Barcelona Car Hire
If you're planning to visit some of Barcelona's out lying attractions such as the beaches of Stiges to the south, the Roman ruins of Tarragona (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarragona) or the magnificent mountain monastery of Montserrat to the north (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montserrat_(mountain)) then a car will prove indispensable.
If however you're planning on spending most of your time within the city limits then the last thing you'll need is a car as the cons of renting a vehicle vastly outweigh the pros.
To get things moving you'll need to be over 21, have a credit card as a deposit as well as a recognized driving license ( EU , US or International) that you've held for more than a year. For the best deals it pays to shop around on the web, but make sure that you read all the fine print before committing yourself. Most of the major car rental agencies have offices at the airport and a number can be found at the main railway station. Judging by other drivers you'd be forgiven for thinking that seat-belts are optional. They aren't, and if you're caught not wearing one you could be looking at a hefty on-the-spot fine. The Spanish traffic police are also hot on speeding, so make sure that you keep an eye on the limit. If you breakdown the Reial Automòbil Club is affiliated with many other European players and should be able to help out (Local Tel: 902 40 45 45). (www.race.es)
In the city centre driving is one of the slowest and most frustrating ways of getting around. The majority of Barcelona's attractions are within walking distance of each other, while those that aren't are easily reached by public transport. But that's just the start of it: the city's labyrinthine streets are notorious for being difficult to navigate, perilously narrow and populated with suicidal drivers. As if that wasn't enough -parking is nigh on impossible and the city tops the country's car-crime statistics. To add insult to injury hiring a car in Barcelona is also likely to leave a noticeable dent in your wallet. It only begins to make financial sense if you're planning a number of day trips while on your break.
Continue with this guide to:
> Barcelona's History
> Flights to Barcelona
> Hotels
> Accommodation Review
