Car Hire (Dropping off in a different country)

[daveenty]

Sorry if it's been asked before, but I need to pick a hire car up in October.

Working in Seville, but the best flights I can get (to correspond with the lifestyle and wallet) are Gibraltar going, Faro return a couple or three weeks later.

No-one seems to be interested in doing this. I can drop the car in mainland Spain, but not in Portugal for some reason.

I can get a direct flight from Malaga home, but not the day (or the time) I want.

Anyone know if it's possible to swap countries with what will probably be a shed anyway?

Thanks

[sniff diesel]

My Father had to do this once with a Europcar from Italy to France. Cost him a lot though IIRC.

[shirt]

possible, but will cost a fortune, way more than flights. they will charge you for someone to have to take the car back to gibraltar and then the cost of them returning to faro.

even in the uk its a rip off. i hired a van from europcar for £56, collecting/returning to harrow. if i left it at marble arch [9 miles away] it would have been £360!

[gavmobile]

Aware that this doesn't answer your question directly but there is a bus service between Seville and Faro. So you could drop off the car in Seville and cross into Portugal to catch your flight. My parents have done this in the past when there were no flights available - albeit in the other direction. IIRC it's the only way of crossing the border by public transport - the trains can't cross, different gauge.

I've used these buses myself on a different route and found them comfortable (air con), cheap and surprisingly direct - about 2 hours Seville - Faro versus 1.5 direct by car.

http://www.eva-bus.com/home.php?lang=UK

[Marcellus]

If you hire a car at Geneva Airport you can either hire it in France or Switzerland.

If you Hire it in France it's about half price, however a lot of faffing around to get and return the car.

A lot of people try to hire in France and return to Switzerland.............result 100€ supplement as you're returning to a different country.

So it can be done and the hire companies do have a rate for it!!

[bobt]

Clickair to Seville from LGW. Meets the wallet requirement but not full of sleazyjet pikeys.
(Gib is a long two hour drive from Seville)
You can drive from seville to Ayemonte in Spain on the border with Portugal. Drop of hire car there. Taxi from Ayemonte to Faro (about 40 minutes and 60 euros).

Jobs a goodun.

BobT's Algarve and Andalucian travel advice.

[daveenty]

Thanks very much for all the good advice people

I've now changed plan slightly and, whilst still going through Gib, will come back via Malaga, as this can be done relatively easily.

An extra 45 minutes drive, but the flight times are good.

The main reason for this messing is to avoid the nightmare which is Ryan Air.

Never again.