Road Travel
The roads are generally good and
the fastest routes, which are the freeways or autopistas, demand a toll.
National highways are identified by the prefix N, while regional highways
have the prefix C. These are usually in good condition. Roads without a
route prefix may be in poor condition.
Safety belts are compulsory, as
are a set of replacement light bulbs. The speed limits are as follows:
120km/h (74.5mph) on motorways, 100km/h (62mph) on highways, 90km/h (55mph)
on other roads, and 60km/h (37mph) in built-up areas.
A visitor's national driving license
is acceptable as long as it is accompanied by a translation stamped by
a Spanish consulate. An international driving license is recommended.
Non-EU travellers entering Spain
by car need to have a 'green letter' which is basically insurance cover
in case of an accident.
Air Travel
Spain has a number of international
airports, including Almer?a, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Granada,
M?laga, Alicante, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza and Mah?n, but most
international flights land at Madrid or Barcelona. Iberia and Aviaco cover
internal air routes, while charter flights call on the islands.
Bus Travel
An extensive network of bus routes
reaches even remote villages. Bus travel is generally cheaper than train
travel, but this depends on how direct the route taken is. Bus timetables
are usually available at tourist offices.
Train Travel
The rail system is fairly efficient,
although trains regularly run late and the fare system is very complicated.
Regional trains are cheap and slow, but the express trains are quite a
lot more expensive. Reservations are a must, although they do not always
seem to guarantee a seat.
Europrail International is a leading
source of European railpasses.
Both Barcelona and Madrid have efficient
underground systems which are usually cheaper than the local buses.
Petrol
Petrol is available in 92 octane,
97 octane and 95 lead free. Diesel is also readily available.
Ferries
Car ferries operate between Spain
and the Canary Islands, Morocco, Italy, Great Britain, France and the Balearics
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