Ok, this may sound really petty, but if any of you have acrylic nails you know how irritating (and actually kinda dibilitating) it is if one breaks or falls off. For those of you who've never had them: removing them all before the trip will leave me with thin, weak, bendy, vulnerable nails that will hurt and interfere with functioning. So my question is...if I have a "nail emergency" in Madrid, will I have a hard time finding a salon to repair/replace an acrylic nail? Thanks!!

Oh my god, like what would you do? Princess should take off those tacky things before her trip because, here's a news flash, we all know they are fake and look gross! You would actually take time away from some great museum to spend and hour in a salon? Come to think of it, you probably don't even know what the Prado is do you!

Yes,you will have a difficult time!I was in the same predicament last summer.Only one Corte Ingles offers this service-way up in the business area, also the Palace hotel.They are called unas de porcelana.I never could get an appointment-booked up,ridiculously expensiveand and so I resorted to band aids on three fingers!

Good Morning Princess: <BR> <BR>First, if you are real, I am so cynical about posters on Fodors...sorry. <BR> <BR>So, if you are real do not worry. Spain is one of the beauty capitals for women. I do not have the acrylic nails but I do get a manicure and a pedicure on a weekly basis no matter where I am. <BR> <BR>My DH and I spent 2.5 months all over Spain, Portugal etc. and I did not miss a beat. I was also able to see many sights and to enjoy hours in the museums, at the sidewalk cafes, in the discos and the like. <BR> <BR>Enjoy yourself, spring for a massage and keep the beauty going. You do us Americans good no matter what kind of nails you have. At least you are concerned. <BR> <BR>I cringe when I see women at home and on travel with raggedy/dirty and un-kept nails and it turns my stomach to see some women's feet in sandals who have "skipped" the pedicure...so nasty looking! <BR>All of you, do as you wish but: "I can see you..." <BR> <BR>Happy Travels <BR>Oaktown

So what kind of an answer was that to the question asked by the princess? <BR>Acrylic nails are still a novelty in Madrid.Ask at the hotel or go to a decent hair salon and they should be able to help you!

Sorry to say this but acrylic nails are really "out" in Spain. It's fashionable to get a manicure that looks the most natural if possible. You'll only see old ladies having "uñas de porcelana"

Princess, you can take your acrylic nails off and use something called "Nailtique" It's a very strong polish (clear) that will allow you to have your own nails but not so weak and breaking. I would be concerned about fungus in another country where the standard of hygiene might not be as high as here. And, why do you want those ugly thick acrylic things anyway?

Princess, <BR> <BR>I have a real problem with these people deriding you just because you want you nails to look the best. It is tacky when you don't look your best and don't take these people to heart. I, too, will be in Paris in the fall and am looking for a good salon and also I am looking for a gym to go to when I am there. Keep on checking and good luck. You might want to check out the website google.com. <BR> <BR>Best of luck to you

Het Tammy Faye, there is a huge difference between looking good and looking tacky and yes those things are the height of tacky I'm afraid to say. <BR>The natural french polish look is what's in right now and has always been a classic look. You make yourself sound like some kind of invalid if a nail falls off " actually kinda dibilitating"! How pathetic is that! <BR>One can look great without catclaws!

what is this a fashion beat-down? i'll be spending my summer in spain and would love to know if i can get my nails done. it may look tacky with sunsets on your nails, but some of us aren't blessed with naturally attractive nail beds. mine look great, and don't think i'm not on the verge of all fashion sense. i'd rather look like carmella soprano, than a pauper.

I knew there'd be an attack on me - and I really don't care! For some reason so many people assume that I have a garish, tacky, over-the-top look, like that woman on the Drew Carrey show. Why would you choose to jump to the most negative assumption about someone? Hundreds of thousands of people in the US get their nails done - do we really all look out-of-date and tacky? Is it possible to have acrylic nails that are buffed and polished in a neutral, classy way? Anyway, even if I did have 2-inch neon talons, I can't imagine why you care...but for those of you that do: I also had a nose job AND liposuction...AND I get my hair colored ...AND I get regular facials...so there's a bunch of things for you to lose sleep over. And if that's not enough: I blow dry my hair every day, I wear make-up every day, and I virtually never leave the house unless I'm well-groomed and well-dressed. If you need something to be upset over, I don't mind being the object of your aggression. I love my life and my look. By the way, thanks to those of you who tried to help!

Princess: <BR> <BR>Your welcome. I tried. Come join us in The Grab Bag area where we are talking beauty in travel. It is in the question do you dress up for travel or something like that. Come share! <BR> <BR>My Best <BR>Oaktown

I am so sorry that you have received so much junk mail regarding your nails. It is hard for me to believe that so many people care one way or the other. In my experience you can get nails fixed, repaired, or completely redone almost anywhere. It may not be the excution you are familiar with but it will get you though...have a great time. jjj

You will not see as many salons offering such service because European women are (typically) very chic, stylish and spophisticated. Acrylic nails is a s tacky, cheesy, and dumb as artificial nails get.

You wouldn't have weak thin nails if you didn't put those awful things on. They actually are very bad for your nails as a manicurist friend of mine told me. Do your nails a big favour and let them breathe, they will thank you for it by becoming strong and beautiful and you will no longer be a slave to your nails. I'm all for looking great on vacation, but not if it means time away from anything exciting that I may be missing as a result of my need to preen.

Will everyone just answer the damn question and stop giving their 2 cents one if it is bad. I have them, love them and btw, they are french manicured and classy. Yes my nails will be weak when I take them off. Smoking will cause cancer. Eating rich foods causes obesity. boo hoo. Everyone has a vice. Go to speakers corner if you wish to preach.

Well said Eva!

I had acrylic nails for years before I had kids and a mortgage. I always wore them fairly short and with a French manicure, and they looked very nice. They hold polish better and are more durable, so it was worth it to me then. <BR> <BR>That said, there were times I had to get by without a manicure, Princess. Try the following: get them done before you depart, and make them shorter than usual. Carry a good file and small, fine sanding block with you. When they get shabby, file them very thin, and paint them a very subtle color, like white. I wouldn't spend the time or money to get them done in Spain unless your going to be traveling for a looong time. <BR> <BR>Finally, my experience was that the best way to remove them was to just let them grow out naturally, filing them carefully to keep them thin. I didn't find my nails to be painful or especially bendy -- I just kept them short for a while and they were fine. So you might consider that if you're really worried.