Practical information

BANKS

Banks are open from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. You may also find the odd bank open on a Saturday morning. Most ATM's offer international services 24 hour a day. Look out for the ServiRed and 4B signs.

CREDIT CARDS

The main credit cards such as, VISA, MasterCard, 4B, Diners Club and American Express are all accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops in Valencia.

POSTAL SERVICES

The Central Post and Telegraph Office (Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 24) is open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and between 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Telephone: 96 310 27 30. Stamps are also available in all tobacconists.

TIPPING

Service is included in most prices and bills, so tipping is optional. However, if the service received is considered satisfactory, especially in bars and restaurants, a tip is often left.

PHONE CALLS

Nowadays, the choice of ways to make phone calls is vast. In Valencia, public phone booths are in abundance, but charge hefty sums for international calls. There are lots of private phone call centres that offer more competitive rates. If you have the means and amenities the best way to make phone calls is with a PC, headset and Skype.

LANGUAGES

There are two official languages in Valencia: "Valenciano", used in the Valencian Community and Castillian Spanish, Spain's official language.

HOLIDAYS

New Year Day: 1st January - San Vicente Mártir: 22nd January - San José: 19th March - San Vicente Ferrer: 5th April, moved to the Monday following Easter - Good Friday and Easter Monday: (dates change every year) - Labour Day: 1st May - Sant Dionís: 9th October, Valencian Community National Day - All Saints: 1st of November - The Day of the Constitution: 6th of December - The Feast of the Immaculate Conception: 8th of December.

ELECTRICITY

Standard electrical voltage in Valencia is 220-240 V AC, 50 Hz. A transformer and an/or adapter are necessary to use North American and British electrical appliances. Adapters are available in most hardware shops.

SMOKING LAWS

Since the 1st of January 2006 Spain has begun to implement new laws regarding smoking in public areas. There will be a trial period of 8 months in which public areas such as Bars, Restaurants, Offices and Governments buildings will decide to become fully non-smoking or dedicate a percentage of their space to a smoking area.