INFO PACK A guide to Murcia for Auxiliares .
Instituto Hispánico de Murcia ® http://www.ihmurcia.es +34 968 900 325 Calle Enrique Villar, 13, 1ºC, 30008 Murcia
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INDEX
How to get to Murcia
4
General information about Spain & Murcia
7
Accommodation – student´s shared flats
8
Hotels
12
10 good reasons to choose Murcia
14
Places of interest
16
Your life in Murcia
18
Need Spanish lessons to survive?
20
Health centres and hospitals
21
Useful phone numbers
22
Rent a car services
23
Golf courses
24
FAQs & anything else
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HOW TO GET TO MURCIA
Most students travel by plane, although some European visitors travel overland and a few by sea. Alicante, Murcia and Madrid are the most convenient airports to get to Murcia.
1) From Alicante Airport (45min. by bus)
We highly recommend to fly to Alicante Airport ALC as you might find cheaper and more frequent flights than flying to San Javier Murcia Airport. You can get a public transfer service with a cost of 5,231â‚Ź for a single ticket (aprox. 55 min. journey). This is a public transport service. It is quite economic and operates everyday, every 2 hours. In order to take the bus just leave the arrivals hall and go upstairs to the Murcia bus stand on your right. It is clearly shown. Timetable from Alicante airport to Murcia bus station2:
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All prices quoted are approximate.
2Please check timetables before your departure as these might change without previous notice.
LMXJV= Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday/ SD= Saturday, Sunday
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From Murcia bus station to Alicante airport:
IMPORTANT: Please ALWAYS check timetables before your departure as these might change without previous notice. (http://www.alsa.es)
Plus, we have a SPECIAL PICK-UP SERVICE If you wish to be met at Murcia or Alicante airport and driven by taxi to your accommodation, you can book our MEET & GREET taxi service. Just let us know your flight number, airline, city you are flying from, and arrival time one week in advance. A member of the IH Murcia team will be waiting for you at the arrivals hall and he will have a card with our name and logo on it. In case of emergency, you can use this Spanish mobile number (00) 34 633 329 144 to contact our school on your arrival.
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3) From Murcia-San Javier Airport (25min. by car) There was a public coach direct transfer service from the airport to Murcia bus station but this service has recently been cancelled by local authorities. One option, if you are flying to San Javier airport, is to take a taxi to San Javier bus station (3 km. away) and then, take a coach with LATBUS to Murcia.
For further information call
the bus station + 34 968 292 211 or check LATBUS
website
http://www.latbus.com.
But we suggest you to request OUR AIRPORT PICK-UP SERVICE!
60â‚Ź
5) From Madrid Airport
As always, please check timetables & prices before booking!
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Spain is situated in South Western Europe. It occupies the Iberian Peninsula and is bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay. It also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Its total surface area is 504,788 sq. km.
Languages Castilian Spanish throughout the country: Catalan, Valencian, Basque (Euskera) and Galician in those respective Autonomous Communities.
Time Zone Population
Peninsula and Balearic
46, 704 314 inhabitants.
Islands: UTC + 1 hour The Canary Islands: UTC
Religion
Electricity
The Spanish Constitution
220 volts AC
guarantees religious
Measurement System
freedom.
Decimal Metric System
Passports/Visas Citizens and residents of the European Union do not need a visa in Spain. Nevertheless, citizens from the rest of the world need a visa in their passport if they wish to remain in Spain for more than
90
days.
Please
check
this
information
with
your
nearest
Spanish
Consulate
http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/en/ServiciosAlCiudadano/Paginas/embajadasconsulados.aspx
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ACCOMMODATION IN MURCIA
Do you need any help in finding accommodation?
We are here to help you with our FREE service! Ask for advice in
pisos@ihdemu.com
https://www.facebook.com/ihmurciaaccommodation where you will find many options.
Find us online!
In spite of Murcia's increasing popularity and corresponding shortage of rental properties, accommodation will 7 never be problematic. This means that we will always be able to find you accommodation suiting your needs, as it may not be in other Spanish destinations.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SPAIN & MURCIA KEY WORDS When you are looking for an apartment in Spain
SPANISH vivienda piso habitación/dormitorios alquilar, vender en alquiler anuncios
ENGLISH house, apartment, literally the place to live apartment, flat rooms to rent, to sell for rent announcements
gastosincluidos
certain bills like, electricity or gas or water are included in the price deposit bill electricity
fianza factura luz comunidad amueblado planta inmobilaria
”community” usually included in the rentalprice (comunidadincluida), it goes towards the building’s cleaning and maintenance furnished floors, ex. planta 2 (segunda planta) the apartmentis on the second floor of the building, but in Spain it’s really the third floor rental company, real estate agent
casa/chalet
literally a house or free-standing chalet, you won’t be looking at these, they are mostly for people to buy, like families in the suburbs. Most people in Spain live in apartments
honorarios
fees for signing a contract through a rental company (inmobiliaria).
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Robberies Criminals usually work in pairs or groups. While one distracts tourists (asking a direction while he Security
shakes a map to him, or dropping something on
Although most of the country does not have high
him)
crime rates, the street crimes against tourists are
possessions. Another way chosen by thieves is to
almost a constant, especially in the tourist zones
surround its victim in the middle of a multitude, to
like Madrid and Barcelona. It is for that reason
rob him and disappear. There were reports of
that tourists have to be extremely careful with
thieves who presented themselves as civilian
visits
police, guided the tourist to a quiet place and
to
subways,
museums, buses,
monuments,
train
stations
restaurants, and
cash
the
other
one
takes
control
of
its
stole everything from him.
dispensers. This does not occur in safe cities like Murcia.
Customs Travellers entering Spain may transport a series of personal items (such as personal jewellery, cameras, musical instruments, portable video and sound equipment, athletic gear, camping articles, etc.) without having to pay customs charges. Upon request, Spanish customs officials will issue receipts to justify the entry into the country of any item. For certain items, such as cigarettes, cigars, perfume, wines and liquor, maximum limits have been established, with customs fees required on surpassing quantities. There is no limit to the number of Euros (â‚Ź) tourists may bring into Spain. Also permitted is the entry of cheques or vouchers issued against foreign accounts in convertible Euros, as are travellers' cheques, with no limits. Foreign currency can also be brought into Spain with no limits, both banknotes and coins, providing they are of legal issue.
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Health Spain has a very good medical assistance. There are public (own by the Social Security) and private hospitals. The basic network of medical assistance of the Spanish Social Security is organized by doctor's offices, ambulatory medical centres and hospitals. Spain has a medical assistance agreement with a group of countries (among them, all the countries of the European Union). Citizens of these countries will need to ask in their medical doctor's office for the E-111 form or a similar form to be able to have access to the public medical services in Spain.
Travellers: For any person with pre-existing medical problems, it is better to have a letter from a doctor explaining their physical conditions and the medicines that are needed by its generic name. Any medicine that comes from another country must be in its original packing and clearly identified. It is advisable to check in the embassy or consulate of the country that is going to be visited which medicines are considered illegal narcotics.
Medical Insurance: For people who must take care of themselves or who worry about their health, it’s better to have medical insurance that allows them to benefit from the care in private establishments, which offer a very good service.
Pets To bring pets into Spain, visitors must present certificates of origin and good health at customs in keeping with international norms on such matters, and signed by officially recognised veterinaries in the respective country of origin. The date and nature of the vaccines administered to the animal, especially anti-rabies vaccines, must appear on the certificate. Many Spanish hotels permit dogs and cats under specific conditions. The entrance of dogs and cats in restaurants is usually prohibited,
and
this
happens
with
many
business
establishments.
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Currency, exchange & coins and Banknotes
Currency The Spanish currency is the Euro (€). For currency conversion information visit http://www.oanda.com
Currency exchange All bank branch offices offer foreign currency exchange services, as do a considerable number of hotels and many travel agencies. Most hotels and restaurants and many commercial establishments also accept the most popular international credit cards and travellers cheques.
Coins and Banknotes Banknote fractions are 5 € 10 € 20 € 50 € 100 € 200 € and 500 €. Coins' fractions are 0,01 € 0,02 € 0,05 € 0,10 € 0,20 € 0,50 € 1 € and 2€
Domestic travel is relatively inexpensive. Competition is particularly fierce in the coach market, so fares are low. Timetables and prices must be checked locally and seat reservations can normally be made one or two days before travel. Similar arrangements apply for train travel, although advance bookings can be made on mainline services.
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HOTEL GENERAL INFORMATION
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10 GOOD REASONS TO CHOOSE MURCIA
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Please check the Murcia official website tourist information for further info http://www.turismodemurcia.es/en
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SOME PLACES OF INTEREST
o o o o o o o o
Museum Museum Museum Museum Museum Museum Museum Museum
of Science and Water (Museo de la Ciencia y el Agua) Hydraulic Molinos del Río (Museo Hidráulico Molinos del Río) Ramón Gaya of City (Museo de la Ciudad) Bellas Artes of Archaeology (Museo Arqueológico) San Juan de Dios Salzillo
Museo de Tradiciones y ArtesPopulares- this folk museum stands beside a large water wheel -a copy in iron of the original 15th century wooden wheel. The three galleries display agricultural and domestic items, some of them 300 years old. A traditional, thatched Murcian farmhouse (barraca) forms part of the museum.
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Mar Menor (Smaller Sea)
Caravaca de la Cruz
It is really a large lagoon, and the sheltered
This town of ancient churches achieved its
Mar Menor can be 5°C warmer in the
fame from its castle, which houses the
summer then the Mediterranean. It’s high
Santuario de la Vera Cruz (sanctuary of the
mineral concentrations first drew rest-cure
true cross). This is where a double armed-
tourists in the early 20th century. They
cross is said to have appeared miraculously
stayed at the older resorts of Santiago de la
in 1231, 12 years before the town was
Ribera and Los Alcazares, which still have
seized by the Christians. The highlight of the
pretty wooden jetties protruding from their
Vera Cruz festival is the race of the wine
beaches. From either La Manga or Santiago
horses, which commemorates the lifting of a
de la Ribera you can make a ferry trip to the
Moorish siege of the castle.
Isla Perdiguera, one of the five islands in the Mar Menor. The old saltpans at Lo Pagán, near San Pedro del Pinatar are now a nature reserve.
Lorca
Costa Cálida (Warm Coast)
The fertile farmland around this city is an
This is the strip of coast where most of the
oasis in one of the most arid areas of
popular resorts are situated. It is the same
Europe. The centre of the town, the Plaza de
area as the above mentioned Mar Menor.
España
stone
Between Cabo de Palos and Cabo Tiñoso.
buildings. One side is occupied by the
The small beaches are dwarfed by cliffs and
Colegiata de San Patricio (Church of St.
headlands. These resorts are relatively quiet
Patrick). At the head of the square is the
for Spain.
is
lined
with
handsome
town hall, which was formerly a prison.
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The Mediterranean region & Murcia
The Mediterranean region has the best climate all year-round climate in Spain. Temperatures in Murcia are pleasant all year round, although, it can be very hot during July and August (up to 40ÂşC). This is also when most tourists visit the region. During the winter months, it rarely dips
Murcia is a region of great fiestas. Most celebrate important events in the Roman Catholic calendar, but recent years have
Standard opening hours for shops are
also seen a revival in smaller, local festivals.
between 10.00 and 20.00. But most shops
Many are rooted in ancient customs and
close for “siesta�, usually between 13 pm
traditions, often celebrating a patron saint
and 16 pm. Open-air markets are held once
or favourite son; others go back so far that
or twice a week in most Spanish towns and
their
resorts.
origins
are
uncertain.
Some
local
fiestas died out under General Franco, but many, have since, been rediscovered and celebrated with renewed gusto in the late 20th century. Many of these fiestas involve colourful processions and music. Murcia has some of the best nightlife in Spain. It generally starts late and goes on through the night. Most young people stay in bars until 2am or 3am and then move on to a club or disco.
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YOUR LIFE IN MURCIA
ACTIVITIES
Look out for special events and activities on the school notice board, our website, Facebook and Twitter.
All activities and excursions are optional and are highly dependent on a minimum number of students taking part. They are well worth attending and extremely enjoyable.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU TAKE WITH YOU‌ A
Spanish-English
Spanish
verb
dictionary,
tables
and
a
A
good
pair
grammar book. The pocket size
shoes/boots
Collins Gem is ideal, although
trainers.
of or
walking sturdy
there are many out there.
A small rucksack/backpack to
use
for
your
An address book & a camera
hand
K 18
A FEW USEFUL PHRASES
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NEED ANY SPANISH LESSONS? WE CAN HELP YOU OUT!
The accent in Murcia: Spanish with a heavy accent typical of Andalucía and Southern Spain, dropping “s”s and slurring words together. Some people struggle with it, most people love it!
Some of you might need some refreshing course to get by in town. There are 19 Spanish courses on offer to choose from, so there must be one suiting your needs and budget! Ask for advice in
info@ihdemu.com
The only specialists in teaching Spanish to foreigners in Murcia. Since 2000. Qualified teachers that have been members of our team for at least 4 years. Small group sizes. High quality language teaching always guaranteed. Classes on bank holidays will be always made up. Only in IH Murcia. School located right in the heart of the city. No need to use transportation. 19 courses to choose from. And… you can buy a student card (5 €). Discounts in more than 200 different stores and a special discount on our Spanish books (for more information, take a look at our web page: http://www.ihdemu.com/en/courses/student-discount-card.html
Everything is done to make our students feel at home! 20
CITY CENTRE HEALTH CENTRES AND HOSPITALS
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USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
RENT A CAR SERVICES IN MURCIA
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GOLF COURSES IN MURCIA
Below you will find an interesting link to golf courses and golf shops available in this region and a map with 6 golf resorts. http://www.bookteetimesinspain.com/golf-murcia.html
NEED ANYTHING ELSE?
Check our full INFO PACK (where to park your car, a street map of Murcia, free WIFI access in town, … in our website www.ihmurcia.es or write to INFO@IHMURCIA.ES
We will be very happy to assist you.
GRACIAS ☺ IH Murcia team
For further info, help or advice, please write to
info@ihdemu.com 23