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Costa Verde Travel Resources

Costa Verde Travel Resources

Costa Verde Spain Travel Guide

Digital Resources

Mobile Applications

  • Google Maps

    For navigation, public transport directions, and checking business hours.

  • Google Translate

    For language translation, with offline capabilities.

  • WhatsApp

    The main communication app in Spain, good for contacting locals and businesses.

  • Applications For weather forecasts

    AEMET (official Spanish meteorological agency), AccuWeather, or similar.

  • Accommodation Apps

    Booking.com/Using airbnb for finding and booking accommodation.

Transport & Food Apps

  • Transport Tickets

    Renfe/ALSA for train and bus tickets.

  • Ride-Sharing

    Cabify/Uber/FREENOW for ride-sharing services where available.

  • Vegetarian/Vegan Food

    HappyCow for locating vegetarian and vegan restaurants.

  • Local Dining

    Explore regional eateries.

  • Connectivity

    Find local Wi-Fi hotspots.

Planning Websites

Official Tourism

Spain.info and regional tourism sites like Turismo Asturias, Cantabria, Euskadi.

Visit Spain.info

City Guides

City tourism boards (Bilbao Turismo, Donostia Turismo, Turismo Gijón) for local details.

Bilbao Turismo

Transport Schedules

Renfe.com, Alsa.es, Euskotren.eus, Feve.es for official transport information.

Renfe ALSA

Digital Content

Social Media Connections

  • Follow official tourism accounts for A trip to spain, Asturias, Cantabria, and the Basque Country on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for inspiration and updates.
  • Discover local content creators.
  • Subscribe to travel blogs focused on Northern Spain.
  • Explore visual inspiration from other travelers.

Audio & Visual Journeys

  • Search for podcasts on Spanish culture, travel in Northern Spain, or Basque and Asturian history.
  • Many travel vloggers also cover the region, offering visual insights.
  • Listen to Spanish music playlists before your trip.
  • Watch travel shows featuring the Costa Verde.

Print Materials

Guidebooks

  • Comprehensive guidebooks focusing on Northern Spain or the entire country.
  • Specialized city guides.
  • Culinary guides for regional cuisine.
  • Historical walking tour guides.

Maps

  • Detailed physical maps of Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country assist car journeys.
  • City maps are often available at tourist information centers.
  • Topographical maps of the Picos de Europa for hiking.
  • Tourist routes maps.

Local Publications

  • Free local tourism brochures and magazines are available at tourist information centers.
  • Newspapers like El País, El Correo (Basque Country), El Diario Montañés (Cantabria), and La Nueva España (Asturias) offer local news and events.
  • Local event listings.
  • Regional food magazines.

Emergency & Medical Information

Emergency Contacts

General Emergency

  • Emergency (all services - Police, Fire, Ambulance): 112
  • National Police (`Policía Nacional`): 091
  • Ambulance: 061
  • Fire Department: 080

Local Contacts

  • Local Police (`Policía Local`): 092
  • Civil Guard (`Guardia Civil`): 062
  • Tourist Police: Numbers vary by city, inquire locally.
  • Emergency road assistance: Check rental car provider.

Lost Document Reporting

  • Report lost passports to police immediately.
  • Contact embassy for emergency travel documents.
  • File a "denuncia" (police report) for any theft or loss.
  • Keep copies of all documents separate from originals.

Healthcare Access

Hospitals & Clinics

  • Major cities have public hospitals, for example, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias in Oviedo.
  • Smaller towns have local health centers (`Centro de Salud`).
  • Pharmacies are widely available, marked by a green cross sign.

Travel Insurance

  • Consider comprehensive travel insurance for your trip.
  • World Nomads provides options for various travel needs.
  • Keep your policy details accessible.

Medical Assistance

Visiting a Doctor

  • For non-emergencies, visit a `Centro de Salud`.
  • Bring your details of your travel insurance or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
  • A translation app may be useful for communication.

Medication & Vaccinations

  • Travel medical recommendations include routine vaccinations.
  • Carry any of your own medicines with their prescriptions.
  • Confirm medication legality in Spain with your doctor.

Lost Document Procedures

Passport Issues

  1. Report to the nearest police station immediately to file a "denuncia" (police report).
  2. Contact your embassy or consulate for emergency travel documents.
  3. Keep police report reference number for your records.
  4. Allow time for emergency passport processing.
  5. Have photocopies or digital images of your passport.

Credit Card Loss

  1. Call your bank's emergency international number to cancel cards immediately.
  2. Have a backup payment method readily available.
  3. Inform police if stolen and included in the "denuncia".
  4. Keep emergency contact numbers for each of your cards.
  5. Use secure payment methods like Apple Pay or Google Pay as a contingency.

Safety in Nature

General Response

In case of emergency, call 112. Follow instructions from local authorities.

Flooding Risks

Avoid flooded areas and follow official warnings.

Forest Fire Prevention

Adhere to fire bans. Do not start fires. Follow evacuation orders.

Embassy Contacts

Check your country's foreign office website for the nearest consulate, for example, the US Consulate in Bilbao. Keep these numbers handy.

Further Reading & Exploration

Dives

Documentaries and Films

  • Travel Documentaries

    Search for documentaries on Spanish culture or the Camino de Santiago.

  • Regional Cinema

    Look for films set in the region, like 'The Way' for the Camino.

  • Cultural Depictions

    Discover films like 'Ocho Apellidos Vascos' (Spanish Affair) for Basque culture.

Music and Art

  • Traditional Sounds

    Explore Asturian folk music, often featuring bagpipes.

  • Regional Instruments

    Listen to traditional Basque music, like `trikitixa`, and Spanish guitar.

  • Art Collections

    Research artists linked with the Guggenheim's collection.

Community & Connection

Travel Forums

Join travel forums like Tripadvisor for Spain.

Tripadvisor Spain Forum

Social Groups

Connect with Facebook groups for expat communities or specific regions.

Reddit Communities

Explore Reddit communities like r/Spain or r/travel for insights.

Reddit Spain

Language Skills

Basic Spanish Acquisition

  • Use Duolingo or Babbel for basic Spanish phrases.
  • Explore YouTube channels for Spanish lessons.
  • Practice speaking with native speakers.
  • Listen to Spanish language podcasts.

Language Practice

  • Utilize language exchange apps.
  • Immerse yourself in Spanish media.
  • Consider online tutors for personalized learning.
  • Join local conversation groups.

Cultural Immersion

Engaging with local culture, whether through language or traditions, deepens your travel experience. It creates memorable interactions.

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