Basic Information on the Costa del Sol

The electricity in Spain runs at 220 volts. You will need to use the standard European two pin plug or a travel adapter, you may need to bring your own as it is not always possible to find them.

Spain follows the metric system of measurement which uses centimetres, metres and kilometres for distances and dimensions, and grams and kilograms for weights.

Spain is used to a stable climate and therefore it will not be necessary to bring excessive clothing. There are likely to be periods of rain from the end of September to November and during March and April in the south of the Spain. This is particularly the case in the Costa del Sol, so it is advisable to bring some form of wet weather clothing during these months.

Protective shoes would be useful although not essential as there are occasional rocky areas on the beach. Shops open at various times and are dependent on the season, during the summer they are normally open from ten in the morning until one thirty or two in the afternoon, and then from five thirty until nine in the evening.

In the main tourist areas during the summer it isn't uncommon for shops to remain open during the afternoons and to close later in the evening, if they do, however, they do not usually open until later in the morning. The opening and closing time of restaurants and other related establishments varies and sometimes stay open until the last person leaves.

Working hours don't vary significantly, banks and the majority of all public administration services only open during the mornings, however essential services are open during the afternoons. There are public lost property offices, but it is usual report lost items at police stations.
There is usually a telephone box in the street or in the other public areas. These have instructions for use in different languages, and also an operator service if needed. The main emergency telephone numbers are displayed in public telephone boxes.

Travel Information in the Costa del Sol, Spain.

Visitors to the Costa del Sol are not going to have any difficulties in getting about. Coach companies offer routes to almost everywhere.

Bus service in the province is quite ample. In Málaga capital, as well as in main municipalities, a bus-station exists from which numerous private companies operate. The main bus-station is departure and arrival point for all long distance and interurban routes. Routes of less than 30 kilometers start from another important bus stop at Muelle Heredia in Málaga (next to the Port).Daily buses leave for: Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Churriana, Rincón de la Victoria, Portal de San Cayetano and Campanillas. It is also a stop for some of the bus routes that start at the main station. Urban bus service is provided by the public company Empresa Municipal de Transportes that maintains an ample network throughout the capital. Another possibility to discover the beauties of Málaga is onboard the Tourist Bus, which leaves every half hour between 9.30 and 19.30 hours from the Paseo del Parque, the Port, the Post office and the main bus-station. It features two routes: The "Red Route" presents the main monuments of the city and the "Blue Route" leads to the botanical garden of the Finca de la Concepción.

Taxis normally operate inside the city limits and between cities. There are not many illegal taxis in Málaga, but it is always a good idea to be cautious. The official taxis are white vehicles identified with a blue stripe, a green light and have an identification badge with the word TAXI. A badge with the letters SP (Public Service) should also be visible. Fares within the city are calculated with a meter, but all other journeys have a fixed price, which should be agreed upon before setting off.

In the airport of Málaga, major national and international car rental companies offer their services, which can be contracted from your home country by fax or e-mail. In any tourist center the visitor finds ample information on that topic. There are also companies renting chauffeur driven cars, as well as luxury cars and limousines.

The Costa del Sol does not dispose of a metro, although there is a highly efficient local train service between Málaga and Fuengirola leaving every 30 minutes. There is also a regular train service from Málaga capital to other destinations throughout the province. The visitor finds comprehensive information on all routes in Málaga's train station -Estación de RENFE-.

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