World Travellers

The country of Spain is a beautiful place to travel to. With so many sights to see you will need at least ten days to experience Spain and it’s countryside. Tourists are treated like kings all over Spain. The cities of Madrid and Barcelona are the most exciting cities with so much to do. The running of the bulls is one of the most interesting sights to see in the world. Spain’s official currency is the Euro (EUR). One Euro is divided into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at bureaux de change and major hotels, but banks give the best rates. All major credit cards and travelers cheques are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops. ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining money.
Sometimes I’m asked what Spanish sites are not to be missed in a visit to Spain, to which I normally respond: the Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita in Cordoba, etc. Funny thing is, some of the Spanish places I have the fondest memories of are not on my “must see list,” things like my visit to the cave home in Guadix, the walled city of Laguardia, the Roman ruins in Merida, and the Palace of Lebrija in Seville.

For an individual who has weak Spanish speaking abilities (and perhaps even for someone fluent in Spanish), entering the Madrid and Barcelona Train Stations can be disorienting–people rushing here and there, Regionales signs, signs for EuroMed, AVI, Cercanias and (non-staffed) information booths all compete for your attention.

For traveling out of the Madrid and Barcelona train stations, I recommend either arriving at the station early or visiting the station the day before your date of travel. By doing a quick walk around, you can locate the manned information booth(s), the Regionales (Regional Trains), Cercanias (local commuter trains), and Largo Recorrido (long distance trains) ticket windows. At this time, pick up train schedules for potential destinations and determine which ticket window sells train tickets to your particular destination. Putting together one’s own travel group is perhaps one of the most overlooked options for bus travel.

Traveling with your friends and/or family can be a much different experience than traveling with a group of strangers. Family reunions, as part of a tour, not only allow the sharing of old memories but the formation of new shared experiences. Clubs such as photography clubs, sewing clubs, or trade associations can plan special excursions to address their areas of focus.

When putting together your own tour, you can also customize it to your preferences. Maybe you just want a driver to take your group from city to city, or maybe you will want a guide to inform you about all the sights. Designed properly, planning your own tour can provide you with many of the benefits of independent travel while sharing your travel with others.

By: Maggie Muraski

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