Articles: Travel & Leisure
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Adventure tourism in Tenerife
Discover el Teno
For many, Tenerife means low-cost tourism packed with Northern Europeans who have normally overindulged on both sun and alcohol. On the 'other' side of the island, the North-West, there is a beautiful under-developed corner well away from the crowds.
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Hiking in Spain
The finest hiking areas in Europe
Spain has some of the finest hiking (excursiones) areas in Europe and few countries can offer its combination of good weather and spectacular, unspoilt countryside. Spain is unrivalled in Europe for its diversity of landscape, profusion of flora and fauna, and its variety of native animals and birds, many unique.
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Ferries & Cruise Ships
Ferry companies and services and in Spain
Regular car and international ferry services operate all year round between Spain and the UK and Morocco, and domestic ferries run between the mainland and the Balearics, the Canaries and Spain’s North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
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Buying a Car
How to buy a new or used car in Spain
New cars are more expensive in Spain than in some other EU countries (although cheaper than in the UK) and up to double the cost of cars in the US. This also results in higher used car prices. However, although cars may be more expensive to buy, they depreciate more slowly than in most other European countries, so the extra you pay when buying a car is usually gained when you sell it.
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Airline services in Spain
Flights, fares and airports
Most major international airlines provide scheduled services to Madrid and many also fly to Barcelona and other major cities such as Valencia. Inexpensive charter and budget flights to Spain are common from many European countries, particularly the UK and Germany.
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Play golf in Spain in complete security
Everything you need to know
Golf courses in Spain are a great way for you to relax while practising your swing. However, if you want to play worry-free, we recommend taking out a golf insurance policy. Here are some of the best golf courses in Spain and all the essential info.
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Registering an imported car
Make your car roadworthy in Spain
If you import your car, you need to register it with the authorities and take out car insurance with a Spanish insurer. For non-residents, this needs to be done within 6 months of bringing the car into the country (Spanish residents only have 30 days). You will need to have your Número de Identidad Extranjero (NIE) before you can start the process.
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Fishing in Spain
The paradise for fishermen
Spain is a paradise for fishermen with its 2,000km of coastline and over 75,000km of rivers and thousands of lakes and reservoirs. The most common freshwater fish include various types of barbel, black bass, bogue, bream, carp, mullet, perch, pike, sturgeon, tench and trout.
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Perfect Chaos in Barcelona
Experiences Living and Traveling In Spain
Out of all my explorations throughout Spain, one stands out against all the rest as an amazing experience where – somehow, magically – every event unfolded with absolute spontaneity and perfection. It was as if the very momentum of the universe had temporarily aligned itself behind my and my traveling companion's every thought, word, and action – granting us the unforgettable gift of one golden weekend in Barcelona.
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Skiing in Spain
Where to go skiing in Spain
Skiing ( esquí) is a popular sport in Spain, where it’s growing faster than in any other European country. Spain is the second most mountainous country in Europe after Switzerland and has over 30 ski resorts in 14 provinces, where the season extends from December to April or May.
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Racket sports in Spain
Popularity of tennis
Racket sports are popular in Spain, particularly tennis. Tennis’ popularity has grown tremendously in the last few decades and there are now thousands of courts at tennis and country clubs, hotels, urbanisations, and municipal and private sports centres.
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Mountaineering & rock-climbing in Spain
What you should know
Those who find hiking a bit tame may like to try mountaineering, rock-climbing or caving, all of which are popular in Spain. Sport climbing, where climbs are previously ‘equipped’ with bolts, is predominant in Spain and is the safest form.
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Cycling in Spain
General information and useful tip
Spain is one of the foremost cycling countries in Europe, where cycling is a serious sport and a relaxing pastime. Bicycles ( bicicletas) are inexpensive in Spain, where you can buy a men’s 21-speed mountain bicycle ( bicicleta de montaña) from a supermarket.
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Buses and trams in Spain
city, rural and long-distance buses
There are excellent bus ( autobús) services in all major cities and towns and comprehensive long-distance coach ( autocar) services between major cities. Buses are the cheapest and most common form of public transport in Spain and most coastal towns and rural villages are accessible only by bus.
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Trains in Spain
Rail network, train standards and tickets
The Spanish rail network is operated by the state-owned company Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles (RENFE). The RENFE network takes in all major cities, although it doesn’t run to many small towns, and is supplemented by a few suburban networks such as the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya city lines in Barcelona and private narrow-gauge railways.
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Underground railways in Spain
Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia
There are underground railway systems ( metros) in Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia, where public transport tickets and passes permit travel on all modes of public transport, including metro, bus and suburban train services. Metros offer the quickest way to get around these cities, although they’re crowded during rush hours.
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Parking
How and where to park your car in Spain
Spaniards are parking anarchists and are champions at the art of ‘creative’ parking. They will park on pedestrian crossings, corners, in front of entrances and exits, in fact, almost anywhere it’s illegal. Double parking is commonplace, although triple parking or completely blocking the road is frowned upon.
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Spanish Drivers
The Spanish way of driving
Like all Latins, a Spaniard’s personality often changes the moment he gets behind the wheel of a car, when even normally tolerant and patient people turn into suicidal maniacs. Many Spaniards are frustrated racing drivers and they rush around at breakneck speed in their haste to reach their destination.
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Spanish Roads
Types of road, traffic signs and useful tip
The Spanish road network covers over 300,000km, of which around 8,000km are motorways. Although this is a smaller proportion than in most other northern European countries, there are plans to extend the motorway network to some 13,000km by the year 2008, including the completion of the long-awaited Cantabrian motorway and toll motorways such as Las Pedrizas-Torremolinos and Alicante-Villena.
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Car repairs in Spain
What to consider when importing a car
When buying or importing a car, you should take into account the local service facilities, as not all cars can be easily serviced. All the main European manufacturers are well represented in Spain, but garages servicing North American and some Japanese cars can be difficult to find.
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Car inspections
Technical inspections in Spain
All cars over four years old must have a regular technical inspection ( inspección técnica de vehículos/ITV) at an authorised test station. The test must be carried out every two years until the car is ten years old, after which time the test is annual.
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Car registration in Spain
Documents and process
When you import a car into Spain or buy a new or second-hand car, it must be registered at the traffic department in the province where you’re resident. If you import a car, you must obtain customs clearance and, if it’s imported from a country outside the EU, it may need to undergo a homologation inspection before it can be registered.
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Selling a Car
What to consider when selling a car in Spain
When selling a car in Spain, you must obtain and complete a transfer of ownership form ( notificación de transferencia de vehículos, usually simply called a transferencia), available from your provincial traffic department. The form must be completed in duplicate; one copy is given to the buyer and the other sent to the traffic department.
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Take a hike
The Best 50 Routes in the Community of Madrid
Madrid is known for its museums and 'marcha', so most people are surprised when they find out that just outside the city there is some spectacular countryside and beautiful mountains to discover. If you are a car-less city-dweller, there is an added bonus – public transport can get you there...
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On a donkey
Following in the footsteps of shepherds
“Go for a walk with a donkey?” Telling a few people about this journey was met with smiles and laughter; then interest. When you explain that the idea is to experience what travelling used to be like and have an adventure, you spark people’s interest.
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