Especially when you are travelling internationally, it is important to know a bit about the culture and norms of where you are going. We recommend you do your own research on the area, but we have a few tips for you and are happy for you to reach out if you have any specific questions.

Tip #1 - Do not tip! Gratuity is not expected for any restaurants or services here.

At a restaurant, they will not bring the bill until you ask as it is considered rude. So, when you are ready to pay, you can get their attention and say "La cuenta, por favor."

We are in Catalonia/Catalunya, a very proud autonomous region of Spain with a very rich history. The language here is Catalan, but everyone speaks Spanish as well, and of course many people speak English, especially in the more touristy areas. A typical greeting is "Buenas." If you speak any Spanish, they will be very appreciative of you trying, but if you need to speak in English, always ask them "Habla inglés?"

Google Lens and Google Translate are your best friends! If you have the Google Lens app on your phone, you can just take a picture and it will translate everything for you. We also recommend downloading Spanish and Catalan in Google Translate so that you can use them offline.

Restrooms/Bathrooms - If you are looking for them, asking "toilet?" is your best bet. Typically gendered toilets are going to be labeled with a picture, but sometimes it is a letter - M=Mujeres (Women) and H=Hombre/Home (Men)

If you are renting a car, go to AAA and get an International Drivers Permit. It is required to drive with a US license, and you do not need to be a AAA Member to get one.

SIESTA! Many local businesses close in the late afternoon for siesta. You will want to plan your days and meals accordingly. Most lunch spots will typically close around 3pm (15h) and dinner spots don't open until at least 7pm (19h) with the normal Spanish dinner time being after 8pm. In the tourist areas you will typically be able to find places that are open all day.

Wardrobe - There are a lot of stone and uneven streets and walkways, so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes with a little thicker sole while out exploring. People tend to dress a bit more elevated over here, so if you don't want to stick out as much we recommend dressing a little bit nicer day-to-day than you may at home and not wearing many graphics, including flags.