Spain Car and Hotels
 

I'm planning a trip to Spain for late September - flying in to Madrid, and staying at the Emperador hotel. For one day, we are renting a car to go to Toledo to stay at the Parador de Toledo. Then we are taking the AVE train from Madrid to Seville and staying at the Hotel Occidental, which apparently is near the train station. Later in the trip, we'll be based in Barcelona, staying at the Princesa Sofia for 2 nights and Rivoli Ramblas for 1 night, and then plan to rent a car there as well to go to Bisbal, Girona to stay at Castell D'Emporda. <BR><BR>Any thoughts about our hotel choices? In particular, we don't know a lot about Hotel Occidentale, but thought it would be convenient since it is adjacent to the AVE station and we will be taking the AVE train back and forth from Madrid. Any advice on renting a car in Spain? I'm a little nervous about driving, particularly in getting out of Madrid to Toledo and out of Barcelona to Girona. Is there a place to park the car outside of the city walls in Toledo if we drive from the Parador to the city?<BR><BR>Thanks everybody!<BR>Andrew

Andrew--- rent the car from the United States (I am under the amsumption that's where you live...). Either Avis, Hertz, they have better deals and are much easier to deal with if something doesn't go great regarding the rental. The Avis counter is right out the baggage pick-up exit doors. Also, renting a car for one day so you can drive to Toledo doesn't make a lot of sense to me since the rail transportation Madrid-Toledo is pretty good and Toledo's parking is a toughie (we parked outside and walked all day; had the car for all 12 days we were in Spain). The Parador is gorgeous, but it isn't really within the historical center. Where and when are you dropping the car? Why aren't you keeping the car, continuing on from Toledo to Seville? How are you getting to Barcelona? Something about the criss-cross of cities, the car, then the train, then the car that needs a bit more planning. Can you fill in the blanks? BTW, Spain is a fabulous country and you are going on a great time of the year!!!

I'd think the car rental from Madrid to Toledo would be unnecessary - Madrid traffic is just awful and it's a short train ride. In addition you'll want to ditch the car at the Parador anyway - we did so and took a cab into the old town and were glad we did - the ultimate medieval don't-even-think-about-parking place. I suspect using the train and taxis will save you money, too. I KNOW it will save your nerves.<BR><BR>

please don't miss out Valencia - it's spain's undiscovered treasure - We really loved Valencia - it is an incredible mix of the ancient and the truly modern, the historic centre- Barrio del Carmen- with its narrow streets, Palaces and plazas, in the daytime fascinating just to look and photograph (and shop) and at night for fun - bars and clubs and excellent restaurants. Whilst you are in this part of town take a look at the mercado Central - said to be Europe's biggest indoor market - and beautiful, and La Lonja - the ancient Silk market. And the Modern? Calatrava's Masterpiece millennium project - the City of Arts and Sciences -a futuristic complex, still under construction, that includes a Science museum, Imax Cinema and planetarium, an indoor/outdoor concert hall and an incredible oceanarium - all housed in the riverbed that is now the park that runs through the heart of the city. And there are great beaches just a tram ride away. We found www.24-7valencia.com an excellent and up to date guide on what's going on, not just in the city - but around the whole Land of Valencia.

Finally a liitle propaganda for my dear Valencia.<BR>either take frist class euromed train to valencia.. or drive stopping in pe&ntilde;iscola for a bit to eat and stroll around castle fortress.<BR><BR>valencia is a lovely place, once you get past the outskirts, high rises and into the historic center. park at underground at plaza de la reina.<BR>meander and get lost on back streets off that plaza..going towards the market area.<BR>great bar next to it called "bar la lonja".<BR><BR>for great hotel deals check out bancotel.com<BR><BR>wonderful rooms, only 50 Euros a night many places.<BR><BR> you might want to try "horchata".. milky root drink made here locally, with "far-TONS"..sweet dough pastry for dunking.. or chocolate con churros at plaza de la reina at chocolate valor.<BR><BR>Maybe a paella at the beach at malvarrosa (near port,)or any Cafeteria Austria around town.<BR><BR>upscale cooking "chust Godoy".<BR>enjoy your trip.

Many thanks for all your replies! I was away for the weekend and didn't get a chance to look at them until now. We got the Rail and Drive package from Eurorail-- so we have three days rail and 2 days of car. We didn't want to train to Toledo because we didn't want to waste one day of our rail pass on the short trip, and we had heard the drive to Toledo was short but beautiful. And since the Parador is outside the city, we thought a car would be easier to get directly to the hotel. I guess we will take a taxi into the town center since there is no parking in the city center. <BR><BR>We don't want to drive all the way down to Seville because of the distance, and we heard the AVE was super efficient. Plus, we were going to use one day of our train pass for the trip. We need to meet some friends down in Benidorm for a few days, so we were going to take the train there. After a few days, we were going to train up to Barcelona. We may stop in Valencia -- you guys have all won me over! I don't think we can spend the night there, because we already have a reservation in Barcelona. <BR><BR>BTW, I used Bancotel for some of our hotels. It is a nice deal. No hotels were available in Valencia, however.<BR><BR>Any other thoughts?<BR>Thanks everybody.

Andrew, after your explanation on why/how you made some of the choices, it sounds like you got things under control!!! HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!