Does anyone have advice for where to pick up a rental car in Barcelona? Some of the companies we're considering have offices within the city, in addition to the airport and the train station. After we pick up the car, we're driving northeast to Peretallada, near the Costa Brava, and we're wondering what would be easiest in terms of navigating traffic--is it better to take the train to the airport and pick up the car there? We're staying near the Placa Catalunya.

Thanks!

strass,
For me, it depends on the day (weekday vs. weekend) and time of day (as early as possible rather than in mid-morning gridlock).

And experience has taught me that it is far, far easier to pick up and get out of a city, particularly Barcelona, than to navigate your way in to the downtown rental agency.

Our last pick up at the Avis office at 293 Còrsega in the Eixample on a Sat. a.m. was uneventful, as we got their early, left early.
Bringing it back to that location was a disaster, took forever in heavy traffic made more difficult by motorcycles weaving in and out in all directions, plus the one way streets and ubiquitious construction.
We actually would have saved time and a great deal of aggravation by turning in at the airport and taking a taxi back to our Eixample hotel. I don't like bringing back cars to the Sants train station either.

If you're staying near the P. de Catalunya, you can also use the Aerobus to or fro the airport. Leaves from in front of El Corte Inglés.

take a taxi to site closest to your hotel .. so you don't need to lug the bags on bus again and back to airport. that would convince me to forget backtracking unless i had only small bags.

if you avoid rush hours.. (early morning and then around 1.30, 4.30 and later... you should be fine.

I would rather pick up at the airport than in a city. Doing that highway loop arounbd Barcelona is bad enough! Get to the airport as early as possible so you can avoid traffic on the highway. Once you clear the city, the driving is easy and the scenary is spectacular.

regards

Thanks all. We were leaning toward the airport... we live in Chicago and are used to city driving, but still, it can be harrowing... and we know our way around here!

Bringing our baggage on public transportation is no problem. We'll only have a large backpack and a small rolling suitcase.

Two questions: When are the Barcelona rush hours during weekdays? We'll be picking up and returning the car on Mondays. And what is the Aerobus? Is it part of the city's public transportation system?

strass,
If you decide to pick up your rental at the airport (easiest choice), you will avoid downtown gridlock entirely.

We picked up at Avis at 9 and had a reverse commute out of town which was relatively straightforward, but I don't know what rental agency you'll be using. I avoid the Sants train station rental offices because that area is very congested at all times.

The "Aerobus" is the transfer bus shuttle from the airport to downtown. It has luggage racks. This is the mode of transportation I usually take from the airport to my hotel if traveling alone. It leaves every 12 min., and coming in, it stops at Placa de España and Placa de la Universitat (handy for the H10 Granvina hotel) before the final stop at Placa de Catalunya in front of El Corte Inglés. Going to the airport it stops at Passeig de Gracia/Diagonal and Sants train station before going out to El Prat airport. It costs 3.75 euros (cheap!), you pay on the bus, and the trip takes about 30 min.

for rush hour traffic figure depending on where you are coming from, that most people have to be at work at 8, or 9 or 9.30. so after 10 a.m. things should not be as bad going into city. but traffic is moving around it heavily all day long. one never knows when there will be a big slowdown.. similar to madrid.. the amount of through and by pass traffic in these two cities is phenomenal.

costa brava traffic can be heavy, and major highways can get blocked. if you are flying out same day before 2pm i would not risk staying too far away since airport is south of city.

www.mappy.com can map out a great route for you with approx. times.

i, personally, see no problem leaving from the city, instead of the many extra miles you will be going out of your way, but i imagine also this is a decision you can make or change later once there, or after you study the maps well. you certainly need to feel comfortable.

the signage is not bad to get out of the city. there is a great "ronda" around the top and takes you right out of town to your costa brava roads as do other thoroughfares downtown to the north.

( i am in oak park right now sending this off! if you go your own pace, stay to the right, and have a good map, this will be no worse than chicago.. in fact, from what i have seen this week here, even a bit more civilized!)