Hi travelers- I am traveling in Spain for first time. Starting in Barcelona and plan to drive north- looking for guidance: help or recommendations as to best place to rent- I see options near hotel (h10 mimosa) or better to go to a larger location outside this ? Not financially speaking but practical and smooth process. Also any information on returning car to different location than pick up. TIA
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7726 posts
It’s a personal preference, but I’d pick up at the airport. It will have more rental car companies and a better selection of vehicles, and the staff will speak English. There will be a charge for dropping off at a different location, but unless you’re dropping off in another country it won’t be prohibitively expensive. Do a dummy booking with a few rental car companies to see the price for when you intend to rent.
By renting at the airport you could avoid driving in the city center by picking up the B22, then B20, right at the airport.
Posted by
Northern Georgia
103 posts
Hi, we highly recommend the downtown Avis at Saba -1, Pg. de Gràcia, 22, Eixample!
We were able to navigate out of the city and up the Costa Brava using Google Maps. By the way, we highly recommend staying in Cadaques, Spain and Colluire, France on the drive to the Dordogne region of France following RS guide.
Message me if you would like more information.
Posted by
martinez, ca, usa
2618 posts
hey hey ewarlan
going to spain for the first time and renting a car, please look at rules/laws for driving there, signage, parking and costs, documents needed (IDP if needed), are you flying in from USA and when is this trip? aaa.com/IDP. apply online or go to branch, receive same day for $20-25 & 2 photos, good for one year from date of purchase. do your research
spain-traveler.com drive in spain with an international driver's licence 2025.
some rental car desks may or may not ask, if stopped for any reason they will ask, if none you may receive a $$$ fine
many things have changed traveling to europe nowdays. be prepared for the unexpected. have a good map of places you want to visit with directions. many here on the forum are here to help you to enjoy
aloha
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you for advice above. Got my IDP. Fair point about the airport location experience. I now realize I should be worried about parking- maybe the extra cost to rent away from airport is better than the cost/hassle of parking from 12p to 12p the next day…Plan is stay in Barcelona for night, drive north next day. Spend 4 days there exploring with Begur as base. Then to France for a few days, then drive back to Barcelona.
Posted by
Surrey, UK
386 posts
If you are unsure about driving/parking in central Barcelona but want to be there for the night, you could consider booking a hotel near the metro stop for the airport and then travel back out to the airport next day to collect the car.
We did this is Rome.