Travel Top Tips for Murcia this summer
Whether you are staying at one of Murcia's luxury holiday rentals including some of the regions finest villas with pools of a family golf apartment, to make the most of your holiday in Murcia, we have compiled a list of essential top tips to ensure your safety and enjoyment during your holiday.
• Passport
The most important thing is that you, and all your party, have a valid passport with at least 6 months still valid left on it. Without one, your holiday will not take place. Please take the time to check.
• Travel Insurance
The second most important thing is that you have adequate holiday and travel insurance to cover every eventuality including illness, cancellation or unforeseen problems. Please take the time to check.
• Emergency contact numbers
Pan-European Emergency Number*: 112
Local Police: 091
Local Fire: 080
Local Ambulance: 061
The number 112 can be dialed to reach emergency services - medical, fire and police - from anywhere in Europe. Call 112 from any phone (mobile or fixed-line) to be automatically connected to the local emergency services
• Pharmacies & hospitals
Farmacia Hernández Ramón Tel: 968 182 987
At: C/ Francisco Franco Nº 287 Santiago de la Ribera, 30720 San Javier
Hospital J.M. Morales Meseguer Tel: 968 244 200 or Tel: 968 360 900
At: Av. Marqués de los Vélez, s/n. 30008 Murcia
• Directions & key information
Don't forget your accommodation directions and key information, please ask your owner/agent for details if you not have received them 2 weeks prior to your departure date. Make sure you have the emergency key holder number with you also (normally found on the directions).
• Car hire & driving
Unlike the UK, in Spain they drive on the right-hand side. This can be quite disorientating for holidaymakers, so pay extra attention when you leave the airport at either Alicante or Murcia. Just like the UK, drink driving is illegal in Spain, as is speeding, so be careful as the local Police (Guardia Civil) can, and will, pull you over and fine you if necessary. For your safety, if you are going out for dinner, nominate a driver for the evening. Child seats are also law in Spain as is wearing a seatbelt or crash helmet if you hire a bike.
• NO Smoking: for your safety, all our properties are strictly NON SMOKING.
• Pool safety
Safety around the POOL/S and/or JACUZZIS: for your safety, DO NOT DIVE into pools or Jacuzzis and ensure children are supervised and wear the necessary inflatables around the pool area/s at all times. Pool depths vary so please check. The tiles around pools will become slippery when wet, so please be careful and don't run. NO GLASS is allowed in or around pools and/or Jacuzzis at anytime, please use plastic tumblers if provided.
• Sun cream and safety
The sun can be very strong in Murcia, southern Spain, so don't spend your whole holiday feeling burnt and red. Make sure you apply factor 20 (minimum) sun cream at regular intervals. Children will need to by applied with minimum factor 30+ on very regular intervals or where play sun suits if they are in the pool all day. Always shower and wash off excess sun cream before entering a pool as it clogs up the filters and can make the pool UNUSABLE. Please tie long hair up in pools/Jacuzzis also.
• Travel adaptors
To charge your beloved mobiles, ipods or laptops, make sure you pack a few UK to European travel adaptors. Be aware of overseas charges on mobile phone calls and texts, they can be considerably higher.
• Currency & using credit cards
Make sure you have either traveller chequee or Euros before you travel. Many resorts have cash points (but be aware of international bank charges). Also ,if you pay for any items with your debit or credit card in Spain you will also need proof of ID in the form of a passport and drivers' licence. Don't go out without on.
Reserve restaurants
• In peak season always familiarise yourselves with the facilities of the resort/area you are staying in and always pre-book restaurants to avoid disappointment.
• Playing golf
If you intend to play golf on any of the local courses, you will need a handicap certificate from your local course. If you are staying on A Polaris World Resort, normally you can qualify for a residents' discount, please ask you owner/agent for further details.
• Arrival at Murcia airport & car hire
If you are using a hire care company at Murcia Airport, they will be situated ahead of you near the exit as you wait to collect your luggage. Don't forget your driving licence! Have one of your party go and collect the hire car while the others collect the baggage. This will prevent you waiting for longer than you have to.
*** Remember you will need a credit (not debit) card to pay for the car ***
Please take time to check your car hire company's terms and conditions
• Tourist information
The nearest Tourist Information office for most of our resorts in Murcia is located at: Ctra San Javier-Cartagena s/n, 30710 Los Alcazares. Tel: 00 34 968 171 361. A travel and excursion shop is located on La Torre Golf Resort.
• Balconies/terraces/upper solariums
For your safety, please do not stand on the walls with the railings and these can be low and dangerous. Please ensure children are supervised on balconies or solariums. Please mind your step on any lower level terraces/pool areas as there may be raised tiles.
• Towels
Beach (pool) towels are not provided. Please remember to take your own as the bath towels provided must not leave the villa. Please do not remove makeup with bath towels
• Barbecues and candles
When using barbecues, ensure children stay clear of the hot coals. Please clean after use. Take extreme care we using candles outside and inside and always place them in a suitable burn proof container. For your safety, please ensure all candles are extinguished before leaving the property or going to bed.
• Noise
Most resorts are situated in quiet residential areas, please can we ask guests to respect our neighbours and keep noise levels down after 11pm at night.
• Bins
Most resorts have obvious communal bin areas with recycle sections, please make yourselves familiar with where they are (normally at the end of your street). The heat in Spain means rubbish has to be put out daily to avoid bad smells and attracting insects or unwanted pests.
• Ultimately please be safe, enjoy yourselves and relax!!
Published by Jane Lavender, 26 June 2010Source: Connect Rentals Ltd, the villa rentals specialist in Murciahttp://www.connectrentals.com
Date posted: 26 June 2010
