We are flying into Malaga the 2nd week this October to stay in a timeshare in Marbella. We usually rent a car in our travels but this is the 1st european trip and I'm not sure about renting vs bus/train. Cost wise also is a concern and being able to do whatever whenever as we have a car. How easy is it to get around? We want to do Gibralter, Alhambra, some white villages, Jerez de la Frontera for sherry tastings and maybe the ferry into Tangiers. I would love to get into Portugal but one week is not enough time. This is just a taste of hopefully more trips to come. What are your thoughts for renting a car? Thanks
Diane, I would rent a car. I am sure it is doable by bus but it would be SO much easier to have a car... instead of waiting for the bus, worrying about missing it, etc.
If you were just going to hang out at the time share and maybe take a day trip or two, I'd say go for the bus but since there are lots of places you want to see, go for the car.
Renting a car is by far the best way to travel as you can get out and stop look at the sight eat where you want and generally have more freedom. However the disadvantages could be that you are only comfortable with driving an automatic. If so higher rates are usually slightly higher as they are not so common here in Spain. Please don’t try and drive a manual and learn the Spanish road customs too as this could ruin your vacation. Sometimes you will find yourself driving in a city. Hopefully you have enough confidence for this. You will not be allowed to drive the car into Gib. You have to leave that at the border. If you go to Portugal you may have to ask permission from the hire company, as it is not always automatically allowed. If you take a bus you the disadvantages are you are fixed to their timetable. You cannot get out and stop when you want. Buses services do not cover every village so you may miss out on the true backwaters. Again buses do not go over the border to Gib. Buses between Portugal and Spain are few and far between. You Spanish ahs to be quite good to converse with the bus driver and office staff. The buses here in Spain are very cheap.
Thanks for your responses. My husband and I both drive manual vehicles and he is a truck driver so that is not a problem. So we have to leave the car at the border at Gibralter? Is there other transport for us to see whatever there is over in Gib? Will we need a passport for that? I did not know that and glad I am finding out now. Thanks again
Diane - don't know if I'm missing something in your post. How much time will you have in total in Spain? You mention "one week is not enough" Does that include the time spent in the timeshare or just the time set aside for traveling? IF you only have one week, it seems that taking advantage of your timeshare in Marbella and renting a car to visit all places mentioned... confirms that one week is not enough. kathyk
Sorry I seemed to have got my words muddled up. Like Portugal check with the hire company if you can take the car across into Gib. However it seems that the return trip can take longer than expected due to Spanish customs insisting they do a thorough job...for once! Here is one selection of stories to be found on the web. Virtualtourist
Glad to hear you can drive manuals as it is so much more dificult to find an auto here.
Most of us do not drive the car into Gibraltar (although it can easily be done) just to avoid the queues both in and out. Park in La Linea (the town on the Spanish side of the border) and walk across the border (showing your passport). Once over the border there are numerous buses into the central shopping area, but if you want to do a tour of the caves, apes etc, you can pick up a mini-bus tour within 50 metres of showing your passport.
Michael
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Maybe it's just me, but when I drove to Gibraltar I ended up in La Linea's one-way system and found myself going around in circles. I eventually found my way through and parked my car near McDonalds on the Spanish side, but when I got back to the car I had a parking ticket.
On the next trip to Gibraltar I went on a coach excursion - much easier!
