Car hire tips, Alicante.

Author
Discussion

StuntmanMike

Original Poster:

11,671 posts

151 months

Sunday 18th January 2015
quotequote all
I have never hired a car abroad before, so this is new to me.
I need a Focus/Golf size hatchback for two weeks in august, any webbsite recommendations? what should I look for when booking? I'm not bothered about the car type, but it has to carry two adults, two children and must be able to squeeze a third adult for odd days.
thanks.

CTO

2,653 posts

210 months

Sunday 18th January 2015
quotequote all
Nicely done.

I'm flying in to Alicante on the 9th August. Was going to start a thread on here re car hire places.

There was one not long back on here with some helpful links and tips ....


CTO

2,653 posts

210 months

StuntmanMike

Original Poster:

11,671 posts

151 months

Sunday 18th January 2015
quotequote all
thumbup

StuntmanMike

Original Poster:

11,671 posts

151 months

Sunday 18th January 2015
quotequote all
OK looking at that lot, is it possible to hire a car without a credit card?

Rouleur

7,026 posts

189 months

Monday 19th January 2015
quotequote all
I've managed to get away with booking hire cars from Alicante with a debit card in the past - I hadn't realised you're meant to use a CC - but to avoid any issues I took out a CC last year purely to hire cars with.

It's too much of a risk IMO as obviously the last thing you need is to arrive on holiday and find that you can't sort out a car.

StuntmanMike

Original Poster:

11,671 posts

151 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
quotequote all
Rouleur said:
I've managed to get away with booking hire cars from Alicante with a debit card in the past - I hadn't realised you're meant to use a CC - but to avoid any issues I took out a CC last year purely to hire cars with.

It's too much of a risk IMO as obviously the last thing you need is to arrive on holiday and find that you can't sort out a car.
I'm going to do this, I was toying with the idea of taking my own car, but it means less days in Spain and I have booked the flights already.
I know, this being PH I should take the car, but I drive into Europe every week anyway, so not how I want to spend a holiday.
Thanks for all advice on this thread, it was very much appreciated. beer

LuS1fer

41,133 posts

245 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
I forgot my CC one trip and was able to use my debit card BUT because they can't load your debit card, I was forced to take out the full bells and whistle rip-off additional insurance I ordinarily decline.

That said, having crapped myself for two hours on the plane, thinking I wasn't getting a car at all, any price would have been a relief as I was in a villa in the mountains so would have been royally f*cked.

steveo3002

10,519 posts

174 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
whats it like driving out there ? normal or nutters ?

Magic919

14,126 posts

201 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Driving there is ok. Except at roundabouts.

Rouleur

7,026 posts

189 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
They're better than us, and slower too!

hbzboy

444 posts

185 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Magic919 said:
Driving there is ok. Except at roundabouts.
Care to explain? As the are thought different etiquette at roundabouts to us!



Magic919

14,126 posts

201 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
They tend to take the outside 'lane' around larger roundabouts regardless of which exit they are going to use. They rarely signal to help you when they are doing it.

hbzboy

444 posts

185 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Magic919 said:
They tend to take the outside 'lane' around larger roundabouts regardless of which exit they are going to use. They rarely signal to help you when they are doing it.
http://www.ewnmotors.com/899/the-right-way-to-take-roundabouts-in-spain?cb=07549182649236172


As I said different etiquette, it's what they are tought.

Hope this helps.

Edited by hbzboy on Tuesday 27th January 21:52

hbzboy

444 posts

185 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Magic919 said:
They tend to take the outside 'lane' around larger roundabouts regardless of which exit they are going to use. They rarely signal to help you when they are doing it.
http://www.ewnmotors.com/899/the-right-way-to-take-roundabouts-in-spain?cb=07549182649236172


As I said different etiquette, it's what they are taught.

Hope this helps.

Edited by hbzboy on Tuesday 27th January 21:53

Magic919

14,126 posts

201 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Never found it a problem, it's just like Slough.