Are you planning a trip for a group to go to Spain? If you are looking for custom soccer tours or you are looking for a great place to watch soccer with other soccer enthusiasts, Spain is one of the best destinations. There are some things you can do to make sure everyone has a great time, whether everyone is going to play soccer in Spain or not.
Tips to Planning a Great Spanish Adventure for Your Group:
1. Start your planning early.
If you are planning a trip for a group of people, you should start this earlier than you might if you are planning a vacation for yourself or just a few friends. If you are planning custom soccer tours around a particular tournament, the earlier you start your planning, the better. This is true for airfare, finding accommodations and getting tours of sites, etc. Depending on the size of your group, you may want to consider the Air BandB option.
2. Bring toilet paper.
Not all of Spain has the same bathrooms that most people are used to in the United States. That is no reason to not go or to fret. The main thing to do is bring your own toilet paper. If you have it with you and you do not need it, great. It is always better to have something and not need it than need it and not have it. There are some bathrooms that have timers in Spain so be prepared to have the light go out after about 60 seconds. It may not happen everywhere but do not be put off if it does.
3. Plan around the afternoon siesta.
The hours between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm are pretty scared in Spain. While the idea of an actual siesta where everyone takes a nap has probably fallen out of favor with most of the Spanish population (at least those under the age of 60), you will not find much open beyond the area restaurants, bars and touristy shops. One way you can take advantage of this time is to plan your meals accordingly. Start with a late breakfast, late lunch (during the siesta time is perfect) and then a late dinner (after 9:00 pm). For the custom soccer tours, your schedule will probably be set around the time of the matches but it is still a good thing to keep the siesta in mind.
4. What about money?
The best thing to do when you are traveling is to use your credit card for most purchases. The reason is that you will get the best exchange rate and you will have a record of your transaction. If you do need cash, for some smaller shops that do not take credit cards, you can save yourself some money by looking for the Telebano logo. If you have travelled overseas before and used travelers’ checks, they are really not as easy to use these days.
5. Get you VAT back.
Most of Europe has a value added tax, also called a VAT. As a foreigner, you are eligible to get a refund on your belongings that you bought in the country but you need to do a new things to get that money back.
- First, shop at stores that have this in the window, “Global Blue Tax Free Shopping.” These stores should have a form you can fill out. You need this to get the refund.
- At the airport, get customs to stamp your form. You will need your passport, the form, your receipts and the items you bought. You will not be able to check them in your luggage. Also, these items need to be unopened. The customs agent should stamp your form.
- Get your money. Go to the refund office, it will also have the “Global Blue” sign. They will give you cash or put the money back on your credit card. If you cannot wait, you can mail the form in. There is a fee that is charged to process your refund.
Spain is a great place to visit, for custom soccer tours, for the great shopping and culture or any other reason. These tips will help you get the most from your visit.
