Benidorm Accommodation Search
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Travelling with children with a different surname If your children don't share your surname, and you're travelling without their father (or vice versa) – or, indeed, if you've sent them on holiday with grandparents or other relatives with a different last name – there's every chance you may be asked to prove their identity. being stopped at passport control and asked to prove your child's identity is far from uncommon.
Why does this happen?
Child protection. The idea is to safe-guard against child abduction and smuggling. Controls are getting tighter, and checks more frequent.
What can I do?
Don't panic. Making enquiries before you travel and bringing extra documents might seem a faff, but will ensure smooth passage.
Before you leave you should:
Check with your airline – they deal with this daily and will have their own specific requirements.
Check with your embassy – what applies for British children does not apply for other nationalities, regardless of whether they are travelling into/from the UK.
Check with the relevant embassy for the requirements of country/countries you'll be travelling to/through.
Ensure you have relevant documents: passports (yes, double check), birth certificates and marriage certificates. If you're travelling under your maiden name with children of a different surname, a marriage certificate alongside your passport will 'prove' who you are.
Should your parenting arrangement have special terms regarding international travel, then double check with a solicitor to ensure you have the relevant supporting documents.
Pack a consent letter
Travel consent letters: what do I need?
Travel consent letters demonstrate that the child or children in question have permission to travel abroad from parents or guardians who aren't accompanying them. They're especially useful in situations in which the parents are divorced or separated, and one parent wishes to take the child on holiday. They can also be used by grandparents and other relatives.
Consent letters aren't a legal requirement in the UK, but can simplify travel for UK nationals, as they may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country or when re-entering the UK.
The letter needs to be signed by whomever is NOT travelling. Getting the letter notarised is recommended, as it's more likely to be accepted as a legal document. You can do this at a local solicitor's for a small charge.
Remember, carrying a consent letter does not guarantee that children will be allowed to enter or leave a country; every country has its own entry and exit requirements. Double-check with the relevant embassies for specifics.
Example consent letter
The letter should give as much detail as possible, including:
- contact details for the person giving consent
- the child's passport details and/or any other documentation you are providing
- information about the trip they are going on – date of travel and planned destination
The letter should be signed, dated and witnessed.
What if I can't reach the father of my children?
If you both share parental responsibility for your children, then you should have his permission before you travel overseas. He will also need yours should the roles be reversed.
You'll need to apply to a court for permission to take a child abroad if you don't have permission from the other people with parental responsibility. A solicitor will be able to help you with this process.
Sadly the father/mother of my child passed away and my child has a different surname from me. What should I do?
Double check with the airline and relevant embassies, but bringing the death certificate with you along with birth certificates and marriage certificates should be enough.
What about foster/adoptive parents?
Take a copy of a court order stating that the accompanying person is the child's lawful custodian or guardian. If the child is in temporary care, take a consent letter signed by the appropriate child welfare agency representative. Again, as ever, double check with the airline and relevant embassies.
Find lots more information on Travel to Spain in this section.
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Spanish Hotel Star Ratings Explained
This guide on Spanish hotel star ratings should allow you to distinguish between the different levels of comfort, service and facilities that each accommodation generally offers, ensuring you select the right hotel for your holiday that ticks all the right boxes.
In Spain there is a regional compulsory hotel classification system. This means that each of the seventeen regions in Spain adopts its own standards for each hotel star classification, that is regulated by the government tourism authority. They are all classified with a five-star rating system and generally speaking, the criteria used are similar to those of the UK.
Basically, the more stars, the more amenities and services provided and often, but certainly not always, the larger the room, but please don’t assume that more stars necessarily offer a “better” hotel experience.
You can be certain that a four-star hotel offers lifts, room service, private baths, TV, Internet, air conditioning and so forth. But it doesn’t say anything about the room decor, the hotel’s location or the helpfulness of the staff. A four-star hotel may be far less charming than a two-star hotel.
We ourselves have stayed in many hostels and one- and two-star hotels throughout Spain as they tend to be quirkier and have more history than a modern 4- or 5-star hotel, so think about your own personal requirements when checking out star ratings.
Spanish Hotel Star Ratings Explained
Hostals, Pensions and Hostels, what is the difference
A hostal and pension are in fact names for the same type of accommodation, they are amongst the least expensive accommodations that can be found in Spain that offer extremely economic friendly prices, that will not break the bank, they can work out 50% cheaper than an equivalent hotel.
Hostals are not categorized by the same 5 star hotel rating. Hostals only have a three star rating system. This makes judging the facilities of a hostal a little more unpredictable.
Hostals tend to be family run businesses, hotels are often owned by large corporations and as a consequence the atmosphere in a Hostal tends to be more friendly and less formal than a hotel.
Hostals tend to be smaller than hotels and generally don't offer as many facilities, however there are hostals that offer many of the mod cons of a hotel e.g. Satellite TV, Air-conditioning, and heating (calefacción) for the winter months. Always check that you have a private bathroom and not a shared one before booking if this is important for you.
The best advice is to ask to see the room first, before deciding to stay or not. Most do not offer food, but some may offer bar snacks or a small continental breakfast.
Do not rule these out we have stayed in some wonderful hostels and Pensions, that have been every bit as good as one- and two-star hotels, the cheapest being 27.50€ for the night.
Hostels (with an "e") - These are more like youth hostel. In Spain the actual name given to a youth hostel is Albergues Juveniles. These are real budget accommodation, with most hostels having dormitory-style sleeping quarters with shared bathrooms, a growing number of hostels now offer “family rooms” that sleep two to four people and include en suite facilities.
Spanish Hotel Star Ratings Explained
One Star Hotels
Hotel in General
Because pensions and hostals tend to cater for the holidaymakers who are on a budget, one-star hotels in Spain are quite rare. Again, this type of accommodation is essentially basic and are inexpensive but can offer the Spanish charm that may otherwise be unknown in higher stared hotels. Unlike Hostals and pensions, hotels with a star rating have special requirements that they must abide to. Be sure to be aware that one-star hotels offer limited fire safety standards and are not required to provide any special disabled facilities for their guests. If this is a special requirement for you, ensure you check this out with the hotel prior to booking.
Service
The reception in one-star accommodations must be open for at least 12 hours a day. Staff are not required to speak English, therefore their level of understanding of the language may vary. Despite this, Spaniards are patient and are eager to help you to provide you with all the information you need to enjoy your stay. Communicating with simple English and a spot of sign language is all part of the fun whilst traveling overseas!
Gastronomy
In one-star Spanish hotels anticipate for the dining facilities to be simple, Spanish meals with limited choice. It is common for this level of accommodation to sometimes only provide bed and breakfast. There will however be alternative food options located close by, where you should be able to find something that tickles your taste buds.
Leisure and Entertainment
It will be very unlikely that you will find any leisure and entertainment activities within the hotel premise in this star grade, such swimming pools or even a lounge. Alternatives will however be in close reach of the hotel, where you should be able to find an assortment of activities that appeal to you.
Room
One-star establishments offer basic, small rooms mostly without balconies or sea views. It is common that you often have to share a bathroom with other guests staying in the hotel, usually one for every eight rooms or for every six guests. However, you may find the odd one-star hotel that provides rooms with en-suite bathrooms. If this is a special requirement for you, be sure to arrange this with the hotel before booking. Expect the room amenities to be basic or non-existent e.g. no air conditioning, no television etc. The rooms will, however, be cleaned daily, with towels and bed linen changed approx. 1 -2 times a week.
Double room 12 m2 minimum, single room 7 m2 minimum, bathroom (bath or shower) 3,5 m2, central heating, lift.
Spanish Hotel Star Ratings Explained
Two Star Hotels
Hotel in General
In general, two-star hotels offer basic, comfortable and acceptable accommodation, however they are unable to gain a 3-star status due to restraints within the building i.e., number of rooms. There is a large selection of two-star hotels in Spain that are frequently located on the sea front, where you can enjoy astonishing views. Two-star institutes are often better equipped than one-star hotels, for example although they also have limited fire safety standards, they are required to provide fire escapes for all guests. Yet again, this status of hotels is not required to provide any special disabled facilities for its guests.
Service
Similar to one-star hotels, the reception is obliged to be open for at least 12 hours a day and again offer a relatively straightforward range of services all of good quality.
Gastronomy
Restaurants found in two-star hotels will be bigger than in one star. These restaurants will have slightly more variety in terms of food choice, but again will usually deliver the food on a buffet basis. It is not essential for two-star hotels to provide all three meals; breakfast, lunch and dinner therefore will vary from hotel to hotel. Alternative dining facilities will of course be located nearby, where you can easily find your own food options.
Leisure and Entertainment
Many two-star institutes will usually provide some leisure and entertainment facilities, perhaps a small swimming pool. It is essential to bare in mind these amusements will be extremely basic and to be expected to venture out of the hotel to find better alternatives.
Room
Again two-star establishments offer plain, simple, small rooms that mostly will come without balconies or sea views. However, unlike one-star hotels, two-star establishments will more commonly have rooms available that have air conditioning, making your stay more comfortable. You will also find other extra amenities such as televisions, though these will only be available upon request as they will not exist in all rooms.
Rooms again are cleaned on a daily basis and towels and bed linen will be changed approximately 1-2 times a week.
Double room 14 m2 minimum, single room 7 m2 minimum, bathroom (bath or shower) 3,5 m2, telephone in room, central heating, lift, safety deposit box service.
Spanish Hotel Star Ratings Explained
Three Star Hotels
Hotel in General
Three-star hotels will be larger in terms of size compared to two-star hotels. Here you will find better fire escape standards than in two-star hotels and better equipment such as hoses and extinguishers can be expected in three-star accommodations. Again though, disabled facilities are not requirement therefore may vary amongst hotels. You will however have access to the internet.
Service
It is mandatory in three-star hotels, for the reception to be open at least 14 hours a day. The reception must also be accessible by telephone 24 hours a day for all internal and external inquiries. You will find that reception staff will likely speak a few other languages amongst them unlike lower graded hotels and will deliver a more formal style of service. All staff will respond well to your needs and requests.
Gastronomy
In general, three-star hotels will have a larger restaurant with a comprehensive choice of food. Three-star establishments and above generally provide food to suit all international tastes, so there should be something that you would like to dig your teeth into. Normally the food will be served as a buffet style from breakfast through to dinner. There may be an alternative food and drink service i.e., a bar, however this will have limited choice.
Leisure and Entertainment
You can also expect the hotel to find better leisure and entertainment facilities then there will be in two-star hotels including a games room, a pool, hotel gardens or sun terrace, kids club and a lounge. Many three-star hotels do now also offer limited health, spa and gym facilities.
Room
Rooms will be slightly bigger than two-star hotels and are large enough to accommodate twin beds, they will also be well appointed with a balcony or terrace (unless city centre-based hotel). Rooms within a three-star establishment will all be en-suite, all with full bathroom facilities.
Unlike lower graded hotels, in three-star hotels you will start to find basic in room amenities including a telephone, air conditioning, a safe and a television. Most do not offer room service.
Rooms are cleaned on a daily basis, with the towels and bed linen changed approximately 3 times a week.
Double room 15 m2 minimum, single room 8 m2 minimum, bathroom (bath and shower) 4 m2 minimum, telephone in room, central heating, air conditioning of common zones, lift, bar, safety deposit box service.
Spanish Hotel Star Ratings Explained
Four Star Hotels
Hotel in General
Four-star hotels are often larger in size than three-star establishments and are formal hotels with well-designed ambient decor. Most four-star hotels are now up to the EU fire safety standards, meaning they are fully equipped with all the appropriate fire safety features. Disabled facilities are more common in this graded star than lower grades, however they will not be found in all so it is important to check this out beforehand. Hotels in this star category generally provide the internet and WiFi access for all guest too.
Service
Reception in four-star hotels must be open for at least 18 hours a day and must be accessible by telephone 24 hours a day, for all internal and external inquiries. Reception staff must speak at least one foreign language in addition to their own native language, making communication a lot easier.
Four-star hotels offer a high degree of personal service and frequently have a concierge service where staff are more than happy to assist you on various things like arranging spa services, recommending night life hot spots and main attractions etc. Four-star hotels sometimes come with a car hire service enabling you to explore Spain and make your own adventures.
Gastronomy
Usually, hotels of four-star status have a larger restaurant than three-star hotels. Food is usually served on a buffet basis for breakfast, lunch and dinner however ´la carte dining choice will likely be available in many hotel chains, meaning you can be spoiled for choice. Four-star hotels in Spain will also offer a selection of bars within the premise of the hotel that will offer alternative food and beverage choices.
Leisure and Entertainment
You can expect four-star hotels to have the same leisure and entertainment facilities as three-star hotels but being slightly more advanced. Four-star hotels tend to have a more sophisticated health, spa and fitness suites compared to three stars. Most four stars also have extras including both outdoor and indoor heated pools, sauna facilities, sports complexes (i.e., tennis courts), entertainment programmes (i.e., animation team) conference rooms, and occasionally hotels may be kitted out with a golf course.
Room
Similar to three-star hotels, rooms within a four-star establishment are well appointed with a balcony or terrace (unless city centre based). Rooms are larger in size than three-star hotels, again all with en-suite facilities. Here you can expect fairly modern and adequately equipped rooms. All rooms will typically provide you with air conditioning, room service, a safe, a telephone, large bathrooms, hairdryers, personal care products and luxury towels. Many rooms will also have a mini bar or fridge, but not all. Satellite Televisions are commonly available in the rooms, all with a good range of channels.
Rooms are cleaned on a daily basis and towels and bed linen are changed every other day.
Double room 16 m2 minimum, single room 9 m2 minimum, bathroom (bath and shower) 4,5 m2 minimum, telephone in room, central heating, air conditioning in room, lift, bar, safety deposit box in room.
Spanish Hotel Star Ratings Explained
Five Star Hotels
Hotel in General
Five-star hotels in Spain will mostly be offered by international or national hotel chains who have a quality brand image. Five-star hotels offer the highest luxury, and each premises is often surround in beautiful, landscaped gardens (unless city centre based). Five-star hotels will of course be equipped with the latest fire equipment and will have excellent fire safety and evacuation procedures set in place. This grading must provide the minimum requirement of having specially adapted rooms for wheelchair users and will often provide extra facilities e.g., ramp ac, disabled parking etc. similar to four-star hotels you will have access to the internet and WiFi too.
Service
Again, reception in five-star hotels must be open for 24 hours a day and must be reachable by telephone at all times for all internal and external inquiries. You will find that reception staff are usually multilingual all offering a high degree of personal service.
Five-star hotels will of course have a concierge, however unlike four star this service is often available 24 hours a day. Concierge staff will happily assist and advice you on arranging various activities e.g., local attractions and top restaurants etc. Yet again five-star hotels will likely have a car hire service enabling you to explore Spain on your own! You can also anticipate a 24-hour bell boy service to be present in most five-star establishments in Spain that will be happy to escort you to your rooms and carry your luggage etc.
Gastronomy
On site dining facilities yet again are delivered in five-star hotels including breakfast, lunch and dinner, with all hotels taking a serious approach to cuisine and often have been acknowledged for their award-winning food. Like all other star ratings all meals are often served on a buffet basis however ´la carte dining choice will likely be available in many hotel chains. The hotel will offer a selection of other onsite dining areas allowing you to have alternative food and beverages options i.e. pool bar etc.
Leisure and Entertainment
It will be difficult for you to get bored in five-star hotels in Spain as there is no shortage of things for you to get up to! Five-star hotels will of course provide you all with the same leisure and entertainment activities that are available in four-star hotels, however there will likely be more of each facility e.g. multiple swimming pools and a better entertainment program.
Room
In five-star accommodations you can expect luxury, spacious accommodations all with a balcony or terrace. Rooms will have an en-suite bathroom, that will typically be larger in size than four-star bathrooms. Five-star rooms will include all the trimming mentioned in four-star hotel rooms but with extra facilities such as a 24-hour room services, a trouser press, fine quality furnishings, specially designed luxurious beds and bed linen.
There will be specially designed rooms adapted for disabled guests, again however these should be requested upon booking as these conveniences will not be available in all rooms.
Rooms are cleaned on a daily basis and towels and bed linen are also changed each day.
Double room 17 m2 minimum, single room 10 m2 minimum, bathroom (bath and shower) 5 m2 minimum, telephone in room, central heating, air conditioning in room, lift, bar, safety deposit box in room.
NOTE: Some extra services may not be free. For example, a four-star hotel may charge you a ridiculous hourly fee for Wi-Fi access, while a two-star hotel may offer the same service for free.
Please Note: It is important to remember that these ratings and prices serve merely as a guideline and that expectations will differ depending on various factors i.e. different Spanish regions, different hotel chains etc.
Taking your Baby on holiday to Spain - Taking children on holiday is always an exciting experience but with a baby it can be a bit daunting as obviously there are things to take into consideration such as food, nappies and even the high temperatures here during the summer.
Find average monthly temperatures and a daily weather report HERE
Baby Milk
Some UK brands of formula milk are available in Spain, but they may only be available in farmacias, and they may have a different name. Call the helpline number on your box of formula before you leave.
Aptamil = Milupa Aptamil
Cow and gate = Almiron
Heinz = Not known to be available
Hipp = Hipp Hipercor
SMA = Nestle. If you get Nestle Nativa it's the same as SMA little steps.
Others baby milk brands available in Spain:
Baby bio
Hero
Nestle Nidina
Pulevez
If you are worried you can use the Pre-Order service at your local airport.
Fresh whole milk is called Leche Entera in Spain and you can find this in the Chiller Cabinets of the supermarkets (as oppose to the long-life milk which will be on the shelf in the general milk aisle)
Taking your Baby to Spain
Water - Is the water safe to drink? Which brands of bottled water are safe for babies?
It's not advisable to use "normal" bottled water for making up your babies bottles, as this can have a high sodium content, so look for the brands Lanjaron and Font Vella ...... The ones that are baby-friendly will have a pic of a baby on them, some will say "muy debil" these are fine, anything with a low sodium content or if you want, you can buy specially distilled water for babies from Spanish Farmacias.
Tap water is generally safe to drink but does contain more chlorine and minerals than water back in the UK.
Baby Food
Supermarkets stock a wide range of baby food in the baby accessories aisle. Hero is probably the most popular brand of Baby food and has everything from puree to the chewy (with lumps!) food.
Baby food purees in Spain tend to be smoother than those in the UK.... In the UK "lumps" are introduced for babies from 7 months old, but the Spanish equivalent is for babies from 12 months!! The puree flavours are less varied than in the uk.... They come in four main flavours, beef (ternera), chicken (pollo), ham (jamon) and fish (pescado - often hake "merluza").
Baby friendly yogurts can be found in the chiller cabinets of supermarkets, with brands such as Danone making some yogurts just for babies!!
Baby cereals can be found in the supermarkets in the Baby food aisle.... These brands are Hero, Nestle and Milupa, they can be "sin gluten" (gluten free) or "con miel" (with honey) among other variations.... The baby porridge is available in a couple of different flavours (plain, galleta (biscuit) or chocolate!)
Nappies
Brands such as Pampers and Huggies are widely available.... Pampers are branded Dodot here in Spain and Huggies are called Huggies... They tend to be a bit more expensive here than in the UK. Supermarkets all have their own "in house" brands too which are cheaper than the named types and in our experience are just as good if not better sometimes!!!
Swim nappies are available from all major supermarkets such as Carrefour and Mercadona.... Either Dodot or own brand.
Baby wipes (Toallitas) - These are available from all supermarkets (in the baby aisle), sometimes these can be quite perfumed, so best go for the sensitive ones.
Sun creams - There are plenty of high factor sun creams available for babies, always buy from a reputable supermarket, so you know it will be in date their own brands are very good.
Dummies and good bottles - These can be quite expensive, so bring plenty of extras with you.
Calpol
There are 2 slightly different types that the Spanish use for childrens medication that are similar to Calpol - Aperital, which is Paracetamol based or Dalsey which contains Ibuprofen. Please ask the pharmacist for institution on dosage
Is there anything else I need to know when taking my baby to Spain?
Breastfeeding in public is not widespread in Spain. It is more accepted in the big resorts and the main cities. In rural areas that aren't used to tourists you may feel more comfortable breastfeeding discreetly.
Spain is a very baby-friendly country, though. Children travel free on public transport in most Spanish cities. Find information about local buses HERE
If travelling with a child who has a different surname to yourself, please read this page
Difference between Full Board, Half Board, Bed and Breakfast and All Inclusive
This section will attempt to explain the difference between the different types of boarding in Hotels. Half Board, Full Board, Bed and Breakfast or All inclusive
Self Catering (SC)
Want to eat breakfast at midday? Do the kids eat dinner at 5pm but you prefer to wait until they are in bed? Self catering offers you the flexibility to come and go as you please and to set your own holiday timetable.
No meals are included in the cost of a self catering holiday but you will be provided with basic kitchen facilities in your accommodation, such as a cooker, kettle and microwave.
This board basis is also perfect for those who have a pickier appetite or miss their home comforts while away. It also suits those with a small budget as you can buy food at supermarkets cheaply and cook for yourself.
You will find lots of ideas of places to eat HERE
Bed and Breakfast (B&B)
For those who like to start the day with a good hearty breakfast but don't want to be fixed to certain prearranged times for the rest of their meals, B&B is a great option.
Most hotels offer a buffet breakfast so you can pile your plate high to keep your energy up until lunch time - this is particularly good for couples and groups.
Half Board (HB)
Breakfast and dinner are both included in the price, meaning that any food or drink outside of meal times will cost you extra.
HB suits those who plan on venturing out during the day. Perhaps you want to book lots of daytime excursions to explore the local area or further afield?
This means you can fill up on breakfast before you leave, grab lunch when you're out, and come back knowing you won't have to worry about cooking dinner or finding somewhere to eat when you return as the hotel will have it covered.
Full Board (FB)
Full Board means that breakfast, lunch and evening meals are included in the price but any drinks or snacks outside of these meal times will cost you extra.
This package is perfect for those who are happy spending the day lounging by the pool at the hotel but don't want to be restricted to what the hotel has to offer in the evening - perfect if you prefer to experience the surrounding nightlife after dinner.
All Inclusive (AI)
This means all your meals and locally produced drinks - both soft and alcoholic - are included in the holiday price, sometimes there is a cut-off time in the evening, which will vary depending on the hotel, but it usually 11pm or midnight.
All Inclusive is fantastic for families as there's no need to worry about all those little extras in-between meal times adding up. Ice creams and snacks are sometimes included too.
As pretty much everything is included in the package price, this is the best type of board basis for those who do not plan to venture far from the hotel/resort they are staying in, or who don't want to worry about carrying cash around while on holiday. But, you've always got the opportunity to eat-out away from the resort if you choose to. You may also be entitled to water sports and other activities which you would usually expect to pay for.
Ultra All Inclusive - This will usually offer things over and above general all inclusive, possibly branded drinks instead of local spirits, a spa treatment (if the hotel has a spa)
Always read the hotels terms and conditions to see exactly what is included in any package as these do vary.
Understanding Spanish Hotel Star Ratings
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What board basis do you prefer and why? comment below.