- Shift to a slower speed. Some Americans may feel stressed by pace of life in Spain—life is slower. Lateness is not seen as a mortal sin. Storekeepers may not return from siesta to open their stores right on the dot at 4:00 pm. Take your time to embrace this pace. Enjoy your trip. Relax. Relish the amazing foods and sights. Perhaps you can learn something from the relaxed and easy-going Spaniards!
- Focus. Don't expect to see everything. Spain is not a small nation. On a short vacation, you cannot and should not try to see everything. For us, the Your Way tour was great, as it gave us a sampling of several parts of Spain. We are eager to get back to see things we missed, like the other coasts, and the Basque area.
The biggest challenge with our tour was that we had to be very selective in what we chose to do during our short time in various cities. In tandem with our travel philosophy, we looked for experiences (e.g., concerts, cooking class, balloon flight, gorge buggy tour) as a chance to savor an opportunity to try new things or to learn new skills. We deliberately chose some smaller museums (such as the Centro Ceramica Triana Museum in Sevilla), although we did hit most big art museums, several castles, and fabulous architecture. But, we also made time just to wander when we could. We usually opted to use the subway or a cab to get to somewhere early in the morning and then to walk back to explore the city. One of our favorite experiences was the simplest, a visit the New Bridge and overview area of the spectacular El Tajo Gorge in Ronda at sunrise. Seeing the land veiled in fog and low-lying clouds was both serene and beautiful.
You can rely on the Rick Steves Spain book to help you make your decisions and hone your focus. It holds a wealth of great information. - Pick your pleasures. Don't feel pressured to do all the "must see" touristy things. We passed on bullfights for personal reasons. But, in Sevilla, we greatly enjoyed a traditional flamenco performance our tour manager graciously organized for those in our group. Flamenco performances were available in Barcelona and Madrid, but we held out to see flamenco where it originated. For example, although not on must-see lists, we spent a lovely hour strolling through the Royal Botanic Garden in Madrid.
While doing your research before you go, look for experiences of particular interest to you and make time. If art museums are not your cup of tea, don't go just to avoid hearing people saying, "What, you went to Madrid and didn't see Picasso's Guernica?" Instead, tell them about what you did and why that was meaningful to you. - Dining. Spain is known for amazing cuisine. Ask what is produced locally. For example, Barcelona is a port city, so fresh fish is readily available. Spanish ham is widely praised. Try various kinds--there are even jamon stores devoted to offering the finest hams. Look for boquerias and dine at a stall. Odds are good the food you eat was sourced nearby. If you speak Spanish, order from the Spanish menu. It some places, those prices are cheaper.
Plan for leisurely meals. Even if you eat late, as do many Spaniards, your meal will not be rushed. Your server may not stop every few minutes, so give a friendly wave as needed (more wine, another tapa?) We awaken early, so late night feasts did not really work with our bodies very well.
We found eating several tapas a bit earlier satisfied our nutrition needs, and allowed for relaxed conversations with our server, or with folks at nearby tables. Nonetheless, these were also leisurely meals. Tapas may, or may not, be a less expensive option. It's easy to over-order.
The heavy meal of the day for most Spaniards is lunch (typically offered 1:00-4:00). So, order that rich seafood paella as part of a mid-day meal. It's often not on dinner menus. Look for the menú del día (I think this is the same in both Spanish and Catalan), the daily lunch special.
Wait staff don't automatically bring water when you sit down. If you order water (agua), you will get a bottle of water (no ice, usually) for a few euros. Depending on inventory, you may be asked carbonation or without (con gas / sin gas) when you order agua.
When done, get your server's attention to ask for the check ("La cuenta, por favor."). It will not come without asking, unless you're there past closing. - Climate. Consider preferences for weather. when choosing when to visit Spain. I don't enjoy extremely hot weather. A summer trip was a recipe for misery (temperatures 100+F). Our October trip was perfect, comfortable weather, only a little rainy. But, grey skies provided saturated colors in my photographs. The fall meant fewer tourists to compete for space.
- Language. Are you bilingual in Spanish or Catalan? If not, learn a few words of each before you go. Download the free Duolingo app or use their free website to learn basic Spanish vocabulary (they don't yet offer Catalan). Use the Omniglot website to learn basic Catalan vocabulary. Although many Spaniards understand some English, that was not true everywhere. Using some Spanish or Catalan helps smooth any rough language waters.
Be self-sufficient. Download the Google Translate app for your phone so you can translate signs, menu items, etc. I was fond of signs reading Entrada gratis (Spanish) or Entradas gratuitas (Catalan), which means free admission! - Tipping. In Chicago, we tip 20+% in restaurants and 15+% to cab drivers. In Spain, this level of tipping is not expected. Restaurant bills typically indicate a 15% service charge. I overhead the desk clerk at our hotel in Madrid tell a guest overtipping may come across as suggesting the recipient is poor and needs a handout. Don't insult your server by giving this impression.
If you get a great meal or service, leave a small tip. Tip your bartender, your waiter at a tapas bar, or your cabbie with some spare change. They will feel appreciated. We did leave two euros with a note reading gracias (or gràcies in Barcelona) for the housekeeper every morning. Your housekeeper may vary, so tip daily. - Have cash on hand. Carry euros! Food stands, street vendors, some small cafes and shops may not take credit cards. Have bills in various sizes. A 50€ note takes less room in your money belt, but some places can't make change for it at certain times of the day. I am not a big shopper but I understand in many small stores, the proprietors are not at all averse to bartering or haggling prices with their patrons. Perhaps it's my privileged white, liberal, middle-class guilt, but knowing how ravaged Spain's economy has been recently and the numbers of families with no income. I would be hard pressed to determine I needed that euro more than the shop owner. And, truthfully, I'd be so bad at bartering, I might end up paying more than originally asked!
- Be safe. In busy areas, like Las Ramblas in Barcelona, be wary of pickpockets. Keep your wallet down deep in your front pocket. Use your money belt (please don't reach into your pants for it when you get to the register). Pay attention in crowds. Tightly hold anything in your hands (ideally in front of you at chest height). Barcelona has been described by some as the pickpocket capital of the world. Don't get added to those statistics. Leave your passport and valuables in your hotel safe.
The usual anti-pickpocket strategies hold true in Spain. No wallets in back pockets No phones or cameras on cafe tables, especially sidewalk tables, where they could be grabbed. Shift your day pack to your front in crowded areas (e.g., Metro/train stations, Las Ramblas, The Alhambra, or La Sagrada Familia). Thieves target people watching entertaining street shows―their attention is engaged elsewhere. Be vigilant of those around you.
I hope you find these tips prove helpful on your next adventure in Spain. Buen viaje!