Travel Tips

If you’re a skilled driver and you don’t mind charting foreign territory, then a car rental could be a great way to spice up your trip! You could easily keep busy with all the amenities while staying at a classy downtown hotel in Madrid, although you may want to experience more than the metropolitan area if you have a little more time. On an extended stay, people often like to drive through the beautiful Spanish countryside, visit the beaches in Valencia or go see the UNESCO World Heritage site in Toledo. There is much to see and do in Spain, if you are fearless enough!

To obtain a car rental, you must have a valid passport and driver’s license issued by your home state. You must also have insurance, which is usually negotiated by the travel professionals at the rent-a-car office. On the autopista toll roads, the maximum speed is 75 mph. On the autovia, they can range from 50 to 75, depending on where you are. Carretera local highways are as signed, but do not exceed 60 mph. The main roads are between 40 and 60 mph, generally speaking. The laws benefit motorists more than pedestrians, so exercise extreme caution when crossing an intersection by foot, even if you are at a designated crosswalk. On the highways, passing on the right is illegal unless you are exiting. If there is a solid line in the road, do not pull into the intersection to make a left; instead, look for special lanes that aid your turn. Everyone in your car should wear a seat belt and do not drink and drive. The blood alcohol limits are about half those in other parts of Europe. If you get busted for a traffic offense, you will not be allowed to leave the country until you pay your fine or appear in court. In fact, many fines need to be paid right on the spot!

You will find there are ample parking lots for your car rental around the downtown city centre. As a general rule, you may not park where the curbs are painted yellow or where “no parking” signs are posted. There are blue parking spaces and meters located in many places around town, although there is usually a two-hour maximum here. You may find it extremely aggravating when someone blocks you into your spot, but this happens commonly. The proper protocol is to sit in your car and honk your horn until the owner comes out and moves. While this may seem terribly rude, it’s just part of every day life in this busy city. Be especially careful when parking in Madrid because the “grua” — local tow truck drivers — will charge you an arm and a leg to get your car back. If you can’t speak any Spanish, then you may have an exceptionally hard time negotiating with them. When in doubt, look for underground parking with security.

Visitors with a car rental can take many lovely road trips outside the Madrid city centre. Sixty minutes away, the town of Toledo is one of the best places to stop, with its impressive display of medieval art and architecture. Aranjuez, just south of Madrid, is a royal site with beautiful palaces and gardens. Valle de los Caidos, fifty miles from Madrid, holds a pine forest, a 500-foot cross, the tombs of Spanish civil war heroes and French influences. Eight miles from there, you’ll be able to visit El Escorial, which holds epic statues and historic monuments. The drive to Monasterio de El Paular and Lozoya Valley is a scenic and serene one full of unique sites. There are mountain passes, churches, pine trees, water features and romantic picnic areas here. If hiking is your thing, then another great stop is Parque de la Pedriza. Spanish wonderment awaits you in the Spanish countryside, so be sure to check out www.madrid-world-guides.com to find car rentals!

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