Stuff I should bring to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco?

Question

I'm going on a three week trip over to the above stated countries with EF Tours. It's my first time travelling, so I have no idea what the airport over there would be like, the hotels for the most part (I was told some about the bathroom accommodations over there; gonna be preeettty interesting), or, basically anything. I know I'm going to need to transfer my money into euros or whatever currency they use, and that I need a converter or whatever it's called (they don't have the same outlets over there, I think, so I need some device that I can use to charge my cellphone and any other electronics). Basically, I need a list from someone who has traveled many times before of what would be useful and tips I will need. I am fifteen, if that is relevant.


Oh! And some information about what I should do or use pertaining to water bottles and such? Should I trust their water over there? I know in America that our water is for the most part freakishly filtered, and other countries are less concerned about it. Any info would help!

Answer 1

Better buy good guides about the 3 countries and some about cities you'll be visiting and forget about all that nonsense. Don't be another scared arrogant american tourist and enjoy the trip. If you expect to find the same things you have at home better stay at home coz if you do it means you are not prepared for it. Anyway you might not be alone if you have 15yd

Don't use a currency converter, use you head to convert like most people. If you are concerned about 2cts is not wise to travel.

Portugal as the best ATM service in Europe and you find cash machines everyware. In Spain the ATM service is very good and in Morocco use only the cash machines inside the Hotels. Plastic money in Portugal is common even if in Spain in some places outside cities they prefer cash. They carry a lot of money in their pockets. In Morocco split your money and the different CC cards in your bags, never everything in the same place..

In Portugal and Spain is safe to leave documents in the hotel safe but in Morocco better carry your documents in a bag inside the trousers.

You can drink tap water in Spain and Portugal however if you seat in a coffee shop or restaurant everybody asks for mineral water. In Spain always, in Portugal if you already asked for something else in a coffee shop you can ask for tap water. I promise you will no die from it. In Morocco mineral water in all circumstances.

Nothing wrong about bathrooms in Portugal and Spain and if you sleep in decent place in Morocco as well. I've been several times to Morocco and I found nothing wrong with bathrooms, not once. Some of them are really luxury places in 3 stars hotels. Anyway you must understand you are in a different culture and must respect it as a guest without any especial nationality. To be american will not help you anyware.

I've seen many Americans complaining many times without any reason and claiming to be american as if that helped for something. You are another tourist and that's it.

I don't know were your teacher was in Istanbul, it must have been in a really cheap place. I've been in Istanbul twice and both times the bathrooms were quite good. That was strange to me. Unless she stayed with a very poor family or in one of those places costing next to nothing inside the old quarters of the Asian area were nobody goes!

When you land you must buy a set of plugs for your computer and phone. They are to be had everyware in the airports.

Nothing else. Only appropriate clothes for the time of the year.

Portuguese are kind and helpful with tourists and do speak English among other languages. Spanish speak nothing but Spanish and think foreigners do have to make a a full course to visit them for a forthnight. They wont make any effort to understand you, better learn some basic Spanish. In Morocco they speak French and Spanish. Morocco people speaks Arabic and Berber languages. There is not moroccan language.

Use Euro currency in all this countries. In Morocco they like Euro but exchange rate is not always favorable. I buy Dirham in Spain and use plastic money everytime possible. If you bargain better use money. In Spain and Portugal we don't bargain. Only in flee markets and even so one must be sensible.

-90% of the bathrooms we produce in Portugal are to be exported due to the high quality. To USA as well.:). Russians are good costumers this days as well:)

Make a good choice of the cities you'll be visiting in the 3 countries and indulge yourself.

Nice trip to Europe and Africa.

Answer 2

Tap water is fine in Spain & Portugal, but not in Morocco.



In Morocco, it is helpful to know some French, as not many people know English. Dress conservatively: don't show skin on your legs or arms.



It's been a while since I've visited these countries. When I was there, the Spanish had the best hygiene of the three and the Portuguese had the worst. (For instance, while some Moroccans would spit in public, they were self-conscious enough about it to be more discreet than the Portuguese.) I forget whether the restrooms all provided their own toilet paper; if you learn that a country doesn't, buy a couple of rolls and carry one around with you.



Important question: who are you traveling with? A school class? Your family? A 15-year-old would be over her head traveling alone.

Answer 3

First of all, you'll have to know that Portugal and Spain, although they seem near Northern Africa have NOTHING to do with Morocco. Your remark on bathrooms, regarding Portugal Spain and even Morocco can be seen as highly offensive... Don't go that prejudiced and arrogant way, that's the reason why americans can be seen as obnoxious in Europe (and most other parts of the world).



Basically, Portugal and Spain are two modern european countries, in many ways years ahead the USA technologically speaking, super fast internet for free in thousands of hotspots (usually near postal services, town halls and other public buildings), the most advanced cell phone network, atm's (number and functions available), etc. Safety and hygiene norms and regulations are far stricter than anything the US has.



Portugal is very different from Spain, although they're neighbours.



In Portugal most people speak english.



In Spain almost anybody speaks english.



In Morocco english is also useless, but you'll get by if you know some spanish or french.



Morocco, at least in the major cities, also has lot's of modern "utilities". There might be some different hygiene standards than the european ones and, yes, in Morocco you'll have to drink bottled water, preferably.





You could very easily find out all of this and much more on a simple internet search, it's not that difficult, I'm sure you'll change your mind about Portugal, Spain and Morocco and get to know a little bit about the places you'll visit.



Note: Your teacvher is either a liar or ignorant, obviously most hotels in Portugal and Spain have rooms with private bathrooms. Only the cheapest hostels have a bathroom per floor, and even that is very rare.

Answer 4

Hannah

I understand you are only 15 and you are learning, However you must be more sensitive

about the other people cultures etc, etc, etc.

Any European country is as civilized or even more civilized than the U.S.A.

Stop thinking the world revolves around the U.S.A. like you have been taught

in school, because that is not the reality. Your teacher seems to be nothing but

an ignorant.

Now, i am going to tell you how do i know this things.

I am a Portuguese native, i am also a U.S.A. citizen, i have traveled throughout the U.S.A.,

Europe,and South America and i have learned one thing. Do not ask for more than people

can give you, you are just a spoiled brat.



PS

The toilets in Turkey are different but doesn't mean they are inferior to the western

style, actualy the design is superior because it prevents you from physicaly contacting

what could become a source for infectious diseases.

On the other hand, the best bathroom fixtures used in the U.S.A. bathrooms, are

imported from Europe, Did you know that?