Exploring Iberia
Drive around the coast of Spain and much of it looks like the picture above: condos, shopping centres and "tea like mother makes". But there is so much more. Mountains - much of both Spain and Portugal is higher than Snowdon, even Madrid is the same altitude as Dartmoor! Some of the views are beyond spectacular. Wetlands - the Coto Donana is probably the best known but there are other wonderful habitats and the Laguna de Gallocanta with its 60,000 Common Cranes takes some beating.
This sub-page is about exploring the Peninsula and I have put in a few pictures that might tempt you
This sub-page is about exploring the Peninsula and I have put in a few pictures that might tempt you
Language
I don't speak Spanish or Portuguese but I can communicate what I need and and can survive in the event of a problem; however, when it comes to conversation then I am lost. Apart from coastal resort areas where most of the Brits are to be found, English is hardly known by the local populations and this even applies to large cities. My advice: do a few classes or go onto the internet and learn the basics; it will benefit you enormously.
I don't speak Spanish or Portuguese but I can communicate what I need and and can survive in the event of a problem; however, when it comes to conversation then I am lost. Apart from coastal resort areas where most of the Brits are to be found, English is hardly known by the local populations and this even applies to large cities. My advice: do a few classes or go onto the internet and learn the basics; it will benefit you enormously.
Driving in Spain
First thing – get a satnav! And I mean a good one that tells you speed limits and makes an annoying sound when you exceed it. Why so important? Well, Spain has a bewildering array of speed limits from 10 kph – yes 10 kph up to 120 kph in 10 kph ranges. There are never enough signs and you can easily get caught out. Does it matter? It has happened to me on many occasions and has had no effect on my licence; but every time I’m caught, the car hire company change me €30 for the “administration”. If you follow the sat nav and its annoying noises you will save yourself money.
The second reason for having a sat nav is what it is actually meant to do and, I have to admit that I am not really one for the latest technology, but I really wonder what I used to do before I got one. I suppose I used to rely on Spanish Maps, which, like the proverbial curate’s egg are good – in parts; the problem is that you don’t know which parts. In the past, I have been so hopelessly lost with Spanish maps, that I have often given up on the particular location. Not a problem with the sat nav and I will give you an example. Finding sites in a new area has been revolutionised by Google Earth; search your terrain, spot the pond and note the coordinates. Put these into the satnav and away you go. I did this recently and the satnav took me along a track that was not even on my Spanish map . The track was not perfect but it took me directly to the pond, which would previously, using maps, have been a wasted day.
You may take pleasure from working out the maps and finding sites; but, when the maps are wrong, it is a waste of time and I am afraid, in Spain this is often the case.
Driving itself is usually a real pleasure. because, apart from large cities, there is no traffic. Roads that but twenty years ago were little more than goat tracks are now major highways that will take you to the most obscure destinations offering untold possibilities to the exploring naturalist. What about the rumour that Spanish drivers are all mad – don’t you believe it, I have much worse experiences on the M25!!
First thing – get a satnav! And I mean a good one that tells you speed limits and makes an annoying sound when you exceed it. Why so important? Well, Spain has a bewildering array of speed limits from 10 kph – yes 10 kph up to 120 kph in 10 kph ranges. There are never enough signs and you can easily get caught out. Does it matter? It has happened to me on many occasions and has had no effect on my licence; but every time I’m caught, the car hire company change me €30 for the “administration”. If you follow the sat nav and its annoying noises you will save yourself money.
The second reason for having a sat nav is what it is actually meant to do and, I have to admit that I am not really one for the latest technology, but I really wonder what I used to do before I got one. I suppose I used to rely on Spanish Maps, which, like the proverbial curate’s egg are good – in parts; the problem is that you don’t know which parts. In the past, I have been so hopelessly lost with Spanish maps, that I have often given up on the particular location. Not a problem with the sat nav and I will give you an example. Finding sites in a new area has been revolutionised by Google Earth; search your terrain, spot the pond and note the coordinates. Put these into the satnav and away you go. I did this recently and the satnav took me along a track that was not even on my Spanish map . The track was not perfect but it took me directly to the pond, which would previously, using maps, have been a wasted day.
You may take pleasure from working out the maps and finding sites; but, when the maps are wrong, it is a waste of time and I am afraid, in Spain this is often the case.
Driving itself is usually a real pleasure. because, apart from large cities, there is no traffic. Roads that but twenty years ago were little more than goat tracks are now major highways that will take you to the most obscure destinations offering untold possibilities to the exploring naturalist. What about the rumour that Spanish drivers are all mad – don’t you believe it, I have much worse experiences on the M25!!
Car Hire
You are going to Iberia for the first time; maybe you should stick to the big international companies; after all they must have huge networks and give a cloak of security. The truth is somewhat different. I went on a trip to the Coto Donana a few years ago using an “international” company. I returned to car without mishap only to find some time later that I had been charged £100 for valeting the car; apparently it had been full of sand. I used the same company later for a trip to Cuenca. This car was a diesel and was nearly killed by a fuel filter spraying diesel directly into the engine compartment. Now you would think that an international company would have a local network – not a bit, I had to get a taxi back to Madrid to get the new car and lost a complete day of my short trip. On returning to UK I wrote to the company who initially denied all knowledge of my hiring the vehicle and then, after pressing, offered me the cost of a tank of diesel in recompense. Go ahead use an international company if you want, but you will probably pay over the top and get no better service.
I use local companies and have had excellent service. I used to use the wonderful Auriga Crown: cheap cars and full insurance a €3 per day; unfortunately they went bust. I now use a range of companies and offer another tip. You are arranging your trip and are probably using one of the many brokers for your car hire based here in UK. They tempt you with a package including full insurance and you accept. You arrive at the airport only to find that your insurance is not with the hire company who provide only third party with the hire package. You will have a large sum blocked on your credit card and will have to pay for any damage. Confused: I must have spent many hours queuing in Spanish airports whilst the representative of the hire car company explains the problem. Next time when you book your car hire, ignore the requests, which can be quite insistent, to pay the extra insurance. When you get to the airport and to your car hire company, tell them you want the full insurance. It may be slightly more expensive than your broker’s but it’s worth it. I’ll give you an example. I was driving with some mates around the Laguna de Gallocanta; excited by the sighting of numerous Great Bustards, I failed to pay attention and hit a rock on the side of the track. Disaster, well we were eventually located by the breakdown truck, taken to the nearest town and then to a local restaurant where we were provided with an excellent lunch. We were then taken to our hotel and, as the next day was the last of the holiday, we were taken to Madrid airport by taxi. Thanks to the full insurance, it did not cost me a penny. Think if I had had this accident, which was completely my fault, without the full insurance. Remember accidents happen – you need to be covered. In my case, could I have claimed it all back? Do you ever read the small print in insurance agreements.
You are going to Iberia for the first time; maybe you should stick to the big international companies; after all they must have huge networks and give a cloak of security. The truth is somewhat different. I went on a trip to the Coto Donana a few years ago using an “international” company. I returned to car without mishap only to find some time later that I had been charged £100 for valeting the car; apparently it had been full of sand. I used the same company later for a trip to Cuenca. This car was a diesel and was nearly killed by a fuel filter spraying diesel directly into the engine compartment. Now you would think that an international company would have a local network – not a bit, I had to get a taxi back to Madrid to get the new car and lost a complete day of my short trip. On returning to UK I wrote to the company who initially denied all knowledge of my hiring the vehicle and then, after pressing, offered me the cost of a tank of diesel in recompense. Go ahead use an international company if you want, but you will probably pay over the top and get no better service.
I use local companies and have had excellent service. I used to use the wonderful Auriga Crown: cheap cars and full insurance a €3 per day; unfortunately they went bust. I now use a range of companies and offer another tip. You are arranging your trip and are probably using one of the many brokers for your car hire based here in UK. They tempt you with a package including full insurance and you accept. You arrive at the airport only to find that your insurance is not with the hire company who provide only third party with the hire package. You will have a large sum blocked on your credit card and will have to pay for any damage. Confused: I must have spent many hours queuing in Spanish airports whilst the representative of the hire car company explains the problem. Next time when you book your car hire, ignore the requests, which can be quite insistent, to pay the extra insurance. When you get to the airport and to your car hire company, tell them you want the full insurance. It may be slightly more expensive than your broker’s but it’s worth it. I’ll give you an example. I was driving with some mates around the Laguna de Gallocanta; excited by the sighting of numerous Great Bustards, I failed to pay attention and hit a rock on the side of the track. Disaster, well we were eventually located by the breakdown truck, taken to the nearest town and then to a local restaurant where we were provided with an excellent lunch. We were then taken to our hotel and, as the next day was the last of the holiday, we were taken to Madrid airport by taxi. Thanks to the full insurance, it did not cost me a penny. Think if I had had this accident, which was completely my fault, without the full insurance. Remember accidents happen – you need to be covered. In my case, could I have claimed it all back? Do you ever read the small print in insurance agreements.
Another tip. When hiring your car always look at the capacity of the car especially in relation to luggage space. I was in the queue in Madrid earlier this year. The guy in front of me had ordered a seven seater. He asked the assistant if he could have a big vehicle so that he could stow all his luggage. He had a large family with cases that seemed to fill the carpark. Guess what the luggage would not fit. The guy started to remonstrate with the assistant as though it were her fault. I can still remember her face witha look of - why is this my problem. Her answer was worthy of repeating.
"Sir, you ordered a seven seater car, in truth you need a large van and we have none available" When I left, matters were unresolved; but the lesson is clear - do not expect a seven seater car to have a seven seater luggage capacity. If you need a pantechnicon bite the bullet, pay up and look big.
"Sir, you ordered a seven seater car, in truth you need a large van and we have none available" When I left, matters were unresolved; but the lesson is clear - do not expect a seven seater car to have a seven seater luggage capacity. If you need a pantechnicon bite the bullet, pay up and look big.
Car Cleaning - This is the latest weaze used by the hire companies to extract money from the hapless punter. I returned to Malaga airport some weeks back to be informed that the inside of the car was dirty and full of rubbish. I faced a charge of 90 euros. I removed the car, drove round the block, dumped the rubbish (one pair of trainers and two water bottles) and brushed out the footwells. I returned the car to be told that the car was now "perfecto".
I shall think twice about using this company again but it is certainly worth spending a few minutes before returning the car to make sure it looks reasonable.
I have to admit on an earlier trip Firefly charged me 50 euros for cleaning. To be frank it was a good deal. I had done 6,000 kM and the car was in a disgusting state - worth every penny.
I shall think twice about using this company again but it is certainly worth spending a few minutes before returning the car to make sure it looks reasonable.
I have to admit on an earlier trip Firefly charged me 50 euros for cleaning. To be frank it was a good deal. I had done 6,000 kM and the car was in a disgusting state - worth every penny.