Finding and booking local businesses with Google Maps, TheFork and Doctoralia

Key rules

• Opening hours: Google Maps hours can be wrong, so call or check the business's own website before travelling.
• Public doctors: Doctoralia does not book public health appointments; use your regional health portal or phone your health centre.
• Restaurant terms: Each restaurant sets its own cancellation deadline and card guarantee on TheFork.
• Small places: Small-town and traditional businesses often take bookings only by phone or WhatsApp.

Start with Google Maps to find a business

Google Maps is the main tool in Spain for finding local businesses. Search by category, such as "dentist" or "ferretería", then compare ratings, photos and the number of reviews. From the listing you can get directions, call or open the website.

Treat the listing as a starting point, not a promise:

• Reviews can be fake, paid for or lopsided. Read a mix of recent ones.
• Ratings in tourist areas can be inflated or very polarised.
• Opening hours are often out of date, especially for small businesses. Call or check the business's own website before you travel.
• Many shops close for a long midday break, and many close in August. Plan around both.
• In small towns, listings may be missing or wrong.

Book restaurants with TheFork

TheFork (called ElTenedor in Spain) is the restaurant booking app and website. Search by city, date, time and party size, pick a restaurant and a slot, then confirm with a free account. You can sign up with email, phone or a social login. Confirmation arrives by email or SMS.

Before you confirm, check two things on the restaurant's page: the cancellation deadline and whether a card guarantee is needed. Both are set by each restaurant. Cancelling in the app is free up to that deadline. Repeated no-shows can get your account restricted. Some restaurants offer discounts, and the app has a points scheme.

TheFork works best in cities and tourist areas. Smaller or traditional restaurants often take bookings only by phone or WhatsApp, so call or message them.

Book doctors: private and public are different

Doctoralia is a private directory and booking platform for doctors, dentists, psychologists and other practitioners, with patient reviews. Use it for private appointments and for some clinic or insurer-network consultations, including online ones.

It does not book public health appointments. Public care is organised by region. Use your regional health service's portal or app, such as Cita Sanitaria or Salut Respon, or phone your health centre. Have your tarjeta sanitaria ready. The decision block below helps you choose.

Other booking apps you will meet

• Hair and beauty: Treatwell is the main marketplace. Booksy and Fresha are also used, and many salons take WhatsApp bookings.
• Gyms and classes: ClassPass, Wellhub (formerly Gympass) or the gym's own app.
• Tours and activities: GetYourGuide, Viator and Civitatis, which has Spanish-language support. Fever lists events.
• Padel and sport courts: Playtomic is very widespread.

Brand names and coverage change, and outside big cities many places still rely on phone or WhatsApp. If an app shows nothing, just call.

Choosing between options

Where should you book a doctor's appointment?

• Doctoralia: You want a private doctor, dentist or psychologist, an insurer-network consultation, or an online consultation.

• Your regional health service: You want public care. Use your region's portal or app, such as Cita Sanitaria or Salut Respon, with your health card (tarjeta sanitaria).

• Phone your health centre: You prefer to book public care by phone, or the portal does not work for you. Have your health card ready.

If the care is public, book through your region's health service or your health centre. If it is private, use Doctoralia.

Checklist

• Read a mix of recent reviews and treat very polarised or suspiciously glowing ratings in tourist areas with care.

• Call the business or check its own website before travelling, since opening hours may be out of date.

• Allow for a long midday break and closures in August when planning a shop visit.

• Confirm the booking with a free account and look for the confirmation by email or SMS.

Frequently asked questions

Can I book a public health appointment on Doctoralia?

No, Doctoralia does not book public health system appointments, because it only covers private care and some insurer-network consultations. For public care, use your region's health service portal or app, such as Cita Sanitaria or Salut Respon. You can also phone your health centre with your health card (tarjeta sanitaria).

What happens if I do not show up for a TheFork booking?

A repeated no-show can lead to restrictions on your TheFork account. Some restaurants also ask for a card guarantee when you book. Cancel in the app before the time the restaurant sets, which is free.

Which app should I use to book a padel court in Spain?

Playtomic is the app most used in Spain to book padel and other sport courts. For hair and beauty, Treatwell is the main marketplace, and many salons also take bookings by WhatsApp. In small towns, phoning is often the usual way.