Car Hire Prices for this Summer......beware!

Anyone who had to book a hire car at short notice last Summer will be all too aware of the extortionate prices that were being charged.

I have just booked a car for 4 weeks in July this year & would like to share some of my findings after much internet searching:-

• Prices are already on the up
• Do You Spain (which we have used quite a few times) were quoting the guts of £1000 for a small basic car.................& they weren't alone
• Travelsupermarket.com was by far the cheapest I could find online
• Murcia Airport prices were about 15% cheaper than Alicante
• I ended up paying about £500 for a 5 door Fiesta with air con with the option to return full of fuel (as far as I can tell)

I hope this is of some use.

cheers,

Peter

Hi Folks,

We are coming over for 3 weeks in the summer and so are another couple from condado and we have decided to split the cost of a car for the three weeks.  How this is going to work we dont know yet but dont see any obvious problems. The majority of the time the care lies in the car park unused especially in the summer when it is too hot to go sight seeing and you have kids that just want to stay by the pool. Our partners in crime are flying out the day before us so they will collect the car and then come pick us up the next day. We will probably work it  out on a daily basis and just split the cost of fuel 50/50 along with everything else but the finer details have yet to be discussed, but really think this is the best way to get round the over inflated car hire costs.

Certainly worth thinking about if you know somebody you could share with.

Will advise after the hols if everything worked out, but really don't envisage any major problems.

Ali

We have also been searching since booking our flights for August, but they were all in the region of £500+ for 2 weeks. Managed to book with Hertz yesterday for about £330 (although far more expensive than usual!)

Good luck!

Carla

I am finding at the moment, the qoutes from Jet2 and Easy jet are working out much better than going to the usual agencies I have used over the last 18 months. This has never been the case before and the airline linked car hires always worked out more expensive. What I am being qouted for two weeks in the summer for round about 300 with Jet2 is coming out at just short of 500 with the likes of Carjet & economy car hire.

Regards

Been looking down the Hertz route myself, couple of things to look out for is that you are liable for the excess should anything happen, around 600 - 900 euros depending on type of car/van. Some agencies will offer you an option to purchase excess waiver . Another point is that you will have to pay for a second driver if there are 2 of you driving, around 7€ a day.

Taking the above into account they are still cheaper than the usual ones

I have decided to drive over this time instead of paying the daft summer prices.  I think it will be nice to see a bit more of Spain en-route and intend just to meander there.  I have taken 3 weeks off so should still get a full 2 wks on Condado.  Already looking forwards to it.  (Although a trip from Aberdeen to Murcia with a 6 year old asking 'are we there yet?' every 2 miles may not be all that much fun!!!!!)

The last two times we've visited CdA we'd drove down from Madrid as our flights from Brussels to Madrid were a third of the cost than than to Alicante. Another suprising benefit is that the car hire from Madrid airport seems to be a lot cheaper as well. Also both times we've picked up the car from Terminal 4 there has been no queues and we've been on the motorway south 20 minutes after landing.

The drive to CdA takes 4 hours and really isn't that bad - uncrowded mortorway the whole way - so it's something to consider if car hire at Alicante and Murcia this summer is really that expensive.

Hi Mike,

I noticed the extra driver thing myself also. Usually, second driver has always been free with my hire's so far. Bit of a bummer when you usually share the driving so one of you can have a drink if desired. Just might have to convince Jackie that it will be good for her to build up her 'flying hours' and get as much experience on the Spanish roads as possible  .

On the insurance con', I am going to go for one of those annual top-up policies -they will pay for themselves after a single hire period.

Hi Arlene,

I think it makes sense to drive this year if you are going for a three week or longer period (even though a trip from Abz to Ednbrgh would be enough with the 6 year old 'Are we there yet' melody !!  We ourselves thought about this and taking our likkle dog with us, but because we will never be out longer than a fortnight, the flights are the more cost effective option. We are training Poppy to gradually spend 3 hours inside hand baggage without wimpering !!!

Regards,

YIKES!!!  Just looked at the ferry prices.  £1076 return.  Madrid is sounding like a good option though - even Almeria.  My friend did the Almeria to Condado drive and it took her under 2 hours so not too bad either.

Ouch Arlene, that's a sore one.

Is that from Plymouth/Portsmouth to Santander/Bilbao?

Hi George, Yes.  Even the Dover-Calais was around £600.  That's the joy of booking during the school hols I suppose. 

Hi

Easyjet Bristol to Madrid is always reasonable.

Peter

can recommed Almeria airport - lovely small airport - no queues at car hire and straight drive up to Mazarron.  Took me hour and half and had to pay toll, around 5 euro I think but flight prices between there and Dublin with Ryanair usually cheaper than either Murcia or Alicante