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| Tips and photos of Spain tourist attractions and tourist traps, posted by real travelers and Spain locals. Map |
 | Spain Tourist Traps | Tips 1 - 10 of 84 |  |
It doesn't happen all the time, but sometimes, mainly in the taxis from the airport in Madrid, the taxi drivers (specially if you don't speak spanish) "get confused" when giving you back the change.
So, pay attention on what the taximeter says, of what bill you give them and of what do you get back.
As a rule I always ask for a paper bill of the ride. This way, if you forget something in the cab you can easily identify it when try to recover it... Leave a Comment
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So many people from Europe go to the Costa's. The package holidays, to crowded and busy resorts. The beaches crammed person to person, baking in the sun, like sausages in a frying pan. Tacky bars, where no Spanish person would normally drink, singing Kareoke, and becoming inebriated.
Now I'm not knocking this at all, it can be fun, I have enjoyed it myself, in fact Spain very much depends on it as a source of income.
All I'm saying is that You deserve much more from your visit......
Try to get away on a few daytrips... along the coast just out of town you may well find a small beach, quiet and secluded, with just a few people there, that are in the know. Visit a few inland towns, see the day to day life of the people, visit some of the many historical and architectural wonders of the country. If any cultural events are taking place during your visit, such as Fiesta's or Feria's try to attend.
You can balance the resort with something a little more off the beaten track.
Take a more cultural vacation, visit cities, and on the coasts try some of the less touristic areas. You wont be sorry.
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I do not know why but Nerja rubbed me the wrong way. I guess if you just want to hang out on a beach for a few days it is alright. However do not expect to experience much in the way of Spanish atmosphere here. The town seems to be saturated with British, German and Dutch retirees and few Spaniards at all. The town is full of English and German pubs. Everything here such as directional signs is in English instead of Spanish. I also felt that the much talked about Nerja caves were highly overrated and not worth the bother.
The beaches might be one of the redeaming factor about Nerja. They are covelike beaches that a snuggled against Nerja's bluffs. However there are better beaches in Spain too. Leave a Comment
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The Monasterio se San Lorenzo de El Escorial, in the town of El Escorial just north west of Madrid, sounds interesting when one reads about it, but it had to be my biggest disappointment on the trip.
The Monastery/Palace is one of the most dull, uninviting buildings I have ever seen. Its only slightly interesting draw is its size. It's a monster of a building and the only way to get a decent photo of it is to photograph a scale model inside!
The building was designed by a puritan King intent on creating just the effect he got... he didn't think longterm into the century of mass tourism. Everything is grey, plain, and heavy looking. All very sombre and tiring. There are just a few things that spark the imagination: the beautiful wooden carved doors up on the floor near the King's bedroom (I can't remember exactly where) and the King's bedroom itself - the definitive statement about its inhabitants tastes.
The photo shows the Patio de las Reyes, which (if the rest of the complex hasn't already), will make you feel like a very small thing inside the creation of someone with a bit of a monsterous mind. Leave a Comment
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Paella is NOT a typical spanish dish, it is JUST valencian. So, never never never never eat it if you are not in the Community of Valencia (Castellón, Alicante and Valencia) because you are not going to eat paella at all (I remember a restaurant in Barcelona that they sold curry rice as paella).I know many people that said me "I don't like paella" because they tried in Madrid, but they loved later in Valencia. Even worse NEVER never never try something called "Paellador " (you'll go directly to hell). It's like precooked Paella that put in the oven or microwave, and they have even Mexican Paella!!! (puaj). Be careful, because even in Valencia there are these Paellador cheap things, avoid them!!! (it's like going to Italy and have pizza in Pizza Hut, that's not real italian pizza!).
Never have paella in a place that they don't cook themselves.
Go to tradicitonal restaurants in Valencia, Alicante and Castellon. The best places are where they ask you to reserve with a couple of hours (it means that they will cook the paella just for you, because it takes a couple of hours to cook). Leave a Comment
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It's full of Brits abroad, English shops, food and culture. It's a replication of Britain in the sun. It is not Spanish any more. It is built for English holiday makers and that's it.
Great for a beach holiday and very beautiful, but it's not really a good taste of Spain.
If you want to go to sunny Spain and the Costa del Sol, then my advice is to travel around Andalucia and see what Spain and the Spanish really have to offer.
Go to Cordoba, Granada, Vejer, Ronda, Cádiz or Sevilla for example. Though some of these places are being over run by tourists too. The least touristy has to be Cadiz capital.
For a beach holiday try the Costa de la Luz (Cadiz, Andalucia). The beaches there are stunning and they aren't built up like in the Costa del Sol. They are also Spanish holiday destinations so you'll get a better taste of Spanish culture.
If you aren't just interested in a beach holiday but would like a beach try Galicia, though this is situated in the North of Spain which can get rainy and cold especially in winter. San Sebastian is also another great place in the North of Spain that does have a wonderful beach too. Leave a Comment
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When you arrive Barajas airport dont catch expensive taxi into Madrid,catch the train,it is near the airport and very cheap into the city. Spain and Madrid have an excellent rail network
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Plaza Mayor in Madrid. If you eat there, make sure you know how much it will cost you first. Don't let the waiter decide for you!
At least there's an agreeable view while you're being ripped off! This is a snap of some of the allegorical frescoes surrounding the plaza. Leave a Comment
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If you are travelling spain and find yourself in need of a drink, whatever you do, don't pull over at the nearest bright lit building, it could end up being more than you expected.
I pulled over at a nice looking building, lots of neons, pretty much away from the town, so my friends and I decided to "check it out" and get a drink, to our shock but not dissapointment, it was a brothel, needless to say I didn't hang around.
I have since seen a lot of these buildings a lot of them looking pretty similar (big, brightly lit, in the middle of nowhere). So unless you wanna go in, stay clear! Leave a Comment
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There are a bunch of women standing around at the major tourist sites in most cities in Spain. They have stalks of plants (someone on VT said it's rosemary) which they try to sell to tourists.
I don't think they cost much, but still........ why fall into the trap and buy something that you won't know what to do with and much less has any magical powers.
Ignore them, no eye contact and don't express interest or the slightest hint of curiosity. A firm NO will suffice. That or walk away.
There are many souvenir shops in Spain. Buy the ones of the famous Spanish landmark - the big black bull - which you see along major Spanish highways. Leave a Comment
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