Spain What to Pack

  Practical rain gear
by garridogal
 
  • Practical rain gear
      Practical rain gear
    by garridogal
  • Fabulous rain gear
      Fabulous rain gear
    by garridogal
  • Improvisational rain gear
      Improvisational rain gear
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  • Birgit and Stevie near Montserrat
      Birgit and Stevie near Montserrat
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      Stevie with his Super-Sized Mac-Pac
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Most Viewed What to Pack in Spain

26.

Summer / Winter Clothes   Barcelona

Summer / Winter Clothes, Barcelona

 15 Reviews  A big handbag which doesnt keep falling off your shoulder! Not only is it a pain, it also isnt safe from bag snatchers. Bag should be big enough to carry camera, papers, travel guide, water, juice, a... 

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27.

Clothing   Madrid

Clothing, Madrid

 13 Reviews  There's a craZy obsession in this city among adults and children alike for any kind of bag or case that's attached to wheels and pulled along. There are plenty of unlicensed wheelie-case drivers in... 

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28.

Clothing   Palma de Mallorca

Clothing, Palma de Mallorca

 5 Reviews  1 bag swim suits, flip flops, shorts, nice dress clothes for going out. But if you don't bring any of these items there are places that sell them very cheaply. I'm not kidding. You might want to bring... 

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29.

Comfortable Shoes   Barcelona

Comfortable Shoes, Barcelona

 15 Reviews  COMFORTABLE shoes. Let me say it again--Comfortable shoes. Barcelona and Porto have serious cobblestone streets that will do your feet and body in and kill any form of shoe with a heel!!!!! Two pairs... 

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30.

Weather   Madrid

Weather, Madrid

 9 Reviews  Madrid's climate is known for its pronounced seasonal variations. With cold (if dry) winters and inclemently hot (and even drier) summers, spring and autumn are often recommended as the best months to... 

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31.

Protective Lotions   Palma de Mallorca

Protective Lotions, Palma de Mallorca

 4 Reviews  Depending on the type of trip you are taking on Mallorca, you should adjust your baggage. If you are only coming on a weekend get-away, a large backpack will definitely hold enough. Otherwise, a... 

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32.

Jackets / Umbrellas   Barcelona

Jackets / Umbrellas, Barcelona

 8 Reviews  This depends on the length of your visit. Summer clothes takke up less room and are also lighter in weight. September/early October in the city can still be fairly hot in my experience, but arrive... 

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33.

Cell Phone   Madrid

Cell Phone, Madrid

 2 Reviews  I had lots of trouble with cell phone rates in Spain and used a company called apelcom. I have included my personal blog that talks about my cell phone situation and also the website for the company i... 

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34.

Medical Supplies   Palma de Mallorca

Medical Supplies, Palma de Mallorca

 2 Reviews  don't worry about getting sick over there, the local pharmacies have supplies on everything... I got sick and had to get antibiotics, didn't even need a prescription for that. sun screen, beach... 

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35.

Appropriate Bags   Barcelona

Appropriate Bags, Barcelona

 8 Reviews  when out and about in barcelona it a good idea to have a rucksack with you. not only to put all your water and sunscreen in but to put all your purchases in, it is too dangerous to walk around with... 

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36.

Sun Lotion   Madrid

Sun Lotion, Madrid

 3 Reviews  I was told to bring lots of sunscreen I had been checking the weather before I left for my trip and I kept seeing that is was very hot and sunny. Well, when I finally arrived there, there was rain and... 

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37.

Information / Sources   Barcelona

Information / Sources, Barcelona

 7 Reviews  Just wanted to highly recommend the travel app I took to Barcelona this Christmas on my iPhone called Sutro Media's Barcelona Unbound. You don't have to be online to use it, and it helped us find lots... 

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38.

Photography   Madrid

Photography, Madrid

 2 Reviews  Bring rollable luggage if you plan to travel on the metro and make sure it is not too large because there are lots of stairs Wear comfortable shoes because there are lots of stairs and cobblestones... 

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39.

Sun Glasses / Sunscreen   Barcelona

Sun Glasses / Sunscreen, Barcelona

 9 Reviews  On the last years the climate is changing and Barcelona is warmer and warmer.. the winter as i remembered doesnt exist.. fall season is so warm till mid november.. so wear a jacket is convenient but... 

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40.

Cameras and Extra Film   Barcelona

Cameras and Extra Film, Barcelona

 9 Reviews  Pack light when traveling to Barcelona, especially if you want to use public transportation. It makes your life much easier when jumping on and off the trains for example. Barcelona's climate is quite... 

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41.

A Fan   Barcelona

A Fan, Barcelona

 3 Reviews  Don't go on a city trip in a mediterranean country in summer! Well, that's a nice tip, but most of us can only go on vacation during the summerholidays. Therefore this list to cope with the heat. What... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

clothing and shoes

by Faracy

Something not too hard to carry up and down flights of stairs Bring some non-tennis shoes...Many bars and clubs will only let you in if you're reasonably dressed up..Heels are the norm for women... which means if you have to buy shoes to go out, they may be your only option.. if you're like me and can't wear heels, you bring your own, or look for a long time.I also must mention that clothing seems to have gotten more expensive here since the introduction of the Euro, a lot more expensive.. Spanish women in particular tend to be small, if you wear a size larger than an American 14, (Spanish 48-50) you will have some difficulty finding nice looking clothes. They´re are places to get larger sizes, but they are quite ugly.. C&A is a clothing chain that has some better options. Spanish toiletries are great! The downside is if you don't like things that smell strongly.. they are especially...

sunscreen or be red

by Faracy

bring your own, or pay a lot more to buy sunscreen here. Unless you´re one of the blessed individuals who never burn... (you can still get skin cancer later on) you will wish you had it.. I can attest to being one of the strange few to have a cemetary sunburn.. after 45 minutes walking around in San Fernanado Cemetary... this could be you, anywhere in this country..

Don't pack EVERYTHING! (Belle Jambe optional);-)

by Geisha_Girl

When packing, start with the biggest, hardest items (usually shoes) and then fit smaller items in and around them. I always use plastic, sealable bags to pack items that can leak such as shampoos, suntan lotions, etc..... If there's room, and if you're coming from the US or Mexico, pack a bottle of GOOD tequila! We found that there wasn't quite an assortment of the "good stuff" around Spain.Paying 10 Euros for a shot of Jose Cuervo at Amnesia was heartbreaking!!! But that's all they had there.We had to drink MORE to forget how much we were getting ripped off! ;-)

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Fight the heat!

by miedje

Don't go on a city trip in a mediterranean country in summer! Well, that's a nice tip, but most of us can only go on vacation during the summerholidays. Therefore this list to cope with the heat.What you should take with you:- a fan, it's elegant, not heavy and indispensable- little bottles to fill with water, take them with you, you can't stay on the terrace all day and buying small bottles in town is expensive- some bottle of water with which you can sprinkle water, like you would use for your plants at home, when your getting to hot, you can sprinkle water in you faceAnd when nothing helps.. Just put your feet in a fountain. There are enough of them in mediterranean countries!

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The Bare Essentials

by Geisha_Girl

If you're planning a whirlwind tour of Spain, be sure to pack LIGHT as much as possible. This holds true especially of you're taking trains and ferries.There's nothing worse than having to drag a ton of luggage around on the steps of the metro or the cobblestone streets of the Spanish towns.Note: If you're asked by a *Notorious Spaniard* to smuggle in GNC products for him......DON'T DO IT !! Your luggage will weigh a ton!!! (It was those damn protein bars, Ivan !!!) Comfortable, walking shoes are essential. The Spanish are generally very stylish and fashion-conscious. I was advised to bring "the flash" if you plan to hit the nightlife in Barcelona, and "dress to impress" for the nights out in Madrid.It's best to bring a good pair of casual walking shoes, and a set of dressy shoes and attire. What you lack, you can always purchase in Spain! Shopping for *party clothes* was a blast in...

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Don't forget

by ncfg

If you go to Galicia, northern Spain, don’t forget the umbrella, because it may rain even in summer.If you go to Extremadura it is hot if you go on summer, so, sun glasses, sun protector and a bottle of water it will be very important.If you go to Tenerife Island or Mallorca Island you will enjoy the great weather on summer and in Tenerife spring time all the year, so, sun glasses, sun protector and all the staffs to enjoy the beach. In all the regions of Spain don’t forget your camera, because it is a beautiful and historical country with lots of monuments and amazing landscapes.

the tips here!!

by jlvillalba

At almost all restaurants, service is included, but it is common practice to leave a 5-10% tip, as it is with taxi drivers. Cinemas and theatres will have staff show you to your seat - here 50 cents is the norm. Tipping is not obligatory anywhere, but it is least expected in bars or cafeterias. However, if you leave a small tip it shows your appreciation of the service - a good rule of thumb here is 10 to 15 cents per round of drinks. Never leave tips in pubs or discotheques.

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OPENING HOURS

by jlvillalba

Most shops open between 09.30 and 13.30 in the morning and 17.00 to 20.00 in the afternoon on weekdays. During the summer months, many establishments will stay open much later in the evening. On Saturday opening hours are restricted to the morning shift and Sunday is literally the day of rest. Larger establishments, department stores and supermarkets will stay open all day, Saturday included, and are allowed to open on the first Sunday of every month. Banks open a little earlier in the morning, around 08.30, but close for the day at 14.00. Some branches open on Thursday evening (e.g. Caja Madrid) or Saturday morning. Each bank normally has a small plaque outside its offices indicating any special opening hours.

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Internet providers

by jlvillalba

Internet is now widespread in Spain and there are tens of different Internet Service Providers (ISP's). Access is available via the basic switched telephone network, the digital ISDN network, the high speed ADSL protocol and various satellite and television systems. For most travellers, the normal analogue telephone network is sufficient.

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the laptops

by jlvillalba

If you are bringing any electrical appliances to Spain (e.g. laptop computers, travel irons, etc.) you should bear in mind the voltage and type of plug used here. Spain uses the 220V voltage level and a frequency of 50Hz. Check that your electrical appliances will work with this voltage. You may also need a plug adapter. Spain uses plugs with 2 round pins. Plug adapters are available at stores selling electrical goods and at most international airports. If you have your laptop with you, the chances are that you will want to be using a modem to connect to Internet. Spain uses the RJ-11 telephone jack also used in USA, most of Europe and many other countries. A simple adapter should solve the problem if you are coming from a country which does not use this type of jack (e.g. United Kingdom).

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Top 3 Hotels in Spain

Jazz  Barcelona

 6 Reviews and 1597 Opinions  So it costs a fair bit...but the location is perfect, right in between Eixample and Las Ramblas,... 

 Hotels in Barcelona

Hotel Atlantico  Madrid

 7 Reviews and 1990 Opinions  With most four-star hotels in Madrid (and throughout Western Europe) charging US$400 or more, the... 

 Hotels in Madrid

San Augustin Beach Club  Canary Islands

 40 Opinions

 Hotels in Canary Islands

Questions and Answers

Arjola profile photo

Q:  Hi everyone, I really need some help to decide where to bring my young family this year for holiday. I am keen on going to the... 

gwened profile photo

A: all there is child friendly catering to families like yours. Great area indeed. y ou can check on destination above tips by posters like us or the tourist office... 

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