Malaga is the gateway to the Costa del Sol, the most famous of the Spanish coastlines and an essential place to explore using a cheap car hire deal.
With most travellers arriving by air at Malaga Airport (AGP), there is a huge supply of rental cars to collect from the airport and start your holiday hassle free. With prices ranging at some times of the year from as little as £6 a day for a mini economy Group A vehicle, a hire car is an affordable way to get you moving.
Booking ahead is the way to get the best overall deal, whether you are looking for a family car, an economic small car, people carrier or even a 4X4. And convertibles also sell out early. So the earlier you book, the greater the choice you will have and the better the price will be.
So who would benefit from a Malaga car rental?
- Anyone renting a private villa or self catering apartment - its easy to get about and makes a shopping trip for food and drink a doddle.
- Anyone who would normally take a private cab or taxi. With cheap car hire rates you can seriously undercut these costs and give yourself more freedom on your holiday too
- Families. You can transport all your little ones at your own pace, securely fastened in to car seats that fit and save a packet on mini bus or coach transfers. Plus you have somewhere to store all the things you need to keep them entertained on trips to the beach or water park.
- Those who want to discover the Andalucía region. The area has so much to enjoy and a hire car is the only practical way to not only get around but to ensure you can see as much as possible on your holiday
- Anyone travelling on business and wanting to pack the most into their working day, car hire is great to reach places quickly and when you want.
Where can I go in my Malaga hire car?
Well of course having the freedom to go anywhere gives you ultimate freedom. However you can use the car for day trips from your holiday accommodation or even to plan a touring route to see the wider region. Here is a list of places you can easily reach from the Malaga area;
- Head inland to the white villages or Pueblos Blancos of Andalucía. You can take in places like Mijas, Ronda, Zahara and Ubrique on your road trip as well as Antequera for a real scenic drive
- Drive up the motorway to Granada and explore the Alhambra palace. It's an 80 mile hop along the E15 and A92 motorways to reach this incredible Moorish palace and gardens and well worth the drive. Come back on the coast road to Nerja and enjoy en early evening dinner overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the setting sun.
- Strike out to the Sierra Nevada and the Alpajurras mountains for scenic drives along Europe's most southerly ski areas.
- A longer trip can take you north to Cordoba for the historic Mezquita in the centre of the city, then past Roman Carmona to Seville, one of Spain's most vibrant cities, especially good at Easter when the Fallas parades and parties take over the entire city. The south to Jerez for sherry tasting before hitting Cadiz, the home of Christopher Columbus expeditions to the Americas.
- Head west to the nearby Costa de la Luz for windsurfing on the Atlantic coast around Conil, Tarifa and Bolonia
- Or just stay local and drive down to Marbella and Puerto Banus, explore the resorts of Benalmadena and Torremolinos or head down to Sotogrande and Estepona.
Once you have picked up your hire car in Malaga you can head out of town to Puerto Banus, Torremolinos, the Benalmadena Costa Estepona and Nerja and stop off at some of the quieter beaches along the coast. With car hire in Malaga you can also see the surrounding region of Andalucia and particularly Seville, a city enriched with history and the home of the Alcazar, which dates back to 913. Car hire is the quickest way to reach Gibraltar too - which is around an hour and 30 minutes from Malaga Airport.
Gibraltar - an easy day trip from anywhere on the Costa del Sol. Travel straight down the A7 coast road or the AP7 Autopista del Sol (you'll need to pay tolls on the motorway) for day out in this British outpost. It's a real 'marmite' destination, love it or hate, however if you need a Brit fix, come here for fish and chips, UK shops and everything paid for in sterling. Plus Barbary Apes, the historic docks, St Michaels' caves and of course the Rock itself
Practical tips for renting a car in Malaga
- You will need the standard two part driving licence, card ID and paper licence for collecting your car. If you have the old green licence with no photo card, you will need to obtain an international driving licence.
- A credit card to act as deposit when picking up your car hire at Malaga
- A quick guide to road signs and etiquette on Spanish roads - it can be quite different to the UK, so ask your car rental company for info
- Ensure you check what type of fuel. The vast majority will run on unleaded or diesel. Unleaded is sold as Sin Plomo and comes in two grades of Octane, 95 and 98. Diesel is often referred to as gas-oil. Don't get it wrong when filling up - it's a costly mistake to make. And fuel prices are fairly standard wherever you buy, being sold by the litre. Some stations are self service, however many are staffed to do the job for you.
- Keep some cash on you at all times for tolls. Many motorways and some roads have toll booths. Using these roads will get you about far quicker than on the normal A roads.
- Stick to speed limits. The police will stop you for these kind of offences and impose on the spot fines. There are also plenty of speed cameras throughout the area, both permanent and mobile.
- You cannot drive in Spain under the age of 18 and many car hire companies impose a surcharge for drivers under 21.
- Just as at home. Seat belts are compulsory and children need to be seated in child seats
- Parking can be a nightmare in towns and cities. So if you are heading to Malaga try and use a multi story car park as street parking often means having a permit of some form. And the Spanish love to park anywhere, so don't be tempted to copy them if you want to keep your car damage free.
- And don't forget to drive on the right
- Read our general tips for renting a car http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/tips-and-guides/car-hire-top-tips/
