First time hiring a car and driving Barcelona to Soldeu

A snowHead

Hi all, first time posting here I think, been a member for a long time though, great source of information!

Myself and two others are flying to Barcelona (BCN) end of Feb, and looking to hire a car and drive up to Soldeu for a week. I've never hired a car before or obviously done this drive. Can anyone offer me some tips? I'm confident on the roads, and done a fair bit of driving in rural Spain but not too much.

At the moment I'm looking to pay a bit more on the car hire to go with Sixt, as I recognise them as a better company than some others that are coming up in the comparison sites. Currently considering a Renault Megane or Ford Focus, should be enough for 3 people and baggage?

Cheers! Very Happy

A snowHead

@SgtMunky, welcome to snowheads! Personally I've almost always used a TO but I'm sure we'll shortly get feedback from someone with more experience

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I have done the drive a couple of times - it's a very easy one once you're outside of the Barcelona city limits, as it's mostly motorways or dual carriageways.

Sat navs and Google maps will take you the most direct route, which dips into France North of Puigcerda, then crosses the border into Andorra at Pas de la Casa. This is definitely the fastest route, but that road is known to close when there is a lot of snow, so it is best only doing that one if you are absolutely certain that it's clear (it's a very high road).

The other route is to turn West at Puigcerda and basically drive through all of Andorra, through La Vella, through Encamp etc etc. Although a slightly longer route, it is not really too much different. There is also a MASSIVE supermarket just on the Spanish / Andorran border which is useful if you're self catering (or just want some cheap booze or watches!)

I would recommend you look to get some snow chains from the rental company, or alternatively they can be bought from the aforementioned large supermarket on the Spain / Andorra border if you get caught out.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

The game changer for me & hiring cars abroad has been having a sat nav with you. Otherwise leaving a strange airport, often late at night with a rubbish map is a bit of a nightmare. Also you need to check the situation re snow chains as you will need to have them (or snow tyres) if you're driving to a ski resort in Feb. Chances are you won't need them but if you do you'll be stuck without them.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Thanks for the reply, both of you!

I have a sat nav that's EU covered, so I should be ok there, but we all have decent phones too (I might download the maps I need and save them offline). We are arriving at 12pm so the entire drive will be in day light Smile

Stopping by a supermarket is definitely a good choice for us, we'll grab some booze and food!

You'll need to Register first of course.

@SgtMunky, be careful downloading maps, Andorra is outside EU so you will get bill shock. Otherwise, driving to Soldeu up from LA Vella is easy. Follow signs to Encamp to get out of town IIRC. My only problem in El Tarter was locating the actual road of where the apt was, so if you zoom in google maps and print the village plan before, better mark where the apt is, it will be simple.

Loads of shops and garages to sell snow socks or similar en route.

Have fun!

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I stayed in El Tarter a couple of years ago, great place but we are staying at Hotel de l'Isard so we'll be having a half hour drive to Soldeu (which is fine for us really, the hotel looks great)

Good shout on Andorra not being EU

After all it is free

I've not done this in winter but drove a lot around the Spanish Catalonian Pyrenees in October - be prepared for a shedload of tolls between Barca and Puigcerda. Ridiculous amounts of tolls. More tolls than you thought would be possible.

It's not so much the expense just the constant stopping! Smile

I rented a car from Avis from Girona to go to Soldeu. On the same booking I rented another car to take me back 15 days later. The day I was due to pick the car up Avis sent me an email and just cancelled the reservation. After a lot of phone calls I managed to get alternative transport (it was not easy). I was really annoyed with Avis. I was even more annoyed when they charged me for the return car which I thought THEY had cancelled. I have refused to use Avis ever since.

Anyway is 12 pm midday or midnight?

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Good luck with the weather. For the last week Soldeu has been showing +10C or more (I saw 14) over the last week on the webcam, and there is far too much brown mountain visible on the other side of the valley.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

snow reports

I was in Soldeu at the weekend, and like @Orange200 said the temps were starting to warm up but conditions were still fantastic - plus you're not going to the end of Feb so nothing to worry about at this stage.

We very nearly hired a car but in the end found the Novatel bus a much better option - a lot cheaper, no parking expenses to worry about in Soldeu, and (bearing in mind we would have driven the Spanish way) about the same transfer time.

With regards to data costs - I can recommend Co-Pilot as app on your phone. Firstly, it's a brilliant sat nav - but more importantly it loads the maps to your phone so (unlike many sat nav apps) it doesn't use any data when you use it, so no data cost worries at all.

Help!!

First time hiring a car and driving Barcelona to Soldeu

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