I'm meeting my daughter who is spending her junior college semester in Sevilla Oct 24-Nov 1st. I will fly into Malaga to spend 3 days w/her there, with a possible day trip to Nerja, plus a day trip to Gibraltar. I am wondering if I should I rent a car for the day or is it a hassle with traffic/tolls/parking?...I am an independent traveler in spirit, and don't like big tour groups that will be on a bus to Gibraltar. However, I don't know if this will be an exhausting trip after jet lag. Can I find a driver/guide from Malaga to bring us to Gibraltar and back for a reasonable cost? All of the bus tours say it takes 2 hours travel time, but in reality, most reviews from passengers say that the bus stops at all of the hotels along the route so that the trip is much longer. I'd love to drive back from Malaga to Sevilla via Ronda if possible. I then hope to stay in Sevilla for the rest of the time, and take a few day trips from there (Jerez for the horses), possible day trip to Toledo, and then just chill in Seville. Any recommendations for good restaurants and things not to miss? Took a 25th anniv trip a few years back so hit most of the sites in Sevilla (Alcazar, cathedral, flamenco) so any other suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Washington DC
27949 posts
Toledo is impractical as a day-trip from Seville. Unless you're up for a 7:45 AM departure (which takes just over 3 hours), the train will take more like 4 hours one way. Driving takes even longer (at least 5 hours).
Cordoba is easily doable. It's about 40 minutes away by train (more than twice as long by car). Fares on the express trains increase as you get closer to the travel date, so I don't know how much luck you'll have, snagging a low fare.
You could investigate seeing some of the white towns by car: Arcos de la Frontera, Grazalema, etc. I haven't rented a car in Europe, so I can't provide any details, but this is the major reason some travelers opt to have a rental car for at least part of the their time in southern Spain. That trip is difficult if not impossible by public transportation.
At a glance, Jerez looks like it will take just over an hour by either train or car, but if you take the train you won't have to worry about navigation or parking.
Posted by
Sevilla
1332 posts
Cadiz is a straightforward day-trip from Sevilla, either by car or public transport (bus might be a bit quicker than railway). I really like Cadiz, it has a beautiful setting, fine views, attractive plazas & streets and great food. But others aren't so keen, so you might wish to read-up about it to see if it suits. Cadiz certainly doesn't have the "must see" sights like the aforementioned Cordoba (or Sevilla itself), so is more low key.
For Gib., its an easy drive from Malaga. The main route is on the AP-7 which is indeed a toll road (but tolls are not high in the South). Most people recommend parking in La Linea (i.e. Spain), and then walking across the border. That's because parking in the colony is scarce, but also due to border delays when crossing by car which the Spanish sometimes create to make a churlish point.
If the bus is stopping at hotels to pick up then presumably it is a tourist coach excursion. There are also "normal" buses between Malaga and La Linea (not Gibraltar, again you walk over the border). I think Avanza is the bus company. It may not be much quicker than the tour buses when you factor in getting to/from the bus stations.
Gibraltar is brilliant, so worth the effort. On the other hand, I'm not sure about going to Nerja. It's attractive but what do you plan to do there? Malaga has beaches (but beach weather in November?), and enough sights of it's own to fill two or three days.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5536 posts
I've driven to Gibraltar from Spain (Estepona) twice. Both times it is a very easy drive and just as easy from Malaga which is further along the AP-7.
Both times I parked in the Spanish side of the border. The queues for traffic attempting to cross the border into Gibraltar were very long, with a brief bit of research you can find any number of places to park. I used the same underground car park on both occasions, reasonable fee and within five minutes walk to the border checkpoint. The Spanish side is a bit sketchy. I'm sure they've built the estates to house some of their less desirable inhabitants close to the border for one reason. The car park I've used is guarded by a security officer so I feel a bit better than leaving my car on the street.
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Wonderful. Thanks so much for this info! I won't attempt a day trip to Toledo from Sevilla...I'll try next time I am near Madrid.
I am exploring whether we can rent a car in Malaga, drive to Gibraltar, then continue on to Sevilla and drop the car off there. Does anyone know if it is possible to pick up a car in one location and deposit it in another in Spain? Thanks again for all the great tips and information.
Posted by
Washington DC
27949 posts
I have never rented a car in Europe, but since no one else has responded: I've seen many references on this forum to car rentals that began in one city and ended in another in the same country. I believe any extra fee for that type of rental would be reasonably minor, but you will not know for sure until you get a quote from one or more car-rental companies. It is often recommended that travelers contact AutoEurope, Kemwel and/or Gemut. They are clearinghouses for European car rentals and sometimes have lower rates than you can get by contacting Hertz, Avis, etc., directly. (Again, I have not done business with any of those companies.)
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Thanks for your input. My daughter has been getting around using a ride share company in Spain called BlaBla Car and we were able to find a rideshare from Malaga to Gibraltar and are working on finding a suitable for the return trip. 2 seats from Malaga to Gibraltar 17 euros. She said to be sure to read the reviews on the drivers
https://www.blablacar.co.uk
Seemed so much better than renting a car and dealing with the hassle + parking, since all the reviewer re: car rental (Hertz, Avis) said that customer service was terrible and the cars were filthy and sales people pushed rental insurance.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5536 posts
Seemed so much better than renting a car and dealing with the hassle + parking, since all the reviewer re: car rental (Hertz, Avis) said that customer service was terrible and the cars were filthy and sales people pushed rental insurance.
I have been renting cars in Spain for many years (Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Budget etc) and have never experienced bad customer service, have never had a dirty car and always refused insurance because I have my own dedicated rental insurance policy. My experience just doesn't fit with what you've written (heard/read). I have seen some of the cars for the cheaper companies and they're the ones that look dirty and damaged. They're also the one's that quote a price of 40 euros for a week only to whack on a load of extras at the counter.
I'm not sure that I'd want to share a car with a complete stranger. I'm not aware of the car share scheme but I would be curious to know if the drivers are licensed, the vehicles insured and guaranteed roadworthy etc.
Posted by
CA, USA
266 posts
We loved the following restaurants in Seville:
https://laazoteasevilla.com/restaurant-santa-cruz/