Page 561 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

WHERE T O ST A Y  559

Many of Spain’s city hotels and by credit card or banker’s
charge especially inflated draft from outside the country.
rates for their rooms during If you have to cancel, do so at
major fiestas – such as the April least a week before the booking
Fair in Seville (see p435), Los date or you may lose all or
Sanfermines in Pamplona (see some of the deposit.
p136), Carnival in Santa Cruz de In most cases hotels will
Tenerife (see p540) and Easter honour a booking only until
Week (see p42) – and major 8pm unless business is poor.
trade fairs. If you are delayed, call the
Most hotels quote prices hotel to assure them you
per room and meal prices per are coming and to tell them
person without including VAT when to expect you.
(IVA), which is 10 per cent on When you check in to a View over the palm-lined pool of a
the mainland and 5 per cent hotel you will be asked for Lanzarote hotel, with the beach beyond
on the Canary Islands. your passport or identity Casas Rurales
card to comply with Spanish
police regulations. It will The owners of some casas rurales
normally be returned to you (country houses) accept a few
promptly as soon as your visitors, usually in high season.
details have been copied. They are most numerous in
You are expected to check Asturias, Navarra, Aragón and
out of your room by noon on Catalonia (where they are called
the last day of your stay, or to cases de pagès). They are also
pay for another night. becoming common in Galicia
and Cantabria (where they are
called casonas), and in Andalucía.
Paying
Casas rurales range from
Most hotels accept major manor houses to small, isolated
credit cards. In some large, farms. Some offer bed and
busy hotels you may be asked breakfast; some an evening
for an author ization hold on meal or full board; and others
your credit card until you check are self-catering. Do not expect
out. Make sure this is cancelled hotel service or lots of facilities.
Stylish lounge area at Hotel Arts, when you pay your bill. You may, however, be given
Barcelona (see p565) Personal and travellers’ cheques a friendly welcome and good
are not accepted in almost all home cooking, all at an afford-
Booking and Check-in
Spanish hotels, even if backed able price. You can book casas
During the off-season period, by a cheque guarantee card or rurales directly or through
especially in rural or small drawn on a Spanish bank. Many regional associations, such
towns, there is no real need to people pay cash, and in some as RAAR in Andalucía, Ruralia
book ahead; but if you plan cheap hotels this may be the in Asturias, Turismo Verde in
to travel in high season, you only mode of payment accepted. Huesca, Aragón, Ruralverd
should reserve a room in Tipping hotel staff such in Catalonia and AGATUR
advance. You will need to as porters and cleaners is left (Asociación Gallega de
reserve if you want a special to the discretion of the guests. Turismo Rural) in Galicia.
room: one with a double bed
(twin beds are the norm); on
the ground floor; away from
a noisy main road; or a room
with a view.
The resort hotels often close
from autumn to spring. It is
advisable to check ahead
that your preferred hotels will
be open at that time of year.
You will normally be asked
for your credit card details when
you book a room. A deposit
of 20–25 per cent may be
requested if you book during
a peak period or for a stay of
more than a few nights. Send
it by credit card or giro in Spain Agroturisme Biniatram in Menorca, offering rooms in converted farm buildings (see pp574–5)

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