Torrenova Important Information
We are an official partner of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office ‘Know Before You Go Campaign’, which aims to ensure travellers are properly prepared before leaving home to help them have a trouble-free and enjoyable time abroad. Please visit the FCO website www.fco.gov.uk/travel for more information.
Currency The peseta has been phased out and replaced by the Euro. All major credit cards are accepted in most shops and restaurants.
Tipping It is customary to tip waiters and taxi drivers five to 10 per cent.
Changing Money The best place to exchange currency is at the bank, which offers the best rates with no commission. Banks are open between 9am to 2pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday. You can also change your traveller’s cheques and exchange cash at your hotel and at many travel agencies and casa de cambio, which stay open outside bank hours. Remember to take your passport with you. Cash machines can be found in cities and main tourist resorts.
Phoning Home You can phone from your hotel but this tends to be more expensive. Dial local and international calls from public telephone booths in the street, which operate both with coins and cards. It’s better to use a phone card, which can be bought at tobacconist shops (tabacs). You can also make calls from public telephone offices called locutorios. An assistant will place the calls for you and you pay for the call afterwards.
Electricity The electricity supply is 220 volts so adaptors must be used. If you forget to bring one from the UK they are readily available in shops.
Time Majorca is one hour ahead of the UK.
Toilets Every bar, cafe, restaurant has toilets, which are considered public property by the Spanish whether you are buying a drink there or not. They are referred to as los servicios or el lavabo.
Post Opening hours are usually 9am to 2pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday. Some post boxes have two slots so look out for the extranjero for overseas mail. Be warned the Spanish postal system tends to be slow.
Newspapers In the main tourist areas British newspapers are sold on the day of publication.
Churches and Monasteries The national religion is Roman Catholic and Catholic churches are located in towns throughout Majorca. There are also temples and churches for other beliefs. Holidaymakers can even stay in some monasteries on the island.
Radio and Television Most hotels and bars have satellite TV, particularly in tourist resorts where English and international football matches are regularly shown. Reception of Britain’s BBC World service radio is of excellent quality.
Police Spanish municipal and national police are generally efficient and responsive to issues involving foreign tourists. Remember it is essential for insurance purposes to report any theft or losses to the police and obtain a police report.
Chemists Opening times reflect normal shopping hours but there is at least one per town open all night, the farmacia de guardia. A list of the nearest after hours service is posted in pharmacies. Pharmacists are highly trained and usually speak English.
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