Costa Blanca

Population:

Whilst the off peak population of Costa Blanca is 40,448,191 the population increases significantly during the summer months..

Time zone:

Costa Blanca is the time zone CEST which is +2 hours to GMT

Language:

Valencian (related to Catalan) and Spanish (Castilian) are the two official languages of the Autonomous Community of Valencia, of which the Costa Blanca is part of. Spanish is spoken in Murcia and Valencian is more common inland, particularly in the northern parts of the Costa Blanca.

Dialling codes:

To dial Spain type 0034, followed by 96 for Alicante, Benidorm and Denia. To call from one city code to another on the Costa Blanca, first dial '0' followed by the Spanish city code and the main telephone number.

Electricity

Costa Blanca is no different to the rest of Spain with the standard electricity supply of 220 volts. Spain uses the standard European two-pin plug and socket.

Money:

The currency in Spain is the Euro. The euro is divided into cents. There are plenty of ATMs throughout the Costa Blanca, especially in the larger resorts of Alicante, Benidorm and Murcia. You will not have a problem exchanging GBP for Euros at either banks, larger hotels and Bureau de Change outlets.

Costs:

Typical average costs in the Costa Blanca are a little less than in the UK. A beer is €2, a lunch is about €9 and dinner for two including wine is €30.

Tipping:

Tipping is not obligatory, but taxi drivers are pleased to receive a tip of around 5% of the total fare. A tip will also be expected in restaurants, but menu prices should always include service charges.

Local customs:

The religion of the Costa Blanca and throughout Spain is Roman Catholic, although many other faiths and major religions are also represented in the cities. In many buildings and on public transport, rules now restrict smoking and this is strictly enforced, with harsh fines and penalties. No-smoking symbols are often clearly displayed.

Safety:

Major crime within Costa Blanca is not common, but minor crimes such as pick-pocketing and bag-snatching are more widespread. As with all tourist destinations, take sensible precautions to avoid falling victim. Don't leave possessions unattended on the Costa Blanca beaches when you go in the water. You should leave valuables in a locked safe, but if you do take them with you keep them out of sight as much as possible.

Health:

You do not require any vaccinations for holidays in Spain however we highly recommended that you remember a high factor of suncream to avoid getting sunburnt or sunstroke.

Entry:

EU citizens can enter Spain with a valid ID card or passport.

Current Foreign Office Advice for Spain