Having a rental car parked for three nights in Granada..
May 11th, 2013, 04:20 PM
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Having a rental car parked for three nights in Granada..
We plan to rent a car in June, to drive from Sevilla to Ronda (2 nights lodging), then Ronda to Granada (3 nights lodging), then Nerja (2 nights lodging.)
Originally, I planned the trip thinking we;'d travel by bus and train everywhere, so booked lodging accordingly in the center of these towns. However, I prefer to be in town even if we have a car, so we don't have to drive in every day...
However, that means we pay for parking lots/garages.
My main concern is Granada, where we'll be for three nights. We're staying in an apartment in the Albaicin. I understand there's a parking garage nearby.. My concern is the cost,of parking the car, however when we won't even be using it those 2 days in Granada.
Should we keep the car parked for three nights, or should we consider dropping the car off in Granada and renting again when we leave for Nerja? Which would be more cost-effective?
Also- we are staying in Sevilla for one week before, with no car. On our last day there, however, we'd like to rent the car and drive to Cordoba for the day, then drive back to Sevilla and park at the parking lot near the Maria Luisa park (it's the closest one to our rental apt.) We'd park it for one night, then the next morning, we leave for Ronda.
Is that a good idea? We thought it would be cheaper than the train for all three of us, and give us the freedom to explore around Cordoba more, and on the way back...
I'm also curious about the area around the Maria Luisa park -is that a safe lot? Are the public lots, in general, manned or monitored, and are they relatively safe? (In terms of theft and petty crime..) We will have our luggage with us and not in the car, except when we're traveling from town to town...
Thank you for your advice! I hope this is not too long-winded or confusing!
Originally, I planned the trip thinking we;'d travel by bus and train everywhere, so booked lodging accordingly in the center of these towns. However, I prefer to be in town even if we have a car, so we don't have to drive in every day...
However, that means we pay for parking lots/garages.
My main concern is Granada, where we'll be for three nights. We're staying in an apartment in the Albaicin. I understand there's a parking garage nearby.. My concern is the cost,of parking the car, however when we won't even be using it those 2 days in Granada.
Should we keep the car parked for three nights, or should we consider dropping the car off in Granada and renting again when we leave for Nerja? Which would be more cost-effective?
Also- we are staying in Sevilla for one week before, with no car. On our last day there, however, we'd like to rent the car and drive to Cordoba for the day, then drive back to Sevilla and park at the parking lot near the Maria Luisa park (it's the closest one to our rental apt.) We'd park it for one night, then the next morning, we leave for Ronda.
Is that a good idea? We thought it would be cheaper than the train for all three of us, and give us the freedom to explore around Cordoba more, and on the way back...
I'm also curious about the area around the Maria Luisa park -is that a safe lot? Are the public lots, in general, manned or monitored, and are they relatively safe? (In terms of theft and petty crime..) We will have our luggage with us and not in the car, except when we're traveling from town to town...
Thank you for your advice! I hope this is not too long-winded or confusing!
May 11th, 2013, 05:09 PM
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Only you can figure out which options makes more sense - it dependson on which agency and which car you are using.
However, when we have parked in a garage it has been no more than 30 euros per night - and I think it likely that splitting into 2 shorter rentals would probably not save much if anything.
However, when we have parked in a garage it has been no more than 30 euros per night - and I think it likely that splitting into 2 shorter rentals would probably not save much if anything.
May 11th, 2013, 05:41 PM
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Ok, my query re: Granada might be irrelevant, as my husband just informed me that the apartment in Granada actually offers a private garage space! I had forgotten all about this, because I had planned on taking the train there.
So, we just e-mailed the agency and asked about reserving the garage space. Hopefully, it's still available. Hopefully, we won't wreck the car trying to drive through tiny narrow streets in Albaicin.
bobthenavigator, if I didn't stand to lose the deposit on the apt. rental in Granada, I would do that! - it also looks like a great apartment! I hate to lose it.. and the deposit money.
Hopefully, the garage space will be available too, for us.
If that's the case, I apologize for taking your time, everyone! But thank you for reading and for your answers.
So, we just e-mailed the agency and asked about reserving the garage space. Hopefully, it's still available. Hopefully, we won't wreck the car trying to drive through tiny narrow streets in Albaicin.
bobthenavigator, if I didn't stand to lose the deposit on the apt. rental in Granada, I would do that! - it also looks like a great apartment! I hate to lose it.. and the deposit money.
Hopefully, the garage space will be available too, for us.
If that's the case, I apologize for taking your time, everyone! But thank you for reading and for your answers.
Jul 3rd, 2013, 08:39 PM
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Hi Momddtravel, sure!
We stayed in this apt., Bamberg, in Sevilla through Sevilla5, an easy agency to deal with.
http://www.sevilla5.com/apartments/seville.html
The apartment looked exactly like it does in the photos, and the terrace is great. Less than 5 minutes to Plaza Alfalfa and the Cathedral in the other direction.
In Ronda, we stayed here:
http://www.apartamentoslaermita.com/
The booking is through booking.com and we had no problems. However, the manager (owner?) speaks NO English, fyi. My Spanish is very, very basic but we did manage to communicate, and despite the language barrier, he gave us some very helpful suggestions on places to eat in Ronda - which apparently closes up for the night at 9 pm. For that reason, I did not like staying overnight in Ronda. If I had to do it again, I'd day-trip from Nerja (which was just gorgeous and laid back) or stay one night only.
Our place in Granada was in the lower Albaicin and it was my favorite place:
http://www.granadainfo.com/palmera/index.htm
We stayed in Casa Romero. Again, the place looked exactly like in the photos, but even more gorgeous in person. The terrace overlooks the Alhambra across the river. For less than 100 euros a night. The owner, Ignacio, is very charming and helpful. He lives next door and if yoi book Romero, you'll get to share the use of the (very cold, but refreshing) pool with his family. They used it mostly in the evening, and we used it midday.
The only problem at all with this place is taxis will not go down the street it's on, but will let you off a short distance away, and it's a short walk there, but uphill. So make sure you have wheeled luggage and not so much.
We stayed in this hotel in Nerja: (couldn't find a rental for just two nights): http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...Andalucia.html
Hope that helps! We went last month but May should be better, weather-wise. We loved Andalusia, this was one of our best trips, hands-down. Beautiful cities and landscapes, friendly, vibrant people. Hope you have a great trip!
We stayed in this apt., Bamberg, in Sevilla through Sevilla5, an easy agency to deal with.
http://www.sevilla5.com/apartments/seville.html
The apartment looked exactly like it does in the photos, and the terrace is great. Less than 5 minutes to Plaza Alfalfa and the Cathedral in the other direction.
In Ronda, we stayed here:
http://www.apartamentoslaermita.com/
The booking is through booking.com and we had no problems. However, the manager (owner?) speaks NO English, fyi. My Spanish is very, very basic but we did manage to communicate, and despite the language barrier, he gave us some very helpful suggestions on places to eat in Ronda - which apparently closes up for the night at 9 pm. For that reason, I did not like staying overnight in Ronda. If I had to do it again, I'd day-trip from Nerja (which was just gorgeous and laid back) or stay one night only.
Our place in Granada was in the lower Albaicin and it was my favorite place:
http://www.granadainfo.com/palmera/index.htm
We stayed in Casa Romero. Again, the place looked exactly like in the photos, but even more gorgeous in person. The terrace overlooks the Alhambra across the river. For less than 100 euros a night. The owner, Ignacio, is very charming and helpful. He lives next door and if yoi book Romero, you'll get to share the use of the (very cold, but refreshing) pool with his family. They used it mostly in the evening, and we used it midday.
The only problem at all with this place is taxis will not go down the street it's on, but will let you off a short distance away, and it's a short walk there, but uphill. So make sure you have wheeled luggage and not so much.
We stayed in this hotel in Nerja: (couldn't find a rental for just two nights): http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...Andalucia.html
Hope that helps! We went last month but May should be better, weather-wise. We loved Andalusia, this was one of our best trips, hands-down. Beautiful cities and landscapes, friendly, vibrant people. Hope you have a great trip!
Jul 3rd, 2013, 08:50 PM
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Oh in the Granada apt. we were advised to park on the outskirts of the city center in the Severa Ocho parking garage, then taxi (a short distance) to the Albaicin. We followed that advice and was happy we did. I cannot even imagine driving around the historic center of Granada and esp. the Albaicin, although we saw people do just that.
My husband drove, and said he didn't mind it, but we spent a bit of money for parking garages. However, for three people, we ended up still spending less money for transportation than if we'd taken the train/bus. For two people, it may be cheaper to take the train and bus.
We were able to stop, however, at places in the countryside that we would not have been able to if taking public transit. We also would not have been able to drive into little towns like Salobrena, on the coast, and then get hopelessly lost, even with a GPS. Thank goodness my husband took this all in stride and even laughed about it.
Spanish highways are smooth, in good condition, and very well signed. Better signed and in better condition than many U.S. highways I've driven.
My husband drove, and said he didn't mind it, but we spent a bit of money for parking garages. However, for three people, we ended up still spending less money for transportation than if we'd taken the train/bus. For two people, it may be cheaper to take the train and bus.
We were able to stop, however, at places in the countryside that we would not have been able to if taking public transit. We also would not have been able to drive into little towns like Salobrena, on the coast, and then get hopelessly lost,
even with a GPS. Thank goodness my husband took this all in stride and even laughed about it. Spanish highways are smooth, in good condition, and very well signed. Better signed and in better condition than many U.S. highways I've driven.
