The university summer holidays stretch over months and provide us with the perfect opportunity to take time off to travel. Whether you are only travelling for a couple of days or a few weeks, planning ahead for your trip abroad is essential. I discovered the importance of this when going interrailing last summer in Spain. Here are some things that I recommend you be aware of if you are planning interrailing, or a city break in Spain.
Not everyone speaks English…
The common assumption when Brits go abroad is that everyone will be able to speak some form of English. However, it is safe to say that this isn’t always the case, so I would strongly advice familiarising yourself with at least the basics of the language. Obviously in tourist hot spots it is more likely that locals will understand English but in areas where tourists don’t tend to go, knowing some Spanish really helps. I also found that people are often willing to help you if you at least try and communicate with them in Spanish! The fact that I study Spanish made it easier for me to communicate with locals and while I still sometimes struggled with the accent or the speed at which people spoke I felt more confident and comfortable travelling in a country where I could understand some of what was going on around me. To avoid getting yourself into trouble by misunderstanding situations you can read up about local laws and customs here.
The political situation:
Language awareness is not the only thing you need to be conscious of. Being mindful of the political situation is also important. This is especially the case for cities such as Barcelona. During my stay in Barcelona my sister and I witnessed peaceful demonstrations about the contentious issue of Catalonian independence. There were also protesters at key tourist spots and many buildings had huge flags hanging from the windows. Being attentive to the fact that there may be protests is highly recommended as it could have a knock-on effect on travel services. In order to be up to date with political developments the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website provides the latest information on any developments. Further information about this can be found by following this link.
Public transport:
As mentioned previously, protests or large events could affect your travel plans, so it is always a good idea to check online to see if there are any disruptions. Furthermore, when it comes to pricing, city metros, local buses and trains are relatively cheap in comparison to British transport costs. The metros in Madrid and Barcelona are pretty self-explanatory to use and are nowhere near as vast as the London underground. When buying tickets there are usually always self-service machines that have an English option.
In terms of travelling from city to city there are a number of options available to you. There are highspeed trains that are referred to as RENFE after the company name. These are easy to use, very punctual and also comfortable. These are slightly more expensive but the earlier you book, the cheaper they are. You are also guaranteed a seat, which is handy when travelling with luggage. There are also regional trains that are significantly cheaper than RENFE trains but can take much longer or require changes. Buses are also an option and are similarly priced to the regional trains. From my own experience I would recommend taking the high-speed and regional trains as often the bus stations are outside of the city.
Moreover, in terms of buying tickets it is easier to get them directly at the station rather than online as the train company websites can be quite confusing.
Best time to go:
While local and city public transport prices won’t vary, the high-speed trains will be more expensive during the summer months as the majority of tourists travel. I travelled to Spain mid-June which was a perfect time to go. At this time the temperatures are bearable, and the full summer season is only just beginning. I would avoid going mid-July or August as these are both the busiest months and also the hottest. Especially in Madrid the August heat is stifling.
These are just a few aspects that you should take into account before going to Spain. You can visit the Travelaware website for more in-depth information, not only on Spain but also on over 200 other countries.
More info: travelaware.campaign.gov.uk
