Car hire in Spain...
- Thread starter Virdi
- Start date
Some of them charge on a pick up full, return empty basis, where they then automatically charge you a refuelling charge when you return, at a heavily inflated rate, which makes the car hire initially look cheaper and then suddenly becomes more expensive when you return the car. I think this is more common in Spain - you have to check the terms carefully.
If you go with a major provider you normally pay more up front, but pick up full and return full so have less nasty surprises... Of course you should book before going for the best rates + cashback - try auto-europe for a decent comparison - it's also normally cheaper to book via them as a broker than going direct, and don't forget to buy your own excess insurance instead of paying the car hire company €€€ / day for it.
If you go with a major provider you normally pay more up front, but pick up full and return full so have less nasty surprises... Of course you should book before going for the best rates + cashback - try auto-europe for a decent comparison - it's also normally cheaper to book via them as a broker than going direct, and don't forget to buy your own excess insurance instead of paying the car hire company €€€ / day for it.
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Avoid Goldcar at all costs. Basic price for Madrid, £68...but they will force £60+ insurance & £75 tank of petrol you won't use. Hertz will be less & the upfront cost will be exactly that. Just fill up the tank outside the airport & you're sorted
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How long are you going for and do you NEED a car, the transport system here is pretty great. Are you going to be near the City centre?
Hi..!
We are staying here: Av de Elche, 3 03008 Alicante
But I wanted to drive around to other places - like Benidorm and Torrevieja.
This is the exact thing I am concerned about.
If I take a small car from 'Dickmanns' - They want around £78 for the car - But will sting me for a full tank at the over inflated price of around 90 Euros - and I can bring the car back empty.
If I take a care from someone like Alamo - They are charging around £117 - and I have to return it with as much fuel at it came with.
What do you think?
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Cool, so about 5 mins from the bus station. You can get a bus from Alicante to Benidorm return for just 8.25 (i think) and it takes around 30 mins and it takes you to the top of Benidorm, or 40 mins if you want the one that goes to a stop by the beach. Its pretty much the same time as driving. Just remember its not just the cos of the car rental and petrol.
For example if you take the coastal roads to places like Benidorm and Torrevieja then it will take a lot longer and cost you more in petrol, if you take the motorways then it will be a lot faster but it will cost you to use the road.
The buses and trams are really good, and they run all night (bus not tram). They are really safe to if you get the Alsa bus, and you can travel pretty much anywhere and everywhere.
There are 4 tram stations in Alicante too, they only go north, so places like San Juan, El Campello, Terra Mitica, Altea, Calpe, Denia. The tram is fairly slow though, but very cheap.
If you do go for a car then we normally go Europcar.
Also Spain is a nightmare for parking and that costs a lot too.
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You can get a cards for the tram, bus (local not national, Alsa is national), and you can get an alicante tourist card for the local buses and local tram lines.
I think with the bus you just get a 10 journey card, you can get it from loads of different shops. Saves a little but not loads.
I think with the bus you just get a 10 journey card, you can get it from loads of different shops. Saves a little but not loads.
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Not too, sure, depends where you want to park. We have private under ground parking because we live in the city centre so never had to pay to part anywhere around here.
I got one through Holiday Autos from Record at Alicante Airport.
I grabbed the keys, gave it a quick look to make sure there wasn't a door hanging off. The steering was very heavy for a Fiat Panda but I thought... it is a hire car.
Second day we were there I was driving in Marbella, the heavens had just opened and I spotted some people at a crossing, I touch the brakes at about 35 kph and slid to a halt. "Damn, that road is slippery" I then get to a roundabout and as I pull away I simply couldn't get the power down without lighting up the tyres.
Back at the hotel I check the tyres, both bald and VERY heavily worn on the inside half of the tread. Looking at it end on it looked like it had been 'stanced' as the kids like to call it.
I know I should have taken it back as I was effectively driving illegally but on a one week holiday I didn't want to lose the time.
Holiday Autos were great though and got me double my rental cost back from Record as compensation
No help to you at all though I guess
EDIT- I could be wrong but IIRC when getting a car from the airport they all had full to empty fuel policies. I managed to use 3/4 tank during the week so it wasn't too bad I guess.
I grabbed the keys, gave it a quick look to make sure there wasn't a door hanging off. The steering was very heavy for a Fiat Panda but I thought... it is a hire car.
Second day we were there I was driving in Marbella, the heavens had just opened and I spotted some people at a crossing, I touch the brakes at about 35 kph and slid to a halt. "Damn, that road is slippery" I then get to a roundabout and as I pull away I simply couldn't get the power down without lighting up the tyres.
Back at the hotel I check the tyres, both bald and VERY heavily worn on the inside half of the tread. Looking at it end on it looked like it had been 'stanced' as the kids like to call it.
I know I should have taken it back as I was effectively driving illegally but on a one week holiday I didn't want to lose the time.
Holiday Autos were great though and got me double my rental cost back from Record as compensation
No help to you at all though I guess
EDIT- I could be wrong but IIRC when getting a car from the airport they all had full to empty fuel policies. I managed to use 3/4 tank during the week so it wasn't too bad I guess.
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Hertz, Avis et al do not - or at least give you the option.
Just avoid all the local firms, book online with a major. You know what you are going get that way - and purchase excess protection insurance in the UK for a trivial amount of money.
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thats over 1000 km to Marbella from alicante return, surly you must have used more petrol than that? Fair play if you didnt though... unless it was just one way.
Thing is they charge you up to 50% more than the actual cost of the fuel for that full tank...