Climate Southern Spain is typically quite hot during the summer months, with temperatures reaching between 85-100 degrees during the daytime. Rain is rare in the summer. Time Spain is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the United States. One U.S. dollar is equivalent to about 140-160 pesetas, depending on the exchange rate. It is best to convert some currency at the airport in Madrid upon arrival.
Banks are also good places to convert currency, and their rates vary slightly.
Avoid converting currency at a hotel, where rates are not competitive. Traveler's Checks are useful, but largely unnecessary nowadays. ATM machines are plentiful and offer very good exchange rates. When you use your ATM card with your pin, you will receive Spanish pesetas from the machine, and you can withdraw as much or as little as you need, up to the daily limit. Your bank may charge a service fee for each transaction, however.