HOLIDAYS IN SPAIN - COSTA BENIDORM
Are you going to be spending your summer holidays in Spain?
If so – then make sure that you are well prepared beforehand and pack everything that you need. After all, there is nothing worse than setting out for your holidays and arriving at the airport to find that you have left behind something critical!
So, what should go on your checklist for a summer holiday in Spain?
1. Passports! But are they in-date? Also, if you are not from the EU – do you need a visa to enter Spain and does it match the time period that you have planned or booked?
2. Travel tickets, both flight and ferry. Double check the dates – you would not be the first person to leave for your holiday on a Friday when you should have been at the airport the day before…
3. Accommodation. Do the booking dates of your hotel or apartment match those of your flights and holiday dates? The last thing that you want is to find that you arrive a day before you can gain access to where you are staying or, as bad, that you have to leave it a couple of days before your return home.
4. Car hire. Have you booked your car hire? During the summer holidays in Spain hiring a car that has not been pre-booked can be virtually impossible. So, make sure that you have booked a car well beforehand – and that you have your booking records with you.
5. Driving licenses. A classic thing to leave behind is your driving license! Needless to say, this is disastrous – so make sure you take it. Long distance taxis to your resort can be expensive, inconvenient (you may arrive during the middle of the night) and sometimes hard to find during the height of the holiday season in Spain.
6. European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). As an EU citizen an EHIC will allow you state medical treatment in Spain but it does not mean that you can go to Spain and claim for specific medical treatment that has not arisen as a consequence of your holiday. Equally, as the UK NHS states: ‘The EHIC is NOT an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or the cost of things such as mountain rescue in ski resorts, repatriation to the UK or lost or stolen property’.
7. Travel insurance. Even as an EU citizen this has importance and, for a comparatively small sum, will insure you against loss of valuables and provide you with emergency repatriation, the cost of cutting your holiday in Spain short, public liability, legal costs etc. As always, it takes little to turn a dream into a nightmare and a ‘cheap’ holiday’ into an extremely expensive disaster – so be properly covered!
8. Money. If you are from outside the EU (or from the UK), you will need to have some ready cash in Euros for when you arrive in Spain. So, carrying a reasonable float of money is vital. But do not carry too much money around with you for obvious reasons. Make sure you take your credit cards and that you know beforehand where you can get money out from a bank for a reasonable exchange rate within your resort i.e. find out if there is an appropriate bank near to where you are staying. Few things are more galling than having to spend half a day travelling to a nearby town – just to get out some spending money!
9. Medicines. Pharmacies in Spain are normally excellent and have as great a range of medicines as any First World country. However, if the medicine that you need requires a prescription then obviously, to obtain it, you would need to see a doctor in Spain which can be awkward and take precious time out of your holiday. So, make sure that you take all the medicines that you need with you!
10. Clothes. Summer holidays in Spain are (needless to say!) notable for excellent weather. However, storms can occur and cold fronts can appear and last for a few days even in the middle of August. So, along with hats (very important as cover against the sun) also make sure that you bring a jumper and trousers and some pack-a-macs.
Can you think of anything else – something that you forgot to take on holiday to Spain in the past that caused you problems?
If you can think of anything then drop me a note!
It is important because holidays are precious times and everything possible needs to be in place if they are to meet with everyone’s high expectations. So, if you have some good advice for others – then I would love to hear it…
Nick Snelling - Culture Spain
Relevant information:
10 essential factors that make for a great beach in Spain
Beach apartments in Spain – 10 vital factors
Holiday villas in Spain – 10 things to look for