Landing Barcelona, renting car, driving to Girona. Tips for nervous Nelly.
 

We're flying to Barcelona in Oct. - husband is attending VMware Europe. We have a couple of days before the conference to explore outside Barcelona. Our flight lands around 9 AM (flying from CA). We would like to then rent a car at the airport, and then drive to Girona. Idea was to walk around Girona in our jet-lagged state, and then crash at (Hotel Historic? Hotel Llegendes? Other?). Thinking the next day we drive to/explore (Tossa Del Mar? Begar? Figueres? Cadaques?) , and then back to Girona for a second night. Not sure if we take in one of the listed towns on the 3rd morning, before dropping the car off, and heading off (via taxi) to Barcelona.

We're in our early 50's, and not very experienced travelers. We do not speak Spanish/Catalan. Questions for anyone willing to give their 2 cents:

- How hard is it, for the novice, to rent a car and drive from Barcelona airport to Girona? Any tips to make it easier?
- How difficult is it to drive from Girona to the other destinations?
- Suggestions on priorities / literariness of the towns listed?
- Best to stay 2 nights in Girona or should we pack up again, and stay in one of the other towns?

Any tips are much appreciated. ;-)

I would simply spend my first day/night in Barcelona. It will help you unwind after a long flight from California and adjust to the different dining times, which you are not used to. After a good nights rest, you can pick up your rental car and drive up to Gerona for the night. You would be able to visit Begur and a few other places before driving into Gerona.

www.spain.info/en/ven/otros-destinos/begur.html

You might also find Maribel's Guide to Barcelona useful in planning your stay (www.maribelsguides.com).

Technically it will be very easy to find your way even without GPS as Girona is signposted once you get on the motorway from the airport. Whether it is feasible to drive one of the busiest parts of the Spanish freeway system jet-lagged is another question. Robert's suggestions sound more sensible.

Why don't you visit Girona after the conference when less tired?

Will be fabulous flamenco in Barcelona through all of October. Every night one or more of these three dancers will perform in Tablao El Cordobés on Las Ramblas, 35:

Fuensanta La Moneta, voted best female flamenco dancer by Spanish critics 2010: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbO_lw2xWtU

Farru, younger up and coming brother of fantastic Farruquito. For the past two years Farru has toured with flamenco guitar legend Paco de Lucía, one of the greatest guitarist in the world regardless of genre. Farru and Paco: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrxGsksJusU

El Junco is one of my absolute favourites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sENoCuTQYPs

These dancers are accompanied by world class singers and musicians. Detailed program: http://www.tablaocordobes.com/espect...eneral/en/1/73

And if you are in Barcelona on the 20/21 Oct week-end: Then Rocío Molina stages her latest performance in Mercat de les Flors up at Montjuic: http://vimeo.com/37918925
Homepage: http://www.rociomolina.net/
"one of the finest soloists in the world today" (New York Times).
"Molina has genius: irresistible, all-consuming, all-powerful." (Financial Times).
National Dance Prize winner 2010, voted best female flamenco dancer by Spanish critics 2007 and 2008.

Thanks very much for your thoughts (although the flamenco bit was pretty random ;-)). I agree the sensible thing would be to acclimate before trying a road trip. Unfortunately, we either do it at the beginning of the trip, or not at all, as we have commitments in Barcelona for the remaining time.

Would Tossa Del Mar, Begar, Figueres, or Cadaques,be any easier to get to (less busy roads for instance) than Girona?

Thanks!

No, Girona is an easy 1-1/2 hour drive up the highway from the airport.

If you can't find Begar on any map, it's because the name is Begur, which is about a 2 hour drive from the airport.

As Girona is supposed to be your first stop anyway, why don't you take the train and rent the car next day from Girona to explore the coast or hinterland?

Sorry for the misspelling of Begur. Taking the train is actually a great idea, assuming that wouldn't take even more thinking power, then navigating the car rental. I'm going to research that. Fabulous idea - much appreciated.

You can click on my name to read my trip report from October 2010, when we visited Barcelona first, then rented a car for 3 nights & spent one night in Cadaques & 2 nights in Girona. It was very easy driving, but beware that the road to Cadaques is over the mountains, many switchbacks, so you wouldn't want to do this while experiencing jet lag. We also stopped in Tossa del Mar for a couple of hours. We took our trip after spending 5 days in Barcelona so the reverse of what you are doing.

This flamenco fall in Barcelona is nothing random and could easily be a true highlight of any trip to the city. Although the art comes from the South/Andalucía, many of todays leading figures come from the Barcelona/Catalan area. The very greatest artists tour the city all the time, and the "aristocracy of flamenco"-project in Tablao Cordobés is a "break-your-neck" ambitious project because people might have totally wrong conceptions of this genuinly Spanish art form being put on stage in Barcelona to such an extent. The greatest flamenco dancer of all times, Carmen Amaya (1913-1963) was from the Somorrostro district (now Barceloneta), and the flamenco culture is very much alive and kicking in Barcelona.
Carmen Amaya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCca6d2ceI0
Miguel Poveda: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3CJiJX-qLE
Belén López: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hbhkIWSX-Q
Alba Carmona: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4fBzTHtofE
Mayte Martín: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-HpXun4oFU
Duquende: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljbo7G04aRI

In Girona airport you have many option to pick up a car rental. My tips for car hire in girona airport are Ganxo Rent a car: www.ganxorent.com/en/car-hire/girona-airport/ or a multinational company such as Europcar if not you can search in the costabrava.com website. You can see many options for rent a car at girona airport.

Cant help you in the logistics, but Girona is always a great option, though it is small. All the towns to pointed out are great, especially Begur and Cadaques. Wouldnt go to Figueres. Nevertheless, this part of Catalonia is amazing

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