BobSwanson

Hi
Just some suggestions (for us old folks) to make our trip in Spain a little more convenient;
Carry individual coffe packets for those mornings when we want coffe NOW.
A way of brewing the individual packets
A travel coffe mug
Energy snacks for those times where we are in between normal meal times.
Credit card toll free or local telephone numbers in case of problems.
Pack light a buy what you need in Spain
Emergency numbers for car rental company
Extra insurance for car rental

These are just a few that I've gathered and other suggestions and comments would be appreciated.
BS

LadyOLeisure

Scan and email yourself copies of your passports, any prescriptions (along with your Dr's phone number) you might need (including your eyeglasses).

Raydotman

I am having a lot of trouble trying to post so if this appears more than once I apologize.
Anyway, morning coffee/tea is a good thing so buy yourself a dual voltage a dual voltage water heater.
I have a 1200 minute ATT prepaid phone card that allows me to phone number. Make sure you get the correct access numbers from Spain and the rate per minute.
I carry a notebook which included the names, phone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses of all doctors and specialists. it also included diagnoses, recent test results and relevant information.
If you have a second pair of eyeglasses or even an old pair, bring those in case of loss, brekage or even a missing screw. In fact a eyeglass repair kit might come in handy.
A small flashlight can be a good thing.

Robert2533

Coffee packets and a travel mug? I guess you can pack them if you want because you’ll have a difficult time finding “American style” coffee. Coffee, café, in Spain, as in France and Italy, is taken as part of the meal, normally after you've eaten something, never with a meal.

I hope you understand that meals are taken at vastly different times than you are used to at home in Virginia.

Breakfast is typically continental style unless you are staying at certain hotels or at one of the Paradors. Lunch, the main meal of the day, is usually served beginning around 1:30 pm, but you would be early if you sat down to eat much before 2:30 pm (14:30). Dinner, depending on where you are traveling to, would not be served much before 9:00 (21:00) and not until after 10:30 pm (22:30) in Madrid and Sevilla. You will find some restaurants that open earlier to accommodate foreign tourist, but they are few and far between, and don’t exist at all in many locations.


You can check the back of your credit card for the international number you will need to call should you have a problem. Write it down and keep it someplace safe.

The rental car agency will supply you with all of the emergency numbers and other information you need. If you are renting a car using your Visa, MC or Amex card, then you should decline the rental agencies CDW insurance. Your credit card company will be your main insurance for the car, but you can add the other insurance coverage offered by the rental agencies if you'd like.

You should also look into purchasing a travel insurance policy to cover you while your gone. There are several good agencies, most of which can be found at “Insure My Trip” (http://insuremytrip.com/). We use SRI, which is listed on the web site.

photofootp

A small hand held compass is a great help in navigating a strange city .... by foot or car.

NEDSIRELAND

I would add a Telefonica Phone Card for those times when you need to make a call to a number in-Spain (assuming you don't have a telefono movil for Spain)

rjsol

Coffe mugs ?! You must be desperate !
And a compass ? Why not look at the sun, up in East, down in West, midday in South- With a city map this should do
Don't bring 'items' that take up space and weight.

weber6560

Corkscrew, sweet and low, passport copy, copies of prescriptions, numbers of credit cards, tickets, etc, procedures for reaching your internet service, crossword puzzle book, decaf tea, pictures of your family and hometown[a tremendous icebreaker with locals],. You can buy amything in Spain you can by in the US. It's simply a matter of which is more convenient.

marigross

coffee? I thought the coffee in Spain was heavenly!

The corkscrew is an essential item that fairly often gets overlooked...thank God for Swiss Army knives

NEDSIRELAND

marigross writes: "The corkscrew is an essential item that fairly often gets overlooked...thank God for Swiss Army knives"

But put your Swiss Army knife in your checked luggage: I had one confiscated at San Diego airport last month. And those real Swiss Army knives are not cheap!

Another thing I would suggest carrying is 'wipes#39; pre-moistened towellets - they can be 'baby wipes' or whatever. I usually take a plastic container of them for various uses. They'll give you one or two individually wrapped on the airplane ...

Chele60

Re: Handiwipes or other types of pre-moistened towlettes. Invaluable! I always include them. Great for cleaning up a bit when water isn't available - especially when you grab something and it's covered with some sort of sticky goo.

Your wife might appreciate toilet seat covers. Don't take up much room or weight and really don't need very many, but another handy item especially for us women-types.

And, yes, you can get almost anything in Spain. Almost. If you take material to read or puzzles to work on, be sure to bring along enough to last. We both finished our books before our trip ended, and couldn't find English language books anywhere - not even Madrid, until we got to the airport! Lucikly, my S/O is really into suduko and managed to find a book of puzzles on that! But, unless you can read Spanish, be certain you have enough to keep you busy during the off times!

josemacall

Chele60 said:
"and couldn't find English language books anywhere - not even Madrid, until we got to the airport"

That's not true 100%. It's not easy,m but you can find English (French and other languages also available) books at least at FNAC (Callao Sq.), El Corte Inglés or Crisol...

Hope this helps on your next trip to Spain.