Our Spanish Dream Driving in Spain and hiring a car part 47

Driving in Spain and hiring a car

This brings us to the general subject of car hire in Spain.  These days we only use a car hired from a family run business in Alicante, but they will also bring a car to Murcia airport.  No hidden extras, your quote is what you pay, and no long wait at the airport to fill out forms.www.edirentacar.com have looked after our needs for many years now.

The big car hire companies are well known for adding ‘extras’ to your bill.  You arrive at the airport, queue for 40 minutes with 3 bored children, desperate for a decent cuppa and weary from the hours of travel.  When you finally get to the desk you have to confirm all the information already supplied, then you get offered an ‘up-grade’ and you say no.  They make the up-grade sound more attractive and you feel awkward still saying no.  Then they say there is extra insurance cover required for the windscreen and tyres, or whatever, but there is always an extra.  And don’t forget the charge for the child seats required by Spanish law.  And they want your credit card details for the deposit.

Then you pay for a full tank of fuel, being told to return the car with an empty tank.  Everyone knows that there is no way you will risk running out of fuel on the way back to the airport so every car is returned with some fuel in the tank, so why should you pay for a whole tank?  If you are only visiting for short time, or only doing local trips to the shops and beach, you probably won’t use a whole tank of fuel.  However if you do need to refill the tank the chances are you will find the same value in fuel for which you were charged at the airport won’t actually all fit into the tank!

The targeting of hire cars is the subject matter of several newspaper articles each year, both by the criminals and the traffic police.  You are advertising by the un-removable sticker on the car that you are probably on your holiday, so relaxed about personal security and unsure of the Spanish road laws, making you an easy target.  Removing the sticker will mean damaging the paintwork and therefore being ‘fined’ for damaging the car by the hire car company.  The rules are simple: never leave valuables on display, no matter what the temperature shut all windows and lock the car when not in it, drive according to road conditions and within speed limits, wear your seat belt, carry your documents (if you can, also keep a photocopy back at your accommodation), the driver must carry his/her passport, spare glasses and wear sensible footwear for driving.  After collecting your car from the airport drive straight to your accommodation and don’t at any time leave all your cases and belongings unattended in the car if you have to stop en route for refreshments.

Best advice, use local, small, recommended businesses rather than the big companies.  If you become a regular customer they will look after you.

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Property of the Day

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Our Spanish Dream Learning the lingo Part 46

Dave & Bev Welcome you to Spanish Dream Property

Learning the lingo

Neither of us are fluent in Spanish. Neither of us are gifted in language skills at all. Indeed I failed my school French exams in spectacular style, but somehow passed in Spanish. Despite not being able to hold a full conversation I find by listening I do tend to get the drift of the conversation, as long as the Spaniard speaks slowly. I am totally fascinated by the fact that many Spaniards who can speak English well do so at a pace to be envied by a horse racing commentator. How anyone can speak at that speed in any language amazes me but when it isn’t your mother tongue, well that is truly impressive.
Around the Spanish Costas it is easy to see why ex-pats don’t bother learning Spanish. In the bank I was doing my best pigeon Spanish and got stuck on a word, so resorted to English. Painful my attempts may have been but I was trying hard! The cashier then suggested we continue in English,
“But I am in Spain so must learn to say things in Spanish” I protested. Her reply explains everything; “That is not necessary, we like to practice our English, we need to speak it well.”
Examples like this happen every day around the Costas. But in my opinion, the foreigners (and by that I mean any non-Spanish) are being rude and arrogant.
Many local town halls haven’t helped the situation over the years, to be honest. The attitude that their staff need to speak English is commonplace and whilst admirable in some ways, it has also fed the poor attitude of ex-pats that Spanish is neither required nor desired. It’s just my opinion, but surely self-respect as much as respecting your new country and its culture (of which language is a part) should spur you on to make an effort.
So on that note I bid you adios mis amigos. Hasta pronto!

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Property in Murcia has surged by 78 per cent

What A beach

Demand for property in Murcia has surged by 78 per cent this year, according to one search engine..
The region has long been mooted as the fastest recovering area in Spain, with the upcoming international airport and Paramount theme park boosting its potential for property investors. But interest in the region's real estate has already started to grow on the overseas portal, with enquiries betwee...

n March and May this year 78 per cent higher than the three months from December to February.
The increase in interest follows official reports that property sales across Spain have risen too. Although down on the year on year rate, real estate transactions grew by 21.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the last quarter of 2011, the Spanish College of Property Registrars revealed this week. This boost in sales has been attributed to the country's "intense lowering" of house prices, as holiday homes become even more affordable for international buyers.
Spain's financial woes and historic bank bailout continue to dominate news headlines, but the country's unemployment has also driven rents up, with rates growing by 0.7 per cent in April compared to last year. Now, investors are looking to take advantage of the falling prices and higher rents, and Murcia is one their main targets.

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