Friday, 31 July 2009

Top ten driving tours in Spain

Spain is a diverse country which offers visitors a wealth of things to see and do. From the snow-capped peaks in the north of the country to the Mediterranean temperatures and golden sandy beaches in the south, Spain is one of the world´s top tourist destinations. There is no better way to explore Spain than to hire a car from the airport in Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Alicante, Girona, Oviedo or Valencia and take your time to explore this rich and varied land.



1. Hire a car and explore Catalonia Spain



After the hustle and bustle of downtown Barcelona, take your time to relax and explore the spectacular Costa Brava. Hire a cabriolet or luxury car from Barcelona Airport if you want to travel in style to S´Agaró, and spend some time on the beach before heading to Figueres on the A7 and the E15. Hire car and car rentals in Barcelona, Girona, Figueres and Lloret de Mar is cheap when you pre-book it from the airport. The birthplace of Salvador Dali, you can see the fascinating museum in Figueres which celebrates his life and his art. After Figueres, take the A7 road to Girona, then the Autopista signposted Barcelona-Montmelo, AP7 which will take you to Girona. Enjoy the Roman ruins in Girona and explore the beaches close by. If you are looking for more amazing landscapes, travel from Girona to Cardona via the C16 and the C60. If you want to discover Andorra by hire car, take the C14 route out of town.



2. Ibiza Spain driving tour by rental car



There is no better place to explore by airport hire car than Ibiza. This small island has windy roads, surrounded by olive groves and mountain views that are to die for. Airport car rentals in Ibiza are cheap when pre-booked, and one of the best drives is from San Carlos, with its amazing coastline, to Cala San Vicente. The scenery in Ibiza is stunning, and you can drive through the middle of the island, taking in Es Broll, Santa Gertrudis and Santa Agnes. At Es Broll you will find an amazing freshwater spring, surrounded by incredible scenery. Car hire and car rentals at Ibiza is easy to book before you travel.



3. Driving tour of inland Andalusia Spain



Andalusia in southern Spain is a beautiful region which you can explore at your own leisure when you hire a car from the airport at Malaga, Granada or Seville. Car hire and car rentals at the airports of Andalusia, including Seville, Granada, Malaga and Granada is reasonable and provides the most economic way to discover this diverse area. Set out from Malaga and take the A357 road and A367 to Ronda, which is famous for its 130 metre deep El Tajo Gorge. From Ronda drive your hire car west to Jerez de la Frontera, which is the sherry capital of the world, then north to Seville. When you have explored the delights of Seville, of which there are many, take the Cordoba road via Carmona. Then follow the Olive Oil Route through Jaen to Granada along the E902. Explore the amazing Alhambra Palace in Granada. Take the A92 and the A45 from Granada back to Malaga.



4. Car hire and driving tour Sierra de Guadarrama to Madrid



Drive from the Sierra Guadarrama mountain range to Madrid via Rascafria, along the Rio Lozoya and through the beautiful mountain villages of Ateruelo, Alameda and Pinilla to Lozoya. Pick up your hire car from Madrid and enjoy the journey on to Lozoyuela via the C604. You can then take the NI back to Madrid. Another interesting route is through Segovia and El Escorial, which is home to the stunning Monastery of San Lorenzo Del Escorial. The beauty of cheap car hire and car rental from Madrid Airport is that you can take your time and go where you want when you want.



5. Costa del Sol to Madrid by hire car Spain



The Costa del Sol to Madrid driving tour is among the most popular in Spain. This route takes you and your hire car from Granada to Toledo on the road to Madrid. You will enjoy some majestic scenery along the way, including the amazing Alhambra Palace in Granada. Leaving the Costa del Sol, where you can pick up cheap car hire in Malaga, Marbella, Fuengirola, Benalmadena, Torremolinos, Puerto Banus, Estepona or Sotogrande, you will pass the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. You can hire luxury car hire, convertible car rentals or sports car hire to travel on to Toledo, which is about 70km south of Madrid. Overlooking the River Tagus, Toledo is a medieval city which was once the capital of the Spanish empire. Take advantage of low cost car hire in Madrid, Malaga, Granada, Seville, Huelva and Almeria to make the most of your driving holiday in Spain.



6. Top driving tour of coastal Andalusia Spain



Andalusia is situated in the south of Spain and includes the provinces of Seville, Malaga, Almeria, Cadiz, Granada, Jaen, Cordoba and Huelva, where you can hire cheap car rentals from the airport. Start your tour in Nerja, situated in the east of Andalusia, and enjoy the beaches, the dramatic cliffs and the caves of this vibrant town. Nerja is situated just 50km from Malaga and is situated beside the Mediterranean with winding cobbled streets in the old town to modern bars, restaurants and pavement cafés closer to the coast. From Nerja travel to Malaga where you can enjoy the history, art and culture of this great city. Take the A7 coast road west, and follow signs inland from Fuengirola to visit Mijas Pueblo by hire car. This beautiful white village is perched on a hillside above the Costa del Sol and attracts visitors from all over Europe. If you are looking for a bit more life, drive your hire car or rental car along the A7 to Mijas-Costa, Calahonda, Marbella, Cabopino, Puerto Banus and Estepona, where you will find some of the Costa del Sol´s best sandy beaches, fabulous fish restaurants and a wide range of great things to do for the family.



7. Costa Dorada driving tour Spain



The Costa Dorada is still relatively unspoilt by mass tourism and offers great beaches and seaside towns to explore by hire car. You can book cheap car hire from Barcelona Airport or Tarragona Airport from just €100.00 per week. Take your time to explore and visit the pretty villages of L´Ametilla de Mar, Priorat, Conca de Barbera and Pendes. If hiking and rambling is more your thing, park your hire car up at the Ebro Valley, Costa Dorada. The southern part of the Costa Dorada is often overlooked by tourists, but it is well worth driving round if you have booked your hire car for a few extra days.



8. Driving Tour Costa Blanca Spain



There is much more to the Costa Blanca, Spain than all night partying and fish and chips in Benidorm. The highest concentration of Brits living in Spain choose to live in Alicante where the weather is mild all year round. Book cheap airport car hire from Alicante or Valencia and explore this diverse region for yourself. If you want hustle and bustle, visit Torrevieja, just south of Alicante, which is full of Brit bars, pavement cafés and seafront restaurants. If you are looking for more of the ´real Spain´ take your hire car north of Alicante to Valencia, where you will find culture, history and museums close to some of the best beaches in Spain.



9. Drive Costa Calida Murcia Spain



If you hire car rentals from the airport in Valencia or Alicante, take the time to drive south of the Costa Blanca where you will find Murcia and the Costa Calida. You can visit the incredible cathedral in Murcia and then take advantage of cheap car hire and drive 50km to the coast. Cheap car hire in Los Alcazares, San Javier Airport Murcia, La Manga and Cartagena can all be pre-booked before you travel. Around the coastal regions of Murcia you will find golf developments, European supermarkets and attractive market towns such as Lorca, Caravaca and Mula. Murcia is not over commercialised and still has a very Spanish feel to it and lower property prices than those on the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol.



10. Drive Costa Almeria Andalusia Spain



Driving south along the coast road to Almeria from the coastal towns of Murcia, you will pass the hilly and barren landscapes before you reach Almeria. Airport car hire in Almeria and Murcia is cheap and can be pre-booked before you fly. Plenty of sunshine and vast beaches make Almeria a big pull for ex-pats wanting to relocate in Spain. If you are touring Almeria by cheap hire car from the airport, take your time to explore Huercal-Overa, Mojacar, Carboneras and the Cabo de Gata National Park.

Cheap airport car hire is the best way to rent a car in Spain. Carhire4airports will find you the cheapest available car hire deals and car rentals discounts in Spain and we work with major car hire companies and local car rentals firms including Hertz, Avis, Budget Cars, Niza Cars, Auriga Crown Car Hire, Autos Valls, Crown Car, Duque de Wellington, Car Lease Tenerife, Carambacar, Buga Rent, Benja Rent A Car, Europcar La Coruña, Economy Car Rental, Gold Car Rentals, Menor Car Rent, National Atesa, Opodo, 121 Car Hire, Sol Car, Spain Car Hire, Nova Car Hire and Hispania, and we cover all towns and cities for cheap car hire in Spain including Caceres, Cadiz, Calpe, Caleta de Fuste, Cala D´Or, Cala Blanca, Cala Ratjada, Mataro, Menorca, Majorca, Ibiza Airport, Merida, Mijas, Mojacar, Manresa, Isla Canela, Jandia, Jaen, La Vagueda, Lanzarote, Los Gorriones, Zaragoza, Magalluf, Lugo, Rubi, Puertollano, Vitoria and Vilamoura.

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Thursday, 30 July 2009

20 things to do in Spain

Spain attracts more tourists to its shores than any other country in Europe and the best way to explore this diverse landscape is to hire a car from the airport. You can travel around the open countryside in the north of Spain or hire a convertible car and explore the beaches in summer along The Costa del Sol, The Costa Dorada or The Costa Blanca.



1. The Alhambra in Granada Spain



No trip to Granada is complete without a trip to the Alhambra Palace. This Moorish complex is vast and occupies a large part of the city, so make sure you hire a car from Granada or Malaga Airport and take a few days to explore this fascinating fortress. The Alhambra de Granada is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Europe and if you plan to hire a car in summer and visit the complex, buy tickets in advance. Granada is hotter than the Costa del Sol in summer, so the best way to travel is by air-conditioned hire car from Malaga or Granada Airport.



2. Frank Gehry in Bilbao Spain



You can see Frank Gehry´s futuristic architecture in Barcelona, Bilbao and Malaga. See the amazing Guggenheim Museum near Bilbao, or the huge copper fish on Barcelona Beach or the new conference and convention centre in Malaga. If you check out cheap airport car rentals in Spain, you can visit Bilbao, Malaga and Barcelona during your trip to Spain.



3. Ski the Sierra Nevada Granada Spain



Andalusia is blessed with the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in Granada. The Sierra Nevadas are easy to reach by hire car from Malaga Airport, Granada Airport, Seville, Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Marbella and Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol. Ski season normally runs between November and March. If you intend to travel by cheap airport car hire from Malaga or Granada, combine the Sierra Nevada with the Costa del Sol and you can ski in the morning and sunbathe in the afternoon. Make the most of your Andalusia tour and hire a luxury car from Malaga Airport from just €150.00 per week.



4. Local village fiesta Malaga Seville and Granada



Malaga, Seville and Granada host some of the most flamboyant and colourful fairs and festivals in Spain. You can check with the tourist office when the annual fairs are held, book cheap car rentals from the airport and visit all three on your travels in Spain. Party through the night and enjoy the carnival atmosphere in Andalusia Spain.



5. Parc Guell Barcelona Spain



Of all the amazing buildings designed by Antoni Gaudi, Parc Guell in Barcelona, Spain is one of the most spectacular. The park is home to several buildings and sculptures which feature Gaudi´s well known broken-tile style. Parc Guell Barcelona is a great place to visit by car hire. If you have booked airport car hire, luxury car hire or airport car rentals, take your time to explore the Parc Guell in Barcelona, Spain. You won´t be disappointed.



6. Tapas Tour Barcelona



There is no better way to enjoy Barcelona then to wander around the vibrant streets and stop off at tapas bars on the way. You can pre-book cheap car hire from Barcelona Airport and drive to your hotel or apartment before taking a stroll around the city. Specialities include fresh fish, omelettes, seafood and rice varieties, washed down with sangria and fine Spanish wines. You can hire a small car from Barcelona Airport from just €90.00 per week.



7. Café life Spain



Every Spanish village, town and city has numerous cafés, bars and restaurants where you can relax, enjoy a coffee or a glass of Rioja and watch the world go by. Along with over 320 average days of sunshine a year in the south of Spain, it is little wonder Northern Europeans flock to Spain every year. Enjoy the area and the villages around Spain and book cheap car rentals at the airport. You can still hire a car in Spain from just €90.00 per week.



8. Dali in Figueres Spain



Visit the Salvadore Dali Museum in Figueres, Spain. Take a trip by hire car or rental car from the airport in Girona, Barcelona or Tarragona and explore the beautiful Costa Dorada, close to the Museum. The Salvadore Dali Museum/Mausoleum is one of the highlights of visiting northern Spain. If you are visiting Figueres or the Costa Dorada in Summer, hire a sports car or a convertible car to make the most of the hot days and nights.



9. Flamenco Spain



You can´t visit Spain without feeling the passion and colour of Flamenco. Granada and Seville in Andalusia are the best places to experience flamenco music and dance at its best, and if you pre-book cheap car hire from the airport, you can visit both provinces to see music and dance at its best. Flamenco bars and restaurants can be found in Seville and Granada city centres, but take your time to find out where the locals go for an authentic flamenco experience.



10. Art in Spain



Art-lovers from all over the world flock to Spain to enjoy such wonderful exhibitions as those at the Miró Foundation, Barcelona, Goya in Madrid and Picasso´s Guernica at the Reina Sofia in Madrid. Visit the Picasso foundation in the Malaga, the home place of Picasso. Cheap car hire will enable you to travel around Spain and enjoy the exhibitions of art in different cities. Luxury car hire and sports car hire is also available from Madrid Airport and Barcelona Airport if you want to explore the region in style.



11. Ronda Gorge and Ronda Views Spain



Perched high above the Mediterranean is the intriguing old town of Ronda. With a magnificent bridge spanning a gorge which separates the old and new towns, Ronda offers spectacular views over the mountains and open countryside. Also with the oldest bullring in Spain and some of the best tapas bars in the region, Ronda is a must-see town. If you are visiting Ronda from the Costa del Sol, it will take you approximately 1 hour by hire car from Marbella, Puerto Banus and Estepona. Also visit the Roman Baths at Ronda.



12. The Grand Mosque Cordoba



The Grand Mosque at Cordoba is a stunning sight. The first part of the mosque was built in 796AD, and the last parts added in 1000AD. Take your time to explore Cordoba by luxury hire car or economy hire car which you can pre-book at the airport. If you are planning to get married in Cordoba, you can even hire a wedding car in Cordoba.



13. Do the Pueblos Blancos



Do the white village tour and visit Andalusia´s oldest regions. Whitewashed houses sit on cobbled streets overlooking squares with fountains and ancient churches. One of Andalusia´s most famous white villages is Mijas, which by hire car from Malaga Airport is just 30 minutes drive. Every village has different attractions and by visiting the pueblos blancos by hire car, you can fully explore the areas around the region.



14. Football in Spain



Home to Barcelona and Real Madrid, the Nou Camp Stadium and the Bernabeu Stadium are well worth visiting if you are a footie fan. If you want to book tickets to see FC Barcelona or Real Madrid, book well in advance, or you might settle for a stadium tour which can also be pre-booked. Arrange cheap airport car rentals in Barcelona or Madrid, and you can make the most of your time in these amazing cities. If you are travelling around on a football tour, it is also worth hiring a car at the airport and visiting Valencia, Seville and Valladolid.



15. Running with the Bulls Pamplona Spain



The Fiesta de San Fermin is held annually in Pamplona, and you don´t have to run with the bulls to enjoy the fun. A week-long festival is held in the town and you can party till dawn. Bulls are released into the narrow streets of Pamplona and the brave (or stupid) participants run alongside or in front of these massive animals. Many runners are injured every year, and this festival is not for the faint-hearted. If you fancy a week in Pamplona, take advantage of cheap car hire from the airport and book early if you are visiting during the festival in July.



16. Rambling along Las Ramblas Barcelona Spain



There is no better way to enjoy Barcelona than to take your time and stroll along the main street, Las Ramblas. Pick up cheap car rental at Barcelona Airport and you can be in the city within half an hour. Las Ramblas is a pedestrianised street with entertainers, pavement cafés and hundreds of restaurant and bars to keep you refreshed. Also boasting a pier and an excellent indoor shopping centre, you can enjoy Las Ramblas, Barcelona at any time of the year.



17. Adventure in Tenerife



The Mount Teide Park in Tenerife is one of the most rugged areas on the island. View the exquisite rock formations and if you are feeling fit, walk or hike around the area with its beautiful landscape and spectacular scenery. If you are touring around Tenerife, book cheap car rentals from the Tenerife Airport and take your time to explore the island. Tenerife is diverse and offers visitors a wealth of things to see and do.



18. El Rastro Madrid Spain



El Rastro is the most popular open-air flea market in Spain, and opens every Sunday and bank holiday. Visitors to El Rastro can pick up bargain clothes, shoes, leather goods, handicrafts, ceramics, electrical goods and a range of souvenirs to take home. Cheap car hire in Madrid can be pre-booked from Madrid Barajas Airport, so that you can make the most of this vibrant area. Bag a bargain and take it home on the plane – most of the stallholders are happy to wrap up your purchases.



19. Golf Valderrama Spain



Valderrama Golf Course is undoubtedly the most glamorous golf course on Spain´s Costa del Sol. Valderrama hosts the Volvo Masters Tournament every year, and also hosted the Ryder Cup in 1997. If you are not quite up to a round at Valderrama, the Costa del Sol has over 60 more golf courses to suit all standards and budgets. Hire a car in Marbella, Estepona or Sotogrande and you can play the different courses along the coast.



20. Selwo Park Estepona Spain



Situated close to the town of Estepona on the Costa del Sol, Selwo Parque Aventura offers visitors the chance to see hippos, rhinos, lions, tigers, bears and smaller animals living in a semi-free environment. You can walk around half of the park and then safari-style open air buses will transport you around the larger animal enclosures. A great family day out and Selwo is within easy reach by economy hire car or sports car hire of all resorts on the Costa del Sol including Estepona, San Pedro, Marbella, Puerto Banus, Fuengirola and Mijas-Costa.

Car hire in Spain is easy to book and easy to pay for with carhire4airports. We offer cheap car hire in every airport, town and city in Spain, including Pineda de Mar, Playa de Palma, Novo Sancti Petri, Chiclana, Murcia, Muelle de Ribera, Sotogrande, Valladolid, Lloret de Mar, Torrevieja, Alicante, Pamplona Airport, Palma de Mallorca Airport, Sabadell, Salamanca, Salou, Reus, Puerto Pollensa, Santa Ponsa, Santander Airport, San Baudillo, Ibiza Airport, Granada Airport, Menorca, L´illa Diagonal, Logrono, Lorca, Lucena, Cordoba, Lanzarote, Majadahonda, Martorell and Mojacar and we work with major car hire companies and local car hire companies including Avis, Cart Son Castello, Budget Cars, Crown Car, Europcar La Coruña, Hertz, Esalfe, Economy Car Rental, Galaxi, Kart Care Motor Sport, Record Rent A Car, 121 Car Hire, Opodo, Auriga, Nova Car Hire, Prestige Car Hire, Tenerife Car Hire, Autos Nilo and Anecar Rent A Car.

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