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| Travel » Spain Travel Guide |
Spain Travel Guide
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 Spain Visa & Embassy Info »
Full country name: Kingdom of Spain
Population: 40.21 million
Capital City: Madrid
Languages: Castilian Spanish 74% (official nationwide); Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2% (each official regionally)
Religion: 90% Roman Catholic
Government: Parliamentary Monarchy, EU Member
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1
Dialling Code: 34
Electricity: 230V, 50 Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
Money & Costs:
Currency: Euro |
Meals
Budget: €5-10
Mid-range: €10-15
High: €15-20
Top: €20+ |
Accommodation:
Budget: €15-40
Mid-range: €40-70
High: €70-100
Top: €100+ |
Spain is considered one of western Europe's most affordable countries to travellers. A budget of €40.00 a day, will allow you a basic hotel room, regular meals, public transport and entry to museums. With €100.00 a day, you can stay in extremely comfortable accommodation, rent a car and eat some of the best food Spain has to offer. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted at hotels and restaurants, especially from the middle range up, and also for long-distance train tickets. The law requires menu prices in restaurants to include a service charge, and tipping is a matter of personal choice. Most people leave some small change if they're satisfied and 5% is usually plenty. It's common to leave small change at bar and cafe tables.
Be careful with your money (paper or plastic), as tourists are a major target of theft.
Geography: Geographically, Spain's diversity is immense. There are endless tracts of wild and crinkled sierra to explore, as well as some spectacularly rugged stretches of coast between the beaches. It shares the Iberian peninsula with Portugal and is bordered to the north by the Pyrenees, which separate Spain from France. The Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera), 193km (120 miles) southeast of Barcelona, and the Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa are part of Spain, as are the tiny enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the north African mainland. With the exception of Switzerland, mainland Spain is the highest and most mountainous country in Europe, with an average height of 610m (2000ft). The Pyrenees stretch roughly 400km (249 miles) from the Basque Country in the west to the Mediterranean Sea; at times the peaks rise to over 1524m (5000ft).
The main physical feature of Spain is the vast central plateau, or Meseta, divided by several chains of sierras. Southeast of Granada is the Sierra Nevada, part of the Betic Cordillera, which runs parallel to the Mediterranean, and the highest point on the Spanish peninsula, rising to 3481m (11,420ft). The Mediterranean coastal area reaches from the French frontier in the northeast down to the Straits of Gibraltar, the narrow strip of water linking the Mediterranean with the Atlantic and separating Spain from North Africa.
The largest cities and their populations include Madrid, 5,130,000 (metro. area), 3,170,000 (city proper), Barcelona, 1,530,000; Valencia, 740,000; Seville, 680,000
Climate: Spain’s climate varies from temperate in the north to dry and hot in the south. The best months are from April to October, although mid-summer (July to August) can be excessively hot throughout the country except the coastal regions. Madrid is best in late spring or autumn. The central plateau can be bitterly cold in winter.
Public Holidays: Jan 1 2005 New Year’s Day. Jan 6* Epiphany. Mar 19* San Jose. Mar 24* Maundy Thursday. Mar 25 Good Friday. May 1 Labour Day. Aug 15 Assumption. Oct 12 National Day. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Dec 6 Constitution Day. Dec 8 Immaculate Conception. Dec 25 Christmas Day.
(a) *Holiday may be replaced by the autonomous communities with another date.
(b) The following dates are also celebrated as regional public holidays (within these regions, there are further public holidays peculiar to the various towns and cities):
Jan 29 Dia de la Convivencia (Ceuta). Feb 28 Andalucía Day. Mar 1 Balearic Isles Day. Apr 23 San Jorge (Aragon) and Day of the Region of Castilla y Leon. May 2 San Segundo (Castilla y Leon) and Fiesta of the Communidad de Madrid. May 17 Dia de las Letras Gallegas (Galicia). May 30 Canaries Day. May 31 Day of the Region of Castilla-La Mancha. Jun 9 Day of the Region of Murcia and Day of La Rioja. Sep 8 Asturias Day, Day of Extremadura and Nuestra la Virgen de la Victoria (Melilla). Sep 11 National Day of Catalonia. Sep 15 Nuestra Senora de la Bien Aparecida (Cantabria). Sep 17 Commemoration of the Spanish refounding of the City of Melilla. Dec 26 San Esteban (Balearic Isles and Catalonia).
(c) Catalonia, Navarra, Pais Vasco (Basque Country) and Valenciana also celebrate Easter Monday (Apr 12 2004 and Mar 28 2005).
Study in Spain: Below are the latest
Spanish language schools, art schools, business
schools & colleges to join our directory.
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| Latest
Spanish schools, TEFL trainers & colleges to join: |
Location |
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Spanish Immersion Spain -
Spanish in Madrid,
Barcelona,
Marbella,
Salamanca and
Valencia with WLE. |
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| TEFL Spain - In
partnership with world-leading TEFL
institutions, Global Crossroad offers a rare
opportunity to earn an
internationally-recognized TEFL certification
(120-hour courses) while being immersed in a new
culture of 17 fascinating, exotic destinations,
including Madrid, Spain. The TEFL course in
Madrid is recognized by the International
Accreditation of TESOL Qualifying
Organizations (IATQuO), which exists to promote
and maintain internationally accepted standards
in the training of teachers of English to
speakers of other languages. |
Madrid |
| EBC TEFL Course Spain - The EBC is an International Language School and Teacher Training Centre located in central Madrid. EBC runs an accredited, one month, intensive training programme that will give you all the skills you will need to get an entry level job teaching English as a foreign language. At the end of the course you will be awarded two certificates: "Advanced Certificate in TESOL" and the "EBC International TEFL Certificate".
Courses: To meet your training needs we offer a top-quality, accredited and externally moderated TESOL certificate teacher training course and a lifetime post-course support programme. The EBC course will qualify you to teach English in Buenos Aires, the rest of Argentina or just about anywhere else in the world. The EBC post-course support programme will help you throughout your teaching career. The internationally recognised Advanced Certificate in TESOL awarded by EBC meets British Council standards. |
Madrid |
Art & Design School Barcelona - Metáfora is an international art school situated in an old factory building in the centre of Barcelona, capital of the Catalan region in Spain, on the northeast Mediterranean coast. Metàfora is an international centre of Contemporary Art and Art-therapy, offering courses and activities of both disciplines. Students come from all over the world, with an average of 28-29 students each year.
The profile of a typical student on the International Workshop is that of a young person aged between 19 and 35 years of age, holder of a degree in Fine Art, Design, Architecture or similar. It could also be a person with some experience in art (min. A-levels) who is preparing entry to higher art or design education (graduate or post-graduate).
Generally Metáfora attracts people who wish to explore the culture of another country as well as their own creative potential. Our students are expected to posses a large amount of self-discipline and maturity, as well as some basic knowledge regarding different techniques.
During free studio time each student works on individual projects, choosing materials and working techniques according to his/her own interest. Thus, while some students can be found working with photography or painting, their fellow students may be working on sculpture, fashion design, performance or installation-making. |
Barcelona |
| Marbella Design School Spain - All courses are held in English and are at University level: 3 year courses in Interior Design, Furniture Design and Graphic Design, 2 year course in Fashion Design, 1 year course in Web Design. Correspondence Course in Interior Design, Evening Courses (Painting Classes, Freehand Drawing Classes), Summer Course in Oil Painting. We also offer a 10 month preparation course for those students who want to gain a perfect portfolio for entrance to their chosen design school. |
Marbella |
Spanish Course in Spain - Languages in
Action is an international organization of language
schools providing opportunities to learn a language of
your choice, at language schools around the world. Learn
Spanish in Spain with Languages in Action at our
language schools in Alicante, Almunecar, Barcelona, Cadiz,
Granada, Madrid, Malaga, Salamanca, Seville,
Tenerife, Valencia. Join us in a land rich in
culture, history, and beauty, where every city
has elements that make it unique and intriguing.
Courses: Our language schools offer
Complete Beginner, Basic, Elementary,
Intermediate and Advanced Spanish level courses that
focus on the four key language skill areas of
speaking, listening, reading and writing, while
considerable attention is also placed on
pronunciation, oral communication and the
appropriate usage of language in daily
situations.
Our schools provide individual or group courses,
a Crash course, intensive Spanish training,
private Spanish lessons, Business Spanish, DELE
Preparation course, Spanish Immersion Homestay
program |
Madrid |
Hotel Management Course - The Escola Universitària de Turisme i Direcció Hotelera (University School of Tourism and Hotel Management, or EUTDH), attached to the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, is situated on the university's Bellaterra Campus, which provides all of the services and facilities expected of one of the country's leading universities. Since its foundation, the School has established and maintained relations with universities and organisations involved in tourism both in Spain and abroad. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) was founded in 1968, and today had over 65,000 students, taking undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate and continuing education programs. We are one of the few universities in Spain to have a university campus. The UAB's infrastructure was created exclusively for university life and the campus provides all the services you need for your academic, leisure and everyday life.
Undergraduate Course: Accredited Degree in Hotel Management
(in English) - a
3 year study program designed by UAB, with a
clear basis towards management level and
incorporating the most innovate trends in hotel
management. It is structured into two main
career branches: Hospitality, Catering. |
Barcelona |
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Intensive Spanish Course in Spain |
Madrid |
| Teacher Training Madrid |
Madrid |
| MBA in Spain, Barcelona Management Institute |
Barcelona |
| EIDE Spanish Classes in Spain |
Bilbao |
| EIDE Fashion Design & Spanish Course |
Bilbao |
| Hotel Management + Internship in Spain |
Bilbao |
| Spain University - Study Abroad Salamanca |
Salamanca |
| Hotel Management School |
Barcelona |
| MBA in Spain, Barcelona Management Institute |
Barcelona |
| Marbella Design School Spain |
Marbella |
| Teacher Training Madrid |
Madrid |
| EBC TEFL Course Spain |
Madrid, Spain |
| Business Spanish Training, Spain Internship |
Bilbao |
| UniSpain University Spanish Courses in Spain |
Madrid |
| TANDEM Escuela Internacional |
Madrid |
| Teen Travel Spain |
Spain |
| Lengualuz |
Andalucia |
| ABADAT Spanish Language & Culture School |
Ubeda |
| Marbella Design Academy |
Marbella |
| Art Schools Europe |
Barcelona |
| Barcelona Spanish |
Barcelona |
| AASS - Academia Adventure Spanish Studies |
Madrid |
| Study Abroad Spain, Summer Spanish Programs |
Bilbao |
| Universidad Carlos III de Madrid |
Madrid |
| TEFL Courses Madrid |
Madrid |
| Salamanca University |
Salamanca |
| Malaga University |
Malaga |
| EBC TEFL Course Madrid |
Madrid |
| Campbell College Teacher Training Centre |
Valencia |
| CELTspain |
Barcelona |
| Learn Spanish in Madrid with ALBA |
Madrid |
| Centro Humboldt |
Barcelona |
| Andalusi Instituto de Español |
Malaga |
| English Chat Café |
Granada |
| Escuela Delengua |
Granada |
| Barcelonaplanner |
Barcelona |
| Ínsula Sevilla |
Seville |
| Spansk Kurser Spanien |
Spania |
| Espanole IH Spanish School, Valencia |
Valencia |
| Dive Academy Gran Canaria |
Gran Canaria |
| Barcelona Business School |
Barcelona |
| Marbella Design Academy |
Marbella |
| Schoolhouse |
Vigo, Northern Spain |
| Davy Jones Diving School |
Gran Canaria |
| Crossing Limits S.L |
Seville, Spain |
| Pylmon Languages |
Barcelona, Spain |
| Hola Denia |
Southern Spain |
| Study Abroad
Programs |
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| Malaca Instituto |
Malaga |
| Clay Formación Internacional |
Salamanca |
| Tenidiomas |
Cadiz |
| Barcelona-Home |
Barcelona |
| Idiomania Vigo |
Vigo |
| Linc Escuela de Español |
Seville |
| Zador Vitoria School of Spanish |
Vitoria |
| Zador Alicante School of Spanish |
Alicante |
| TEFL Certification Madrid |
Madrid |
| Estudiafuera |
Madrid |
Educational Vacations, Teen Travel Europe |
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