We strongly recommend that you obtain an EHIC card: application forms are available at the Post Office. The EHIC card entitles you to emergency medical care in all non-private Spanish hospitals and medical centres.

Travel Insurance

While the EHIC card covers you for your treatment, it will not cover you for repatriation or transfers to UK hospitals. If you want to be sure of being able to cover those costs, then you need travel insurance. Most travel insurance also covers holiday cancellation costs in certain circumstances and baggage loss. Many companies offer Travel insurance, either for a single trip or multi trip / annual cover. Please ensure you check that you are covered for any leisure activities such as skiing etc.

Money

You can withdraw Euros from most cash-points in Spain using your debit or credit card. You will usually be charged around 2% of the transaction cost for doing so, which is often the same as the rate you’ll get in a UK high street bank. However, it is advisable to take some cash in Euros, as there may not be a cash machine at the airport / ferry port or nearby to where you are holidaying. If you don’t like the idea of taking your bank card abroad, then you can buy a prepaid credit card. You also have the option of taking travellers' cheques which need to be changed up to Euros in a hotel, or local bank. Please note that travellers' cheques are not as widely accepted as they used to be.

Things to take

You’ll find that you can buy most things in Spain. However, the following may not be widely available, except in tourist areas:

UK branded Teabags (Spanish tea is much weaker)

UK-brand baby food and milk
Marmite
Marmalade (Spanish jam is called "mermelada")

Also note that outside the major tourist centres, disposable nappies are only available in packs of 70 or more it is often more convenient to take these with you.