The Love & Hates of Visiting Spain
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- Опубликовано: 20 апр 2024
- Are you heading to Madrid or Barcelona or Valencia and not sure what to expect? Well here we have the honest travel advice you need to have the best Spanish vacation ever. The best and worst of visiting Spain on holiday. From the food to the people to the siesta and more.
Filmed in Spain
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I'm Spanish, and when I travel in the summer I try to do all my sightseeing before lunch. My advice would be: have a good breakfast and try to have lunch late (2 to 3 pm). After lunch, go to your hotel, rest, hit the pool if you have one, have a shower and go out again in the late afternoon. In the North the weather tends to be cooler, but from Madrid down the summers are rough.
What are some good restaurants to try?
@@Reazzurro90 ufffff, tenemos 3 entre los 5 mejores del mundo. Disfrutar que está en Barcelona el 1°, asador Etxebarri en el país Vasco 2° y Diverxo el 4° en Madrid. En casi todas las provincias españolas hay restaurantes con estrella Michelin. Y vayas donde vayas, pregunta a los locales que te aconsejarán estupendamente. Un saludo
I hate leaving Spain... Every time...❤
The meeting people and not knowing each others’ language reminds me of my friend who met a guy from Germany many years ago - he didn’t speak English and she didn’t speak German. They learned a few words at first and they’ve been married for 42 years!
Spain is amazing. It's so diverse and beautiful. Food is not just paella and sangría. Hit the less populated town, the villages and you'll try such a wide variety of food, wine, beer, pastries... everything varies so much from one region to the other. Not to mention nature, culture, history, day-life, night-life. What a gorgeous country!
My wife and i just got back from our honeymoon in Spain! One think i hated about Spain is how many awesome things and places there are to see and do... we only had time to see cordoba, Granada, and malaga
Ohhh. What a pity. You have missed so much… Hopefully some day you can come back for more: Santiago de Compostela, Salamanca, San Sebastián, Girona, Ordesa, Acueducto de Segovia…
Spain is awesome
Hay que recordar que el español es el 2° idioma materno después del chino mandarin. Nos esforzamos en hablar otros idiomas, pero no viene mal que los que vengan sepan decir "por favor" y "gracias " Un cordial saludo❤
Love Spanish culture and lifestyle, later dinners, chilling in the afternoon, it suits me 😎
As a Spaniard that likes to travel abroad we find that, indeed, in general it is very hard to find elsewhere the quality to price ratio we are used to in Spain.
I love the ancient city of Toledo!
I loved the cathedral in Cordoba. The photos drew me to Spain. And yes, I just love the creativity of tapas.
Been following your channel for nearly 10 years-by far my favorite travel channel-so this is purely constructive criticism from a fan: I prefer your content without background music. I do appreciate the thinking outside the box and trying new things though 🤙. Au revoir from Paris.
Great points all around. Well done! We visited Spain last year for the first time and we loved it. We were well prepared and avoided the negative stuff completely. The people everywhere were amazing from the smallest shops to the fanciest restaurants and hotels. Just lovely. We're planning a longer trip for next year so we can explore more of this amazing country.
🏆 Another super video, Mark...and loving the transitions, well-planned! Diverse tour & subjects, valuable info, beautiful places...thanks a bunch! 🙌
We are coming to Spain this week. Thanks for the great info
Hey Mark, awesome video
Found you some years ago because of some video about Finland and I have to enjoy your videos are great. Always so positive and even while mentioning the negatives you have a great attitude to it, through understanding and making sense and reason to it. Also very good, solid and useful information about different locations.
A true feel good videos.
I tip my hat to you sir. 😊
For those who rent cars rather than use public transport to get around: you will LURRRRVE Spanish highways, they are a pure joy to drive on (wide, clean and not a pothole in sight). Beware mountain roads, however, those are not for the faint of heart...
Yes, thanks to UK, Germany, France pouring taxpayers money South and East!
@@willswomble7274, don't be ridiculous.
Just today thinking about going to spain this summer. I take this video as a sign, so we are going to book the flightsbright away. Thanks
Excellent 👏🏻👏🏻
Alicante is another gem. So many Spa hotels to choose from with first class service and easy walk to the promenade. Seafood heaven. And don't miss the late night walk on the strip and the Gelato and crepes every few steps. Can get chilly at night from the sea breeze so pack a light jacket.
Galicia is the way to go during those extremely hot summer months.
It's a bit of a hidden gem and will probably overtake the more popular destinations if the temperatures keep rising.
Galicia, Asturias, Santander, Bilbao, San Sebastián, all of the northern gems
What are some of the best cities in Northern Spain to visit during the summer?
I spent ast new years in Seville and i have to say it was the best new years party ive ever seen! They know how to party in Seville! Everyone was very friendly. Only concern was being worried about one of the kids blowing off their hands with all the firework/bombs they were lighting. ...all good, no missing limbs this time. but the whole experience was incredible!
17 is great beach weather
I see most of these as trade offs… travel is like that. Be flexible, be aware. Broaden your horizons and enjoy! 😎
I’m so excited I’m going to be in Spain and nine days my first time Barcelona, Madrid,cordoba , Granada, and Seville
hi, may i ask, do you booked all your accomodations ahead on those places?
@@Kureci_kridylka_Nikki yes for Sagradia and Alhambra if you want Guided tours to the Museums in English ,, Flameco show is Madrid and Botin book ahead . Where are you going and when ?
I hope you enjoy your visit, but there are only a few days for so many cities! Just to get to know all of Seville can take you days!
For example, on the outskirts of Seville there are the ruins of Italica where scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed. Many people who arrive in a hurry do not visit that place and are practically in the city itself.
I don't love the humidity in Barcelona in the fall, but other than that Spain is amazing.
I’ve been Bilbao for Study Abroad since January and to visit Basque Relatives this is interesting.
Two ways of avoiding your “hates” #1 book everything ahead of time. #2 don’t keep valuables in your back pockets 😅. You’re welcome ☺️
Keep a Fanny pack or bag in front of you
@@oooh19 I use a “murse” or man bag, served me well so far.
The bag under your shirt is the best because pick pockets can get even bags in the front
We loved madrid
Another tip: Visit the 'hidden gems'! You don't have to spend your full 10 days in Barcelona, maybe base yourself in Girona or Tarragona or Zaragoza and do day trips from there! It'll make for a much more authentic vacation.
Ubeda and Baeza in Andalusia or Coruña in Galicia are hidden gems. Fuenterrabia aka Ondarribia, or the Valley of Batzan in Navarra, both in the Spanish Basque country, are gems as well.
Seville is terrific in the winter. Spent a month there in January. Not too crowded except during the parades where small children on floats throw candy at you (awesome but a little scary NGL). Also, in Seville, croquettes are fried gravy. Delicious, but they're fried gravy. Also, go to a football match. Get food from the food trucks and go to a match. Don't have to be a fan, just go.
good video
I explain dimsum as the contest version of Spanish tapas except a lot of it is steamed 😊
I really like bears ❤
Less tourists Zaragoza and Teruel 🍷🍷
Por suerte para ellos 😂
I was in Zaragoza last month (March 2024). It truly is a hidden gem half-way between Madrid and Barcelona. The historical district is easily walkable. The Goya Museum and Roman Amphitheatre as well as a couple of grand cathedrals are all in the central district. I did not get a chance to visit the Moorish palace Aljaferia, but it is also one of their main sites. The food was really good. I stayed in Hotel Sauce in a nice room. Their cafe seems to be popular with the locals especially with their specialty drinks and locally made jams and honey. The weather was very comfortable in March 2024 but my understanding is that it gets very hot in the summer. I had my experience of extreme heat in Seville and Cordoba in May 2023. Madrid, Toledo and Granada were more pleasant when I visited in September 2021.
Por algo será.
Sobre La Alhambra. Hay un truco para conseguir boletos para entrar. Está obligados a reservar un 10% de los boletos para venta directa en ventanilla y siempre se consiguen, aunque en el web aparezcan como "agotados", sold out. Las taquillas están a la entrada de El Generalife y los precios son los mismos que en la página web.
We definitely experienced the cold in Spain last december. In Granada and Cordoba temperatures would fall below freezing at night. No good heating either. It was absolutely freezing in our airbnb's too!
In Granada, Cordoba and in general in the interior of Spain in winter it is quite cold, temperatures below zero degrees are normal, so it is strange that in Granada or Cordoba in your accommodation you would be cold, unless your accommodation was very cheap and that is because in In Spain there is something called a market economy and the prices of products and services are directly proportional to their quality.
@@CarlosGarcia-gs1wd prices were pretty average for spain, maybe we just got unlucky 🤷 the airconditiong had a heating setting but it couldn't heat up the room enough
Yep gets cold here in the Sierra Nevada. Surely that is obvious seeing as people come here in the winter to ski.
Come in July or August and you'll get baked alive.
Woah, this is so timely, I'm traveling around Andalusia and Extremadura now. I'm going to Jaen today for a few days before Cordoba. Have you been to Jaen? About the summer heat, it also lasts well into September. It can be around 100F in Andalusia, Madrid, or even Aragon. Love your explanations as always 🇪🇸
Hello Mark. I recommended your channel to Lucy from Benidorm Stuff channel and next news you are in Spain.
I always wanted to see real Spain, having only been to Portbou as a teenager. My girlfriend's parents had a house near Benidorm, but at least I realised you could soon get away from the bits just designed for package tours.
I found I could enjoy those too, once I had worked that out.
As a typical British person, I ignored the idea of siesta and dug holes for an orange and a lemon tree for my girlfriend's parents, straight through the midday heat. Tired I climbed out of the second hole and stepped back to admire my work, only to fall straight into the first six foot deep hole. One pitfall not on your list.
Nice lid...
Hay miles de cosas en España aparte de la sagrada familia y la Mezquita y las tapas malas para turistas. 😮
OMG I love Spain, been there TWICE - but then I have Spanish roots, so I'm.. totally biased!
There are places in the US that also feature Tapas. One winery I worked at and another place in Philadelphia that the majority of the menu is small plates/tapas. However, it’s pricer than traditional restaurants.
I'm currently in Spain! Sadly, i'm feeling a little ill (sore throat/fatigue) so i'm in the hostel. One thing that surprised me about Madrid is how busy it is! It's bustling! I just came from London and I didn't find it to be as busy as Madrid. It can feel a bit overwhelming but it's fine.
@@Whoeverwhateverwhenever I'm not. 🤷🏼♀. I'm wondering if cuz where i was staying in London, I was in west London and took their underground to go to central London. I just realized now, I'm in the heart of Madrid so it's SUPER BUSY HERE.
That really sux being sick while trying to have a a good time I feel u I once for my bday I think what made me sick is being on the top floor & having the window open with the wind comin in I was infront of a river so ig all the cold wind coming in made me sick cuz the next day the 2nd day i was so sick i felt terrible like I felt like I had the cold
@@SuperSlimshady1 yeah, it sucks. I think it's cuz i walked around a lot in London when it was drizzling and cold. Today (2 days later), I felt like crap when i woke up. Throat hurt a lot. But i think im getting better. I'm not sure about this whole hostel thing tho - my first time. Had a snorer the first night, and that lady is still here, so will prob be hearing snoring again.
@fletcherchristian6411 thanks for agreeing with me. Lol I asked the hostel employees if there was a festival or something cuz it was soo packed with ppl, he said no that it was normal for a weekend. I heard one of the hostel girls from Germany say the flea mart just outside our hostel was overwhelming, that it was hard to just walk past. It's kinda hard to see a city when there are too many ppl. But today is Monday, I'm curious how it will be today. I slept a great 10 hrs so I feel I can see the city today! Just a few cough drops! Thanks for letting me know hospital's are great here. 🙂
From 2 to 4pm 🤣
👉🏼 from 1’30pm to 6pm at least
(Lived in Spain for 37 years)
I refer to Summer esp in Andalucia and the interior
I went to Spain last fall and loved it. The only things I didn’t love were the really late dinners (I tend to eat late at home by American standards, but it still felt weird to have restaurants that didn’t open until 8 or 9!). I also didn’t love having to show ID with my tickets at all the major sites. I get why they do it, but it’s annoying!
One thing is that if you stay in old traditional houses, beds will be too short. So, I was sleeping and my legs were hanging outside like towel racks. Hotels will have normal size beds for tourists. But in general people are short in Spain.
The average Spanish height is 176.0 cm, one centimeter less than the average European height. The average height in the United States is 176.1 cm. Beds in Spain measure 190 cm or 200 cm, meaning that unless you are a basketball player you shouldn't have a problem.
@@CarlosGarcia-gs1wdMan, don’t get so defensive. He has a point, many houses still have 1.8 long beds that were the norm decades ago. Just go to an old “pension” or equivalent on some village and if you are a 2m dutch better make sure there are two beds to join and sleep diagonally 😂
We are not short, but the older generations were, so the beds in old tradicional houses can be short. My bed when I was a child was 1,80 large, my current bed is 1,90, but my children ones are 2 meters...
Home from home!
Going solo in September, isn't more stressful meeting locals!
We’re going to Italy for the first time this Fall, but we’re already thinking of an international trip next year, too; what are a couple cities you’d suggest in Spain for a first trip?
I have yet to get to Spain, pero hablo Espanol tal como nacido Mexicano. I would definitely try shoulder season.
The great events happened in 1492; last of the Moors were run out of Spain, which led to the Pope naming Spain the Second Jewel of the Holy Roman Empire, which caused Columbus to ask Isabela to finance his venture. History is everywhere.
Dining out is challenging.
challenging for you
@@mrn13Correct, I was referring to my experience, not yours .
Wolters, I like your videos, you put heart and soul on them and make them from the kind perspective of someone who loves the European countries he is visiting. Yet when someone makes videos specifically addressed to potential American tourists, I have to say that you show a country that maybe doesn’t wants to be shown and walked through as if it was merchandise on a Sunday’s market. Today the hordes of tourists invading the main European cities for a few days, sometimes hours, makes it very hard for the locals to live in peace and harmony, no matter how much money these tourists are (theoretically) bringing.
I have witnessed myself the wake of cultural and social destruction that this kind of tourism leaves, wiping our all of authenticity and flooding the streets with unbearable crowds that act like the local inhabitants were part of a movie stage set for them. Yes, all what you say is genuinely well meant and true, but the kind of people coming here ready to consume us as if we all were tapas is sometimes a bit too much.
8:58 17 in January? That'd be summer in the UK!
Yep. Our January this year was mid twenties. All the best from the Sierra Nevada.
How long in advanced should you book Sagarda Familia?
What do you think about Zaragoza?
❤❤❤❤
oh... Calamari hoagie at El Brillianté in Madrid...
Going in a few weeks so I’ll check it out!!!
Peñíscola ( Castellón)
Por favor, sigue haciendo ese gran trabajo. Necesitamos mucha gente advirtiendo de las malas cosas que tiene España para los turistas.
Tengo una discrepancia, sin embargo: no animes a hablar con los locales salvo que sea en la lengua local, no exigir que te entretengan en inglés a voluntad. Gracias por tu comprensión
My toxic trait is watching this with like 0.07¢ to my name 😂😭 one day !!
That’s interesting
I hated the modern architecture, being vandalised with graffiti etc, third world public transport
I loved the old architecture, food, music and their crazy traditions
Third world public transport in Spain? Are you sure?
Τhe "spanish concept of time" is, I guess, similar to the greek concept of "siga-siga..."
@woltersworld Advice you should mention in your videos: Ensure you have internet access on your mobile device (local prepaid SIM card) and Google Translate App (or similar App) installed. Write or speak to the App in your language and communication problems will disappear.
When you download the language you need you can use it without internet access. When you do have internet access you can also use your camera to translate text, saves you a lot of typing.
@@picobello99 You are totally right about using it offline ;) Even so, I highly recommend having internet access (local SIM or roaming).
I have been solo traveling in Spain, so far have seen Girona and Seville and am visiting Cadiz and Barcelona too. The people have not fit the stereotype at all for me, they seem generally just very quickly frustrated. Maybe its a tourist thing or just bad luck. I've met 2 or 3 awesome people but I've had quite a few more rude interactions than pleasant ones here.
Haztelo mirar, igual tu trato es altivo, o te crees mejor que los demas, que segun tu comentario....
I am a huge fan and you have been a major positive in my life, but just for constructive feedback I would not do this more highly produced way; it feels less authentic. I prefer your old style although I understand why you need to do more visuals or want to use a financial budget for more visuals,;but the intro stuff and the music and intro of graphic stuff does not feel like the Wolters World we love. The Straight Honest Travel Talk is better supported by just straight talk.
Love Spain ... hate the pickpockets and thieves.
how hard is it to eat in Spain for people who can't have gluten? thanks
I am in Seville right now having a vacation. In restaurants they will accomodatie you. I don't know how strict they are, but everything is made fresh so if you explain your situation. One thing that I noticed: in supermarkets there are whole sections of gluten free products.
Now I already know what I'll like and don't like. No surprises thus no need to go.
1:19 1:31 people dont like this visiting anywhere I wonder why this is prevalent everywhere except the in us yes it happens in the us also but only in like nyc with the monks passing out flowers or a bracelet but it aint all over the country like the rest of the countries in the world
Certain tourists you won't like 😂. Drunk British at Benidorm 😂
Carry 2 credit cards and some cash and Apple Pay, but please also watch your phone. I have family in Italy and Spain and stealing iPhone is big business in Europe and the Middle East
Rigth, too much pickpokets and scams (which are usually foreign) but you won't be shot in a corner or at a supermarket.
What’s your opinion on Benidorm? (The town not the show)
Eye sore 😂
@@user-nc2qj2jc5q no trip to the Solana for
You then?
The least spanish city ever. If you want to feel like you're in a european Miami then sure go ahead. It's just mega clubs and germans/bits everywhere drunk on the streets. No culture or historic sites
As someone who can speak perfect Mexican Spanish and has never been to Europe. Spain will be my first destination there!
Love meeting locals wherever I go so know this trip would be awesome
Only thing I'm worried about is the food not being too spicy (I have a high tolerance/need)
Patatas bravas is spicy. But not mexican spicy.
The temperature of the Canary Islands in winter varies between 20 and 22º maximum during the day and between 16 and 17º at night as minimum.
Had a great time in Spain... Zaragoza, Barcelona & Madrid... along with Collioure France.. all better than Paris.. sorry
Spain has affordable prices????? Maybe for a rich American. But for a person from Czech Republic, it's ridiculously overpriced. 9 euros for an appetizer? I get a whole meal for 6 - 8 euros in Czech Republic. I once wanted a regular tomato salad. They wanted 13 euros for that and didn't even want to let me sit in the air-conditioned interior of the restaurant, even though the restaurant was half-empty.
Not just for you guys, even from a spaniard point of view, in the last 5 or so years prices have gone up a lot. Five years ago you could easily find lots of places (outside of madrid and barcelona) where you could have a good meal for around 6.5€ at the cheaper end, but it almost never costed more than 10€ to have a good meal anywhere ("menu del dia", so big main dish + drink + dessert/coffe for in between 6.5 - 10€ depending on the place). Maybe up to 15-20€ at most (unless you where ordering some kinds of fish or seefood, it can get expensive) if you wanted something more fancy/high-end or a-la-carte.
Nowadays prices have gone up around 5-8€ on most places since then, some places even more (except the medium-high end places, which funnily enough have maintaned prices for the most part). It's kind of bizarre nowadays when McDonalds menu prices are the same as the pricings from realativelly good restaurants XD.
Anyway, in regards to the tomato salad. I've never in my life seen those prices. That's crazy expensive. Maybe you landed in a tourist trap or some kind of high end restaurant, but even then that is awfully expensive no matter how you look at it XD
I like when I go to Barcelona which is twice a year. All the americans in large lines at McDonald's and Starbucks 😂😂
When there is healther spanish food🤔🤔
For the people that hate siesta: if you like to have dinner at 5 pm and go to bed at 9 please stay in your countries. We are not going to miss you
Los rusos cuando vienen a España pasan mucho frio😂 las casas estan hechas para el calor y si tienes frio te aguantas o te calientas con una botella de agua caliente en los pies. Somos asi de primitivos los españoles😂
Cierto. A veces tengo hace más frío en las casas que en la calle.
How strange, you have to speak Spanish in Spain!
Don't go to Spain in the summer.
99.9% of Spain is NOT a tourist area. I try to spend most of my time there.
I telll my familly if they want to come vist late april and early may. Or in September.
exMichigan in Spain 🇪🇸🇪🇺
1:22 You are showing the usual suspects!
Don’t switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit without even saying. 34 degrees and that’s hot so your talking Celsius but a 20 degree drop in Celsius is a 38 degree change in Fahrenheit so I’m assuming you mean 20°F drop. I’m confused, you’re confused let’s just use Fahrenheit.
I guess it could be a 57° to 93° change but that’s so big it feels like you made a mistake. like in America to find a 40° gap in temperature you are talking about distances bigger then Spain is like Miami to Chicago or Houston to Denver
@@WhoeverwhateverwheneverI don’t believe him or I think he made a mistake because he’s more familiar with Fahrenheit so just use Fahrenheit to keep it accurate if that’s what your more accurate with. There’s literally a 5°C difference between Madrid and Ibiza right now and this guy’s talking 20°C changes town to town. This guys telling people to expect 4 times the weather volatility then is true.
You must be an American. Everyone else on the planet uses Celcius nowadays.
@@narabdela,
The sort of narcissist that tarnish the image of America.
@@narabdelawell Mark’s American too. The OP’s point is Mark reflexively uses it to describe temperature changes because he is not familiar enough with the C scale to either just know what a difference in 20 C degrees feels like or be able to easily do the conversion between F and C in his head. Therefore using F would be better, because the information would be more accurate/less confusing even though he’d be using the less commonly used temperature scale. Consistency is way more important here than gaging what percentage of your audience uses F or C.
dude i love.your channel but you need to take care of your health (exercise, cut down on sugar, fried food, alcohol). stay healthy so u can do this for many yrs
Sorry dude but CATALONIA is NOT SPAIN. SYOR
Spain is of and for the Spanish, and we love to share with everyone who comes to enjoy our customs, forms, festivals, gastronomy, schedules, manners.... the tourist who comes to Spain will have to adapt to them, no. Spaniards to tourists, it is too arrogant and haughty on the part of anyone who thinks otherwise.
Agree with most of what you have to say about Spain. The last time I was there was on the second half of September a couple of years ago and it was too hot for me, but I was flying from California and we're a little spoiled about the weather. The temperature in Seville (and Madrid) was 98℉ (37℃) when I did the tour of La Catedral de Sevilla, and there was a line. Not fun, but 100% worth it. Going up to the Giralda is great for pictures. Most of the people who work in the tourism industry are properly trained, are very professional, and go out of their way to help.
In my experience the only thing I had to watch for were female servers at restaurants. I went to eat a couple of times by myself and the waitress in one restaurant tried to charge me double the price of the tapas and drink. Granted, it wasn't a lot, but I was annoyed by her nerve. I am multilingual, I knew the prices of the tapas bc they were written down on a blackboard outside the restaurant, and still she wanted to charge more. So that was that. In another restaurant I asked for an Octopus salad and she brought me a potato salad and charged me for it. I complained, but It was not worth it to keep going about it, so I let it go. I will never go back to that restaurant in Sevilla, for sure.
If you like museums, many of them of are discounted after 6pm one day a week or the entire week depending on the city. Check out your tourist guide or walk by early in the day if you are around and ask or check out their websites. The best part of going late to a museum is that there are hardly any tourists, so it becomes a very pleasant experience.
And lastly, go eat at the not well-known indoor markets or neighborhood markets. The food is very good, the service is very good, and the prices are excellent. That's the way many Spaniards eat as well, not just going to tapas bars.
Enjoy your trip. Greetings.