| The country of Spain is a beautiful place to travel to. | | | | Cercanias and (non-staffed) information booths all |
| With so many sights to see you will need at least ten | | | | compete for your attention. |
| days to experience Spain and it's countryside. Tourists | | | | For traveling out of the Madrid and Barcelona train |
| are treated like kings all over Spain. The cities of | | | | stations, I recommend either arriving at the station early |
| Madrid and Barcelona are the most exciting cities with | | | | or visiting the station the day before your date of |
| so much to do. The running of the bulls is one of the | | | | travel. By doing a quick walk around, you can locate |
| most interesting sights to see in the world. Spain's | | | | the manned information booth(s), the Regionales |
| official currency is the Euro (EUR). One Euro is divided | | | | (Regional Trains), Cercanias (local commuter trains), |
| into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at bureaux | | | | and Largo Recorrido (long distance trains) ticket |
| de change and major hotels, but banks give the best | | | | windows. At this time, pick up train schedules for |
| rates. All major credit cards and travelers cheques are | | | | potential destinations and determine which ticket |
| widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and | | | | window sells train tickets to your particular destination. |
| shops. ATMs are widespread and are generally the | | | | Putting together one's own travel group is perhaps one |
| cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining | | | | of the most overlooked options for bus travel. |
| money. | | | | Traveling with your friends and/or family can be a |
| Sometimes I'm asked what Spanish sites are not to be | | | | much different experience than traveling with a group |
| missed in a visit to Spain, to which I normally respond: | | | | of strangers. Family reunions, as part of a tour, not only |
| the Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita in Cordoba, | | | | allow the sharing of old memories but the formation of |
| etc. Funny thing is, some of the Spanish places I have | | | | new shared experiences. Clubs such as photography |
| the fondest memories of are not on my "must see list," | | | | clubs, sewing clubs, or trade associations can plan |
| things like my visit to the cave home in Guadix, the | | | | special excursions to address their areas of focus. |
| walled city of Laguardia, the Roman ruins in Merida, | | | | When putting together your own tour, you can also |
| and the Palace of Lebrija in Seville. | | | | customize it to your preferences. Maybe you just |
| For an individual who has weak Spanish speaking | | | | want a driver to take your group from city to city, or |
| abilities (and perhaps even for someone fluent in | | | | maybe you will want a guide to inform you about all |
| Spanish), entering the Madrid and Barcelona Train | | | | the sights. Designed properly, planning your own tour |
| Stations can be disorienting--people rushing here and | | | | can provide you with many of the benefits of |
| there, Regionales signs, signs for EuroMed, AVI, | | | | independent travel while sharing your travel with others. |