Spain Travel Guide

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Hotels

Both international and domestic tourism are huge in Spain, and there's a vast range of accommodation available. Some hotels will offer media pensión or pensión completa (half-board or full-board) rates. Large city hotels offer discounted weekend rates. It is always advisable to book accommodation well in advance, particularly during festivals or at popular resorts on the coast from late spring to October.

Grading: Hotels are graded from 1 to 5 stars with some regional variations. Hotels of three stars and above must have bar/café service with breakfast available and many of this category have full restaurants.

Pensions

The twin staples of Spanish budget accommodation are the hostal (guest house) and pensión, providing private rooms with or without bathroom. They are usually run by the family on the premises and may provide meals. Classification varies by region, but is generally from 1 to 2 stars.

Camping/Caravanning

There are over 1,000 campsites throughout the country, covering a wide quality and price range. They can fill fast in high summer. Regulations demand that off-site camping is in isolated areas only and permission from the local police and/or landowner is required.

Youth Hostels

In main like Madrid, Barcelona, and Sevilla, there's a wide choice of backpacker hostels. In mountain areas, a refugio is a walker's hostel with simple accommodation and meals available. Though there are hostels (albergues) throughout Spain, many of them are designed with school or university groups rather than individual travelers in mind.

Accommodation Information

Confederación Espanola de Hoteles y Alojamientos (CEHAT)
Calle Orense 32, 28020 Madrid, Spain
Tel: 9155 67112 or 9020 12141.
Website: www.cehat.com

Paradores de Turismo
Calle Requena 3, Madrid 28013, Spain
Tel: 9025 22244 or 902 547 979 (bookings).
Website: www.parador.es

Federación Espanola de Empresarios de Cámpings y Ciudades de Vacaciones (ANCE)
Calle Valderribas 48, Escalera 3, 1C, 28007, Madrid, Spain
Tel: 9144 81234.
Website: www.fedcamping.com

Spanish Youth Hostel Network (REAJ)
Website: www.reaj.com

Turisme Juvenil de Catalunya in Barcelona
Calle Rocafort 116-122, 08015 Barcelona, Spain
Tel: 9348 38341.
Website: www.tujuca.com