| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid | 11 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 23 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 22 | 15 | 12 |
| London | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
Below is an information overview. The conditions of entry, as well as the political and health situation, can change anywhere in the world at any time. We therefore recommend checking before your trip. Please check the website of the Foreign Office (www.gov.uk) before your departure.
Spain is south-west of the Pyrenees on the Iberian Peninsula. Its neighbouring states are Portugal, Gibraltar, the Principality of Andorra and France.
Parliamentary constitutional monarchy. King Felipe VI has been the head of state since 19 June 2014. Pedro Sánchez has been the head of government since 2 June 2018.
Madrid
Roman Catholic (more than 90%)
Spanish (Castellano) is the official language. The respective regional languages have official status in the autonomous regions of the Basque Country, Galicia, Catalonia and Valencia.
The climate in Andalusia is Mediterranean. With around 3000 hours of sunshine per year, Andalusia is one of the sunniest regions in Spain. From the middle of October rainfall can increase again.
Electricity in Spain is supplied at a voltage of 230 V and in the form of alternating current with a frequency of 50 Hertz. You need an adapter in your hotel.
Spain is part of the Central European Time zone where GMT+1 applies, along with daylight saving time.
To make phone calls to the UK, pre-dial 0044 (+44). To make phone calls from the UK to Spain, pre-dial 0034 (+34).
If you are planning to travel to an EU country you must meet the Schengen area rules. Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:
– less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
– valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area through Spain as a visitor. Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit. Nationals of other countries are advised to enquire at the Spain Embassy about the entry requirements applicable to them. Whilst we endeavour to provide guidance where necessary, we can not be responsible for any problems encountered (whether at any point of entry or elsewhere) in the event that passport and visa requirements are not satisfied. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/.
The EU has a new visa waiver system, called ETIAS, which will be valid for three years. British passport holders travelling to the EU will need to apply and pay for an ETIAS, via an online system (https://etias.com/).
Your expert tour guides will be able to provide you with detailed information about the country, people, history, culture etc., and offer advice and assistance for organising your trip. They can also help with room allocation and look forward to welcoming you with initial information. We have put together a varied programme including numerous highlights, enabling you to experience the culture and diversity of landscape that Andalusia has to offer, and learn all about the country and its people.
Although your trip already includes a comprehensive package, you also have the option of choosing added extras on arrival.
Explorer package: The package includes the 3 unique full day excursions “Granada incl. Alhambra and Nasrid Palace“, “Seville“ and “White Villages & Marbella“: only £229* per person.
Half board: The Package includes 7x tasty evening meals: only £99* per person.
* Package prices may vary when booking on site.
The euro has been the official currency in Spain since 2002. Exchange rate (as at January 2024): 1 GBP = 1.16 EUR; 1 EUR = 0.86 GBP.
Purchases can be paid for in cash and using the most popular credit cards. This payment system is typical in Spanish shops; the symbols of credit cards accepted are usually displayed at the entrance to shops. Passports are required when paying by credit card. Travellers’ cheques (in dollars or Euro) can also be cashed in banks. It is also possible to withdraw cash from ATMs using EC/Maestro cards but high fees may be charged by the respective bank.
When travelling within the EU, private individuals can purchase and take goods with them without quantity restrictions if they are intended for personal use and not for resale. Spain has issued its own national regulations on the obligation to declare cash as part of a law to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Article 34(1a) of the Law on the Prevention and Prevention of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism of 28 April 2010 stipulates that all cash amounting to EUR 10,000 or more must be declared when entering or leaving Spain. This also applies to entries and exits from EU member states. Since 1 January 2021, cash purchases in Spain are only possible up to an amount of EUR 1000. More details details can be obtained from the relevant Spanish authorities.
Important: If you’re travelling to Great Britain from outside the UK, your personal allowances mean you can bring in a certain amount of goods without paying tax or duty. If you go over your allowances you must declare all your goods and pay tax and duty on all the goods in that category. Please inform yourself about the current customs regulations: www.gov.uk/bringinggoods-into-uk-personal-use/arriving-in-Great-Britain.
Crime: Vigilance should be exercised regarding pickpockets and petty crime in larger tourist centres in particular. We recommend leaving cash, identity documents, driving licences, air tickets and other important documents in the hotel safe, for example, and only carrying the cash (and EC or credit card) you need on a given day on your person. Travellers should try to steer clear of large groups of people and keep an eye on their valuables at tourist spots, airports (including in the security area), railway stations, the metro, buses etc.
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC – https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad.
In Spain, anyone with state insurance in the UK is entitled to medical treatment – where urgently necessary – by doctors, dentists, hospitals etc. registered with the foreign statutory health insurance association. You should get a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. If you already have an EHIC it will still be valid as long as it remains in date. All travellers should ensure they have adequate travel health insurance, which covers risks not assumed by the statutory health insurance companies (e.g. repatriation to the UK in the event of illness, treatment by private doctors or in private hospitals). You can also contact your health insurance company for information on current regulations.
The customer must establish for himself that his physical and mental state is compatible with the selected journey. He is obliged to obtain information about the degrees of physical mobility and mental autonomy required for this journey.
All information is subject to change/Last updated: January 2024
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