Useful Information

REQUIREMENTS

Depending on your country of origin the required documentation can vary. If you come from a European country, the only documentation necessary is your National Identity Document.
For those from other countries, a current valid Passport is necessary, and this will allow you to stay in our country for 90 days. You should consult with the Spanish Consulate or Embassy in your country of residence to see whether a visa is also necessary.

HEALTH

The telephone number in the event of an emergency is: 112

In the event of illness, you should attend one of the health centres (centro de salud) which can be found in every town, village and neighbourhood. If the illness is of a serious nature, you should go to the Casualty (Urgencias) department of one of the hospitals in the Region of Murcia.
If you come from a European country, you will need a European Health Card (Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea - TSE) in order to be attended. If you do not have one, you will be expected to pay the costs in the health centres and hospitals. You should speak to the appropraite organisation in order to obtain one.the pharmacies in our region. The pharmacies are easily identifiable as they all have an illuminated green cross.

SECURITY

For any type of problem related to security and protection you can phone 112, the emergency telephone.

If you so wish you can also get in contact with your own consulate.

CURRENCY

The currency used is the Euro, which comes in the form of eight different coins with the following values: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 and 2 euros. There are also seven different notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros.

Foreign currency can be exchanged in any of the banks (bancos) or savings banks (cajas de ahorro), whose normal opening hours are 08:30 to 14:30 from Monday to Saturday. They close on Saturdays during the summer.
Currency exchange can also take place in some hotels and travel agencies.

In addition to legal tender, payments can also be made by credit card (each establishment should indicate those that they will accept) and by traveller¿s cheques, as long as they are accompanied by the correct documentation.

TIMETABLE

Restaurants and bars
For breakfast (el desayuno) the normal timetable is between 08:00 and 10:00. Lunch (el almuerzo or la comida) is served between 13:00 and 15:30. Finally dinner (la cena) is served between 20:30 and 23:00. Some establishments are open continuously throughout the day.

Cinemas, theatres, concert halls, museums and exhibition rooms
Cinema programmes usually take place between 16:00 and 22:30. Theatres begin at about 20:00, and concerts are normally held between 20:00 and 23:00. Museums and exhibition halls have a similar timetable to commercial establishments but with the difference that they close on Mondays.

Pubs, discotheques and night bars
From Thursday to Sunday the pubs, discos and night bars stay open until 3 or 4 o¿clock in the morning. In the larger towns and cities there are also discos which stay open until dawn.

Shops and commercial establishments
The shops and commercial establishments are usually open from Monday to Saturday between 09:30 and 13:30 and then from 16:30 to 20:30. Department stores, hypermarkets and shoppìng centres open continuously from 10:00 to 21:30 or 22:00.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN THE REGION OF MURCIA

Download Region of Murcia's Work Calendar 2010 (1,24 Mb)

COMMUNICATION

Phone calls:
If you phone the Region of Murcia from a foreign country these are steps which you need to follow:
International code from the country of origin + 34 (code for Spain) + the telephone number in the Region of Murcia.
If you want to phone abroad from the Region of Murcia these are steps which you need to follow:
00 (international code phoning from Spain) + code of the country of destination + telephone number.
Telephone boxes: they work either with coins or cards which can be bought in estancos (tobacconists which also sell stamps and phone cards).
For any phone call within Spain the number of digits is always the same: 9

Mobile telephones:
The GSM technology is used in Spain. This technology is not compatible with that of some other countries, as is the case with the USA and Japan. If the system of technology used by your mobile phone is compatible with that of Spain, then you need to contact an operator in your country to see if it is necessary for them to activate your international service. Once you are in our region do not forget that in order to phone abroad you have to dial 00 (the international code from Spain) + code of the country of destination + telephone number.

Letters, telegrams or faxes:
In order to send a letter you have to use the stamps which can be bought in estancos (tobacconists which also sell stamps and phone cards). Once the letter is ready to be sent, post it in any of the yellow post boxes which are found in the streets everywhere. If you wish to do so you can also go to the General Post Office (Oficina de Correos) which has branches in all the cities and towns of our region, where you can buy stamps, post letters, and where they can advise you on any doubt which you may have in this respect.
In order to send telegrams or faxes it is best to head directly for the General Post Office where they will advise you on all the steps which you need to follow.

Internet:
You can connect to internet in various places such as cibercafes, libraries, and other places with free access. Information about these places can be obtained by asking at the Tourist Office (Oficina de Turismo) or

TOURIST COMPLAINTS

During your stay you have the right to receive tourist services in accordance with the qualities and characteristics advertised by the company who offer them. If this situation is not fulfilled then you can express your dissatisfaction or make a complaint. The current laws state that every establishment has to have "hojas de reclamacion" (complaints forms) available to any client who may ask for them, so that they can express their dissatisfaction. Your official complaint may be presented either in the establishment itself or in the consumer Offices Rights of the Consumer

Once the varacity of said complaint has been checked, the Administration will then take the appropriate measures against that particular establishment.

OTHER INFORMATION OF INTEREST

Electrical appliances
Electrical appliances work with 220 volts AC. 50 Hz and the sockets correspond to the round pin European system.

Driving in Spain
It is necessary to be an adult (18 years of age or older) and to have a valid current driving licence.

Language
The language spoken in the Region of Murcia is Castilian Spanish.