From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Spain & Andorra Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Wed, 20 Mar 1996 15:09:13 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1003 Path: world!root Message-ID: <960320150913_76702.1202_CHN53-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: root@world.std.com (daemons) Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 119 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Spain & Andorra ============================================================ Spain and Andorra - Consular Information Sheet December 4, 1995 Country Descriptions: Spain and Andorra are both highly developed and stable democracies with modern economies. Tourist facilities are widely available. Entry Requirements: A passport is necessary but a visa is not required for tourist or business stays of up to three months. In Spain, visitors may subsequently apply for an extension of stay at a Spanish immigration office. For further information concerning entry requirements for Spain, travelers may contact the Embassy of Spain at 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20037 tel: (202) 728-2330, or the nearest Spanish consulate in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, or San Juan. Further information on Andorra can also be obtained from the Andorran Mission to the U.N., 2 U.N. Plaza, 25th Floor, New York NY 10018, tel. (212) 750-8064. Medical Facilities: Good medical care is available. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Travelers have found that supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has proven to be useful. Further information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline on (404) 332-4559 Crime Information: Spain has a very low rate of violent crime. Nevertheless, minor crimes such as pickpocketing, robbery, and theft from cars are frequent, and are often directed against unwary tourists. Thieves often attempt to distract their victims by squirting mustard on their clothing, asking for directions on the street, or otherwise diverting attention from an accomplice. Thefts of small items like radios, luggage, cameras, briefcases, and even cigarettes from parked cars are a common problem. The American Embassy in Madrid has issued a notice to U.S. citizens stating that it frequently receives reports of roadside thieves posing as "Good Samaritans" to persons experiencing car and tire problems. The thieves typically attempt to divert the driver's attention by pointing out a mechanical problem and then steal items from the vehicle while the driver is looking elsewhere. The problem is particularly acute with vehicles rented at Madrid's Barajas airport. The Embassy notice advises drivers to be extremely cautious about accepting help from anyone other than a uniformed Spanish police officer or Civil Guard. Travelers who accept unofficial assistance are advised to protect their valuables by keeping them in sight or locking them in the vehicle. Bags or other articles left unattended in Spain are likely to disappear. Andorra has a low rate of crime. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. U.S. citizens may refer to the Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" for ways to promote a more trouble-free journey. It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. In Spain, penalties for possession, use, or dealing in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Terrorist Activities: Civil disorder in Spain is rare. Although a few small terrorist groups, including ETA (Basque separatists) and GRAPO (a Marxist group), are still active, their efforts are primarily directed against police, military, and other Spanish government targets. Americans have not been targets of these attacks. Registration and Embassy Location: The U.S. Embassy in Madrid is located at Serrano 75; telephone (34-1) 577-4000. U.S. citizens who register in the Consular Section at the U.S. embassy or consulates listed below may obtain updated information on travel and security within Spain. There are U.S. Consulates in Barcelona, at Paseo Reina Elisenda 23-25, telephone (34-3) 280-2227; the U.S. Consulate in Bilbao closed in early 1996. There are also Consular Agencies in these locations: Malaga, at Centro Comercial "Las Rampas", Fase 2, Planta 1, Locales 12-G-7 and 12-G-8, Fuengirola, telephone (34-952) 474-891, hours 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; La Coruna, at Canton Grande 16-17, telephone (34-981) 213-233, hours 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; Las Palmas, at Franchy y Roca 5-5', No. 13, telephone (34-928) 222-552, hours 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; Palma de Mallorca, at Av. Jaime 111, 26 Entresuelo, 2-H-1 (97), telephone (34-971) 725-051, hours 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Seville, at Paseo de Las Delicias 7, telephone (34-954) 231-885, hours 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m to 4:30 P.m.; Valencia, at Cl. de La Paz 6-5, Local 5, telephone (34-96)-351-6973, hours 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For Andorra, contact the Consulate in Barcelona. No. 95-153 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated April 26, 1994, to update information on crime, to note the closing of the U.S. Consulate in Bilbao and to merge the Consular Information Sheets on Spain and Andorra. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories