Travel Internal
Air
Domestic Flights from airports in Spain: Iberia (www.iberia.com), Spanair (www.spanair.com), Air Europa (www.air-europa.com) and Binter (www.binternet.com).
All major towns, the Balearic and Canary Islands and North African Enclaves are well connected through these flights, with taxis available at all major airports. Visitors would do well by reserving their flights in advance.
Rail
State Railway: RENFE (www.renfe.es)
The State Railway connects all the major cities and region. The main trains are air-conditioned having restaurant or buffet service.
Spain offers fast travel by trains through the Ave service, which averages 300 kph and connects Madrid and Seville in two hours 15 minutes, with 12 services each way via Cordoba, Ciudad Real and Puerto Llano (La Mancha).
There are some special tourist trains operating in Spain – The Andalus Express and Transcantabrico – offering picturesque views from unmatchable comforts. Besides, there are several privately managed narrow-gauge railways in the country (mostly located in North Spain, the Mediterranean coast, and the Balearic Islands), which run at a leisurely pace offering some splendid views of Spain.
For travellers under 26 years of age, buying a RENFE Tarjeta Explorerail will ensure unlimited travel on all but some regional and fast trains. Also check out the travel agents for more details on discount travel by train.
For reservations in UK, contact –
European Rail Travel,
Tel: (020) 7387 0444
Website: www.europeanrail.com
Freedom Rail,
Tel: (0870) 757 9898
Website: www.freedomrail.com
Ultima Travel,
Tel: (0151) 339 6171)
Road
Spain is well connected with excellent motorways running the length and breadth of the country. You may well have to shell out some Euros on the toll-roads.
There is definitely an apparent gulf between the quality of urban and rural roads but mostly, the roads are smooth and offer a comfortable ride. Buses operate frequently between different points in the country connecting rural and urban Spain.
You can also hire cars from car rental companies in major cities. The legal age for driving in Spain is 21 years for cars and 18 years for motorcycles or vehicles above 75cc. Crash helmets are compulsory. Traffic drives on the right side. Sidelights are used at night in the populated areas. Two red lights mean you can’t enter that area.
Speed Limit for motorways -120kph (80mph), for buses and lorries - 100kph (60mph), in built-up areas - 50kph (30mph), for other roads - 90kph (56mph). Most foreign licenses are valid. Third Party insurance is compulsory. Green Card is required to bring your own car (available from insurance company).
Sea
Hydrofoil and Car and Passenger Ferry Sailings serve the travellers regularly from Malaga and Almeria to Melilla (North African enclave), Cadiz to the Canary Islands, Algeciras to Tangier and Ceuta (North African enclave), and Barcelona, Alicante, Valencia and to the Balearic Islands.
Inter-Island Services, like Catamaran Service, link Barcelona with Palma de Mallorca. It runs twice a day and taken three hours to reach its destination. For more information, please contact –
Trasmediterranea
c/o Southern Ferries
Tel: (902) 454 645
Website: www.trasmediterranea.es
SPAIN
