20:00, Monday to Saturday. Although these hours can vary widely from place to place. Banks generally open at 08:30 and large supermarkets will open all day. If you need to do something important in town, go early or late in the day, or you can be kicking your heals waiting for shops to open. Most smaller shops will shut at midday on Saturday and all day on Sunday.
Surfing in Spain
Spain has a massive variety of breaks, big swell, and warm weather. The most hyped waves include Mundaka and Rodilles. See surfing in Spain.
Camper Van Life is brought to you by Darren Lambert, a big fan of camper vans.
Where can I hire a 2 berth campervan from in either Spain or Southern France?
Kind regards,
Bree
Hi,
these are on special for return in march
http://www.wickedcampers.co.uk/bookings-a-quotes/specials.html
jamie
would love to buy one, travel and sell it again but there is very little info about it
I have lived in spain for over 8 years now & still have the motorhome we came over in now on spanish plates. Where I store my motorhome always has caravans & motorhomes for sale.If more information is required notify me at this E-Mail address & I will try to help you as much as possible.
hi,
I hope you can help us. We want to but a nice motorhome, not too small or large, in Spain. We live near Granada and cannot seem to find anything.
Regards,
Tess and John.
Hi Daniel
Used vehicles are generally quite expensive in Spain, as there are limited used vehicles, as most are new.
You'll also probably need to know some Spanish to get a smooth transaction.
It's generally better to buy in the UK or Germany, where prices are cheaper. In the UK vehicles are right-hand-drive, which isn't so good for touring around Europe.
You're more likely to find an English speaking seller in Germany. Also consider France, where used prices can be good.
Where are you travelling from?
Andaluz is also a separate language, but the only reason it was never credited as being one by the majority of Spain was because as a poor province, they could never muster enough money to apply to have the language given official status.
It is another language, not just "lazy Spanish" ...
Having moved here 3 years ago in my motorhome, I thoroughly recommend touring Spain inside a lovely house, be it permanent or temporary. There are no strict rules on having to stay on campsites, and if your motorhome has gas, there's no reason why you should stay on a campsite. I live near Andalucia's largest lake and you can park up next to it for the day for stunning views, swimming if you like too!
Oh, and if you want a motorhome to rent, let me know, as I have one of those too!
Amanda[at]casa-la-celada[dot]com
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