My husband and I will be in Barcelona for a week at the end of March. A week is too long in Barcelona, so we thought we'd rent a car a toodle around rural NE Spain, maybe go into France. The trains seem prohibitively expensive, and more restrictive. Does anyone know if renting a car and doing your own thing is a scary experience in Spain. Is there parking widely available? Any other advice?
Posted by
Atlanta
3250 posts
We rented a car and drove in northern Spain and it was great! It is a little challenging in some cities to find parking-- in San Sebastian, for example, parking was very expensive. I'd check with your hotel(s) about parking options and the cost.
Posted by
Columbia
2 posts
My last experience in Spain was 2007. I expect the traffic to be somewhat less but still heavy in places. We drove along the mountains in the south and across to northern Spain (Santander). Big jumps are sheaper by air if you book from here.
One option is a Spain/Portugal railpass.
For short trips a bus is a cheaper and easier option but they ignore the no smoking signs in many places.
If you mostly want to see things along the coast in the major cities a train or bus and taxi are best. The traffic along the coast from Alicante to Benidorm was a little tough.
If you want to go out into the country, a rental car is best.
I'm not sure the best way from Barcelona to Monserrat or a nearby Parador but we hope to find out in June.
We loved driving in the country on old roads. If you park and lock the car leave nothing in sight; Spainards all over Spain follow this rule religiously.
Posted by
dallas, tx, usa
1358 posts
If you drive only outside the builtup areas I would rent a car. If you will spend time in larger towns, ride the train.
Based on the experiences of other tourists, parking is becoming more difficult every day.
Trains are more expensive, but I always ask about senior discounts whatever I buy; I am surprised at the number of business who give them, but do not advertise them. I have obtained RR ticket senior discounts several times around the world.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
691 posts
hi Debbie, we did just what you are thinking of doing.
We rented a car for 4 days and toured the costa brava, we went to L'Escala to see the ruins, Figueres, and a all the way to Andorra (not worth it) and then down the penedes region. Driving was fearly easy with a good map, it gaves us a lot of flexibility too. When we got back in Barcelona we left the car at the rental agency and use public transport to tour the city. We had a great trip!