Destination: Spain
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
Dangers & annoyances
Spain is generally a pretty safe country. The main thing to be wary of is petty theft (which may of course not seem so petty if your passport, cash, travellers cheques, credit card and camera go missing). Most visitors to Spain never feel remotely threatened, but a sufficient number have unpleasant experiences to warrant an alert. What follows is intended as a strong warning rather than alarmism.
Scams
There must be 50 ways to lose your wallet. As a general rule, talented petty thieves work in groups and capitalise on distraction. More imaginative strikes include having someone dropping a milk mixture on to the victim from a balcony. Immediately a concerned citizen comes up to help you brush off what you assume to be pigeon poo, and thus suitably occupied you don't notice the contents of your pockets slipping away.
Not all thieves look like thieves. Watch out for an old classic: the ladies offering flowers for good luck. Don't know how they do it, but if you get too involved in a friendly chat with these people, your pockets always wind up empty.
On some highways, especially the AP7 from the French border to Barcelona, bands of delinquents occasionally operate. Beware of men trying to distract you in rest areas and don't stop along the highway if people driving alongside indicate you have a problem with the car. While one inspects the rear of the car with you, his pals will empty your vehicle. They have even been reported puncturing tyres of cars stopped in rest areas. They then follow and stop to 'help' the victim when they halt to change the wheel. Hire cars and those with foreign plates are especially targeted. When you do call in at highway rest stops, try to park close to the buildings and leave nothing of value in view.
Even parking your car can be fraught. In some towns fairly dodgy self-appointed parking attendants operate in central areas where you may want to park. They will direct you frantically to a spot. If possible, ignore them and find your own. If unavoidable, you may well want to pay them some token not to scratch or otherwise damage your vehicle after you've walked away. You clearly don't want to leave anything visible in the car (or open the boot/trunk if you intend to leave luggage or anything else in it) under these circumstances.
Terrorism
International terrorism struck with a vengeance in Madrid in March 2004 when a series of bombs placed by suspected Al-Qaeda members ruptured three early-morning commuter trains and left 190 people dead.
But Spain has long had its own home-grown terrorism problem. The Basque terrorist organisation ETA frequently issues chilling warnings to tourists to stay away from Spain, although on the ground the bulk of their attacks have in recent years been aimed at specific local figures - politicians, police and the like.
Repeated arrests of ETA members and a tough stance by the central government and French authorities seem to have dented the group's capacity to strike, but this doesn't stop them from trying. Overall, the chances of being in the wrong place at the wrong time is probably only marginally greater than other places, like London or Paris, hit by terrorism in the past.
Theft & Loss
Theft is mostly a risk in tourist resorts, big cities and when you first arrive in the country or at a new city and may be off your guard. Clearly you are at your most vulnerable when dragging around luggage to or from your hotel (consider taking a taxi). Barcelona, Madrid and Seville have the worst reputations for theft and, on occasion, muggings.
The main things to guard against are pickpockets, bag snatchers and theft from cars. It appears muggings are on the increase and in the big cities can occur around the sights and areas frequented by tourists, on the metro (trains and stations) and at main points of arrival. Some thieves operate in groups and on occasion have no scruples about attacking in broad daylight in crowded areas. The significant change in the past few years has been the appearance of more gangs, their preparedness to use violence and their daylight daring. Unfortunately, police are thin on the ground and generally seem fairly blase about such incidents (they've seen it all before and know they can do little or nothing).
It is difficult to gauge the chances of falling victim to such an assault. In any event, you should take certain precautions. Carry any valuables under your clothes if possible - not in a back pocket, a day pack or anything that could be snatched away easily - and keep your eyes open for people who get unnecessarily close to you on the streets and in public transport. Don't leave baggage unattended and avoid crushes. Also be cautious with people who come up to offer or ask you something (such as the time or directions) or start talking to you for no obviously good reason. These could be attempts to distract you and make you an easier victim. Ignore demands to see your passport unless they come from a uniformed police officer; some gangs recycle stolen passports. Keep a firm grip on day packs and bags at all times.
Always remove the radio and cassette player from your car and never leave any belongings visible when you leave the car.
Anything left lying on the beach can disappear in a flash when your back is turned. Avoid dingy, empty city alleys and backstreets, or anywhere that just doesn't feel 100% safe, at night.
You can also help yourself by not leaving anything valuable lying around your room, above all in any hostel-type place. Use a safe if one is available.
If anything valuable does go missing, you need to report it to the police and get a copy of the report if you want to make an insurance claim. In most cases the chances of recovering any property are next to zero. If your passport has gone, contact your embassy or consulate for help in issuing a replacement. Embassies and consulates can also give help of various kinds in other emergencies, but as a rule cannot advance you money to get home. Many countries have consulates in a few cities around Spain (such as Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Seville and Valencia) and your embassy can tell you where the nearest one is.
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