Villa Supermarket Spain | The Villa Shop for the Costa Blanca

Help & Information - Accommodation

Most accommodation is provided in Hotels, classified from 1 to 5 stars, as well as Hostels or Pensions, classified from 1 to 3 stars. There are other types of accommodation available in Apartment-Hotels, Hotel-Residencias, Hostal-Residencias and Motels. The term Residencia denotes an establishment where dining-room facilities are not provided, though there may be breakfast and cafeteria services. There is also a network of Paradors from 3 to 5 stars all over the country. Bookings may be made with the following agencies:

CENTRAL RESERVATION OFFICE FOR PARADORS. Requena, 3. 28013 MADRID. Tel. (0034 91) 516 6666. Fax 516 6657. www.parador.es

The official UK representative is KEYTEL INTERNATIONAL, 402 Edgware Road, London W2. Tel: 020 7616 0300. Fax: 020 7616 0317. E-mail: paradors@keytel.co.uk

Hotel ratings are granted by the regional governments and standards may vary from region to region. The following is a general guide only

FIVE STAR HOTELS: Air-conditioning in all public rooms and bedrooms; central heating; all bedrooms with private bathrooms; some suites with sitting room; telephone in every room; lounge and adequate parking facilities.

FOUR STAR HOTELS: Air conditioning in all public rooms and bedrooms unless climatic conditions require central heating or refrigeration only; lounge: all bedrooms with private bathroom; hot and cold water; telephone in every room; lift; adequate parking facilities.

THREE STAR HOTELS: Air-conditioning/heating according to climatic conditions; lounge; all bedrooms with bathroom/shower, wash-basin, WC and hot and cold water; telephone in every room.

TWO STAR HOTELS: Air-conditioning/heating according to climatic conditions; lounge; all bedrooms with bath/shower; wash-basin, WC and hot and cold water; telephone.

ONE STAR HOTELS: Air-conditioning/heating according to climatic conditions; lounge; all bedrooms with bath/shower; wash-basin, WC and hot and cold water; telephone.

CAMPING: Information and Bookings directly from the site or Federación Española de Empresarios de Campings y C.V., San Bernardo 97-99, Edificio Colomina 3º, 28015 Madrid. Tel: 0034 91 448 1234. Fax: 0034 91 448 1267. E-mail: fedcamping@hotmail.com. www.fedcamping.com

VAT: all categories: 7% Mainland and Balearic Islands; 4% Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla.

TAXES: all categories: 7% Mainland and Balearic Islands; 4.5% IGIC in the Canary Islands and IPSI in Ceuta (3%) and Mellila (2%)

BOOKING: It is always advisable to book accommodation well in advance, particularly during festivals or in popular resorts on the coast from late Spring to October. Reservations may be made by writing direct to the hotels, list of which may be obtained from this office, or through travel agents or certain hotel booking services. Letters to 3, 4 or 5 star hotels may be written in English, but it is advisable to write in Spanish to lower categories. For information on accommodation in Spain, look for “accommodation” in the “index” of the Spanish Tourist Board web site at www.tourspain.es

REDUCTIONS FOR CHILDREN: Most hotels make reductions for babies and small children, though there are no official regulations. This matter should be arranged with the hotel management.

COMPLAINTS: All hotels, restaurants, camp sites and petrol stations are required by law to keep and produce complaint forms when required by a client to do so. Should you be unable to obtain these, you are advised to obtain them from the Tourist Information Office when possible, or write to the Dirección General de Turismo (addresses available from this office) of the appropriate Autonomous Government, enclosing all factual evidence, within a month of the incident.