Gran Canaria information - General information.
Includes info. on banks, beach safety, climate in Gran Canaria, currency, tourist offices
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bank information,bank,beach safety,climate in Gran Canaria,currency,tourist offices |
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Gran Canaria information - General information
Bank informationBank opening hoursMon-Fri 09:00-14:00 General bank informationOutside these times you can usually change money at your hotel or apartment, or at Cambio de Change. Note: The exchange rates may not be as good as the banks. You will require your passport to change Traveler's cheques. More Traveler cheque information Major credit cards are accepted at most shops, hotels and restaurants.
Beach SafetyAlways supervise children when near water and obey the beach warning flags
Hotels in Gran Canaria
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Health Info.Insurance informationEnsure you have adequate insurance to cover Medical Expenses and dental treatment. To claim you may need to show that you requested treatment under the E111 scheme. Check your policy. Form E111Ensure you take Form 111, obtainable from UK post offices. This should give you free emergency treatment. The system can be complicated
and bureaucratic. Medication informationTake your prescription medication with you. Hospital informationSun BurnTenerife is at the same latitude as the Sahara desert and 700 miles nearer the equator than the UK. The sun is powerful even in mid winter. Beware a coolish wind can lead you into a false sense of security - the suns rays are still there.
Sun Burn PreventionPrevention is better than a cure
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Currency informationThe Island uses the single European currency, the euro €. For a rough and ready conversion reduce the euro € price by a third to convert to sterling £. Money - CashThe denominations for the Euro bank notes are 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 euros. Coins are 2 and 1 euros. Smaller coins are 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 centimes. There are 100 centimes in 1 euro. Bank notes are designed to help any body with visual impairment, with large numbers, different sizes and touch differences. The notes are universal for all the counties using the euro. Coins are the same on 1 side for all countries but are different on the other side and bear the counties name. They are accepted in all euro counties.
Travellers ChequesWe have a Currency Converter link on our Expedia page The denominations for the Euro bank notes are 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 euros. Coins are 2 and 1 euros. Smaller coins are 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 centimes. There are 100 centimes in 1 euro. Bank notes are designed to help any body with visual impaiment, with large numbers, different sizes and touch differences. The notes are universal for all the counties usoing the euro. Coins are the same on 1 side for all countries but are different on the other side and bear the counties name. They are accepted in all euro counties. Travellers Cheques are safer than carrying large amounts of cash, and are easily changed in Banks, Cambios (Money change offices) and hotels. Banks give the best exchange rate but may not be as convienient. If comparing prices take into consideration both exchange rate and commision charged. You may need you passport to change travellers cheques. Credit Cards / Debit Cards / Bank CardsA very popular way of handling you money. Usually you get the best exchange rate using these cards. Please note that if a charge is made for using an ATM it is usually a fixed charge per tranaction, therefore small and often withdrawals can be expensive.
ShoppingShop Opening TimesGran Canaria boasts an extensive network of shopping areas in the island’s main urban and tourist areas.
Most shops open Mon - Sat 09:00 / 10:00 - 13:00 / 13:30 then
16:00 / 16:30 - 20:00 Souvenir shops and shops in tourist areas tend to open for longer hours and often 7 days a week PharmaciesSimilar to shops. Usually closed Saturday afternoon. Check the window for sign re Emergency supplies. Commercial centres (Centro Commercial)Commercial centres are generally areas of concentrated shops, bars, restaurants supermarkets and nightclubs. Commercial centres are usually have CC after there name on maps. The ones near the town centre are very tourist oriented, towards the towns outskirts they are oriented towards the Spanish population, and usually goods are cheaper . This cheaper price difference which is very noticeable in supermarkets catering mainly to the locals, but Spanish brands will be less known and labeled in Spanish so a little harder to find what you want if a United Kingdom tourists. Duty FreeUnlike mainland Spain Tenerife and the Canary islands are duty free. To generalise duty free goods are alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco and perfumes. It is cheaper to buy these goods from supermarkets than in the airport duty free shops. On returning to the United Kingdom you are restricted in the amount of duty free products that you bring back. The Island has a sales tax (VAT) of 4.5% making it one of the cheapest destinations in Western Europe
Visas, Passports and RequirementsVisitors from the UK
Drinking WaterThe tap water in Gran Canaria is drinkable but has a strong salty taste due to high mineral content. Therefore most tourist prefer bought bottled water the supermarkets. The cost of a 5 litre bottle is around 60p.
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Sun Burn TreatmentRemove the heat by applying cold water to the effected part. a long cold shower is ideal if sun burnt all over.
LanguageThe local language is Spanish, but English is widely spoken in the resorts. Island SizeGran Canaria is approximatly 50km across at the widest point and 50km North to South and just a little under 2000 square kilometre .
Tourist OfficesUK Spanish National Tourist Offices22-23 Manchester Square
TaxesThe Island has a sales tax of 4.5% making it one of the cheapest destinations in Western Europe.
TransportSee the transport page
TimeshareGran Canaria has it's share of timeshare touts. The first question will always be "do you speak English?". After that you may be asked to help them with a holiday questionnaire on behalf of the Spanish tourist board, or the more common scratch card. These scratch cards are all winners. Prizes may be 3 days car hire, water park tickets, duty free packs or the star prize of £1,000. Unless you want to sacrifice 1/2 day of your holiday to a relentless hard sell, do not go with them to collect your prize! Remember, only the foolish or greedy will really believe that they are getting something for nothing
TippingIt is normal to leave a tip of around 10% of the total bill in Gran Canaria.
PoliceThe free emergency telephone number is 112 |
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