first time abroad

wayne

hi folks,me and my missus are going to go abroad for our hols this year for the first time.we are looking at spain for now as we are told its not to hot and british grub easy to come by(fussy eaters).does anybody have any tips on what to do/take?lads in work say get a day flight or we,ll lose a days holiday sleeping??? also sister says to take big bottle of immodium.are these good tips?anyone else got some.my wife worrying about her ears popping on the flight anyone know how to prevent this?
regards wayne

Bathsheba

Hi Wayne
Depends what time of year you're going, but even some parts of Spain can get very hot in the summer. The flight will only be a couple of hours, and there's little time difference, so don't worry too much about flight timing. If you're going on a package there may not be much choice anyway.
You will find British food easy to come by, but do try some of the local dishes - remember, some of the stuff we now take for granted originally came from abroad (eg spaghetti, pizza, curry). Immodium's not a bad idea for emergencies(the only adverse effect I've ever had from foreign food has been because they tend to use a lot of oil, in cooking and in salads), but you can get it in tablet form - much easier to carry.
As far as ears popping goes, aeroplanes are well pressurised these days, but if it does happen it's much the same effect as when you drive up a steep/high hill. Nothing serious - some people find sucking on a boiled sweet helps, or just swallow hard.
I'm sure you will have other questions, and you will get loads of advice from people here. Have a great time - I envy you your first big adventure!

Dumyat

spain can be very hot in the summer..keep to bigger resorts if you want to do the british all day breakfast etc..
day flights are better especially if you get kicked out of your hotel room in the morning and have all day to waste before your night flight home...however the night flights are cheaper..as are midweek flights if you are able to be more flexible with your dates.

innovate

If you are worried about upset tummies etc, and as a good precaution generally, take an NHS health card with you. A good travel insurance is also advisable, and you should look at getting a nationwide debit card for cash withdrawal, and a credit card that doesn't charge you foreign fees (Nationwide or Saga).

You can buy everything else (sun lotion, language and tourist guides etc) cheaper out there.

Other than that, when going to Rome, do as the Romans do! Same applies for Spain.......

Edited : check here for ear popping!

LesD

Hi Wayne. We have a place in Spain so get quite blasé about the place. In fact, there are really two Spains - the holiday resorts and the 'Spanish' towns! For your first trip, I suggest you stick to the resorts. That will mean the Costas - Brava, Blanca, Sol or Luz. Package deals will put everything together, but check on here for ideas on value - some hotels can be over-priced for what they are.

Also, if you go for 'all-inclusive', look for comments on food quality. They tend to be buffet-style which can give tummy-troubles if left out too long in the heat! Immodium is great for the UK, but might not be effective in very hot conditions. Local products are usually better.

Don't worry about the flights - it's just like catching a bus or train! Apart from the waiting around that is - use the time to catch up on talking to one another!!

And, when you've finally booked, get your travel guides from your local library - they usually have the latest ones on the shelves.

Go for it - I know you'll have a great time.

Nile

Hello wayne

Even if you are both nervous and enjoy alchoholic drinks, I would recommend that you avoid alcohol on your first flight(s) and drink plenty of water. Buying bottled water in your local supermarket will be cheaper than airport prices. I've found that bags of sweets also have inflated prices at airports.;)

You might find that chewing gum as the plane makes its descent is better than sucking on a boiled sweet. The chewing action can help to keep your ears from popping.

Make sure that you arrive at the airport early. It's not much fun dashing around trying to find your check in desk and then having to take 'what's left' seats that you don't like. The early bird usually gets the best choice.;)

Make sure that you have your passports and flight tickets and other holiday documents before you leave the house.

Enjoy your holiday.

wayne

wow thanks to you all for the advice.we are quite looking forward to it now we are looking at about may i think.

Party_Animal

Wayne, hope you have a good trip, but take some advice from a seasoned traveller, wherever you go in the world, and I've seen a lot of it, always eat what they do best; their own food. The Spanish aren't good at trying to copy our food but their own food is delicious. Try the tapas, small portions, and if there's one you don't like no problem.
Also its difficult to generalise as Spain is such a big country and the climate varies depending on where you are. While some parts enjoy sun all year. others, such as Girona, have four seasons like us.
Enjoy.