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ADDRESSES are commonly abbreviated as: C/ for Calle (street); Ctra for Carretera (main road); Avda for Avenida (avenue); Edif for Edificio (a large block) and CC for Centro Commercial (a commercial centre or shopping centre or mall, often in an Edificio). Addresses within Edificios or Centro Commercials are rarely accompanied by the unit number of a premises. COMPLAINTS Conscious of its reliance on tourism, Tenerife keeps all businesses dealing directly with visitors up to scratch by obliging them, by law, to have a complaints book ( Hoja de Reclamacion ), into which complaints can be lodged. Noted in this form, complaints are treated extremely seriously by authorities, making this a last resort if those concerned will not make amends. If you feel you are being overcharged in a hotel, restaurant or bar, check the price list that needs to be present, bearing the stamp of the local issuing authority. TIPPING The law requires the inclusion of service charges, making a 5-10 per cent tip perfectly adequate in most restaurants, bars, cafes and taxis. ELECTRICITY Voltage on Tenerife and La Gomera is 220 A/C. Sockets take European two-pin plugs, so travellers from Britain, Australia and New Zealand will need a standard adapter plug for their electrical appliances, and travellers from North America will need this plus a voltage transformer. GAY TENERIFE As a gay destination in the Canaries, Tenerife is completely overshadowed by neighbouring Gran Canaria. Though there is a small gay scene on the island (almost exclusively in Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz), it can be hard to find. To help in the search pick up the magazine Guia Gay Visado , a comprehensive guide to gay and lesbian bars, clubs, discos and contacts throughout Spain, usually in some bookshops and newstands. On the Web www.guiagay.com also has (a few) listings that can help get you started. If you intend to spend some time on the island, it may be worth getting in touch with the Colectivo de Gays y Lesbianas de Las Palmas, P.O. Box 707, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria tel 928/433 427), who can furnish you with contacts on Tenerife. The age of consent for homosexuals in Spain is 16. LAUNDRIES In the absence of many self-service laundries, clothes often have to be left for a full (and somewhat expensive) washing, drying and ironing service. A dry cleaner is a tintoreria . TIME In the same time zone as the UK and Ireland, so in line with GMT during winter and one hour ahead of GMT during the summer; between five hours (east coast) and nine hours (west coast) ahead of North America; between seven and nine hours behind Australia; and eleven hours behind New Zealand.
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