A Guide to Car Hire in Bilbao
1. Where is Bilbao
Bilbao is a city in northern Spain in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. It is located around 14 kilometres south of the Bay of Biscay and is surrounded by two small mountain ranges. Bilbao has always been something of a commercial hub and the bustling city offers a huge range of things to see and do, from a visit to the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum, to wandering in one of the city’s 18 lovely public parks.
Bilbao airport is the busiest airport in the Basque Country and is 12km north of the city. There are flights to and from all over Europe, including destinations like London, Paris and Madrid. Bilbao is extremely well connected in terms of land transport, with three train lines – RENFE (Spanish railway network), FEVE (Spanish Narrow Gauge Railways) and EuskoTren (Basque railway network) – stopping in the city. There is also a direct ferry link from Bilbao to Portsmouth in the UK.
2. Car Hire companies in Bilbao
Because of its status as a tourist hub and a key commercial centre in Spain, it is not surprising that car hire companies have flocked to Bilbao. There are recognisable names like Europcar, Avis and Hertz, as well as smaller local companies that specialise in categories like van hire or luxury car hire.
If you want to find out which are the best car hire companies in Bilbao then you can consult review websites like Trip Advisor. There is also a lot of information to be found on price comparison websites like Holiday Supermarket and the web pages of the companies themselves.
3. How to find the best Car Hire in Bilbao?
If you want to find the best car rental in Bilbao then you should start by searching the internet. Other car rental users often post reviews of services they have experienced in Bilbao on websites like Trip Adviser and you can also consult travel forums and blogs.
Price comparison websites offer insight into the costs of car rental in Bilbao and if you prefer a more personal touch when it comes to making bookings, you can always call up the car rental companies themselves. Most of the Europe-wide companies have well staffed call centres that you can phone at a local rate and put your questions to a company representative.
4. Long term Car Hire in Bilbao
Long term car rental in Bilbao does not have to be expensive and can actually represent considerable savings in daily rate, when compared to the kinds of rates that are offered for a week’s car rental, or less.
If you are planning to stay in the city for any extended length of time then you will find long term car rental a much cheaper and more convenient option than using public transport or paying out hundreds of Euros to use the local taxi services. Pretty much all the car rental companies in Bilbao will offer long term car rental so it is a good idea to shop around and see which ones are offering the best deals.
5. One way Car Hire in Bilbao
If you are looking to transport some furniture or possessions, or you simply want to leave your rental car somewhere other than the city, then one way car rental in Bilbao is for you. Many car rental companies used to charge a premium for one way journeys but this is very rare now.
If you want a lot of flexibility as to where you drop the car off then it is a good idea to go with a large, European company. The likes of Hertz and Avis have offices and outlets all over Europe (and the world) so you have many more options when it comes to choosing the end of your one way journey.
6. Estate Car Hire in Bilbao
Holiday car rental can sometimes be a bit of a lottery when it comes to space. With all the usual holiday baggage – children, suitcases, beach balls – as well as everything families tend to pick up along the way (that giant beach inflatable shaped like a crocodile for example), some extra room in the car is a real blessing.
Estate car rental in Bilbao can offer drivers this kind of extra room, without having to handle the considerable bulk of a 4 x 4. Most of the car rental companies in Bilbao will offer the option of estate car rental and there should not be any need to book in advance unless you want to.
7. Sports Car Hire in Bilbao
If you are planning an extra special holiday this year and looking for something a little bit out of the ordinary in which to do your holiday driving, then you might want to consider sports car rental in Bilbao. Whatever the make and model of the sports car you have always wanted to drive, you can guarantee that it will be available in Bilbao.
The best place to start is researching large companies like Hertz and Avis to see what kinds of models they offer. It is also a good idea to look at more specialised companies like Benelux Car, which focus on renting luxury cars.
8. Convertible Car Hire in Bilbao
Spanish weather means everyone wants to be outside more and if you have a long journey to make then there is nothing worse than being stuck in a hot and sweaty car. One way to beat this on your holiday this year is to look into convertible car rental in Bilbao.
Most of the car rental companies that operate in Bilbao will offer a convertible car rental option so you won’t be short of choices in this area. If you find a make and model online that you particularly want to drive, you might want to book it in advance to make sure that you don’t have to make do with a less fun model if the one you want has been taken out by another driver.
9. Mini bus hire in Bilbao
For parties of more than 4 adults, mini bus hire in Bilbao is a great idea. Whether you are looking to explore all the delights of the city or to get out and about into the surrounding countryside, larger groups will find this far more convenient in a slightly larger vehicle.
Mini bus hire is available from most of the larger car rental companies in Bilbao and will always work out to be cheaper than hiring 1 or 2 cars. Most mini buses will seat at least 6 people and some of the larger ones 9 or 12. It is a good idea to book your mini bus in advance to make sure of availability.
10. Economy Car Hire in Bilbao
Economy car rental in Bilbao now offers an impressive range of options to travellers looking to save money. There are so many car rental companies operating in the city that the market is very competitive, which means there are some great deals to be had.
Start by going on to a price comparison website like Holiday Supermarket or Travel Supermarket, where you will be able to browse through comparisons of a range of economy models, as well as details as to cost and conditions. There are also some great deals available on economy car rental in Bilbao with travel companies and tour operators so be sure to ask for details when booking your trip.
11. Automatic Car Hire in Bilbao
If you are used to driving an automatic car then having to switch to manual whilst also driving on new roads in a foreign country can be a very daunting prospect. However, this does not have to be the case as automatic car hire in Bilbao is very easy to arrange.
Many car hire companies will offer automatic car hire and there should be a good range of makes and models to choose from. It is a good idea to try the bigger companies like Hertz and Avis as they are likely to have the best choice. Booking in advance will always give you the peace of mind of knowing that the car you want will be waiting for you.
12.Diesel Car Hire in Bilbao
Diesel cars may have something of a bad reputation with environmentalists but they offer some considerable costs savings when it comes to a holiday in Spain that is going to involve considerable amounts of driving.
Diesel car hire in Bilbao is very available and you should not have a problem finding a company that will offer diesel models. Although at the pumps diesel can sometimes seem more expensive than petrol, most cars will get much more mileage from a tank of diesel – sometimes as much as twice that of petrol. Just remember not to put the wrong fuel in the tank!
13.Cheapest Car Hire in Bilbao
For the cheapest car hire in Bilbao you must do a little research. The best resource for this kind of information is definitely the internet as most car hire companies that operate in the city will regularly post details of their best deals online.
You can also use price comparison websites like Travel Supermarket to make sure you know exactly which companies provide the cheapest car hire in Bilbao and what kind of conditions and extras each hire comes with. Review websites like Trip Advisor also have information as to price, as well as personal accounts from individuals who have used each of the companies and what savings they have made.
14. Daily Car Hire in Bilbao
For ultra flexibility and convenience, you can opt for daily car hire in Bilbao. As there are so many car hire companies in the city, there is plenty of choice and you should not find it hard to turn up and hire a car straight away.
Daily car hire in Bilbao has a number of advantages, including helping you avoid the costs and hassles associated with taking public transport or taxis. It also means that you can head out of the city for the day to destinations within day trip distance – some popular choices are the Castillo de Munatones castle, the Roman town of Santander and the marina at Puerto Deportivo El Abra Getxo.
15. Weekend Car Hire in Bilbao
Weekend car hire in Bilbao is cheap and flexible as the city is a very popular short break destination. One of the best ways to book your weekend car hire is to add it in as an extra when you book your weekend break package. Tour operators and airlines can often negotiate some fantastic discounts with car hire companies, so this can mean considerable savings are passed on to travellers.
Most car hire companies in the city will offer weekend car hire and it is a great way to give yourself and your party the flexibility to see the best that the city has to offer, as well as exploring the surrounding Basque Country.
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Category: Travel
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