Car hire in Spain

ManAtHome

I've used doyouspain many times and will stick with them until they screw up.

Did use a heavily-recommended german outfit once when doyou didn't have anything - never again. They spent around half an hour shuffling through various bits of paper after waiting 20 minutes while they shuffled through bits of paper for the previous customers. Apparently neither of us had actually booked, but out of the kindness of their hearts they'd let us pay same the same for an old (possibly staff pool) car.

MrSmartprice

We have used carjet several times without any problems. At Valencia we have been allocated a car with Europa Goldcar through them the last twice, and it has been fine.

Valencia is a decent airport to get away from. We use it frequently as it is usually cheap to get there from Coventry on Thomsonfly. The car hire offices are all in the arrivals hall, so it's best if one waits for the luggage while the other (main driver) goes ahead and gets the car.

If you want any info on Valencia, getting about etc, just post a reply or PM me.

hot_chick_2

We always hire with doyouspain.com they are good you don't have to pay till you pick up the car and they are the cheapest.:j

Beamish

We to use Europa Goldcar regularly and they are very good.

A few pointers for you:-

Yes, I also suggest one gets luggage whilst other goes to car rental

Buy a Yellow Jacket over here and put in hand luggage as you need to have it showing in the rental car (not all rental car co's provide the fluro jacket

Take off the car rental sticker as it only advertises that your a tourist

Valencia airport in a bit of a mess at the mo but directions are good for getting out of there

As you come out of arrivals, opposite the coffee shop is a Valencia Tourist Booth which is good for info

Valencia is a no smoking airport so if you smoke suggest when you return you check in, buy newspaper in shop by departures and then go back down stairs to the coffe shop, you can then pop out for a ciggie, we go back upstairs about 45 mins before departure

Make sure you have change in Euros for any tolls you have to go through

You will love the Valencia region, just remember your not allowed to pick a orange/lemon off a tree! but its alright to pick a windfall.

As you can probably guess we fly to Valencia regularly (our other home is in Gandia), I really hope you enjoy it.

Being very Nosey where are you heading for!

If I can help further please let me know

Babs

rbulph

Ryanair car rental seems to be very cheap (as low as half the price of its competitors). Are they OK?

supersub_3

Thanks for all that, everybody - plenty for me to think about! We had been planning to use public transport to get to our destination, but all flights are too late/too early, so we decided to hire a car as Spain is one of the few countries where it is affordable.
We're staying in Peniscola, Babs (no jokes about the name, please...) in the holiday home of a Spanish family with whom we are doing a house swap. So here's my return tip for everyone who has been helpful: if you haven't tried house swapping, what have you been waiting for?!

girl35

Hi
I have had a look at most of these sites but does anyone know which one will actually have the car at the airport and not off site. We did use Record last year who were fine - upgraded car clean and good nick and good prices. The problem is they are on an industrial part of valencia out of the airport and a pain to get out of and getting back for the return when you don't know the roads or area was really fun!!!
I have looked at valencia airport's website but they still don't state which ones are held there!!
Any advice welcome....................

bestyman

Hi,
I hired a car at Valencia airport in May . I used sol mar which was book through www.easycar.com . It was the cheapest quote ( believe me I compared many) for a citroen xsara piccasso. They did the full to empty scam but it was returned almost empty anyhow as staying near benidorm . Sol mar is not at the airport but a short mini bus ride away. I took a tomtom sat nav and stored the location so finding it wasnt an issue but even without sat nav it lookes simple enough and they even providede directions and a map in english .
At Valancia airport there was a big hire company and I think it was Avis.
My advise is with the money you save on hire put it towards a tomtom with spanish mapping.
Mark

supersub_3

Everybody gave me such useful advice when I started this thread earlier this year that I thought it would be good to follow up with some feedback in case it is useful to others.
As recommended by several people, we booked and paid in advance via carjet, which was very simple and straightforward. They set us up with a car through Centauro.
On arrival at Valencia airport, collection was dead easy: the main car hire companies have offices that face both ways - into and away from the arrivals area, where you can see the baggage carousel - so we did everything while waiting for our luggage to appear, which speeded things up.
There were five of us and we had requested a Renault Kangoo, but were upgraded to a Ford Focus C-Max, which meant nothing to me but is a Scenic-style version of the Focus. As it turns out, my wife liked it so much that she wants us to buy one! We were offered extra windscreen/underbody/tyre insurance, but there was no hard sell and it didn't cost much. Apart from that, there was just the tank of diesel to pay for - and it was much cheaper than I expected at 55 euros.
When we got out of the arrivals hall, we found the car easily in a car rental compound a minute's walk away. The car was almost new, and was equipped with the required warning triangles and high-visibility jackets.
As it turned out, the fuel tank held just enough for our entire trip. On our return, the warning light went on just as we turned off the motorway on the approach to the airport!
All in all, a great experience - and all thanks to the good people of MSE. Thanks to all of you!