Spain Travel Car Hire

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal is also the largest city in Portugal. NUTS Lisbon region and district of Lisbon too are part of it. Lisbon’s municipality area is 33 square miles. Greater Lisbon or Grande Lisboa sub-region is the second important economic and financial hub of the Iberian Peninsula.

Lisbon has a mild Mediterranean climate influenced by Gulf Stream. It is warm during all the months of the year. Summer’s day temperatures range from 26 to 29 degrees C. The night temperatures are 16 to 18 degrees C. Winter temperatures are within 8 to 15 degrees C. Fall and spring seasons too are mild. It rains during October – April.

You can find buildings portraying various styles of architecture- Traditional Portuguese, Romanesque, Manueline, Gothic, Baroque, Post-Modern and Modern. Its upper districts have some outstanding monuments and boulevards. Examples of these are Liberty Avenue (Avenida da Liberdade), Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo, Republic Avenue (Avenida da República) and Avenida Almirante Reis. Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, its opera house is quite active primarily during winter and autumn.

Belem tower guards Lisbon harbour’s entrance and was constructed during 1515. It is the country’s symbol and has been listed by UNESCO as a monument - World Heritage. It is built in Manueline style and has motifs of sculptures, Discoveries and denotes historical persona like St. Vincent. Its architect - Francisco de Arruda designed some Portuguese fortifications at Morocco and so it has Moorish influences.

Sintra, a municipality and town is situated in the sub-region of Grande Lisboa (Lisbon Region). You can use rental cars for reaching it since it is easy and convenient to book and use rental vehicles. It is a World Heritage Site of UNESCO because of its Romantic architecture of the 19th century. Cacém and Queluz cities are part of Sintra. It is visited by tourists from Lisbon since it has 19th century’s Pena Palace, Sintra Cascais Natural Park, Castelo dos Mouros and 15th-16th century’s Palácio Nacional de Sintra which was the home of Portugal kings during summer. Tourists also throng Sintra Mountain Range (Serra De Sintra) which is one of Lisbon’s biggest parks.

Mafra, Lisbon’s town and municipality is situated in Greater Lisbon region (district of Lisbon) at the west coast. Tourist surfers throng Ericeira since it is a sea side town. Mafra also has the famous Mafra National Palace (“Palácio de Mafra”). Its architectural style is baroque. This palace inspired José Saramago, a Nobel Prize laureate to write the novel “Baltasar and Blimunda”. Another interesting site surrounding it is a game reserve and a wildlife area - Tapada Nacional de Mafra. Australia’s Maffra town was named after Mafra.

To rent-a-car in Lisbon, please note that your age should be minimum 21 years and this restriction depends on the car you choose. Not only that, your license should be at least a year old. For good car hire deals in Lisbon, use popular websites like Spain Travel Car which offer car hire in Lisbon at the lowest prices.  

We’re heading back to Toronto to visit some relatives soon and, in hunting for the best car-rental deal online, I stumbled across a number of online car-rental coupon sites.

I’ve never been much of a coupon-clipper. And whenever I’ve seen a space for a coupon code on car hire sites before, I always figured it was for people who had some sort of frequent-renter code, or CAA membership, or something. But it turns out there are plenty of coupon codes that anyone can use, and plenty of sites online that list them all. You just enter the code into your booking and, if the discount is still valid, you get a deal on your car hire. It’s as simple as that. Some coupon sites don’t even require you to enter the code yourself — you just click on the car hire agency link and it sends you to their booking page with the code already entered.

In doing my comparison shopping I found a code for Budget that knocked 10% off my rental. And the best deal was a temporary special at Alamo that dropped what would have been a $120 rental down to just $46! The irritating part is that not all of the codes work all the time — I spent a frustrating few minutes trying to find deals on Enterprise car rentals only to find each one I tried had expired.

You’ll have to decide for yourself whether it’s worth a little hassle to find the best deal. But coupon-clipping online is a lot quicker than sitting at your kitchen table with a pair of scissors.

Alamo’s discount, I later noticed, was promoted on their site, too. But if you didn’t click on the ad that said “Weekend Rentals Starting at $10 a Day”, and just did a normal booking, the site charged you the normal rate, not the great deal.

So why do car companies give out discount coupons to outside sites? Or only give you the deal if you click on a banner ad on their own site? I remember reading The Undercover Economist (a fun read if you have the time) and the author Tim Harford made the point that businesses can usually make a profit even after offering steep discounts. But they can’t stay in business very long if they offer the steep discount to everyone. So, ideally, they’d like to offer one price for those willing to pay full fare and one price for those who will only buy if you offer a discount. Businesses can’t do this, of course. But things like clippable coupons — or online coupon sites — essentially do the same thing.

That’s because the person who’s desperate for a deal and will only buy your product at a discount will go through the trouble of hunting down a coupon online. The person who isn’t as concerned about money won’t. So you can charge two separate rates for the same product.

I wonder, though, how well that principle works when saving a chunk of change only requires an extra couple of minutes online. I know, from here on in, I’ll be looking for a coupon the next time I book a rental car.

Source: The Vancouver Sun, by Chad Skelton

No one pays much attention to car hire until things turn bad–and things are bad. One small player, Advantage Rent A Car, has tumbled into bankruptcy and closed many of its rental stations. Standard & Poor’s says Dollar Thrifty may be the next into Chapter 11. The Avis Budget Group had to scramble to secure financing for a fleet update. Enterprise, until recently the industry’s highest flyer, is laying off employees for the first time in its 50-year history. What’s it mean for us in 2009? More rentals with high mileage, lots of road wear and obvious cosmetic damage. (Don’t be shocked if you get a two-year-old clunker with 20,000 miles or more.) Fewer employees to check us in when we return cars. (Most rental firms are emulating Enterprise.) And more under-the-radar cash grabs. (Watch for rising daily rates for insurance and damage waivers and higher prices for vehicle-refueling service.) The bad state of the global economy will take its toll on car hire companies and the entire travel industry in 2009.

Source: The Washington Post

Lisbon on the Atlantic coast is the biggest port and the capital of Portugal. It is a charming city with a variety of architectural pieces of art, ranging from the medieval fortress “Castelo de São Jorge” towering above the city, to the modern “25 de Abril” Bridge across the river Tagus, which is similar to the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The Santa Justa Lift (Elevador) was designed by an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel and connects the downtown streets with the uphill Carmo Square. From the top you can enjoy great views of Lisbon Castle, the Rossio Square and the Baixa neighbourhood. Other places to visit are the Tower of Belem and the monastery “Mosteiro dos Jerónimos“, with the tombs of the kings and the famous seafarer Vasco da Gama. The Tile Museum „Museu Nacional do Azulejo“ has an extensive exhibition of the typical Portuguese art of tile painting. With a cheap hire car you can visit the small town Fatima (130 km north of Lisbon). It is famous for the religious visions that took place in 1917 and the Basilica, built to commemorate the Marian apparitions. The town now is a famous pilgrimage destination. 25 km west of Lisbon on the Atlantic coast are the famous resorts Estoril and Cascais. Book your rental car at Lisbon airport or in other locations in Portugal online to obtain the best rental price.

Málaga is a port city in Andalusia, southern Spain, on the Costa del Sol coast of the Mediterranean. Málaga is surrounded by mountains, lying in the southern base of the Axarquía hills, and two rivers, the Guadalmedina and the Guadalhorce, which flows west of the city into the Mediterranean. The climate is mild and equable, the mean annual temperature being about 19 °C. The Holy Week, and the Málaga Fair are the two most well-known of Málaga’s festivals. The Malaguenos choose the hottest month of the year, August, to celebrate the Feria de Malaga with not only the locals, but in addition to the thousands of tourists who come to see the spectacular sight. The streets are transformed into symbols of Spanish culture and history, with sweet wine, tapas,and live flamenco shows filling the town. The city is a popular tourist destination, due mainly to its proximity to the Costa del Sol. Many tourists also visit here to see the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. There are very cheap flights to Málaga from countries in Northern Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany. A popular walk leads up the hill to the Gibralfaro castle (a Parador), offering extensive views over the city. The castle is next to the Alcazaba, which in turn is next to the inner city of Málaga. By taking the Paseo del Parque, a promenade that runs alongside a park with many palm trees and statues, one can walk to the harbour, finishing in Calle Larios the main commercial street of the city.
If you are planning to visit Malaga we recomend you to rent a car. There are many offers of economic rental cars in Malaga, the best prices for renting a car in Malaga are in the airport. To ensure a good price and service we recommend to use the online service of www.spain-travel-car.com offering very cheap prices and comprehensive insurance. Normally the minimum age for renting a car in Malaga is 21 years old and at least one year of driving licence. If you want go to Malaga during your holidays, come on Summer and hire a car rental.

In the city centre of Nice you can visit the following tourist attractions: the baroque Saint-Jacques Church, Nice Cathedral and the beautiful flower market. The “Promedade des Anglais” is Nice’s most famous avenue along the seafront. It was built in the 19th century and paid for by the English community who spent the mild winters in Nice, this is where it got its name from. Tasting Nice’s delicious cuisine with its worldwide famous ’salade niçoise’ and seafood specialities is a must.

Cheap car hire in Nice airport allows you to discover the numerous museums and galleries in this marvellous city, for example the Matisse Museum, Musée des Beaux Arts and The Opera of Nice. Nice’s airport serves the entire Côte d’Azur and Monaco and is used by the most popular low cost airlines.

With a cheap rental car in Nice you can easily drive to Monaco, with its famous casinos and of course the French Riviera’s most exclusive beaches like Saint-Tropez and Cannes. Outside Nice there are many villages and towns to enjoy and visit. The Provençal town of St. Paul, which captivated Chagall, Matisse and Picasso, is just 12 miles away . Hire a rental car at Nice airport to discover the beautiful Cote d’Azur and the Provence.

The beautiful Alpine landscape of Switzerland has captivated tourist from all over the world. Renting a car in Geneva is one of the best ways to discover Switzerland and explore the incredible landscape of this small central european country.Geneve is the home to the European Headquarters of the United Nations and the Red Cross headquarters. At the same time it is also one of the world’s major centers of international diplomacy. Due to its location, Geneva airport serves as a transportation hub for most of French speaking Switzerland, and for access to the Alps. The international airport has become a hub for low cost airlines like Easy Jet which are serving a number of destinations in many countries in Europe.

While Geneve is not the capital city of Switzerland it is probably it’s most internationally recognized. Geneva’s appeal lies not only in its atmosphere of diplomacy and tolerance but also in its rich heritage and fantastic landscape. The sparkling harbour at the Lac Leman and the charming old city attract thousands of visitors year after year.

The French influence of the city can be seen in the wrought iron balconies, the mansard roofs, the sidewalk cafes, and the signs which are in french. The old-town can be easily visited, even by car. Crossing the Pont du Mont Blanc you’ll get to the English Garden with a sculpted bronze water fountain and the famous flower clock. Saint Peter’s cathedral, which is Geneva’s well known landmark, is also a wothwhile to visit. After visiting the cathedral you can exit the courtyard and be right in front of Geneva City Hall. From there it is a short walk to the Bastions Park and the famous Reformation Wall memorial.

Geneva is a great base if you wish to explore the surrounding areas. Car hire at Geneva airport is recomended to travel around the Swiss countryside at your leisure or go boating, hiking, skiing or biking. There are many towns and villages within driving distance from Geneva that are interesting. Hire a car at Geneva airport to go whereever you want to go in Switzerland or France. Geneva is surrounded by French territory, connected to Switzerland by a narrow corridor.

If you are interested in taking or sending home some outwardly Swiss souvenirs you can certainly find them in Geneva. Geneva has a lot of restaurants, and the international community means there’s more variety than you’ll find in most Swiss cities.

Our online search engine offers cheap car rental at Geneva Airport and other destinations in Switzerland and France.

Valladolid Airport, about 100 miles northwest of Madrid - the capital of Spain, has become one of the main passenger transport centres in Castilla-Leon. During recent years, it has experienced a great increase in the number of leisure flights from low-cost carriers which has also been benefical for the local car hire companies in Valladolid. The airport is only about 100 miles northwest of Madrid, but the surrounding region has some of the most attractive destinations in the country and the history and architecture of the city is unparalleled. On our website you will find special car rental prices in Spain with reputable car hire companies in Valladolid to give you the best deal available for your budget.The capital of Castilla-Leon enjoys an intense cultural life thanks to its situation as a university city as well as events like the Seminci, the International Film Week, an event not to be missed in the Spanish cinema calendar. Valladolid preserves an interesting Renaissance group of buildings in its old quarter, made up of houses, palaces, churches and one of its most symbolic buildings, the Cathedral. Now that you have a rental car in Valladolid drive to Segovia to see its Roman aqueduct, the finest example of any still in existence. Or visit Avila with its Medieval walls and the Basilica of Saint Vincent, or venture east to the birthplace of El Cid, Burgos, with one of Spain’s finest Gothic cathedrals. Book a rental car in Valladolid at anyu of the pickup locations in Valladolid to do soemething different in Spain.

The airport of Murcia, also known as San Javier airport, is small, but handles national and international flights and offers all kind of facilities such as car hire. If you need to rent a car at Murcia airport make sure to use a broker who deals with the biggest car hire companies in Murcia, your guarantee for the best hire services from dedicated rental companies with many years of experience.Murcia airport has become more and more popular amongst various airlines and car hire companies. For Murcia car rental we work with a number of established rental companies both inside and outside the terminal building.

From the geographical point of view, the region of Murcia stands out because of its multiple contrasts, which can no doubt be attributed to its location in a transitional area between the Sub-Baetic mountain range and the northern Sub-Meseta. San Javier is perfectly situated to service the Costa Blanca as it lies just in between three major cities: Murcia, Cartagena and Torrevieja and is therefor ideal for La Manga or Mar Menor visitors. The secret of the low rental prices in Murcia is based on the high volume of bookings in Spain and worldwide.

The Costa Blanca in Spain attracts a huge number of visitors each year. Holidays on the Costa Blanca are perfect for anyone looking for a well established destination in Spain where the summer seems to last all year.

If you visit the Costa Blanca you typically land at Alicante airport, but Valencia or Murcia are also airports you may consider travelling to. Thanks to the popularity of holidays on the nearby Costa Blanca Alicante, the capital city of the province of Alicante, is one of the fastest growing cities in Spain. Alicante has fantastic beaches and stands close to the beautiful lemon and orange groves in the nearby mountains. A day trip to Alicante is popular for people staying in the area. Car hire in Alicante is certainly an attractive option to consider. The freedom of a rental vehicle allows to discover the many miles of sandy coastline or the secrets of the mountain area of Alicante. You will find many reputable car hire companies at Alicante airport with quality vehicles, but car rental prices can vary considerably and it is recommended to compare the prices offered on the internet for Alicante car hire before you book your rental vehicle online.