Heading to Spain. Money Questions??

[tankhead]

I need advise on the best methods on choosing using cash or using credit cards (debit) when purchasing things like gas, food, gifts, trinkets and the like.   Gas will likely be even more expensive when we get there and I know I will have to do money exchanges during the trip.  Any advice would be great. tanks

[loadedmind]

American Express Traveler's Cheque's.  It would be fairly easy to research nearby businesses where you intend to stay to verify what all methods of payment they accept.  Most folks take Visa, if nothing else.  

[Daniel Kalal]

I need advise on the best methods on choosing using cash or using credit cards (debit) when purchasing things like gas, food, gifts, trinkets and the like.   Gas will likely be even more expensive when we get there and I know I will have to do money exchanges during the trip.  Any advice would be great. tanks

Was there last year.  ATMs are everywhere.  And cash (Euros) is easy--but, then cards are accepted pretty much everywhere, too.  Shrug; you shouldn't have any trouble at all.

[miles]

What Daniel said.  ATMs will work just fine for you.  You can get cash out when you need it, just like here.  Everybody everywhere accepts Visa/Mastercard, but AmEx and Discovery not so much.  

Seriously, it won't be any more of a problem than it would be here in the US.

[notarian]

Notify your card company(s) that you will be overseas and intend to use the card. It you don't, they have a nasty habit of not allowing any transactions (ATM or otherwise). Doing this prior to traveling is a simple phone call and lot easier than trying to sort it out after you arrive.

[Orson]

My Bank of America ATM card works fine at yurpeen banks.

However, more often than not, it gets rejected when I try to use it to pay at yurpeen, self-serve gas pumps  

[fineout]

you might want to check and see if there are any partnerships with your bank and other banks over there. I was in germany and Deutsche bank and BoA have a partnership so you can take money out of Deutsche Bank ATM's for the exact value of the euro/dollar and no charges. Expect gas to be around 5-7$ a gal after the euro/l conversion.

[miles]

Tank, have you ever driven in Europe before?  If not, I have some specific driving advice...

[tankhead]

Do tell Miles, do tell.  Driving in Spain, Miles style! I want to hear it.  tanks

[miles]

Well, the thing is, most of it is just like here, but there are two major (and ubiquitous) exceptions.

First off, traffic lights.  There'll be one on your side of the intersection, and one on the other side as well- and you need to pay attention to both.  The near one is to let you into the intersection, and the far one to let you out again.  If the one close to you is red, don't go.  If the one near is green but the far one is red, you can turn, but not proceed straight.  Odd, yes, but once you see what is going on, you'll understand.

Second, signs for traffic circles.  Sometimes there'll be stoplights to enter, proceed around the circle, and exit.  Just do what everybody else is doing and you should be fine.  You'll only find these in the major intersections in big cities.
Most traffic circles are uncontrolled- you enter and exit as you wish.  Merge carefully, but don't slow down much.  Locals hate that.  
Also, signage.  Here's a typical traffic circle sign:

Generally, the out arrows will have the names of the places those roads will take you.  If the one pointing left (for example) says "Antequera" and that's where you want to go, just count off exits and the third one will head you in the right direction.  Usually each exit will be signed, but not always.

Spaniards are generally good drivers, and reasonably courteous, too.  The worst driving city you'll encounter on your expected itinerary will unfortunately be your first- Sevilla is a challenge.  My recommendation is get outta dodge (leaving the airport is easy, but I'm not sure where the moto rental place is) as soon as you can, and do your touristing in Sevilla at the end of your stay.  Sevilla is nothing but difficult navigation and a maze of one-way streets.  It's a wonderful city, but tough to drive in.
Almost everything you'll want to see in Granada (not as bad to navigate as Sevilla, but still...) is within walking distance.  Find a spot to park near the Cathedral and hoof it from there.

I can't think of anything else right now, but I'll post if I do.

[tankhead]

Miles tanks for the heads up about traffic I really appreciate your time and pics.  We are getting to Seville on a Friday and hangin till Monday morning.  We pick up the bike somewhat south from the major part of the city on a highway that leads us right out of town towards Ronda Monday morning and have the bike for 7 days.  We will be heading from Ronda to Granada-Nerja-Benehavis-Arcos del la frontera-and then Sevilla Sunday leave Tuesday morning. Any and all further information would be great.  tanks again

[Orson]

Another tip from a GPS-less Luddite  

Whenever I get lost in a largish city, I'll follow the signs leading to the center of town (CENTRO in Spanish)

From there, they usually have road signs leading different directions out of town.

As a rule though, I try to avoid large cities  

don't be afraid to expand your palate. Goat or cabrito is delicious

[miles]

In Arcos, remember that the streets in the old town are one-way only, north to south.  There is no parking right at El Convento, but you may be able to find something close.

[tankhead]

Also, what is the outlet for charging the Sena headset.  Standard EU.  I am ordering this week and the guy is charging five bucks for each plug.  What type of outlets in Spain?

[miles]

Typical european plugs- 220v, two round prongs.

[notarian]

This is generally in travel guides but rarely in travel dictionaries. The more tourist frequented restaurants may have an english menu but generally they do not.

Spanish-English food dictionary

http://www.gomadrid.com/dict/a.html

Be adventurous with your meals. Its all very good.

Some tips:

Instead of chicken (pollo), try rabbit (conejo - as in Conejo Ajio / Garlic Rabbit Stew). If near any coastline the fish is wonderful, but try congrio (conger eel) at least once if its available. Grilled sepia (cuttle fish - Sepia a la parrilla) instead of fried battered calamares (calamares a la romano) and baby squid in it own ink (chipirones en su tinta) is delicious but beware that you'll have black teeth and tongue for a couple of hours.

And my favourite fish dish if made correctly is Zarzuela (piping hot, oven baked fish stew). For a simple and inexpensive, superb lunch or dinner = grilled sardines, mixed salad, spanish bread and house wine (sardinas a la parrilla, ensalada mixta, pan and vino de la casa).

Paella of course, but if you find yourself at some dusty roadside tavern they just might have a similar but simple rice dish with chicken (arroz con pollo) = cheap and very tasty.

If inland, you can almost always depend on roasted (asado) meats (pork / cerdo or lomo, lamb / cordero, baby goat / cabrito, chicken or rabbit.

The spanish are big french fries (patatas fritas) and come with damn near everything except rice dishes. I tire of them quickly = there are other options but you'll have to ask or use the phrase, "Por favor, usted tiene algo con excepción de las patatas fritas?" = "Please, do you have something other than french fries?" I don't know if it is 100% correct, but it has always worked for me.

All restaurants have a fixed price lunch Menu of the Day (Menu del Dia) and is ALWAYS worth a look, priced correctly and very affordable.

Drizzle olive oil (aceite de oliva) on your bread rather than butter or margarine (mantequilla).

Avoid eating at petrol station 'chain looking' restaurants = over priced, dreadful service by Spanish standards and poor cooking/quality.

[Skee]

1) Make sure the bank knows you are traveling overseas.

2) Use an ATM card that has a 4-digit pin, just to be safe, some older machines (don't know if there are any like this left) only accept 4-digit pins.  Some ATMs in Spain change a fee, clearly posted, either avoid them or take a card that will comp your fees. Might want to check with your bank on foreign currency (1% over forex is currently the best I could find) transaction rates or out of network fees.  Some pseudo-ATM debit cards, like the AAA travel card, charge really stiff fees.  Any large bank should be OK.

3) Take a credit card with a low (e.g., 1%) currency exchange fee.   TBOMK, both Chase & Capital One offer these.

[stefrrr]

My Bank of America ATM card works fine at yurpeen banks.

However, more often than not, it gets rejected when I try to use it to pay at yurpeen, self-serve gas pumps 

BOA is fee-less at Barclay's in Spain, I think? I used Santander - their fees seemed to be lowest for me on my debit card with my bank. Caja Cantabria is also low. I think the fees vary according pretty widely according to who you bank with.

Forget traveler's checks - waste of time pretty much everywhere in EU.

Bring more than one card, and bring separate credit (not connected to your bank account) and debit cards, not a debit/credit if you can afford it.

The last time I went to DE, I bought one of these. It was pretty unnecessary, but nice for extra ease-of-mind. I definitely recommend it. Makes carrying just the essentials easy. They're available in manly colors.

Take an extra debit card or credit card, especially if you have more than one bank. This is incredibly useful if you are jetlagged, consume too much wine, enter the incorrect pin too many times in an atm and consequently have your card confiscated by the machine.

[tankhead]

I contacted my bank and my credit card company.  All is a go.  Gps powerlet cord. EU outlet adapter. Tools to instal the gps. gps harness.  Cash set.  Low balance on credit card.  Can't freakin wait.

[Gaw]

Enjoy it!

what places do you plan to visit?