Terrified to drive from Barcelona Airport north-should I be?
Mar 13th, 2010, 08:49 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Terrified to drive from Barcelona Airport north-should I be?
Our flight will arrive from the US into Barcelona at 9AM Friday, May 7. We are hoping to rent a car at the airport and drive just far enough to get out of the congestion and stay in a nice place for the evening before heading to Sarlat the next day, the 8th. Normally we would not rent a car after an overnight flight, but we will be leaving 3 weeks later out of Barcelona and want to explore the Costa Brava on the way back and don't want to rent car in France and drop off in spain. Does anyone have experience driving from Barcelona airport and can you recommend a nice small, easy to get in and out of place to stay our first night?
Mar 13th, 2010, 10:17 AM
#4
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The highway system around the airport is great and quite modern and far enough south of the city so that traffic might be a lot less congested than you are otherwise used to.
The actual driver in this case has no reason to be afraid IMO
The actual driver in this case has no reason to be afraid IMO
Mar 13th, 2010, 10:40 AM
#6
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've driven a good deal in Spain, and it's been very pleasant. The roads were good, and there wasn't much traffic.
How about staying the night at Girona, which is 60 miles north of Barcelona? Or in Sitges, which is 25 miles south?
How about staying the night at Girona, which is 60 miles north of Barcelona? Or in Sitges, which is 25 miles south?
Mar 13th, 2010, 11:05 AM
#7
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 8,247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's very easy to use the motorways around Barcelona.
If you want to go North to France, just follow signs for Girona, and later for Girona / França. Don't follow signs for Barcelona (unless they are in the same direction as for Girona).
You will by-pass Barcelona's city center using freeways only, and won't have to drive on city streets.
If you see signs for "Totes Direccions" that means literally "All directions" but designates the main route as signs for "thru traffic" do in the US.
Have a few Euros in reach to pay for the tolls, and take the correct lane for paying with cash which are designated "Manual".
Don't leave the tolled motorways at exits to look for restaurants or rest areas. There are service areas with gas stations and restaurants along AP-7 in regular intervals (every 20-30kms), designated with the letter "S" and the name of the service area. You will also see pictographs with a gas pump, knife&fork, etc., and the opening hours (mostly 24hrs) on the signs.
If you want to go North to France, just follow signs for Girona, and later for Girona / França. Don't follow signs for Barcelona (unless they are in the same direction as for Girona).
You will by-pass Barcelona's city center using freeways only, and won't have to drive on city streets.
If you see signs for "Totes Direccions" that means literally "All directions" but designates the main route as signs for "thru traffic" do in the US.
Have a few Euros in reach to pay for the tolls, and take the correct lane for paying with cash which are designated "Manual".
Don't leave the tolled motorways at exits to look for restaurants or rest areas. There are service areas with gas stations and restaurants along AP-7 in regular intervals (every 20-30kms), designated with the letter "S" and the name of the service area. You will also see pictographs with a gas pump, knife&fork, etc., and the opening hours (mostly 24hrs) on the signs.
Mar 13th, 2010, 12:14 PM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is great information and has really eased my mind tremendously! I was beginning to think I had been over zealous on our itinerary. And Peg, Girona looks like a lovely place...is it difficult to get in and out of traffic wise?
Mar 13th, 2010, 12:17 PM
#9
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,629
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've heard very good things about Girona and no one has commented on difficulty to get in and out. It would be wise not to drive any farther than that if you are coming off a long-haul flight and are unfamiliar with the area.
Mar 13th, 2010, 03:57 PM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you are considering using the same car during your vacation, I'd like to suggest getting a TT lease/purchase car from Renault or Citroen. I've used Renault several times so far and my next trip is all arranged. You contract with the manufacturer to 'buy' the car you select (many models) and the price includes everything (license, insurance, everything except flats or running out of gas)and Unlimited mileage! Even better, you pay in US dollars, not euros so the savings is even greater.
They do offer pick up/drop off for an additional charge, and they can supply the car (brand new, from factory, with less than 10 km on the car, for testing purposes only) for a couple dundred dollars over the price of the car in Paris.
You can return it to Barcelona as well so it's yours for 21 days (the minimum rental period).
You can do all the pricing and model availability (they don't build the car until it's ordered) online at www.renaultusa.com
Some care are available in diesel (best choice--incredible mileage--or automatic transmission--which rental cars are not always available in Europe).
I've not been to Girona but it's one of the places I'd like to go. If you're at all interested in art, there's a Salvador Dali museum between Barcelona and France also.
As far as driving, the pay highways are wonderful things and well worth the cost. Just remember the fast lane is ALWAYS for passing, so keep to the left as much as possible. Someone blinks their lights, pull over so they can pass. In FRance the speed limit is 70/90/130 km, depending on road conditions and weather. Excellent sign posting--when I come back to Los Angeles and have to drive local freeways (ha!) it's depressing. Fuel is available along the peages but once you have confidence, look for supermarkets (usually close to a major route) as they have fuel for 5 oto 10 euros the litre less than the stations.
Your credit card won't work because it won't have the chip in it that French cards have.
And as info: when I first went to France (2000) I was over 50 and never been out of the US. I picked up a rental car in Perpignan (just north of the Spanish border on the Med) around midnight and managed to drive (thank goodness for good directions from the woman I rented the house from!) to Mirepoix (160km). Since then I've gotten a car on each trip and while I allow myself a few anxieties (I'm human) I have had no problems.
Also: The TT facilities (which at Orly serves Renault and Citroen) have people who speak English, since the special offers are only for people outside of Europe. When you land, they'll come and pick you up to take you to their facility which will be a little ways from the terminal.
Whatever you choose, I know you'll have a wonderful time.
They do offer pick up/drop off for an additional charge, and they can supply the car (brand new, from factory, with less than 10 km on the car, for testing purposes only) for a couple dundred dollars over the price of the car in Paris.
You can return it to Barcelona as well so it's yours for 21 days (the minimum rental period).
You can do all the pricing and model availability (they don't build the car until it's ordered) online at www.renaultusa.com
Some care are available in diesel (best choice--incredible mileage--or automatic transmission--which rental cars are not always available in Europe).
I've not been to Girona but it's one of the places I'd like to go. If you're at all interested in art, there's a Salvador Dali museum between Barcelona and France also.
As far as driving, the pay highways are wonderful things and well worth the cost. Just remember the fast lane is ALWAYS for passing, so keep to the left as much as possible. Someone blinks their lights, pull over so they can pass. In FRance the speed limit is 70/90/130 km, depending on road conditions and weather. Excellent sign posting--when I come back to Los Angeles and have to drive local freeways (ha!) it's depressing. Fuel is available along the peages but once you have confidence, look for supermarkets (usually close to a major route) as they have fuel for 5 oto 10 euros the litre less than the stations.
Your credit card won't work because it won't have the chip in it that French cards have.
And as info: when I first went to France (2000) I was over 50 and never been out of the US. I picked up a rental car in Perpignan (just north of the Spanish border on the Med) around midnight and managed to drive (thank goodness for good directions from the woman I rented the house from!) to Mirepoix (160km). Since then I've gotten a car on each trip and while I allow myself a few anxieties (I'm human) I have had no problems.
Also: The TT facilities (which at Orly serves Renault and Citroen) have people who speak English, since the special offers are only for people outside of Europe. When you land, they'll come and pick you up to take you to their facility which will be a little ways from the terminal.
Whatever you choose, I know you'll have a wonderful time.
Mar 13th, 2010, 05:03 PM
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
sfgirl, the TT program sounds great but we will turn in the car the last 5 days for Barcelona so we won't have the min. number of days..good info though, we'll remember that about supermarket gas!
Mar 17th, 2010, 03:04 AM
#13
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you're coming from the US, check out Avis--I've gotten very good rates and service from them, and they have various discounts (I used AARP and saved about 15 percent.
Something I forgot to mention before: French law now requires each car to have an emergency flasher and a reflective vest...Make sure they provide it in the car.
Any traffic fines (in France) are payable...immediately. So if you're stopped and don't have the necessary safety equipment, you'll have to pay the fine.
I got a speeding ticket one time and had to leave my passport and drivers license with the gendarme and drive back into the closest town and find a shop that sold the special 'stamps', then drive back and present them to the gendarme (on the form he gave me). He was very polite about it, and I was speeding (not paying attention in an urban area) but it cost about 120 euros....I didn't feel all that stupid as there were a lot of French drivers getting pulled over as well...
cheers
Something I forgot to mention before: French law now requires each car to have an emergency flasher and a reflective vest...Make sure they provide it in the car.
Any traffic fines (in France) are payable...immediately. So if you're stopped and don't have the necessary safety equipment, you'll have to pay the fine.
I got a speeding ticket one time and had to leave my passport and drivers license with the gendarme and drive back into the closest town and find a shop that sold the special 'stamps', then drive back and present them to the gendarme (on the form he gave me). He was very polite about it, and I was speeding (not paying attention in an urban area) but it cost about 120 euros....I didn't feel all that stupid as there were a lot of French drivers getting pulled over as well...
cheers
Mar 17th, 2010, 06:38 AM
#15
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,629
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just to add to Pvoyageuse's statement--it is 130 on the autoroutes but not if it's bad weather (rain, snow), then the limit drops to 110.
Watch out while on autoroutes going through built-up areas, the speed limit can suddenly drop to 90 (it will be posted). I was "done" for going 101 in a 90 km/h zone--fined 60 euro.
Watch out while on autoroutes going through built-up areas, the speed limit can suddenly drop to 90 (it will be posted). I was "done" for going 101 in a 90 km/h zone--fined 60 euro.
Mar 17th, 2010, 07:05 AM
#16
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You might want to consider stopping at Figueretes on the way North. The Dali Museum here is way better than the one in Barcelona and worth the visit. It's a handy stopping place on the way North.
