The ski scene in Spain is split between the north and the south.

In the north, the rugged Pyrénées provide an effective border with France and very good skiing. The resort of Baqueira-Beret in the Valle de Arán, in the midst of these mountain, anchors the northern resorts. It is well-run with good snow conditions and acres of snowmaking coverage. The valley Baqueira-Beret calls home preserves one of the most fascinating cultures still existing in Spain. Other Pyrénées resorts such as formidable Formigal, traditional Panticosa, extensive La Molina and purpose-built Supermolina all provide good, if limited, skiing.

In the south, Sierra Nevada, rising above the town of Granada, provides a study in contrasts. Within an hour of the snow-covered slopes, swimming in the Mediterranean is possible and verdant golf courses beckon.

Spain has come a long way in the last decade in terms of skiing. The biggest change is the installation of snowmaking equipment that has provided much more of a guarantee of acceptable conditions for skiing.

One of the biggest changes for U.S., Canadian and British skiers is the change in time zones. I’m not speaking about normal time zones, but the shift in dining and après-ski/nightlife timing. Dinner doesn’t start until 9 p.m. and can easily last past midnight. And nightlife doesn’t even start to flicker until at least midnight, normally by about 1 a.m. and can last until 4 or 5 a.m.

The telephone country code for Spain is 0034.

The Spanish Internet web site for tourism information is: www.spain.info.

Canada
Tourist Office of Spain
2 Bloor Street West -Suite 3402
Toronto, Ontario M4W 3E2
Tel.: + 1 (416) 961-3131 or
+1 (416) 961-4079
Fax : + 1 (416) 961-1992
e-mail: toronto@tourspain.es

United Kingdom
Spanish Tourist Office
PO Box 4009,
W1A 6NB London
Phone: +44 20 7486-8077
Fax: +44 20 7486 8034
e-mail: londres@tourspain.es

United States
New York
Tourist Office of Spain
666 Fifth Avenue, 35th Floor
New York, NY 10103
Phone: + 1 (212) 265-8822
Fax: + 1 (212) 265-8864
e-mail: nuevayork@tourspain.es

Chicago
Tourist Office of Spain
Water Tower Place, Suite 915 East
845 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago IL 60611
Phone: + 1 (312) 642-1992
Fax: + 1 (312) 642-9817
e-mail: chicago@tourspain.es

Los Angeles
Tourist Office of Spain
8383 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 960
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Phone: +1 (323) 6587195 or +1 (323) 6587192
Fax: + 1 (323) 658-1061
e-mail: losangeles@tourspain.es

Miami
Tourist Office of Spain
1395 Brickell Avenue, Miami, FL. 33131
Phone: + 1 (305) 358-1992
Fax: + 1 (305) 358-8223
e-mail: miami@tourspain.es