traveling coastal spain
Jun 2nd, 2013, 08:35 PM
#1
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traveling coastal spain
three days in barcelona from june 16th through june 18th. we have some sites we'll visit via public transportation and lots of walking. any ideas for a centrally located hotel under $150 per night? we will visit las ramblas; sagrada familia; park guell; barri gothic to name a few. Then, anybody have experience with renting a car in barcelona and returning it somewhere else (and how safe the drive was)? we want to travel along the coast from barcelona to malaga over a period of a few days where we will head over to morocco and am thinking about doing the coast via rental car.
Jun 3rd, 2013, 12:21 AM
#2
The one way rental is no problem providing you use one of the larger rental companies. Look at the major websites i.e. Hertz, Avis etc. Barcelona is easy to drive out of to the South, so no need to drag out to the airport for the hire.
Driving is extremely safe both in terms of personal security and road manners and the road South takes in Valencia, well worth a stop.
Driving is extremely safe both in terms of personal security and road manners and the road South takes in Valencia, well worth a stop.
Jun 3rd, 2013, 12:35 AM
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Just out of curiosity, how many days do you have budgeted for your Barcelona to Malaga to Morocco trip? I'm sure you looked and noticed that it's about 1050 km from Barcelona to Malaga if you hug the coast and from Malaga to Tarifa is another 160. That 160 from Malaga to Tarifa will take you around two hours.
As Rubicund noted, driving is pretty safe as far as traffic and driving habits go, and getting one-way car rentals is pretty easy. Sixt offers a one week one-way rental from Barcelona to Malaga for $242 which I think is pretty good.
As Rubicund noted, driving is pretty safe as far as traffic and driving habits go, and getting one-way car rentals is pretty easy. Sixt offers a one week one-way rental from Barcelona to Malaga for $242 which I think is pretty good.
Jun 3rd, 2013, 04:17 AM
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WomBatt is right, at least in the stretch from Barcelona airport to the area around Salau. And be aware of tolls on some (the E roads?) roads. We found those major (E) highways along the coast to be good for relatively quick travel, but not very scenic in that stretch.
We loved Tarragona; hope it's one of your stops if you really do head south via car.
We loved Tarragona; hope it's one of your stops if you really do head south via car.
also helpful to know the car rental info. we just may have to add tarragona to our list of places to stop, as well!
Jun 5th, 2013, 12:40 AM
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In Barcelona, I can recommend Hotel Banys Orientals right in the best location in the vibrant and medieval Born area close to "everything". Double for 105€/140USD:
http://www.hotelbanysorientals.com/en/index.html
About the area: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...s/el-born.html
http://www.hotelbanysorientals.com/en/index.html
About the area: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...s/el-born.html
Jun 5th, 2013, 08:09 PM
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the reason why we want to drive is because our plan is to stop along the way from barcelona to malaga at places such as:valencia, alicante, granada, cordoba, sevilla, and other suggested places. we did plan on taking a ferry from malaga to tangier. we will stay a few days in morocco traveling via bus by to chef, fes, rabat and back to tangier. we fly out of tangier to portugal! all suggestion are welcome!
Jun 5th, 2013, 11:55 PM
#11
Neither tangier nor casablanca is anything to write home about, though fez, rabat and marrakech are all wonderful. I think there is still a flight from Seville that would allow you to avoid the ferry.
Jun 6th, 2013, 03:40 AM
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I drove that route two years ago, from Málaga to Barcelona in 5 days. Finding a rental car company, also one of the major local/ Spanish ones, is no problem. Extra costs for one-way rental had been moderate (around €60-80 or so).
Actually, not much of the coast is built up in an unpleasant manner. In an around the major conurbations like Barcelona to Reus, Castellón, Valencia, Alicante, Almeria and Málaga you obviously also have tourist resorts of different levels of architectural beauty and also industry, but huge stretches are very nice, with smaller towns, agriculture, hundreds of sights worth visiting from templar castles to pre-historic cave paintings.
But as you already committed yourself on visiting the big cities (which is not a bad idea, of course), you simply won't have much time to use your road trip for what it's best, IMO, i.e. to see the sights and nature which is not in or near those big cities. Therefore, taking the train may be the wiser and more relaxing way.
If you still want to drive, you should take AP-7 south from Barcelona to Valencia, even though it's tolled.
South of Valencia you usually have toll-free A-7 more or less parallel to the AP. Or two-lane N-340, which is usually very busy with trucks wherever it's the only toll-free alternative to AP-7.
Actually, not much of the coast is built up in an unpleasant manner. In an around the major conurbations like Barcelona to Reus, Castellón, Valencia, Alicante, Almeria and Málaga you obviously also have tourist resorts of different levels of architectural beauty and also industry, but huge stretches are very nice, with smaller towns, agriculture, hundreds of sights worth visiting from templar castles to pre-historic cave paintings.
But as you already committed yourself on visiting the big cities (which is not a bad idea, of course), you simply won't have much time to use your road trip for what it's best, IMO, i.e. to see the sights and nature which is not in or near those big cities. Therefore, taking the train may be the wiser and more relaxing way.
If you still want to drive, you should take AP-7 south from Barcelona to Valencia, even though it's tolled.
South of Valencia you usually have toll-free A-7 more or less parallel to the AP. Or two-lane N-340, which is usually very busy with trucks wherever it's the only toll-free alternative to AP-7.
Jun 6th, 2013, 10:11 AM
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If you have an extra month I like the idea of renting a car. If not Places like Barcelona, Sevilla and Granada might be the best parts of your trip. These cities are so great that I would not waste time getting to them. What they offer a first time visitor really outweighs stopping in little villages and out of the way small towns. Having been there I wouldn't even tarnish a dreamy trip to Andalucia by going to Tangier, Chefchaouen and Fez. If I had to go to Morocco again I would fly into Marrakesh, visit Essouira and fly back to Spain which will seem almost like paradise after a trip to Morocco. Obviously my opinions are quite biased though.
Jun 7th, 2013, 03:25 AM
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Just reading through this as we will be on the coast of Spain in July - staying in the Mijas area.
WomBatt, could you explain what you mean by "a great deal of this is unsightly build"? We did a lot of research and read many nice comments about the area we are staying in. We did not read anything about it being "unsightly". Thanks.
WomBatt, could you explain what you mean by "a great deal of this is unsightly build"? We did a lot of research and read many nice comments about the area we are staying in. We did not read anything about it being "unsightly". Thanks.
Jun 7th, 2013, 04:25 AM
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Thanks for the info, sparkchaser.
Yes, I did read about the numerous resorts and hotels and saw pictures, but it did not seem to be unsightly. We are staying in a villa a little away from the coast and all of what I have seen looks lovely. I hope we won't be disappointed.
Did not mean to interrupt your thread, jane. Have a great trip!
Yes, I did read about the numerous resorts and hotels and saw pictures, but it did not seem to be unsightly. We are staying in a villa a little away from the coast and all of what I have seen looks lovely. I hope we won't be disappointed.
Did not mean to interrupt your thread, jane. Have a great trip!
Jun 7th, 2013, 04:47 AM
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Marianna and others.
The OP said 'doing the coast via rental car'. You will note I responded fairly promptly, before any qualification that this was not going to be a hug the coast trip, perhaps expecting something like the Pacific Coast Highway.
You are also referring to a very small area with 'Mijas area' not with a 1000 kms. long coastline journey. Having said that there is Mijas pueblo (attractive ish) and Mijas costa. I would not know what your expectations are of the Mijas area, in the same way as I did not know with the OP. If you like residential and hotel tower blocks and all which goes with them, maybe this will not be unsightly to you.
The OP said 'doing the coast via rental car'. You will note I responded fairly promptly, before any qualification that this was not going to be a hug the coast trip, perhaps expecting something like the Pacific Coast Highway.
You are also referring to a very small area with 'Mijas area' not with a 1000 kms. long coastline journey. Having said that there is Mijas pueblo (attractive ish) and Mijas costa. I would not know what your expectations are of the Mijas area, in the same way as I did not know with the OP. If you like residential and hotel tower blocks and all which goes with them, maybe this will not be unsightly to you.
