Hello,
We are planning a trip in Sept and will be spending a few days staying in Arles/Provence area. After a couple of days we plan to rent car to explore the area, then head to Carcassone for a night or two before heading to San Sebastian (SS) Has anyone had experience taking a rental car across the border and leaving it in Spain? I am primarily thinking of costs and logistics. Would it be better to leave the car someone near the border and if so what town would that be, and then take a train or bus into San Sebastian? Also what car rental companies are best to use in that area? We really like the idea of having a car to explore with and the flexibility that it offers.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11724 posts
Typically the "drop it in a different country fee" ranges from $300-$800
Pretty much a 'plug in your dates/locations' and see what comes up
ADD On--- Did quick check--- One way drop fee (Avis) $611.
Drop off in Bayonne looks to be a good choice and then a rail or bus ( about 90 minutes) to San Sebastian. $10-$12 per person.
Posted by
Chicago
8125 posts
You can leave it at Avis in the border town Hendaye
https://www.avis.fr/services-avis/location-voiture/europe/france/hendaye/hendaye-location-de-voiture?map=GoogleMyBusiness-HEN
and then it is 30 minutes from there by taking the Euskotrain to San Sebastian
http://www.hendaye-tourisme.fr/en/traveller-information/getting-around-hendaye/eusko-tren-topo/
Posted by
Sweden
6850 posts
Yes, as others have mentioned, return the car somewhere in France. There are local trains from Hendaye to San Sebastian/Donostia but you can of course return the car somewhere else in France. What are your plans for Carcassone? If you don't plan to use the car when you are in Carcassone my suggestion would be to return the car in Carcassone and and after one or two nights take the train to San Sebastian/Donostia.
Posted by
OP
Bandon Oregon
71 posts
Thank you all for your helpful replies. It sounds like leaving the car in Biaritz might be the way to go. I am wondering what your thoughts are in spending the night in Carcassone or should we just make it a stop? I love the idea of spending the night in a preserved walled city.
Posted by
11500 posts
We were quoted a 1000€ drop fee for picking up car in Lisbon, dropping it off in Barcelona. We took a taxi across the border from Porto, Portugal to Vigo Spain and picked up a rental car in Spain. Easy solution.
Posted by
Paris
7260 posts
Do spend the night in Carcassonne, if only because Arles - Carcassonne - drop car in Biarritz or Hendaye - train to San Sebastian is a very long day I would not be looking forward to!
Posted by
stevens point, wi, usa
1194 posts
Hello from Wisconsin,
The recommendation of a drop in Bordeaux and train to San S. sounds solid to me. Getting to the train station's auto rental drop area is pretty straight forward. Two nights in this absolutely wonderful city would give you a full day there. It is a great place. If I recall correctly, Paris' remodel by Haussmann was based on this Bordeaux.
A train south to San Sebastian. Now I know San S. is a reason to go to Spain, it has a beach, and good food. All good reasons to go there. Oh, and did I mention a LOT of tourists? Up to your neck in tourists? Vast underground parking for tourists in cars? But let me say that Bordeaux is a reason to go to France, has great wine, a hipster college district, and good food. Good food at good prices. Skip San Sebastian and the grief involved of getting there and stay in Bordeaux.
I sound like I work for the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce. I don't.
wayne iNWI