The question of a means of transportation on vacation is one of the main ones. Even before setting foot on Spanish soil, it is advisable for the traveler to know in which vehicle he will travel, see the sights and relax. Public transport trips can seem endless and even stressful if the tourist doesn't know the city very well and gets lost in it. Taxi is often too expensive, so car rental in Alicante is a kind of salvation - a relatively inexpensive and very comfortable way to travel on vacation.
What to see in Alicante
Alicante (or the friendliest city in Spain) is suitable for those who want to spend their holidays actively, soak up the sun, swim and see the local attractions. There are a lot of them here.
Alicante is famous for the Santa Barbara Fortress, one of the largest Spanish fortresses of the Middle Ages.
It was modernized over several centuries, so today it combines several architectural styles at once. And also a unique view opens up from Santa Barbara. The fortress is located on the Benacantil elevation, which is 166 meters above sea level. For tourists there is a paid elevator, you can get to it through the Parc de La Ereta - a picturesque, paradise corner in the shade of tall trees.
We also advise you to go to the MACA - Museum of Contemporary Art, where you can admire paintings by Dali and Picasso for free. And also in Alicante there is Explanada de España, a marble promenade, a Central Market, many quality golf courses, beaches, restaurants of national cuisine and huge shopping centers - leisure activities for all tastes.
An excellent assistant for those who want to see and try everything is a car.
Car rental locations
Alicante is a city that is almost always flooded with tourists, so renting a car is very easy here. Hundreds of companies offer vehicles of different classes in all areas of the city.
You can pick up a car already at the airport. For example, the Centauro company offers online selection of the date and time of the car delivery in the city's air harbor. Contact phone (+34) 966 360 360.
Cars-scanner provides cars anywhere, all the client needs is to indicate on the map a convenient pick-up point for the vehicle. This can be a specific address, a transport stop, a street intersection, or a hotel where the tourist is staying.
Almost all hotels in Alicante cooperate with car rental companies and are ready to provide their residents with this option on the spot.
If you have already settled in a hotel, it will not be superfluous to ask at the reception: you may not even have to go anywhere.
In addition, a tourist can contact companies such as Holidaycars, Economycarrentals or use the help of an intermediary website.
Basic rules for renting a car
Car rental in Alicante is no different from a similar process in Russia or any other country.
True, each company has the right to set its own requirements for drivers who rent a car. Typically, businesses have two requirements: age and driving experience. According to the first point, it is enough for the driver to reach 21 years old, according to the second - to have at least one year of driving experience.
Booking process
Companies operating in Alicante advise to book a car in advance.
The fact is that in the high season there are very few cars left and it takes a long time to look for the right option. It may happen that at the hotel or airport you will be offered only executive class cars or minibuses - everything that is left in the public domain. Another common factor is the huge, literally gigantic lines at the airport at the vehicle rental desks.
To give you plenty to choose from, it is recommended that you make your reservation online a few days or weeks before visiting the city.
To do this, visit the website of the selected company, look after your car, enter your data (protected by the law on confidential information), confirm the order and use a payment card or electronic wallet to transfer the so-called deposit, in other words, a deposit, and pay the full rental period.
From this moment, the booking is considered completed, and the selected vehicle can no longer be rented to someone else at the time specified by the client.
Please note that the amount of the deposit will not be charged, but only blocked on the card. After returning the car, the client gets his money back.
After placing an order, you will receive a confirmation by mail and phone. Follow the prompts of the system, some companies require you to print a receipt for presentation, others just need a passport and SMS.
Documents for registration of a lease
To conclude a lease of a vehicle, you will need a list of documents. Note that companies require originals of papers, copies are not enough to complete the transaction:
- international passport;
- international driving license;
- credit / debit card for collateral.
Large companies require an international driver's license, but small businesses can provide cars without such a license. For your own comfort, we advise you to take care of having the correct driver's license.
Car pick up and lease agreement
The conclusion of the contract takes place at the place where the car is handed over to the driver. The company's agent arrives with everything you need, including a sample contract.
Vehicle rental is paid in full before the start of the trip. The client has the right to make sure that the machine is in good condition. Any defects, features of the car must be documented in the contract.
The lease agreement includes all the nuances of providing the service, so it is advisable to read it carefully and only then sign the document.
At the time of the transaction, the company's agent checks the driver's documents and, if everything is in order, signs the agreement. From this moment on, the contract takes effect.
Terms and features of car return
Return time is a clear parameter that should not be neglected. Often, his companies indicate as specific as possible, for example, like this: 17.30, 14.07. That is, the car must be delivered to the office or to another agreed place before 17.30. If you do not do this, you will face one or another financial loss. True, the amount of the fine should be checked with each company specifically.
Some are distinguished by their loyalty and give several extra hours, others require one hour of delay to pay extra as for a whole day of rent. In any case, a delay in return will turn into troubles for the client.
If you can't arrive on time, call your agent: he will offer to pay for an additional hour, and this is a significant savings. You will do without fines, penalties and the need to pay all day.
How the rental price is determined
The rental price offered to the client in Alicante is collectively. It contains many parameters, first of all, of course, the vehicle class. You can rent a vehicle of economy class, optimal, luxury and SUV - for each group of cars there will be a specific rate.
It also matters how long the car has been in operation: the newer it is, the higher the cost will be. The equipment of the car also affects the cost.For example, traditionally you have to pay extra for air conditioning, a child seat and an automatic transmission.
It is noteworthy that short-term rentals are more expensive than long-term rentals in terms of one day or one hour of rent.
During the registration of the rental, the agent (or the system on the website) will also take an interest in the geography of the trip. The further you plan to travel, the more you will have to pay.
The type of insurance policy also affects the rental prices, but here the driver does not have to choose. Companies independently choose the insurer they cooperate with.
By paying for the rental, the client not only gets the opportunity to use the car, but also the company's round-the-clock support. If the car breaks down, for example, the rental service representatives should provide another vehicle as soon as possible. However, damage to the car is not included in the rental price, so you should drive carefully, and for this you need to know the Spanish traffic rules.
Features of driving on Spanish roads
Traffic rules in Alicante do not differ from the general European ones.
Therefore, we will talk about the features that may seem unusual or incomprehensible to a driver from the Russian Federation and Eastern Europe in general. What immediately catches the eye is a large amount of markings: they are everywhere, not only on roads, but also on roadsides and poles. It can be seen from afar, so drivers should have no problem capturing all the hints drawn.
Remember that wearing a seat belt is compulsory and speaking on the phone while driving is a serious offense with a large fine.
In addition to the standard white stripes, there are also yellow stripes in Alicante - they limit the intersection of carriageways at difficult intersections. The lanes on the far right delineate parking spaces, and the lanes are drawn at two meter intervals.
Parking in Alicante
There is enough parking in the city, the shortage of spaces arises only with free parking spaces. In summer, on holidays and weekends, it is almost impossible to park for free in the center.
Another nuance: the transformation of the main streets of the city into pedestrian zones is a good tradition throughout Spain. Accordingly, if a street with a parking lot is given to pedestrians for the duration of someone's festival, then it will not work to park there.
Paid parking in Alicante is a well-developed underground car park. The boards located at the entrance always indicate the number of vacant seats.
Car rental nuances
Airport and train station are the cheapest places to order a car. Due to the high demand and competition, the most interesting options are available to passengers. Hotels are considered to be the middle price segment, and if you go to look for a car in the offices of firms, without first asking the price, there is a chance to significantly overpay.
It is best to order a car in advance, then you can choose exactly the vehicle you need.
It should be noted that rent without collateral is possible, but not all companies provide it.
If you decide to take advantage of such a special offer, then instead of a deposit, you will be asked to pay a refundable fee - from 50 to 100 euros.
Some companies require a rental surcharge if the driver is under 25 or over 70. Many renters are happy to provide customers with a map and even a summary of the rules of the road at will.
Conclusions
A car in Alicante is a great option for tourists who want to independently determine the pace of travel and the list of attractions. You can rent a car already at the airport or train stations, at the hotel and at the office of any specialized company. We advise you to book your car in advance via the Internet. To complete the contract, you will need a passport and driver's license.
