On this page you will find some useful travelling tips and ideas. If you have any ideas to add to this page please do contact us on the contact page.
Basic Information
Location: Costa de la Luz (Coast of Light), Southern Spain, Europe Currency:Euro Time Difference: GMT + 1 hour Flight time: Approximately 2 1/2 - 3 hours Water: It is best not to drink the tap water in Spain but to buy bottled water as the locals do. Winter Accommodation: In winter the nights can be chilly so it best to ask the owner of the property that you are renting if there is any heating available. Passports & Driver's Licence: You will need a valid passport to enter Spain from another country. If you are hiring a car you will also need a valid driving licence. Travel Insurance: We advise all holiday-makers to buy travel insurance. UK citizens should also make sure they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), this has now replaced the E111 - view here for details on how to get one EHIC
First DIY Holiday?
If you are using this web-site and it is your first DIY holiday then it can be very daunting.
To make things easier we have created a step-by-step list of how to arrange your holiday.
Decide on the date you would like to travel. Remember that in peak season most property owners only accept Saturday/Sunday arrivals.
Look around for accommodation to find who has which dates available. Provisionally book the accommodation you would like.
Book your flights online to save money - see the Flights page for links to companies offering flights to Costa de la Luz. Decide on the airport you wish to fly to and from, it is best to have at least a couple of options for the best price.
Confirm your holiday accommodation and pay the deposit to secure the booking.
Book Holiday Insurance and fill in an E111 form (available from post offices)
Book your taxi to and from your departure airport/book your airport car parking (this price goes up the nearer you get to the departure date so it worth booking early)/arrange lifts to and from airport.
Arrange your car hire or travel from the airport you are arriving at. See the Car Hire section for some links to car hire companies in the area. All of the airports will have a taxi rank so make sure you have the currency to pay for the journey available if picking this option.
Arrange your currency (Euros for Spain) and make sure you have some in change for when you arrive in Spain.
Pack your bags, passports and any details the property owner has given you and away you go!
It may seem like hard work but you will soon become used to booking things independently and the £300+ saving is always an incentive!
Travelling with Babies/Small Children
If this is your first holiday with a child it can be worrying. Here are some useful tips when travelling with young children:
If you child is still feeding with formula milk it is a good idea to take the brand you usually use with you. You may not find the brand you use in Spain as they have different makes to the UK.
Make sure you take nappies with you. Currently in the Costa de la Luz they seem to only sell huge packs of nappies so you end up with a suitcase full of nappies on your return journey! Put enough to cover the journey in your hand luggage. Also make sure you know your babies weight in kgs.
Take pre-mixed formula with you in bottles for the journey. Make sure you have enough to cover any delays. Also do this for the return journey.
Feed you child their bottle when taking off as this stops their ears popping. If you child is older take some sweets that can be sucked for take off and landing.
Buy a selection of small new toys for the journey to pass the time. If your child is young wrap up the presents in several layers of paper and the un-wrapping of them will pass at least 30 minutes of time.
Take a spare set of clothes in a plastic bag for emergencies - the wet/dirty clothes can then be put in the bag.
Make sure you have some wet wipes in your hand luggage.
Calpol!
You can take sterilising bags or microwave sterilisers now from lots of shops to take with you. Or take a medium sandwich box with sterilising tablets and use this.
Try and sit your child next to the window on the plane, watching all the clouds, tiny houses and cars passes the time and is a good distraction.
If you have a baby sling these are great to use whilst getting on and off the plane.
Advise staff at check-in that you wish to use your buggy until you get to the plane and that you want to collect it from the plane steps when you get off the plane.
Take some snacks and food with you for the plane journey and also in case of delay. This will save you money on flight meals (if they are not already provided) and will make sure your child has the food they like available.
Pack a small cool bag and ice packs for days out when you arrive at your destination - children just love picnics!
You can now buy UV protection swim suits and also tents that can fold away and be packed. These work really well and cover most of their body. Jelly shoes or aqua shoes are also a great idea, they stop their feet burning on hot sand and also protect them from any hazards.
Get some cheap bath robes with hoods for when they have finished playing on the beach. These are ideal to save the wrestling match of trying to get clothes on a wet child and keep them warm too!
Take a little mini paddling pool, ideal for if you apartment has no pool or no bath (some children hate showers). Just pop it on the balcony or beach and away they go. REMEMBER WATER IS DANGEROUS NO MATTER HOW SHALLOW SO DO KEEP AN EYE ON THEM.
