What to expect
lo que encuentras |
Internet access may be available at some 4 and 5 star
hotels as well as a few smaller ones such as Hostal
Lis, although it is not very common in the budget hostels.
The most common solution is the internet cafe and there
are plenty of them in Seville, both in the center and in
the outlying neighborhoods. Many cafes are open throughout
the day and some until late at night. Expect to pay anywhere
from 2-3€ per hour. A few observations about internet
cafes here:
Different keyboards
Like the shift function on U.S.
(English) keyboards, you'll need to master the art of Ctrl-Alt
to access the third character on the key (keep this in mind
when looking for the @ key). Other letters or characters
are simply in different places.
An outdated OS
(Operating System) in
some places. At least in some cafes you'll still find Windows
2000, and don't expect use of a Mac in most either. There
are a few, and a very few, cafes which offer use of a Mac.
Recently this is getting better - just in time for them to start introducing Vista to really screw things up.
Additional services
Entertainment such as Xbox or Playstation
2, online gaming, video conferencing, international fax
and phone, calling cards, mobile phone sales/rentals, scanning,
digital picture developing or storage, CD-burning and use
of MS Office applications.
Cyber cafes in
Seville
ciber cafés |
Most cafes do a poor job promoting themselves
online, and many online lists of cyber cafes do a worse job
of keeping up to date on closings (and openings) of internet
cafes in Seville. Many do seek out tourists although it is
surprisingly hard to find web sites for individual cafes.
Here is a list of internet cafes up and running around November
2004. (This list has since been updated in May 2008). So you understand how I am listing these they are by
location (i.e. - Centro, Triana, Alameda) and then more specific
to neighborhoods when appropriate (i.e. - Santa Catalina,
Arenal, Alfalfa). Then of course I've listed the street below
each locale. More reviews are coming soon:
Centro
(CLOSED)
Cyber Tourist Office
 :
Plaza San Francisco
Nothing beats a free cyber cafe, and that's kind of what the
new tourist office has put together for you in Plaza San Francisco.
On the ground floor on the Calle Granada side you will find
a number of computers (10 total) free to use. If you don't
mind the limited hours (10am-2pm; 5-8pm), and the limited
usage (30 minute limit, some are now reporting 10 minutes) then the new "cyber" tourist
office offers a great service at a great price: free. To use
the internet you need to give your last name at the desk in
the back of the lobby and then you can surf away at no cost.
Especially nice if you just have to check your email.
Correos!
:
Avda Constitución
It's hard to imagine that the Spanish Post Office has moved
into the 20th century, or should I say the 21st. But things
are improving since the time I sent three boxes home only
to get one of the three some two months later. That said, Correos
has now opened a kind of locutorio with internet
access. A few modern computers, flat screens and reasonable
rates are what you can expect. They are open from 10 or 11am
until 11 or 12 midnight depending on the day. You can also
call home (the U.S.) for something like 6 cents per minute.
Add this to the fact that it is a convenient location in the
center and you have to start liking what Correos
has done.
Vodafone
:
c/ Imagen
The Vodafone store on the corner near Calle Cuna now has several
new computers. Maybe not the most private place to surf the
web, as other cell phone shoppers walk by. Still, you get
30 minutes free access for every 20 euros that you recharge
in the store. Not much, but it's free if you already plan
to recharge that móvil. A note: this store is just awful if you are in a hurry to recharge your phone. There are always lines and so few people to attend to you that it's enough to avoid buying your phone at this location for fear of having to return with some kind of problem.
Sevilla Internet Center
:
c/ Almirantazgo
Just across from the Cathedral off of Avda. Constitución
offering internet access, fax and calling cards. The only trick is the location on the first floor, but you will likely see the signs from the street. Run by a
fellow named Gary who is American and has been in Sevilla
a while. I've never met Gary but know people who have and
say he is very helpful, and of course he speaks English. Ok, so I have met Gary once, a while ago and can attest that he is a very nice fellow. And he does speak English!
Distelco
:
c/ Pérez Galdós
A locutorio with internet access as well, and often with classical music playing in the background.
They have good rates, it's generally quiet and always clean.
This place has manged to stay open while many others have gone under so they have to be doing something right.
Close to the University of Sevilla
WorkCenter
:
c/ San Fernando,1 (Puerta Jerez)
Open 24 hours. It's located on a corner near the Universidad
de Sevilla in Puerta Jerez, not far from the Cathedral. Newer
machines with flat screen monitors. There is a Kinkos feel
to it, with all sorts of copying and printing services included
as well. This place shrunk a little to make way for a Starbucks on the corner.
Starbucks
:
c/ San Fernando, 1 (Puerta Jerez)
Taking over much of the Workcenter space, Starbucks offers
Wifi as well as their famous 50 item coffee menu. While I
find it strange to have so many choices for just coffee, I'm
sure it will comfort many Americans...as well as anger many
Americans escaping the "coffee culture". I guess you either love or hate Starbucks. There are now many locations: three along Avda Constitucion and one in La Campana.
Cyber Alcazar
: c/ San Fernando, 23 - 2ºA
Just across the street from the University of Seville. They
do everything, including sell mobile phones and calling cards.
They cater to students and
have agreements with several study abroad programs to offer
discounts to their students. Being close to the University
it is also heavily traveled with Spanish students.
Internetia
:
Avda. Melendez-Pelayo (between Puerta Carmona and Puerta
de la Carne)
Another place which offers Mac use, plug-in access for your
laptops and a nice bunch of computers. It's now closer to the Puerta Carmona with a new location, just a few blocks from the Barclay's bank. Offers
perhaps the most computers of any internet cafe in Sevilla. No longer neighbors with the strip club across the street, this is likely a good thing. It's about the
best connection speed and most modern of the bunch.
Plaza de Armas
Cafe Bar Marigalante
:
c/Baños, 60
Internet access...
Santa Catalina
Locutorio
:
c/Jose Carrión Mejias
Less than a block from the Santa Catalina church, recent renovations have it looking pretty good. Still smaller than I would like, but a good alternative.
Triana and Los Remedios
Ciber Triana
:
c/Pages del Corro 132B
Internet access and more.
CentroMatica
:
Corona Center
Internet courses as well as internet access. “Internet
para todos” is their slogan, and when I passed by there
was a 70 year old fellow learning how to surf the net! Once
finished you can see a V.O movie in Cine Corona Center.
Cafe de la Prensa
:
c/Betis
A bar de copas, a place to get a coffee and a few
coin-op machines towards the back. Nice view of the river,
but not from where you'll be using the computers. A laid back
place during the day with an entrance on calle Pureza as well.
Tequila Connection
:
c/ Betis
Bagels, "good music" and internet access. Think
they may be after an American crowd? Are the bagels any good?
I'm from the south so I've never much cared for them Yankee
biscuits, so you may have to try them for yourself.
Cyber...(don't have name yet)
:
c/ Pureza
A small joint on the first block of calle Pureza, which runs
parallel to calle Betis. Folks are friendly although the hours
could be better.
Ciber Thanalot
:
Virgen de Fatima, 9
Internet access, scanning, CD burning, chat and webcam. You
can also buy calling cards.
Locutorio
:
c/Trabajo
Internet access in a locutorio, of course with calling
cards and phones.
Net Gaming
:
c/Virgen de Loreto, 33
Online gaming, internet access, video conferencing and chat,
scanning, printing, CD-burning, mobile phones and consumables
such as CD-Rs and other accessories.
Alameda
Cyber Alameda
:
c/Doctor Letamendi
Internet access plus they sell computers, accessories and
do repairs. Get a little bit of everything.
Ciber Thanalot
:
c/ Calatrava 2
Internet access, scanning, CD burning, chat and webcam. You
can also buy calling cards.
Ciber DucKe
:
c/Trajano, 10
Internet access, scanning, CD burning. Just a block or two
from Plaza del Duque. You can also buy calling cards. Rates are very reasonable.
Macarena
Cyberama
:
c/ San Luis
Small outfit with internet access close to the Macarena church.
Flat screen monitors and some younger kids hanging around.
The Planet Internet
:
c/San Hermenegildo
Internet access on a dozen or so computers, hook-up for laptops, a
bar with what I am told is some of "Seville's best coffee".
Run by an American and a Spaniard for over 5 years! Rates
are also very reasonable and an eye for customer service (ie:
treating customers as customers should be treated!)
Ciber Bécquer
:
c/ Bécquer
Internet access and more.
Torneo
Cyber Café Tornet
:
c/ Torneo, 35
Food, drink plus internet access, printing, scanning and phones
for calling home. They also help with computer problems. Close
to the river.
Nervión
Máskcafe
:
Nervión - Avda. Ciudad Jardin, 8
Internet, online gaming, video-conferencing and more.
WiFi has arrived in Spain like in the U.S. and for a while it was a little behind in development and offerings. Home systems
have taken a steep drop in prices over the last years and
it's getting much more affordable to set it up at home.
Telefonica offerred a wireless modem/router (a wireless card
comes with the kit which you insert in the modem/router
to convert it to wireless) and USB adapter for your desktop
computer for around 180€. It was expensive, and pretty bad hardware. This was the service I ordered 4 times and
waited over 45 days for them to deliver it correctly to my
house. These days it is getting better.
As for WiFi in cyber cafes, bars or coffee houses you'll
have to look for a long time...and then come back to this
site and email
me once you find a place! There were a few short lived
weeks in the new Starbucks but the connection was dropped
after problems. I now hear it is back up and running. And
now some time later after first writing this I think Wifi
is starting to catch on. I think it is only a matter
of time before you can find it in more locations. Everyone
who owns a cafe except for a few have told me they are thinking
about putting it in. For now, the following places are your
best bets:
Starbucks
:
Avda Constitución (Centro)
:
Puerta Jerez (Centro)
:
Nervión Plaza (Nervión) no WiFi
The first Seville location on Avda Constitución
near the Cathedral. For those seeking a smoke-free place
to enjoy coffee they also have a non-smoking section. This
location Cathedral offers wireless internet access (WiFi)
but at a price. The new location in Puerta Jerez also offers
WiFi, as the droves of American study abroad students with
laptops will indicate. The location in Nervión does
not offer WiFi at this time.
Texas Lone Star Saloon (Tex Mex Bar)
:
c/ Placentines (next to the Cathedral)
A favorite spot for American's aborad now offers WiFi.
Maya Soul
:
c/ Betis, 41 (Triana)
A place in Triana catering to students with live
sports on a big screen TV. They also have wireless internet
access at a price, or you can hit their happy hour of 16:00
- 21:00 when they let you connect for free.
Merchant's Malt House
:
c/ Canalejas, 12 (Arenal / Plaza de Armas)
A pub which caters to expats, whether it's a sporting
event, trivia contest, Halloween party or the ever requested
WiFi connection.
WiFi Hot Spots in Seville
If you find one, please report it to me.
Below are places you can connect to open connections most
of the time. I am not responsible nor in any way recommending
you connect to someone else's network, but...
Plaza Cristo de Burgos
In some parts of the the plaza you will have luck connecting
to someone's network. Again, no password or encryption.
Finally, don't forget that many places offer connections
for laptops. I think many people forget about this in their
crazed search for wireless access. In the end you probably:
1) have to plug in your laptop unless you have an extra
battery and 2) need someplace like a desk to surf and write
comfortably. In the end is it that different to just plug
a network cable into your computer at a workstation somewhere??
Some links to help you locate WiFi hotspots, although they
don't have much on Sevilla yet:
Wi-Fifreespot.com
(Europe)
Wi-Finder.com
Tempest
Telecom (offers the largest WiFi network in the world
with 24 hour block rates)
So what to do if you want to provide dial-up service as
a company and know your customers get charged for a local
call? You offer the service for free! Then "buy"
or rent the phone number from Telefonica so you can get
a percentage of every phone call your customers make when
they connect. This is a decent option if you are traveling
and I've heard from a few people who have successfully signed
up and taken advantage of this while on the road. A few
things to look at when considering this option:
- Equipment:
You can use the same equipment from the states so the
modem you have in your laptop or desktop and the phone
cord will work with the phone system in Spain.
- Cost of call:
Depending on the telephone number offered the cost of
the call can be relatively cheap or more expensive. Some
of the major providers through Wanadoo, Terra, etc. have
very good rates for dialing their local number. If you
are staying in a hostal or apartment make sure you have
a phone line and verify the cost of a local call.
Some hotels may charge you between 0,75€
- 1,50€ per local call, making this a poor
choice for internet access when traveling.
- National number:
Check to see if they offer one national number
or one telephone number which works in all of Spain for
dial up access which is charged at a local rate. This
can be helpful rather than hunting down the local number
for your area every time you are on the road.
- Customer service:
Be prepared for minimal customer service - some have even
discontinued their telephone customer service, making
it difficult to fix the problem if you don't have a connection.
- Email:
Check to see if they offer a POP email account or only
web based if you want to be able to check your email using
Outlook Express or another client.
- Web space:
If you want web space consider the space - some offer
up to 50MB, while I've found that 10MB is more standard.
Below are some providers for free dial-up (except what
you pay Telefonica) and some of what they offer. In most
cases I've pointed you to the section with information on
the service. Always read the fine print!
Gonuts4free.com
- national, free dial up with one national phone number
for Spain that is the equivalent of a local call. An hour
costs around 1,44€, which you pay to Telefonica on
your phone bill. Also offer free service in the UK, plus
paid options for higher speed connections
Zork.com -
national, uses an ad supported model (ads appear in your
browser, email, etc - much like Netzero did). One dial-up
number for Spain like Gonuts4free, plus email and web space.
Tiscali.es
- national, 4 email accounts, 10MB web space, get your email
by phone, receive faxes on your PC, and some multimedia
applications.
Terra.es
- national, 1 email account, 5MB "briefcase",
5MB photo storage and Terra Messenger.
Oriolnet.com
- national, 1 email account, one dial-up number for all
of Spain (with local call rate) and one annoying flash intro
when you go to their home page.
Offcampus.net
- email account, and hidden free access, as in I can't find
the free service listed anywhere. They do have an announcement
that they no longer offer phone support for free customers
(ie: "go away freeloaders!")
Ya.com
Jazzfree - national, 1 email account, 30MB web space,
very cheap local call rates and 24 hour technical support!
Iredi.com
- very easy set-up, one national number (with local call
rate), multiple email accounts, 10MB web space plus a free
domain name (all are using a www.yourdomain.es.org standard)
Wanadoo's
Eresmas.com - national, cheap local dial up rates, pop-up
blocker, an Accelerator app for faster connection but increases
your dial up costs just a hair (um, ok), 1 email account,
50MB web space and tech support.
Atodevela.com
- Asturias only, with 2 email accounts, 10MB web space and
some other utilities such as anti virus, ftp, irc and more.
Internet Tools and Resources
for the Traveler
Herramientas y recursos de internet
para el viajero |
Whether you're here for a short time or an extended stay
knowing the tools you can use online to manage your life
makes things a lot easier. Below are some recommended links
with a few descriptions.
Using your ISP abroad or securing one before traveling
This is an option which may work for some, although I would
recommend using a cyber cafe over trying to connect through
your existing ISP. Working out the logistics, signing up
to be eligible to use your ISP's plan and a whole host of
other issues make this a less than preferred method in my
book. If you have AOL check out their international
access plan for more information. Earthlink
offers a WiFi plan through Boingo which may get you connected
in some places, but not anywhere in Spain. Roam
International may be an option in that they offer local
dial-up numbers around the world, but I didn't want to take
the time to download their software to view the access points.
They also appear to offer broadband as well. Otherwise consider
one of the free dial up providers above,
but if you're staying in a hotel be absolutely sure to check
on the cost of a local call. Some charge up to 1,50€
per call, then add a per minute fee!
Email
Most will sign up or use an existing webmail service
such as Hotmail
or Yahoo!.
I prefer Yahoo only because they give you 1Gig of space.
But more space is great in case you cannot check your mail
for a while. Yahoo also includes a briefcase that allows
you to store files which you can retrieve from anywhere.
Uploads are limited to 5MB per file. If you keep a calendar
and task list in Outlook you can also synchronize it with
your Yahoo Calendar using Intellisynch software. I don't
mention Google's popular G-mail only because they don't
offer it to everyone yet. But if you are lucky enough to
get an account the large mailbox space is hard to beat.
Free and easy solutions to check your pop email can be found
on sites like Mail2web.
These allow you to put in just about any email address and
password and check your email from anywhere in the world.
You don't need to know any of the server information in
most cases. Also check with your ISP - Roadrunner, Earthlink
and AOL all offer web based access to your pop-email accounts.
Skype and other VoIP services.
As a regular user of Skype
with a good USB headset, I can vouch for the service. I
have been very pleased with the quality of computer to computer
calls, as well as the SkypeOut service, which allows you
to call telephone numbers for just a few cents a minute.
This has cut our phone bill by about 20 Euros a month! There
are some practical considerations for using Skype and SkypeOut,
like if you connect in a cyber cafe your conversations may
not be that private. But using this with a home internet
connection or outdoors while connected to an open/free wireless
connection is better. Of course MSN and Google Talk are
now in the game, and soon the other major players such as
AOL, etc. will join. But I have had good experiences with
Skype, and like giving my business to the first one who
brought quality service to the masses.
Chat, Conferencing and Remote Access
Most everyone is familiar with instant messaging, so I won't
go into this too much. It's worth mentioning two things:
1) AOL offers a web based version of it's instant messenger
so you won't need to download the program; 2) Check out
Trillian
if you use multiple services. Trillian allows you use their
chat client and get online simultaneously with all other
instant messaging services, including ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, IRC
and AOL. That way any of your friends can contact you regardless
of what service they use.
Video conferencing is never as easy as it seems. You can
use a webcam on Yahoo and Windows Messenger, although the
windows application is often picky about what type of camera
you are using. Netmeeting is an alternative in Windows although
it is hidden in XP (to start it in XP select Start >
Run > and then type in "conf" and hit enter).
Both Netmeeting and Windows Messenger allow you to share
applications and a whiteboard, but it requires some tweaking
on both side to get the application sharing working correctly.
Remote access to your home or work computer is simple if
you're bringing a laptop or have access to a computer where
you can install a program. PCanywhere
is simple although you may need to do some firewall tweaking.
For many work connections this may include installing a
VPN client, (Virtual Private Network) to allow you to securely
and safely access your work computer using this program.
You can transfer files as well as do anything on your computer
as if you were there. GoToMyPC
is another software/service like PCanywhere but they charge
a monthly fee. You've likely seen their banner ads which
are on almost any page on the internet. If you have XP professional
installed on your work or home computer you can also enable
Remote Desktop and connect from anywhere. Again, some firewall
tweaking or talking with your network administrator may
be necessary.
Web Pages
I use my page not only to tell people about Sevilla but
also keep in touch with family. Reading my semi-daily entries
keeps me from writing a lot of emails or sending pictures.
There are a ton of free hosting alternatives out there,
including Yahoo
(through Geocities),
Tripod and a list of others. I'll soon add some pages where
you can compare the free hosting options. And you don't
need to know html to make a page - many come with some basic
templates to upload photos or write messages. You can also
be hip and start a blog, like everyone is doing now.
Online Banking
Most banks now offer online banking, many for free. For
a short trip it may be enough to look at your balances and
transfer from one account to another while you travel. If
it's a longer stay and you need to pay bills make sure your
bank offers a bill pay system so you can take care of it
online. Most larger banks, such as Bank
of America, offer bill pay. One thing to beware of when
entering your information in a cyber cafe are programs which
track keystrokes. Not a big threat, but a few employees
of cyber cafes in Europe have been arrested for installing
these key trackers. They got banking information and either
managed to withdraw or transfer funds around, causing a
problem for people on the road. Aside from your bank most
credit cards offer online access where you can pay your
bill or view transactions. If you plan to stay more than
a month it can be helpful to keep your payments up to date.
You can also send emails to customer service if you have
questions or report lost/stolen cards, although it is best
to do the latter by telephone.
Links
Here are some links to sites which may be helpful during
your stay in Seville or anywhere else. You can see more
links on my Links page.
Currency Converter
- convert any currency into another, even the now defunct
peseta.
Time
Zone Converter - find out what time it is now anywhere
in the world.
Online
Conversion - convert any measurement to another. The
largest list online.
Locate
an ATM - find any Visa/Plus ATM throughout the world.
Safety tips when
using a public computer
Seguridad con ordenadores públicos |
Pay attention
The rest of the items below mostly have to do with the computer
use. However, it is easy to become so involved with what's
on the screen that you don't pay attention to your bag or
other belongings which you have set down next to you. Always
try to guard your belongings and keep them in a place where
they are difficult for others to reach while you are using
your computer.
Login information
Be sure to always log out of any web page by using a log
out feature rather than simply closing the browser. Closing
the window while leaving other windows open may allow someone
to log back into your account because your session has not
expired. Always uncheck any boxes which offer to remember
your log-in and/or password.
Don't leave your computer unattended
If you have to leave your seat but are not ending your time
on a public computer you should log out of any web pages
and close all programs.
Who is watching you
Some internet cafes offer more private, cubicle style desks
for surfing. Others are more open for anyone to view. In
either case it's still possible someone can see your screen
and/or keyboard to obtain personal information such as log-ins
and passwords, even a credit card number.
Delete your history, cache and cookies
Many internet cafes automatically delete your history and
cache when you end your turn. However, just as many don't.
To delete these files in Internet Explorer
1. Select Tools and then click Internet Options.
2. On the General tab (the default), look under the header
Temporary Internet files and click Delete Cookies.
3. Under the same Temporary Internet files header click
on Delete Files.
3. Under History, click Clear History.
Avoid entering important or sensitive information
Sometimes you have to check your bank balance or make other
important transactions online on a public computer. Still,
if you are able to avoid online banking and or credit card
transactions on a public computer you will protect yourself
even more. While clearing your history, logging out and some
of the other steps above will help protect you, there have
been some (rare) cases of software such as keystroke capturing
programs being installed in internet cafes. These essentially
record every keystroke you make and save them to a file. The
installer can then retrace any of your steps and obtain your
credit card number, log-in information, etc. |
