How do holidays work these days?

[JustKeepSlimming]

We (me, DH, 9yo and 6yo) have booked a holiday to Spain this summer, and we're very excited. However, I haven't been abroad in 20 years, and I'm assuming things have changed in that time, so I have questions.

1. E111 - I remember it being very important to have an E111 form so that if you had to see a doctor, you didn't have to pay. Is that still a thing? Or how does it work these days?

1. Mobile phone - these didn't exist the last time I left the country. How do I make sure my phone will work when I get there? What if I need to phone a Spanish number? Eg let's say I need to phone a taxi, and I have a leaflet with the number I'd dial from a local landline - what do I dial from my mobile?

1. I think we need to get a taxi from the airport to our accommodation (there doesn't appear to be a train or a bus). Is there an easy way to arrange this or do we just grab a taxi at the airport?

Thank you!

1. You all need a GHIC card - apply on gov.uk website. You should also have travel insurance

1. If you call a spanish number You just put the international code for spain front of it and drop the first 0. It's 034 for spain. If someone with a spanish sim/phone wants to call you then they need to put the UK code first - 044. Don't forget to check your data roaming charges as one of the many brexit disadvantages removed free roamong rights from Brits.

1. We usually just pick up a taxi at the airport but your accommodation will probably book one for you if you want more certainty.

How exciting! I hope you have a great time

Book travel insurance.

Most smart phones will work abroad. Look at your provider for their charges abroad, info should all be online. My network texts me automatically when I land in another country telling me the charges.

Book a transfer to your accommodation before you go. Taxis from the airport are extortionate. Always pre book a transfer!!

Thanks! Obviously we'll have travel insurance, I should have said that (you may have already picked up that I like to have things organised well in advance!).

Make sure your passports are valid.

Validity end date is 10 years from passport issue date, which might be a different date than the expiry date of the passport, if that makes sense. I think they've sorted that now for newly issued passports.

Also, that validity end date needs to be at least 3 months beyond your last day in Europe.

Card acceptance might not be as widespread as you're used to here. This might have changed following covid, and certainly supermarkets and the like will accept cards. It's always good to have a good selection of Euros in cash when you land though.

We tend to use public transport vs taxis, but I know that officially licensed taxis are always recommended. When you exit after baggage reclaim and customs, there are sometimes unofficial taxi people touting for business.

Remember that countries like Spain do tend to have a siesta in the middle of the day!

If you've got a modern phone, you might be able to get the Apple or Google translate apps. These allow the user to actually speak to their phone and it will translate in real time for the person you're talking to. And then their response in Spanish will be translated back to English. With that said, you'll charm more people if you can use a little Spanish directly

Have a great time!

Yep, passports are sorted!

I had been assuming that we can get Euros from an ATM, but that most places will take cards - is that not the case?

Also assuming that we can get reasonably well-known brands of things like cereal etc for DS, who's very picky. This might be a stupid question, but can you buy milk that tastes like it does here? I remember the milk in Spain all being long life when I was there 40 years ago - is it still like that? DH and I won't care, but the kids will!

I've been practicing Spanish, so I can say a little bit... I'm fairly fluent in French, but never learned any Spanish at all until 6 weeks ago, so am hoping I can at least be polite!

Get a reload Euro currency card much cheaper and easier. I’ve used the FX ones they are linked to App on my phone and my DH had the second card. I could just reload daily if needed from my bank account. It avoids transaction charges.

Prebook a transfer that way there’s no surprises with prices.

If you withdraw cash at an atm there will be a charge from your bank

you may not get the same brands over there as over here.. prices will be higher too.

I remember as a child in the 70s and 80s visiting Spain that there was only 'tasty milk'!
Now it's ok!

Most medium to large supermarkets in even somewhat touristy areas will have some "leche fresca". Look in the long cheese fridge near the "weird foreign foods". Semidestinada (sp?) is semi skimmed. The kids cereal is better because no limits on sugar content. And Nutella comes in "I'm going into a nuclear bunker for 10 years" sizes.... your DC will be fine for breakfast. Take tea bags, obvs.

You should order a Monzo or a Halifax clarity credit card - they don’t charge to use abroad. If you use a normal bank card you’ll be hit with a hefty transaction fee each time you use it.

Most places take card in Spain unless you’re going somewhere quite rural. I’d take some cash but you can also just use an atm there. Again, quite a few atms charge to use them in Spain, so might me worth getting euros here before you go.

Your phone will work fine but turn off data roaming or you’ll be charged. However, it’s usually only about £2 a day for data roaming so me and DH pick whose phone we will use out and about and accept the charge - it means you’ll be able to use google maps etc.

I can’t imagine you’ll be calling many place but if you do, you replace the ‘0’ at the start with 0034 which is the Spanish country code.

Id just get a taxi from the airport at the taxi rank - they’ll be regulated and normally not horribly expensive (assuming you’re not going miles!)

Have fun!

GHIC card is the post brexit version of EHIC/E111 - apply online - plus travel insurance.

Cards are fine unless you are going somewhere very rural. Surprised at suggestions to contrary. Not a bad idea to get some cash in euros as back up but I wouldn't change loads. We use transferwise card - now called just "Wise" I think - everywhere as we travel across Europe lots and it works like a debit card that you can top up on an app and convert to any needed currency. Better rates than other methods usually too.

I would be surprised these days if your mobile was blocked for roaming but better to check and also see if you would be better off adding a roaming package now post-brexit as it's no longer included for most.

For a taxi I've used this in many countries successfully. https://city-airport-taxis.com It's like booking.com for taxis. They contract it out to local firms but you book and pay in advance. We've never had any major issues, they always show up. In recent years the drivers tend to WhatsApp to arrange meet up spot rather than holding up a sign 😅