You have booked your flight to Madrid. Now what? Fifteen years living in Spain has taught me that the small things are what trip up Thai travelers — not the big tourist sights but the rhythm of daily life. Here are the ten things I tell every traveler before they board the plane.
1. Visa: Schengen, 90 days
Thai passport holders need a Schengen visa. Apply at the Spanish Consulate in Bangkok (BLS International handles applications). Allow three to four weeks. Required: travel insurance with €30,000 medical coverage, hotel reservations, return flights, bank statements showing €100/day for the trip duration.
One under-mentioned tip: hotel reservations on Booking.com (free cancellation) are accepted by the consulate. You can cancel after the visa is approved if your plans change.
2. SIM cards: which one and where
Skip the airport SIM kiosks — overpriced. The two best options:
- Vodafone or Orange prepaid — buy at any phone shop in central Madrid for €15-20, includes 30GB. Bring your passport for registration (mandatory in Spain).
- Holafly eSIM — buy online before departure, activate on arrival. €30 for 10 days unlimited. No physical SIM swap.
Both work across the entire EU (Spain, Portugal, France). Coverage is excellent in cities, decent in rural areas.
3. Late dinners: prepare your stomach
Spaniards do not eat dinner before 9pm. Many restaurants do not open their kitchens until 8:30pm. If you arrive at 7pm hungry, you will be eating tapas, alone, in an empty bar.
The fix: have a substantial late lunch around 2pm (Spaniards do this — long lunches are the real social meal), then snack lightly in the afternoon, then proper dinner at 9pm or later. Your body adjusts after three days.
4. Tipping: less than you think
Spain is not a tipping culture like the US. Service is included by law in restaurant prices. Tipping etiquette:
- Café/bar: round up to nearest euro
- Casual restaurant: leave the coins (€1-2)
- Nice restaurant: 5-10% if service was excellent
- Taxis: round up
- Hotel housekeeping: €1-2 per night
20% tips like in America will confuse the staff and may even be politely refused.
5. Tap water: yes, drink it
Spanish tap water is safe and good across the entire country. Bottled water is unnecessary and adds €40+ to a one-week trip. Restaurants will sometimes try to sell you bottled water — ask for "agua del grifo" and they will bring tap water for free.
6. Safety: smart, not paranoid
Spain is one of the safest countries in Europe. Violent crime against tourists is rare. The real risk is pickpocketing in tourist zones — Madrid (Sol, Gran Vía), Barcelona (La Rambla), Sevilla (cathedral area).
Practical rules: never carry your passport (leave it in the hotel safe, carry a copy and your driving license), never put your phone on a restaurant table near a sidewalk, keep your bag in front of you on metros and crowded streets.
7. Dress code: churches, Alhambra, restaurants
Most cathedrals and churches require shoulders and knees covered. A light scarf solves both for women. The Alhambra and major museums have no formal dress code but air-conditioning is strong — bring a layer.
For dinner at any restaurant other than a tapas bar, smart-casual is the norm. Spaniards dress up to eat out.
8. Plug type: Type C and F
Spain uses round two-pin plugs (Type C and F), 230V. Buy a universal adapter before you leave (cheaper than at the airport). All modern phones, laptops and cameras handle 230V automatically — no transformer needed. Hair tools without dual voltage will burn out.
9. Money: cards everywhere, cash for tips
Spain is highly card-friendly. Apple Pay, Google Pay, contactless work everywhere. Carry €100-200 in small bills only for: tips, small market vendors, taxis in rural areas, cash-only tapas bars (rare but exist).
ATMs are everywhere. Use bank-affiliated ATMs (BBVA, Santander, CaixaBank) — Euronet machines charge brutal fees.
10. Greetings: dos besos, even with strangers
Spaniards greet each other with two cheek kisses (right cheek first, then left). Even between strangers in social situations. Do not extend your hand for a handshake — it reads as cold.
Exception: business meetings, where handshakes are normal. The kiss is for social contexts.
One more thing
If you want a complete pre-departure guide — including a Thai-Spanish vocabulary survival kit, restaurant recommendations by city, and our private map of hidden spots — the full forty-page PDF is free below.
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