Spain

Post

Stamps can be bought from Post Offices and tobacconists. Letters for any destination can be put into any yellow post box. Letters to be sent Airmail to foreign countries should have the appropriate sticker attached in the top left corner. As at October 2005, costs for a standard letter up to 20g are:

• 28 cents for standard delivery (1-3 days) within Spain.
• 53 cents for letters to Europe.
• 78 cents for letters to all other destinations.

Up to date prices, and full details are available from Correos (The Spanish Post Office)

Phone

The international calling code for the Spain is 38.

Numbers are generally quoted in the form of an 3 digit area code followed by a six-digit number, for example:

   544 xx xx xx

You should dial the whole number as written. If you are calling from abroad, simply dial the international prefix followed by the area code.

Spain is one of the cheaper places in Western Europe for making international calls from. Calling cards are available at tobacconists and other shops. Many of these offer great value on international calls, with different cards being better value for different countries. The best way to choose one is to check with other travellers which card they have found to be the best value for money.

As a visitor you generally have three options for making calls:

• Using a payphone. Calls from these to numbers within Spain are quite reasonably priced, though it will usually be cheaper to use a calling card for international calls. There appear to be few, if any, coin operated payphones in Spain, so it is necessary to buy a Telefonica phone card (Tarjeta telefonica) for 6 Euros from tobacconists or post offices.
• Using your mobile phone from home. Check tariffs with your phone provider. North American phones do not usually work in Spain.
• Buying a Pay-as-you-go phone or SIM card in Spain. Movistar (owned by the fixed-line operator Telefonica) provide pre-pay SIM cards for 25 Euros (including 19 Euros of credit). These must be validated before use by calling 220 to pick a tariff, and the card will expire 6 months after the date of the last top-up. Amena offer similar cards, although these are valid for a full 12 months before expiry.

Internet

Most towns at least a couple of Internet cafes of various types and quality. These range from the places mostly dedicated to online gaming, which are more likely to offer voice and webcam facilities, but often charge more, through to the basic terminals available at many Western Union outlets. Look out for the word RED on signs (this is Spanish for net). easyinternet provide a consistent easy-to-use interface at locations in some of Spains larger cities, and are usually at the cheaper end of the price range, especially if you take advantage of the daily or weekly passes. It is also worth noting that many hostels provide free internet access in Spain.