Noob questions from first time international traveler to Spain

Generally, you arrive in Europe the day after you leave USA, at least from the West Coast. You arrive back the same day on return.

Use expedited service (pay the extra money ) on your passport and you should be ok. I didn’t and it took 16 weeks for the renewal.

My guess is that you are going to want to text each other. Contact Verizon and find out what packages they offer.

I have always used hotel WiFi for internet needs.

Congrats on your first international trip!

1) you are correct, outgoing flights typically arrive the next day after departing the USA. Return flights usually on same day, but it can vary. In a search the airline tells you the date of arrival/departure, you don't have to guess. BTW, for such a short trip, you're going to be jetlagged both ways (just plan for it). Coffee and naps are your friend.

2) https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/processing-times.html is the site for checking passport times, which is 14 weeks for regular processing. Do not wait until end of October, do it asap. First time applications require an in-person visit (for everyone kids too) at the post office which also requires an appointment. My local post office doesn't have any open appointments until the beginning of November. So, seriously, get busy right away.

3) Typically wifi available in most good hotels. My work won't let us log in from out of country without advance permission, so double check that yours will. Others may have suggestions for better internet options.

4) Verizon sells a travel pass for international travel. It is pretty spendy especially if you're going to get it for six different phones. IMHO, I'd enable it for one or two phones and everyone else in airplane mode. Whatsapp works over wifi if your kids want to communicate with friends. Verizon options here: https://www.verizon.com/plans/international/international-travel/

5) I've stayed in central Madrid and liked it for transportation connections and proximity to sites. With six people you may want to look into an apartment rental.

6) Anyone's guess. I'd suggest only booking refundable/changeable airfare, hotels, etc. And read the fine print on the trip insurance, they don't cover what they used to.

Goes without saying, the rules for vaccination change on a daily basis, so keep an eye on that for your family situation. Best of luck.

Hi! You'll have so much fun in Spain!
1), yes - you're correct - when you leave the USA (we leave from Boston on direct flights, when possible), we leave in the late afternoon and arrive in Madrid in the early morning the next day. We are usually pretty tired so we try to get to the hotel as soon as we can - we've even booked the night before in the hotel so that the room is ready when we arrive and we can get in a 2-3 hour nap. When we return, we leave Madrid in the afternoon and get back to Boston the same day. Yes, this is also a long travel day.

2) from what I've read recently, get your passport asap.

3) make sure the hotels you book have good wifi. Call and ask if you can have a room that is as close to the router as possible - or read the reviews for information about the wifi.

4) Check with Verizon - I don't have Verizon, but most carriers will have a daily ($10/day?) service that includes some data, texts and some reduced price calling ($0.25/minute?).

5) We like to stay close to the Puerta del Sol in Madrid. You can walk to many attractions from there. On return, we stay closer to the airport at a hotel that an airport shuttle.

6) no info, sorry.

Buen viaje!!

Never had issues with wifi in hotels or airbnb. Bring and use your phone, you will need it to scan the QR code for menus and much much more. Most international phone plans come with free texting. Not sure what city your flying out of but book to and from USA from a hub and what I mean by that is: I live in northern California but I fly out of LAX as I can get all the way to Madrid with stopping in the middle of the USA or on the East Coast. The bit from Northern CA to LAX I book seperatly, as the cost is better that way. Not always but usully if I try to book directly from Sacramento I would need to route thru Texas or New York. Too many stops and each stop adds hours. I hope this makes sence. I'm not trying to plug airbnb, I am a retired state worker and have no tie to the company, the prices are good and it is usually a piece of cake to check in, you also get bedrooms for everybody, and a place to coffee in the morning. (Just returnd from my 4th trip to Spain) . The Madrid airport takes hours to get around, it is not enough to arrive 3 hours early. Have your travel documents ready, and be sure to print them out. Passangers with printed documents can fly thru covid checks. These who do not resurch what they need prior to their flight do not fair well. Download the required phone apps, complete the forms or you will be standing at the airport check-in counter praying your phone has enought juice for the process or walking away from the airport, missing your flight, and trying to book a covid test ASAP. Good luck Joanne

Thank you for all of the suggestions. Another question popped up as well though. Are all travel insurance companies equal or are there ones that come recommended higher than others? Are there companies that should be considered specifically since we are going to Spain?

The first thing you need to do is figure out what coverage you need. The term "travel insurance" can mean different things: trip cancellation for specified reasons, trip cancellation for any (or most) reasons, trip interruption, luggage loss or delay, rental-car insurance, medical coverage, evacuation (this cost can exceed $100,000 out of pocket if you aren't insured). You may be willing to self-insure for some of those, and you may already have some coverage from policies you already have, and there may be some credit-card benefits that would assist in some situations.

There are at least two web sites that allow you to set filters specifying what you're looking for and then deliver quotes: insuremytrip.com and squaremouth.com.