I love a good road trip. Some of my best memories during my 2 years in Spain were on road trips. Two of the big road trips I did was a trip throughout the South during Semana Santa, and a trip from Bilbao to the edge of Galicia. So the next time you have the weekend off, consider renting a car and hitting the road!
1. Do your rental car research
There are tons and tons of rental car companies in Spain, so you'll need to do some research. Some of the top companies are PepeCar, EuroCar, Sixt, and Hertz. My favorite company is Sixt, as they've always had great customer service and you can get compact cars pretty cheap. Make sure you figure out how big the cars are, how many miles to the gallon, and if it's a manual or automatic. Most cars in Europe are manual, so make sure you know how to drive a stick, or know someone who can. Getting an automatic will bump up the price significantly. I have never had problems renting a car with just a valid US license, but that may vary depending on the company. You can get an international license from AAA in the States, but if you've been in the EU for two years or more, you're now required to have a European license. Just ask Cat.
2. Find some friends
It's pretty simple: the more people you have in your car, the more people you have to split the cost of the car and gas. Renting a car can be a really cheap option if you're with a group of four or five people. Since gas is quite expensive in Spain (although the US is getting there, let me tell you), you'll want as many people as you can squeeze in the vehicle. Another hint: make sure someone in your party is 25, as it can be more expensive to rent a car if you're under 25.
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| Pack 'em in! |
3. Just because you don't see the cop doesn't mean you're not getting a ticket
This was a lesson learned the hard way. I'm not exactly sure how it works, but I haven't seen many Spanish cops pulling over people on the side of the road for speeding. However, they do have radars set up that clock your speed, and they'll send you a ticket if you're over the limit. They will even send the ticket to your house in the States if they can't find you in Spain. The one time the Spanish Government is ahead of the game.
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| Sometimes, you'll luck out with a REALLY sweet ride |
4. Consider parking outside the city
Spanish streets are narrow. Much more narrow than in the States. When you get in the old parts of the town, the roads are so narrow you can barely get anything bigger than a Mini Cooper through the winding streets. You'll just get frustrated, especially if you don't know where you're going. If possible, try and park your car outside of the city and take public transportation in. This will save you a lot of stress.
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| Would you really want to drive a car through these streets? |
5. Be flexible
The best part of renting a car is the flexibility. No train or bus schedules you have to keep in the back of your mind, no early morning if you don't want them. Get lost, explore little villages that seem interesting, drive around in circles. This is where you'll make the best memories of your trip.
Originally posted 4.6.13
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