In Spain car rental is available from all major cities, main towns and airports. Some companies allow one way rentals which is very useful when you consider the driving distances in what is Western Europe's second largest country.

In order to rent a car in Spain you must be at least 21 years old and have held a full driver's licence for one to three years depending on the company. It isn't usually possible to pay with cash so a credit card is necessary as well as a passport.

Car hire in Spain can be excellent value provided you shop around. It pays to book your car rental before you arrive in Spain as you'll sometimes get better deals from the online car brokers than you will by leaving the rental until you arrive.

Third party liability insurance is compulsory and although collision-damage waivers vary between companies, they usually seem worthwhile when compared with the potential loss if an accident occurred.

Booking in advance gives you plenty time to read the small print on your rental contract, something you wouldn't find time to do as you are handed your keys and asked to sign the rental contract in the airport arrivals lounge.

It would make sense to rent your car from a broker because you are taking advantage of their purchasing power, therefore they are often cheaper than booking directly through the Alicante rent a car company themselves. But don't be deceived. There are disadvantages to this. The main drawback is this, some brokers will tell you beforehand which car rental company you are getting your car from, others however will not tell you until you have booked and paid for the car.

Does this really matter?  Yes it does.  The terms and conditions of the car hire companies differ and some may not suit you. You may end up with a company that adds on “little extras” after you have booked, so that your original quote soon adds up.

We have produced a list of the Car Hire Rental Companies that, according to AENA, have their office inside the airport arrivals building. These are detailed below along with a link to their web page :

Auriga              

Avis                 

Centauro          

Europcar           

Goldcar Rental   

Hertz               

National Atesa  

Record             

Sixt                  

Sol-Mar

Find out at “Our Sponsors” why we recommend you rent a car with Centauro.

We recommend you to book your car with Centauro Rent a Car

Centauro rent a car offers all the guarantees of major international companies in your car hire. They also have one of the most modern and versatile fleet of cars in Europe, so you can truly enjoy your car hire in Spain during the EAM.

Centauro gives all Up with People alumni an extra discount of 5 % on the price that will appear on your screen when booking online through these links :

Castellano :        http://www.centauro.net/?vend=7000

English :             http://carhire.centauro.net/?vend=7000

Deutsch :           http://autovermietung.centauro.net/?vend=7000

Français :           http://locationvoiture.centauro.net/?vend=7000

Svenska :           http://hyrbilar.centauro.net/?vend=7000

Copy and paste these links in a file, they might come useful in the future because the advantage for Up with People alumni is permanent.  You do not only get the discount for the EAM, but also for your future holidays in Spain!

Leaving Alicante Airport by car

You may have decided to hire a GPS along with your hire car. If you have done so then leaving Alicante Airport should be straight forward. But for those of you who haven't, I have put a few directions together below.

Getting out of the Alicante Airport Car park is easy. You follow the Exit (or Salida) signs to the exit barriers where you will be let through and out onto the road. The hire cars are located in a separate area of the car park all to themselves. You are not expected to pay when exiting the car park!

Directions to El Albir – l’Alfàs del Pi from Alicante Airport

Duration: 0h 40m Distance: 62.3km Cost: Toll 2.85 euros

-         Exit from Alicante Airport (ALICANTE) along the local highway

   The road out of Alicante Airport divides into 3 lanes.

   You will want the blue sign (middle lane) Autopista AP7 (motorway).

-         Continue along the local highway for 1.1 Km towards Valencia/ Murcia/ Elche

-         Continue along the N-338 for 2.5 Km towards Valencia/ Alicante/ Benidorm/ Madrid

-         Continue along the A-7 for 4.9 Km

-         Continue along the A-70 for 15.4 Km towards Valencia

Once on the motorway stay on the AP7. There is a confusing slip road which is signposted for Benidorm. If you take this slip road you will just be directed back onto the AP7, so just stay on it in the first place! The next landmark is the tunnel which is about 1800 m long and not long after this are the toll booths where you take your toll ticket. Don't use a toll booth with a blue circular sign on top but a blue square is fine.

For your information 'Peaje' is the Spanish word for tolls.

-         Continue along the A-70 / AP-7 for 31.1 Km and take exit 65 towards Benidorm (levante)/ Callosa d'En Sarrià

-         Toll: 2.85 (30.5 Km)

-         Continue along the Avinguda de la Comunitat Europea (CV-7670) towards Valencia / Alfaz del Pi (N-332)

-         Continue along the N-332

-         Go straight past the Alfaz del Pi turning and continue until you reach the next junction, 
  just before the McDonalds restaurant. Take the Playa del Albir turning to the right.

-         Continue down Avenida del Albir until you reach the roundabout and take the third exit. Your Hotel is right there.