HOUSEHOLD UTILITIES

GAS:  A lot of houses operate not on piped gas but bottled butane or propane for which you have to have a contract with Repsol. This can be bought directly from the nearest Repsol/Butane store or you can have it delivered to your house.  The older bottles are orange and very heavy but lighter aluminum bottles are now available from Cepsa petrol stations and some hardware shops.   Houses with central heating usually have extra large propane bottles, which have to be delivered. The gas company will inspect your installations for safety for a small fee.

ELECTRICITY:  The voltage in Spain is 220v and all plug sockets are two pin. Adaptors can be purchased to allow you to use English style three pin plugs.

TELEPHONES:  All values of coins can be used for the public boxes but you will need a minimum of 15 centimos for a local call and 1.50 € for overseas. To telephone the UK, the code is 0044, followed by the local code omitting the 0 and then the number. Telefoncia no longer has the monopoly on phone services and there are numerous companies operating in Spain offering cheaper calls, however, you have to continue to rent your line from Telefonica.

WASTE DISPOSAL:  To dispose of your waste, place it in bin liners and then throw them in the green waste containers that are placed in various places along the roads. Spain has recently become more conscious of recycling, containers, normally for glass, paper and clothering can be found along the roads near the green containers.

DRINKING WATER:  The tap water within the Northern Costa Blanca is safe to drink, however this water is high in minerals, therefore if you are only here for a short time we suggest you drink bottled water

PETS: With the Pets Passport Scheme underway and quarantine no longer a deterrent, taking your pet abroad is now a real possibility. To get a ‘passport’ you must have your pet fitted with a microchip and then vaccinated against rabies.  Blood tests will then be carried out by your vet to check that the vaccine has been effective.  The whole procedure takes about eight months, so you will need to plan ahead.  A few days before you return to the UK you will need to visit a local vet for your pet to be checked over to ensure that it is free of tapeworms, fleas and ticks. You will be given a certificate to show that this has been done.

VETS: These display a blue cross.  Some operate a 24-hour service and there is an out of hour’s number. They will advise you on leaving the country with animals and which vaccinations incoming animals will need to comply with current legislation. All dogs must be micro-chipped and there are strict rules about muzzling dangerous breeds.

POLICE 

There are three main types of police in Spain.

The Municipal force (blue uniforms) which comes under the jurisdiction of the town hall.

The National police (black/brown uniforms) which is a national force and only found in larger cities or towns such as Denia or Gandia.

The Guardia Civil (green uniforms).

There is now also a national emergency number 112 which will put you through to a call centre where they will decide which service you need.

POSTAL

Stamps can be bought from the main post office, a Tabac (tobacconist) and if you buy a postcard many shops will sell you a stamp.

The cost of stamps can also depend on the size and weight of the envelope but normally local mail within Spain costs 28 centimos, mail to Europe costs 53 centimos and stamps to countries such as the USA, Australia, etc. cost 77 centimos.

The post office, called CORREO in Spain and displaying a yellow sign, is open 09.00 to 14.00 Monday to Saturday. Telegrams and giros can also be sent.

TAXIS

Taxis on the Costa Blanca are white with a green light on the roof, a metre fitted inside and an SP sign alongside the registration.

They have an initial charge of approximately 3 Euros which is added to the meter time. Many firms charge a minimum in tourist resorts. Taxis can be found on ranks or via a radio taxi.

VEHICLES

If you are a UK resident with an English registered vehicle, your vehicle is permitted to remain in Spain all year without changing it to Spanish plates. However, some countries, including the UK, will not accept the Spanish ITV (equivalent of the UK MOT). This means that you will have to drive back to your home country for each technical inspection. If you decide to become a Spanish resident and want to keep your vehicle, the Spanish authorities will allow you six months after obtaining your Residencia to legally import it.