¡BIENVENIDOS A CÁCERES!
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW BEFORE GOING ABROAD
Orientation Session: May 9, 2013, 6:30 p.m. via Skype
Students participating in the Summer Seminar in Spain Program are required to attend an orientation session held by the director. Many times the orientation is held online.
Flight Arrangements: Participants need to be at the hotel in Madrid before 2 pm on Friday, June 14. The earlier you arrive, the earlier we can get started touring! The last day of the program is Friday, June 28. Generally it is a shorter day of classes so if you need to catch the bus or train to Madrid there shouldn't be any trouble. You will, however probably have to fly out on Saturday at the earliest as there are generally no late afternoon flights to the United States. Please remember you may arrange with your family on your own to stay the night of the 28th.
Hotel in Madrid: II Castillas Madrid
Abada, 7, 01, Centro
Madrid
Phone Number: 34915249750
Passports: A valid U.S. passport is required for entrance into Spain. If your passport will expire within six months of your entrance into Spain, you must renew it before leaving for Spain.
It is very important that students obtain a U.S. Passport as soon as possible (allow 6-8 weeks). You can download the official U.S. passport application at the U.S. State Department's Passport Services web site or request one at one of your local U.S. Post Offices. It is recommended that students apply for a passport while their application is being considered.
Exchange Rates: The Euro Exchange rates vary depending on when and where you convert your money. To see daily exchange rates go to http://www.xe.com. Generally banks offer the best rates but with a service commission. As of January 1, 2002, Spain, like the rest of the European Union, began cashing in their local currencies for Euros. Listed prices often will appear quoted both in Euros and Spanish Pesetas. Euro bills are issued in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €500, €1.000. Coines (céntimos) are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, €1, €2. When you arrive It is a good idea to either have some currency on hand once you arrive, or withdraw some from an ATM machine as soon as you are able. There are a number of locations inside the Madrid Barajas airport to exchange American dollars or traveler's checks. There are also a number of ATM machines where you can withdraw money in the local currency (be sure you understand the quanitities you are withdrawing so that you do not withdraw too much). In order to get Euros before you leave, your local bank can order them for you or there are many good places on the internet to order Euros. A good place to order Euros online is https://www.foreignexchangeservices.com/
ATM Cards: An excellent and convenient option is an ATM card or debit card. Most bank cards are accepted at most all ATMs around Spain. Check with your bank before departing to be sure that your card will be accepted. You do not want to wait until you get there to learn that you will not be able to use your ATM card. Be sure you have memorized your 4-digit PIN code before arriving in Madrid. If you remember your code by a 4-letter acronym, it is best to memorize the numbers instead since the number pads in Spain are labeled differently from those in the U.S. It is important that students become aware of the possible fees charged by their home institution.
Credit Cards: Credit Cards are widely accepted in Spain. This is especially true with Visa and Mastercard and, to a lesser degree, American Express. Visa and Mastercard credit cards are also good ways to withdraw money from ATM machines since they are almost universally accepted. Check with your credit card company before departing to determine the fees you may be charged for foreign withdrawals and also to make sure you spending limit is sufficiently high to use the card for ATM cash withdrawals and purchases. Be sure you have memorized your 4-digit PIN code before arriving in Madrid. If you remember your code by a 4-letter acronym, it is best to memorize the numbers instead since the number pads in Spain are labeled differently from those in the U.S.
Traveler's Checks: It is not recommended that students take traveler's checks. While it is true that traveler's checks can easily be replaced if lost or stolen, and many banks accept traveler's checks in US dollar denominations, there are several disadvantages, however: great difficulty finding a bank to exchange the checks, being charged a fee to cash traveler's checks, or receiving a less favorable exchange rate. Also, most stores and restaurants do not accept traveler's checks. Cashing travellers checks regularly at banks (for a $2-$5 fee) or hotels (for lower exchange rates than banks but with no fee) will be an expensive nuisance. At the same time, it is not wise to carry much cash around in cities. For credit card purchases in larger stores, VlSA and Mastercharge will be much more accepted. Personal checks are not readily accepted anywhere.
Personal Checks: Students should not bring their personal check books since they will not be accepted at locations in Spain.
Exchanging Rates: Exchange rates vary from day to day and from source to source. When you are ready to withdraw money, shop around and ask your fellow students. Some ATMs charge a fee, while many others do not. Others give you no fees for a very low exchange rate. Generally, established banks will give the best deal. Ask your fellow students where they are exchanging. Sometimes they have found a good and trustworthy location.
Duty: For U.S. citizens the duty on leather goods and shoes will be 100% on the first $1,000 over your $400 duty-free all owance and 8% after that. Both Madrid and Barcelona have large duty-free shops in their airports.
Value Added Tax: Value Added Tax (VAT of IVA) is a personal use tax of about 12-16% which is refundable if you buy any one single item that costs more than 100 euros. However, instead of VAT refunds, stores could offer a 10% discount on items purchased.
Tipping: Service charges are usually included in hotel and restaurant bills but it is customary to leave 50 centimos, 1 euro per person in a restaurant and a little at a bar. A 50 centimo tip is average for a taxi ride. Other service people expect at least 50 centimos per person for services. When luggage is brought to your room, tip 1 euros.
Telephone: International telephone calls can be made from coin-operated public telephones (teléfono). These booths are equipped with instructions in English.
Credit-card operated telephones are also available at all major facilities. To use a credit card for calls from Spain the the U.S., dial one of the following numbers, follow the instructions given, or wait to talk with an English-speaking operator:
- AT&T: 900 99 0012
- Sprint: 900-99-0013
- MCI: 900 99 0014
Cities and larger towns have telephone exchanges open all day and inresort areas, you'll find operator-assisted long-distance telephone installations and private shops where you can make long-distance calls and pay the owner the amount shown on the metre. If possible, call between 10 pm and 8 am when the rates are cheaper.
Dial 003 for operator inquiries. For collect calls ask for "cobro revertido"; for person-to-person calls, ask for "persona a persona" (person to person).
Time Spain is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The Canary Island coincide with GMT. Thus, Spain is 7 hours ahead of Iowa time.
Weights & Measures Spain uses the metric system. 1 quart plus three tablespoons equals 1 litre and 1 litre is approximately 1.76 pints; 1 kilogram equals approximately 2.2 pounds; one metre is about a yard; one kilometre is equal to 5/8 mile.
Electricity: The electrical voltage is 220 volts. Appliances which work on 110 volts (U.S. standard) will require a transformer. Flat-pronged American plugs require round-pronged converters to fit Spanish sockets. It is recommended that students either buy dependable voltage converters or purchase small appliances in Spain (hairdryers, curling irons, electric shavers). Converters are now sold in many large department stores and electronics stores.
Water: Cáceres is a drought region. Please keep your showers short in order not to cause financial problems for your family.
Department of World Languages and Cultures
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