h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Any space on the plane?

We may not be going after all
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/7925583/Spanish-air-traffic-controllers-threaten-strike-airlines-call-for-military-to-intervene.html

I know it's a grueling job, but they seem to be pretty well paid to me. Hope they can resolve before you travel.

don't give up all hope just yet. usually these things are solved in a few days

i for once certainly hope so. i'm still dreading the 13 hours it took med to get back from mallorca once - and only three of those actually airborne

There's time for it to be resolved GB. Chin up

Websailor

There's always New Mexico - It's almost like Spain



Ok, no it isn't ... at all


oh well

I can confirm that GB is allergic to wine. I'd never seen anybody swell up after taking a sip of white wine before!

...and the worst thing was, apart from the sneezing fit, I was so ill the following morning I couldn't eat the full English breakfast I'd paid forand when I complained of being ill to my lovely waitress, her fellow worker was trying hard not to giggle as she assumed I'd got drunk as a skunk and had a ball - effectively negating any sympathy as it was a self-inflicted hangover. Except it wasn't, I really was ill

Can anyone tell me if I need to change my code on my mobile phone before I travel? I know I'll have to dial 00-44 to the UK numbers in my phone...

Hi GB,

Your phone should work fine except:
a) Calls will be more expensive
b) You may/will be charged for incoming calls
c) As you say, pre-programmed numbers will only work if they start 0044

You should be able to get euros out from any cashpoint with any major UK bank card.

Gif

re your mobile phone


It depends on what sort of contract you have - mostly they work without any hitches, but I've had a few guests who discover their contracts didn't include roaming and then were without a phone for two weeks. The best thing is to ring your helpline and ask, and if necessary enable roaming - it is annoying not to have your phone working.

Don't use the hotel phone, though - that's the most expensive option of all!

don't use cashpoints. your bank will probably charge you extra for that. but pay with cards whenever you can in shops, restaurants, hotels and the like. this won't cost you extra

It's not usually a large charge for using a foreign ATM - a couple of pounds at most.

In my experience, less that you would typically pay at a bureau de change. Though having said that, I have one of those pay-12-quid-a-month-for-a-slightly-cheaper-mortgage-and-we'll-thrown-in-a-bunch-of-stuff-you'll-never-use current accounts, so 'commission-free'(*) withdrawls may be one of my bonus features.

Gif
(*) For a given value of 'commission'. They still make money from me on the exchange rate.

I got commission free Euros from my Bank already. I'm not taking any Bank cards with me. We're not staying in a hotel, it's a private residence. I will "enable roaming" but I'm not on a contract, just pay-as-you-go texting & calls.

all for the advice, it's very handy

You´re going to have a great time GB
enjoy it. ( and send some pictures!)

¡Salud!

Spain is officially on the same voltage as the UK, 230V, but they've a different sort of plug - with two large round pins. You should be able to buy an adapter in the airport.

Not long to wait now

Don't pack any liquids or sharp things in your hand luggage. It is so easy to do this inadvertently, so double check for things like little sewing kits with miniature scissors, nail scissors hidden in a manicure set, mascara, lipstick. These latter two have to go in your little plastic bag with the other liquids. I'm waiting for them to tell me that biros count as liquid containers, but it hasn't happened yet.