Shopping
in Spain
Clothes
For bargains, visit the local markets and
don’t forget to haggle – these are especially
good for quality Spanish-leather shoes at reasonable
prices. You will find many boutiques in most coastal
towns, catering for a large range of styles and sizes.
Spain also has many large shopping complexes housing
a myriad of stores, usually positioned outside major
towns.
DIY
Spain is paradise for the DIY enthusiast. Local
shops, known as “Ferreterias” provide everything
from one nail to a cement mixer and you will find one
in every village or town. You can also get wood and
panelling cut to requirement in these stores. They may
not look like much from the outside, but they are well
worth exploring. There are large DIY centres located
alongside major roads near most major towns.
Euro Shops
You will find a 1 Euro shop in most towns
along the coast, filled with household items, toiletries,
Spanish ceramics and thousands of other items at 1€
per item (unless otherwise indicated). This really is
one of the first places to visit upon coming to Spain.
(Even if you are on holiday, you can pick up great souvenirs
at bargain prices.)
Food
There is normally a market in each town and village
once a week, which is a perfect place to pick up freshly
picked fruit and vegetables, herbs and locally produced
meats, eggs and cheeses at bargain prices. Supermarkets
such as “Dia”, “Mas-y-Mas” and
“Mercadona” can be found in all towns and
huge hypermarkets (such as “Carrefour”)
are usually located outside major towns.
Furniture
Most large furniture warehouses are located
along the N332, the coastal road that runs through Costa
Blanca towards Almeria although most towns and villages
will have numerous “muebles” (furniture)
shops as well. Local “rastros” (markets)
are usually held weekly and resemble the English “car
boot sale”. Here you can haggle for furniture
and pick up some bargains.
When shopping, if you are using a credit or debit card,
it is not unusual to be asked for Photo ID by the cashiers.
Remember to have a Passport or European Driver’s
Licence with you for major shopping expeditions.
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