
STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORY - Spain
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SPAIN - NOTICE
 November 20, 1991

Summary:  Hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens are expected to
visit Spain in 1992 to attend celebrations commemorating the 500th
Anniversary of Columbus' voyages to America, and the designation of
Madrid as Cultural Capital of Europe for 1992.  In addition, Expo
'92 - The World's Fair - will be held in Seville from April 20 to
October 12, and the Summer Olympics will be held in Barcelona and
its surrounding areas from July 25 to August 9.  The following
general security information is intended to provide U.S. citizens
with useful guidance to ensure that their trip to Spain is an
enjoyable one.  End summary.

PERSONAL SECURITY:  Spain is a beautiful country with little
history of violent crime.  As in many tourist areas, however, petty
crime is a problem.  Visitors should therefore be alert to the
following situations:

Thieves usually work in pairs.  Unsuspecting tourists can lose
their belongings to cyclists or those on motorcycles, but most often
to other pedestrians working tourist-filled crowds.  Thieves have
also been known to open the doors or break the windows of cars
stopped in traffic in order to grab a purse or package, and have
even taken purses from beneath car seats in the same manner.

TRAVELERS SHOULD TAKE NORMAL PRECAUTIONS, INCLUDING:  Leave your
passport and valuables in a hotel safe, or other secure place, while
enjoying the country.  Make copies of all tickets, passports, and
travelers checks, and carry only a copy of your passport.

Hide on you any valuables you must carry, rather than placing them
in a handbag.  Wrap rubber bands around your wallet to make it more
difficult to extract from your pocket without your knowledge.

Be alert in crowds.  Train stations, crowded shopping areas, and
places heavily frequented by tourists are the most common sites for
purse, bag, or camera snatchings.

VEHICLE SAFETY:  Do not leave anything of value in sight in your
car, even when moving in city traffic.  If you must leave valuables
in the car, lock them in the trunk when you set out, not when you
park.

If you suffer a mechanical breakdown, try to seek assistance in a
well-lit area or at the nearest service station.  If you must make
repairs on the road, first move all valuables from the trunk to the
passenger compartment and lock the doors, then proceed with the
repairs.

MEDICAL CARE:  Medical facilities are generally comparable to those
in the U.S., although English speaking doctors are often
unavailable.  Hospitals normally expect cash payment prior to
discharge, and neither credit cards nor foreign medical insurance
coverage are normally accepted.  All tourists, especially those with
special medical concerns, should consider purchasing insurance
sufficient to cover any unexpected medical expenses incurred while
touring outside the United States.

EMBASSY AND CONSULATE ASSISTANCE:  In addition to the U.S. Embassy
in Madrid, the Consulate General in Barcelona and the Consulate in
Bilbao, consular agencies are available to assist American citizens
in several Spanish cities.  U.S. citizens who have questions or who
encounter problems while in Spain should call the nearest consular
office.  Dialing instructions differ depending on whether you call
>From the U.S. or from within Spain.  Phone numbers are provided
below:

To call from the United States:
U.S. Embassy Madrid:  34-1-577-4000
U.S. Consulate General Barcelona:  34-3-319-9550
U.S. Consulate Bilbao:  34-4-475-8300
Consular Agency La Coruna: 34-81-213-233
Consular Agency Seville:  34-54-231-885
Consular Agency Valencia:  34-6-351-6973
Consular Agency Las Palmas:  34-28-271-259
Consular Agency Malaga (Fuengirola): 34-52-474-891
Consular Agency Palma de Mallorca:  34-71-725-051

To call from within Spain (omit the number in parentheses if
calling from within the listed city itself):

U.S. Embassy Madrid: (91) 577-4000
U.S. Consulate General Barcelona: (93) 319-9550
U.S. Consulate Bilbao: (94) 475-8300
Consular Agency La Coruna:  (981) 213-233
Consular Agency Seville:  (954) 231-885
Consular Agency Valencia:  (96) 351-6973
Consular Agency Las Palmas:  (928) 271-259
Consular Agency Malaga (Fuengirola): (952) 474-891
Consular Agency Palma de Mallorca (971) 725-051

No. 91-225

