Greetings. I am traveling w/ my family and friend's family in early July. We will see Barcelona first via public transportation, and after our vacation in Barcelona, we will need two rental cars to drive out of Barcelona (Carrer de la Marina, 142 , 08013) to Provence, France for 5 days. We then will return to Barcelona to fly back to USA so will need to drop off rental car in Barcelona and find an apt. or hotel to stay just for that last night. We have early morning flights, and will arrive back to Barcelona late at night most likely, so just need a place to sleep (as long as it is clean, quiet). We are flying out on July 8, which is midweek. One option seems to be rent car at train station and drop off at airport, but that would mean I would need to park car at hotel on July 7, and also drive to airport midweek next morning to arrive in time for 10am flight to USA. Looks like hertz at the airport may not even open until 7am. Would it be a better option to return car rental late at night on July 7, lock keys in car and leave on street in front of rental agency (agency states OK to do this if they are closed), and then take public transportation to airport next morning?
Incidentally, I'm also looking for an economical hotel or apt. that is either easy to get to airport from w/ public transportation, or easy to get to airport with rental car during morning rush hour (depending on which option I choose above).
Thanks!!!