Thank you Tony for all your wonderful videos! We recently traveled to Spain and after watching your videos we were more comfortable with what to expect and how to interact with Spaniards without offending them. The train system videos were especially helpful as there are so many different options available. We were able to travel from Madrid airport to Granada and back using the cercanias, Ave trains and the local bus in Granada. Love your country and hope to travel there again.
Hi Tony, thanks largely to your fantastic video series we just spent an amazing month in Spain and Portugal. We assiduously followed your advice regarding where to stay, things to see, how to travel using trains and busses and many other invaluable tips. I have referred your videos to several friends who are planning to visit these 2 wonderful countries. Thank you for your hard work and excellent videos which set the standard for the provision of travel guidance.
Just went to Spain and your metro video was incredibly helpful. You saved me a lot of $$$ Glad to hear that they will be passing a law on smoking in patios!
Thank you I'm in Spain (Barcelona, Zaragoza & Madrid) next week and am a little nervous about dinning out with my wobbly learner Spanish. At least an idea of etiquette will give me some confidence.
Hi Tony, your videos are very helpful and detailed. thank you. my husband and I are traveling to Lisbon on Jun 17 to Jun 20. We are renting a car and have booked at holiday inn express in oeiras. Question: Is it cheaper to get the Lisbon pass online or at the airport or kiosks? Should we drive to the city centre, park, and take public transport using the Lisbon Pass to see the attractions? Or should we just leave the car parked at holiday inn, and take public transport from holiday inn to the city centre? I was concerned that our hotel is far and we might just waste a lot of valuable time taking public transport. Your suggestions and ideas are most appreciated! Grazie! Gracias! Evelyn from Toronto
Spot on again Tony with practical information - I was just getting to looking at meals for our upcoming trip. If I'm not mistaken etiquette for Tapas in bars is a bit different is that not so? This video is more for sit down meals I take it.
Thanks Steve. Yes, tapas are a whole different world, they are an informal affair. We explain the tapas culture here ruclips.net/video/AddLmFJXKTA/видео.html
Is it normal to go to dine in alone the spain? Or at any tapas restaurant? My last time visiting Spain I feel uncomfortable to dine in alone because most of the time many people share 1 small table and order more food. If it were only me I can order only a few dishes. They might not be welcoming? Thank you Tony
Perfectly normal to dine alone. There are not tapas restaurants, in the style you find them abroad, in Spain, check our video on the tapas culture to understand how it works ruclips.net/video/13Ylt2kYBAY/видео.html You can enter any tapas bar on your own, no problem at all.
Hola Tony, Thanks for another wonderful video. I'm looking forward to returning to Madrid next week for my 3 month stay. Are there any new additions to your top "menu of the day" restaurants? Muchas gracias
Great video, thanks Tony. What about cafes/coffee shops, especially with outdoor seating? Is it acceptable to seat yourself? And do you pay the waiter/waitress, or pay at the counter? Muchas gracias.
Thank you! In some terraces and outdoor seating you just go and grab your table and wait for the waiter to appear. In others, specially in crowded places, you have to wait to be seated. In the vast majority of places you pay the waiter.
Thank you for another great video (#169). You said that in the near future the law will change so that smoking is not allowed on a terrace. Does this also apply to pavement cafes and bars? Before now we have had to move to another cafe/bar because of people smoking. Thank you.
The change in the law will apply to pavement cafes indeed. Having someone ruining your outdoor experience because of a disgusting cigarette is so frustrating!
With regards to tipping, I think the Covid pandemic was responsible for reducing paying by cash. However, we still give a tip when paying by card but always check with the waiter that the tips paid by card go to the staff - if they don’t, we don’t tip!
It is true that the pandemic reduced the use of cash, but it is mobile payments that are mostly responsible for the disappearance of tips. Tips by card are unlikely to reach the waiting staff due to tax issues. There are a few taxes involved in any payment made with a card.
✅ Check out our self-guided TRAVEL GUIDES here ➡ travelguidesspainandportugal.com
Thank you Tony for all your wonderful videos! We recently traveled to Spain and after watching your videos we were more comfortable with what to expect and how to interact with Spaniards without offending them. The train system videos were especially helpful as there are so many different options available. We were able to travel from Madrid airport to Granada and back using the cercanias, Ave trains and the local bus in Granada. Love your country and hope to travel there again.
Thanks Dana, delighted to hear you had a great experience!
Fantastic video and, like all the others, very useful. I really liked everything in the video. You are the best in tourism on RUclips 😍
Thanks a million, Yara!
Hi Tony, thanks largely to your fantastic video series we just spent an amazing month in Spain and Portugal. We assiduously followed your advice regarding where to stay, things to see, how to travel using trains and busses and many other invaluable tips. I have referred your videos to several friends who are planning to visit these 2 wonderful countries. Thank you for your hard work and excellent videos which set the standard for the provision of travel guidance.
What a lovely message, Mark, both Cecilia and myself are delighted to hear of your wonderful trip. Thank you so much!
Hi Tony, Thank you . We have had so much practical help from your videos! ❤🇮🇪
Delighted to hear that!
Great video, very useful info, thank you 😊
Our pleasure, Bahar!
Just went to Spain and your metro video was incredibly helpful. You saved me a lot of $$$
Glad to hear that they will be passing a law on smoking in patios!
Thank you. Yes, we can't wait to sit at smoke-free terrace.
Great video, thanks Tony!
Our pleasure, Sylvia!
Thank you
I'm in Spain (Barcelona, Zaragoza & Madrid) next week and am a little nervous about dinning out with my wobbly learner Spanish.
At least an idea of etiquette will give me some confidence.
Hope you'll have a great trip!
Hi Tony, your videos are very helpful and detailed. thank you. my husband and I are traveling to Lisbon on Jun 17 to Jun 20. We are renting a car and have booked at holiday inn express in oeiras. Question: Is it cheaper to get the Lisbon pass online or at the airport or kiosks? Should we drive to the city centre, park, and take public transport using the Lisbon Pass to see the attractions? Or should we just leave the car parked at holiday inn, and take public transport from holiday inn to the city centre? I was concerned that our hotel is far and we might just waste a lot of valuable time taking public transport. Your suggestions and ideas are most appreciated! Grazie! Gracias! Evelyn from Toronto
Spot on again Tony with practical information - I was just getting to looking at meals for our upcoming trip. If I'm not mistaken etiquette for Tapas in bars is a bit different is that not so? This video is more for sit down meals I take it.
Thanks Steve. Yes, tapas are a whole different world, they are an informal affair. We explain the tapas culture here ruclips.net/video/AddLmFJXKTA/видео.html
Is it normal to go to dine in alone the spain? Or at any tapas restaurant? My last time visiting Spain I feel uncomfortable to dine in alone because most of the time many people share 1 small table and order more food. If it were only me I can order only a few dishes. They might not be welcoming? Thank you Tony
Perfectly normal to dine alone. There are not tapas restaurants, in the style you find them abroad, in Spain, check our video on the tapas culture to understand how it works ruclips.net/video/13Ylt2kYBAY/видео.html You can enter any tapas bar on your own, no problem at all.
Hola Tony,
Thanks for another wonderful video. I'm looking forward to returning to Madrid next week for my 3 month stay. Are there any new additions to your top "menu of the day" restaurants? Muchas gracias
Hello, no addition yet, there will be a new one in three weeks time.
Great video, thanks Tony. What about cafes/coffee shops, especially with outdoor seating? Is it acceptable to seat yourself? And do you pay the waiter/waitress, or pay at the counter? Muchas gracias.
Thank you! In some terraces and outdoor seating you just go and grab your table and wait for the waiter to appear. In others, specially in crowded places, you have to wait to be seated. In the vast majority of places you pay the waiter.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal Muchas gracias!!
If you have an IPhone you can take a photo of the menu and there is an option to translate the menu into another language
You can, a different issue is the quality of the translations you will get.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal that’s true- better than nothing!
Thank you for another great video (#169). You said that in the near future the law will change so that smoking is not allowed on a terrace. Does this also apply to pavement cafes and bars? Before now we have had to move to another cafe/bar because of people smoking. Thank you.
The change in the law will apply to pavement cafes indeed. Having someone ruining your outdoor experience because of a disgusting cigarette is so frustrating!
With regards to tipping, I think the Covid pandemic was responsible for reducing paying by cash. However, we still give a tip when paying by card but always check with the waiter that the tips paid by card go to the staff - if they don’t, we don’t tip!
It is true that the pandemic reduced the use of cash, but it is mobile payments that are mostly responsible for the disappearance of tips. Tips by card are unlikely to reach the waiting staff due to tax issues. There are a few taxes involved in any payment made with a card.