Just thought I'd pass these tips along. I hope someone else finds it helpful. I'd like others to please add to it and share their tips and experiences.

Hopefully this can become an FAQ for Spain and provide helpful info for many, many other travelers.

Books

EyeWitness Guide to Spain
Eyewitness Top 10 in Barcelona
Fodor?s
Frommer?s
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet?s World Food Spain***
Michelin Green Guide to Spain
Marling?s Menu Master for Spain***
Rick Steve?s


A plethora of items from the Spanish Tourism Department***
http://www.okspain.org/


*** Indispensable


General

Finding an address or driving route in Europe ? http://mappy.com/

Mass times at: http://www.misas.org. This site will provide a link to the church?s own web site. (Information is in Spanish.)

Mediterranean Ferry Service - http://www.trasmediterranea.net/homei.htm

Stamp markets around the world? http://www.linns.com/reference/travelg/news4.asp?uID=

Train Tickets - www.renfe.es

Spain info - http://www.red2000.com/spain/index-eng.html

All you?d want to know about Spain - http://www.okspain.org/

Includes Madrid and the whole of Spain - http://madridman.com/

Maribel?s Guides - http://www.maribelsguides.com/ ***

Puerta del Sol blog (Reflections on life in Spain and Spanish culture) - http://www.puertadelsolblog.com/index.php


*** Indispensible



Festivals

List of Events - http://www.okspain.org/quicklinks/events.asp#Fairs

Festivals in Barcelona - http://www.bcn.es/festes/angles.htm



Historical Weather Data
WeatherBase - http://www.weatherbase.com/



Sunrise and Sunset Times
US Naval Observatory - http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html



Barcelona

Barcelona Online - http://www.barcelona-online.com/index.html

Bus Tourístic - http://www.tmb.net/en_US/turistes/bu...esiparades.jsp

Caixa Forum Main Web site - http://portal1.lacaixa.es/Channel/Ch...=1-38-00-00000

Casa Battlo ? www.casabatllo.es

Cacao Sampaka, an out-of-this world chocolate lover?s dream store. (Consell de Cent, 292 Barcelona ) http://www.cacaosampaka.com/

Cathedral - http://www.catedralbcn.org/

Dalí exhibit at Caixa Forum - http://portal1.lacaixa.es/Channel/Ch...=3-86-00-10000

Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau
- http://www.santpau.es/santpau_eng/sobreweb.htm

Frommer?s Barcelona - http://www.frommers.com/destinations/barcelona/

La Sagrada Familia (an excellent site) - http://www.sagradafamilia.org/eng/noflash/index.htm

Montserrat rack railway ? www.cremallerademontserrat.com
Montserrat abbey ? www.abadiamontserrat.net
Montserrat ? www.fgc.net

MNAC - http://www.mnac.es/eng/index.htm

Museu Marítim, Drassanes Reials de Barcelona - http://www.diba.es/mmaritim/english/index.htm

Palau de la Musica Catalan - http://www.palaumusica.org/index.asp?pIdioma=ang

Picasso Museum ? www.museupicasso.bcn.es

Shopping - http://www.barcelona-online.com/shopping.html

Tourism - http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/#

Transit (Barcelona TMB) - http://www.tmb.net/eng/fes_turisme/festurisme_bus.jsp

wGuides Barcelona - http://www.wguides.com/city/18/city_districts.cfm


Madrid

Borca S.A. (fine spanish linen) - Marqués Viudo de Pontejos 2 at the corner of Calle Esparteros

Café Central (One of top European jazz clubs) - Plaza del Angel #10

Frommer?s Madrid - http://www.frommers.com/destinations/madrid/

Prado - http://museoprado.mcu.es

Metro Map - http://www.guiademadrid.com/images/metro2.gif

Museo Sorolla, General Martínez Campos, 37 - museosorolla.mcu.es/

wGuides Madrid - http://www.wguides.com/city/11/city_districts.cfm


Sevilla

Andalucia - http://www.andalucia.com/

Cerámica Santa Ana (Ceramics shop) - San Jorge #31-Plaza del Callao

Churches and Convents in Sevilla - http://www.sol.com/en/modulo.asp?IdP...ubTipoCont=115

Frommer?s Seville - http://www.frommers.com/destinations/seville/

List of Religious Sites in Sevilla ? http://www.wguides.com/city/47/subsub_162.cfm

Museo de Bellas Artes (Fine Art Museum) -http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/cultura/areas/institucional/directorio/mus/musbbaase/index.htm

WGuides Sevilla - http://www.wguides.com/city/47/city_districts.cfm



Flamenco
El Arenal (Calle Rodó 7) - www.tablaoelarenal.com

?Best Flamenco? - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34491766

Here is some info on Bienal de Flamenco in Sevilla. It's enough to let you know if you'd be interested in it and how you may want to participate.
http://www.flamenco-world.com/notici...al03022004.htm


2004 Schedule: http://www.deflamenco.com/noticias/v...codigo=FLA|885





Hotels we stayed at ?

Barcelona
The Regencia Colon www.hotelregenciacolon.com


Sevilla
Hosteria del Laurel ? Hosteria del Laurel, Plaza de los Venerables, 5 - http://www.hosteriadellaurel.com/


Madrid
Hotel Residencia Galiano (Alcalá Galiano #6, near Plaza Colón)


Other useful hotel sites

Bancotel coupons - http://bancotel.com/

Charming Spain Hotels - http://www.charming-spain-hotels.com/index.php

Hotels Spain - http://www.hotelsearch.com/

NH Hotels - http://www.nh-hotels.com/servlet/pag...chema=PORTAL30

Paradores in Spain - http://www.parador.es/english/index.jsp

Sol Melia Hotels - http://129.35.96.99/sol/home/jsp/CHome.jsp

Thank you for taking the time to post this valuable information. I'm adding it to my Spain files!

Thanks so much. We're going to Spain in September and October and are just beginning to work on the details. This will be very helpful.

Nice list! Here's another very interesting Seville site:
http://www.exploreseville.com/

Wow. Thanks, Sharon and Ray. I'm home for the day, after "pulling" something in my back over the weekend and your list will give me something to do while I'm immobilized.

Mary_Fran, I know you'd been following our trip report. I updated it again over the weekend.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34483366

I hope whatever you pulled in your back works itself out soon. (Try alternating moist heat and cold packs if you are not already doing so. I pulled something in my back a couple months ago and was in such bad shape I went to the doctor. I think I got as much relief from the moist heat and cold packs than I did from the muscle relaxants and anti-inflamatories.)
- Happy trip planning
Sharon

With credit going to Elaine and copied from the helpful info Italy posting...

What is the weather likely to be during my trip?

weather web sites--compare the forecasts and historical info, sometimes they differ remarkably, I usually take an average:

www.wunderground.com On the home page you can click on the Europe map, and on the next screen click on your country. Then you get a list of cities to click on.
When you do that, you get a screen with the forecast on the right side, but on the left side, under Conditions, there is a submenu offering for historical weather info.

www.worldclimate.com/

www.washingtonpost.com weather section also has historical data

www.nytimes.com/

www.weather.com/

www.cnn.com/WEATHER/

www.usatoday.com/weather/

www.rainorshine.com/

www.timeout.com click on your city, then on weather

www.bbc.co.uk/weather


(Thanks Elaine!)

Which credit card should I use to obtain the lowest fees on currency exchanges?


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34499995


---

Where can I find reliable background information on Spain and Traveler's advisories issued by other English speaking countries?

If you read all of these, you will be well-informed.

US - http://www.travel.state.gov/

Canada - http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/menu-en.asp

UK - http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?...=1007029390554

Australia - http://www.dfat.gov.au/

---

What can you tell me about scams in Barcelona and how to avoid them?

There is a specific site for common scams in Barcelona which has tips and advice that can apply for anywhere. The list is quite long and even includes photos of one notorious English speaking woman who makes a good living begging from others to tell them she's just arrived in Barcelona, lost her luggage and could you spare a few Euro. http://www.jones.tc/barna/scams.html

---

How much time to drive from x to y?

www.viamichelin.com

What can you tell me about Extremadura?

I have not been to Extremadura, but have had my appetite whet. Here are some helpful postings to peruse:

Ger's trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34486795

Driving itinerary for Extremadura:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34481343

Weekend in la Vera, Extremadura: (includes Olga's trip report)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34470791

Base for exploring Extremadura:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34471782

Maria's trip report to Extremadura, Huelva, Cadiz Provinces and Sevilla:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34457851

- Sharon

Does anyone visit the far NW/Galecia?
M

These posts are a bit old... (early 2001) Most of the advice is probably still relevant. I'd take Maribel's advice anyday!

Help with Northern Spain:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1277889

Restaurants in Northern Spain:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1278119

Maybe someone else with actual experience will provide some up-to-date experiences.

- Sharon

topping for jodo.

Here's another link for Northern "Green" Spain: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34540036

-Sharon