Spain

Taking the right hire car

If you are planning long tours across the country, you should go for a larger and comfortable hire car. If, on the other hand, you want to venture into the turbulent city traffic of the metropolises, the hire car cannot be small enough. Because only with a small car you have a good chance to find a parking space.

Insuring the car properly

The proverbial temperament of the Spaniards does not stop at the driving style. An accident can happen quickly.

With a fully comprehensive insurance without deductible, you are well insured if it times bangs. With liability, you should pay attention to the amount of coverage.

It should be at least one million euros, so that you have some protection even in major accidents.

If the sum insured of your rental company seems to be too low, you can take out a so-called Mallorca policy for additional protection. This is not only valid on the island of love of the Germans but in all of Spain. Your insurance company will be happy to advise you.

Accessories

A good navigation device can make a trip through Spain much easier. And if children are going on holiday with you, suitable child seats need to be ordered. Reserve the accessories you want well in advance so that your rental company will have things ready when you pick up the car.

Free kilometers

If you only want to explore one Spanish city and its nearest surroundings, you may be able to rent a cheaper car where the kilometers are limited. However, if you want to explore large parts of the country, you should always go for a hire car where all the kilometres are free.

Bail

Make sure that the credit limit on your credit card is sufficient to pay the deposit due. And if possible, only book with rental companies that only block the deposit.

If the amount is actually charged, you may have to wait longer before the money is transferred back

Suggestion for a trip by hire car in Northern Spain

Actually, in Catalonia you are navigating a separate state that is not really part of Spain at all.

At least that’s how many Catalans see it, who have always felt they belong more to France and Italy than to mainland Spain. This is also expressed in the language.

In Catalonia, the language spoken is not Spanish, but Catalan. This dialect is much more like Provençal than Spanish. But don’t worry, Spanish and English will get you everywhere.

Hikers are drawn to the mountains

Hikers and climbers will be happy in the Pyrenees. In the only national park in Catalonia, the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici, nature lovers get their money’s worth. But also the many small towns in the hinterland are worth a visit. Here you can still get to know unadulterated Spanish life.

However, you should not choose the early afternoon for a visit. Then the siesta takes place and it is sacred to many Spaniards. The shops are closed and especially the small towns seem to be deserted.

Sun worshippers love the wild coast
The Costa Brava has a battered reputation. It was one of the first destinations to be discovered for mass tourism. Tourists invaded in droves on buses and planes.

Unbridled building boom followed. But even in this region, there are still the small hidden beaches that offer solitude and tranquility. Your sense of discovery is called for. Follow the coastal road. Choose the small roads that lead to places that are not in the travel guide and let yourself be surprised. After all, with a hire car you are unbound.

Barcelona – fascinating culture in a vibrant city
An absolute highlight is Barcelona, capital of the province of Catalonia. But before you plunge into the city bustle, you should first park your hire car. Even though Barcelona has become safer in recent years, it is advisable to leave your hire car in the parking garage.

Now you’re ready to go. First, stroll along the Ramblas, the city’s major pedestrian street, and soak up the atmosphere. Stop into a small bodega and enjoy a glass of cava and the irresistible tapas, small bites with great taste.

So fortified, you can now turn your attention to the cultural richness of the city. Be sure to visit the impressive Sagrada Familia church. It was designed by Antoni Gaudí, who is considered the most important representative of modernism.

Gaudí also designed many other buildings and parks. If you stroll through the city with your eyes open, you will encounter him at every turn. A true son of the city is artist Joan Miró, whose museum is another highlight. Miró is considered one of the leading exponents of surrealism.

The journey is the destination – and the night is not for sleeping alone
Barcelona offers such a variety of cultural attractions that many visitors fail to truly experience the city’s appeal. Rather, pick a few cultural highlights and let yourself drift.

Stroll the streets and feel the pulse of the city. And don’t go to bed too early. Like everywhere else in Spain, the real life in Barcelona doesn’t wake up until after 9 p.m.

In the trendy bars, things often don’t get going until after midnight.

You should allow at least two days to visit Barcelona. But at some point it will be time to turn your back on the city and continue your Spain road trip south.