The contrasting islands of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza..?

 

Known as the "islas Baleares", these three islands nestle in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. Yet, each is dramatically different to it's neighbours. Menorca | Ibiza | Palma de Mallorca

 

Menorca car hire

Photo by hugos007. Cool, restrained and peaceful. Menorca was once an important naval asset and is the home to Spian's Xoriguer Gin Company - It's a green and lush island with lot's of dairy cows munching away on luscious green grass. It's beaches are similar to Portugal's Algarve car hire region, with craggy bays and crystal clear waters.

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Ibiza car hire

Photo by ST33VO. Ibiza is totally different to Menorca. Known internationally as a "party island", it forms along with Mykonos and Miami Beach a circuit to some of the world's top DJ's. Ibiza car hire is also home to the Pacha nightclub chain. So life here really kicks in at sundown. But don't just party at night and sleep in the beach, Ibiza town is full of amazing history and fabulous sea food.

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Majorca car hire

Palma de Mallorca (often called Majorca by the British!) is the capital of the Balearics region. In Spain, Palma is regarded as an über chic Summer vacation spot, indeed favoured by the Spanish Royal family who decamp to their Summer Palace "Marivent" on the island.

It's a huge island, with fabulous craggy bays in the North of the island, a cosmopolitan capital city, a major international airport - often called the Mediterranean hub airport, and a lively party scene in the south. Check it out!

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Or maybe, Bilbao and the Basque Country?

 

In the north of Spain, this is a country within a country : green lush vegetation, stunning cities with vibrant nightlife and gourmet food jostle places with remote beaches. Bilbao | Santander | San Sebastian | Pamplona await you..

 

Bilbao car hire

Known as "Bilbo" to the locals, this is a city that is so much more than the glittering Frank Ghery designed Guggenheim Museum. Our CarJet bloggers have been checking out this amazing town click here to read all about Bilbao city.

 

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Santander car hire

Photo by Enrique Lopez-Tamayo Biosca. Apart from being home to Spain's most successful bank, Santander is, argueably, the biggest shipping port in Spain. From all that activity, the city became very wealthy and it's architecture reflects it's glorious past. Tapas in Santander and "vino tinto" are taken very seriously indeed..

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San Sebastian car hire

One of Spain's most elegant cities - it's justly famous for it's beautiful shell-shaped "playa de la concha", fine hotels and basque cuisine to die for..

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Pamplona car hire

Photo by Abir Anwar. Probably one of Spain's best known cities, famous for it's running of the bulls celebrated in "San Fermin" starting on July 7th every year. it's a city heaped in history and great dining...

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Murcia & the Costa Calida's warm beaches?

 

Tucked away at the south-easterly tip of Spain, Murcia offers warm sunshine and golden beaches. It also benefit's from it's own microclimate with above-average temperatures year-round Murcia | Almeria | Torrevieja

 

Murcia car hire

Photo by Charlotta Wasteson. Almost completely off the radar for most tourists that fly into Murcia Airport, this is a majestic city with friendly locals and a great tapas scene when the sun goes down..

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Almeria car hire

Photo by Gabriel Villena Fernández. Home to Spaghetti western's, Almeria should really be filed under "Andalucia", but it's close proximity to Murcia and it's climate are definitely closer to the Costa Calida lifestyle. All the beach you can eat!

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Torrevieja car hire

Photo by Phillip Capper. One of the Costa Blanca's most popular tourist resorts, Torrevieja is a magnet for sun seekers from Northern Europe. Probably one of Spain's largest ex-pat communities..

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Malaga or the jeweled cities of Andalucia?

 

One of Spain's biggest regions encompassing some of her most beautiful cities - Arabesque architecture, sparkling nightlife, it's all here.. Malaga | Granada | Cadiz

 

Malaga car hire

Home to the region's biggest airport, Malaga the city is a place of shady squares, fashionable shopping at Picasso's birthplace..

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Granada car hire

Photo by Sharon Mollerus. With the Alhambra, Sierra Nevada and the beaches of Almuñecar, you can literally go skiing in the morning and sunbathing in the afternoon. Don't miss the Alhambra at sun-down, it's reputedly the most beautiful place on earth and a declared firm favourite of ex-President Bill Clinton.

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Cadiz car hire

Photo by Michal Osmenda. Occasionally doubling in movies for Cuba, this city leaves and breathes the sea which faces it. Cadiz's friendly locals are reputed to have a wicked sense of humour - certainly worth a visit during the carnival season in February. Famous for it's deep-fried seafood served in brown paper bags and eaten in the open air!

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Seville car hire

Think of a Flamenco dancer in her polka-dot dress and you're probably unwittingly thinking about Seville. The Capital City of Flamenco dance and singers, the place comes alive during it's April "Feria de Abril" ¡Ozu!

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Cordoba car hire

Photo by Frank Kovalchek. With it's distinct stripy arches, the "Mezquita de Cordoba" is one of the most stunning remnants of the Andalucia's time under Arab rule. The locals love dressing up and walk out in the cooler evenings when the heat of the sun has dissipated.

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Jerez car hire

Photo by viajar24h.com. Home of the fortified wine we Brits call "sherry", it's also home to the F1 motorbike racing fraternity with friendly locals who can't wait to show you round their bodegas. ¡Salud! (cheers)

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Alicante & the Costa Blanca

 

This is CarJet's home region. The Costa Blanca's gateway is Alicante Airport but the region includes Valencia and the biggest resort in Spain, Benidorm Alicante | Benidorm | Denia | Valencia

 

Alicante car hire

Probably Spain's fastest growing city, Alicante is the gateway to Spain's Costa Blanca region. Don't miss the city though, enjoy a stroll around the gorgeous port area (where do they get the money for all those yachts?) and try the "casco antiguo" (old neighborhood) for a night out until the sun comes up..

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Benidorm car hire

Photo by Andrew Parnell. Ignore the snickering comments, Benidorm is great fun and this resort (more hotel beds than the entire country of Portugal!) is thumping year-round. Seek out the small "old town" area between the Postiguet and Levante beaches, it's where all the best night life can be found.. Rent a car and drive up to Guadlest, or über-chic Altea Beach..

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Denia car hire

Photo by Javier Vte Rejas. Originally colonised by the Germans (who always find the best resorts first), this is now a truly international town. The fishing port keeps the local's tummies happy with a diet of fresh fish and prawns (the best prawns in the whole country come from here) and there is a chilled "café" night life. Enjoy! Kilometres of idyllic beach front make car hire in Denia an essential.

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Valencia car hire

Photo by Filippo Diotalevi. Valencia has positioned itself into the fast lane : it's now a regular host of Bernie Ecclestone's money-printing exercise also known as "Formula 1" - don't miss the City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Antonio Calatrava..

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Madrid and central Spain? Toledo to Logroño..

 

The interior of Spain is home to some of it's most magical cities. Places that go from winters of -10ºC to Summer days that break the 35ºC mark. Cities with history, amazing food and lot's to see during the day. Madrid | Toledo | Burgos | Logroño

 

Madrid car hire

Madrid is Spain's capital and also it's busiest airport. If you're flying through Madrid, take at least day to really enjoy this city. My special favourite is the Joaquin Sorolla Museum although there's enough art to see in the city to spend a week.. night life is hot too!

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Toledo car hire

Photo by Ty Nigh. Toledo, Spain's capital for centuries before the creation of Madrid is like a teleport back to the 13th Century. Wear light clothes in the Summer months, thermal underwear in the winter..

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Burgos car hire

Photo by bernjan. Frequently Spain's coldest city in the winter months, this is a great place to visit. Burgos is also famous throughout Spain for it's fresh cow's milk cheese, served with a drizzle of honey as a desert or olive oil as an appetizer..

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Logroño car hire

Photo by horrapics. Bet you know Logroño already? It's home to Rioja - probably Spain's most well-known wine and indeed export internationally. As you can imagine, the locals take their wine very seriously indeed..

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Galicia and Northern Spain?

 

Someone once told me the North of Spain looks like Wales - not a bad analogy, the Spanish of the North enjoy the country's best sea food and some of it's finest native wines. Vigo | Santiago de Compostela | La Coruña | Leon

 

Vigo car hire

Photo by Gabriel Gonzalez. Home to some of the finest sea-food in Spain, Vigo boasts near-deserted beaches and friendly locals just dying to teach you about their fresh local wines with a light fizz...

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Santiago Compostela car hire

Photo by v1ctor. Probably best known internationally for the "camino de Santiago" pilgrims walk, this is a historic city steeped in religious architecture. When you've had your fill of gargoyles - hit the beach road in your car hire and head north!

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la Coruña car hire

Also known as "A Coruña" in the local language, La Coruña is all about the sea, home to some of Spain's biggest fishing fleets. The seafood available locally can be described as a "religious experience" - enjoy!

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Leon car hire

Photo by widemos. Famous in Spain for it's role in removing the invading Moors from Spain in the early 10th Centrury (the "kings of Leon" existed centuries before the rock group of the same name), Leon today is a buzzing University town with an amazingly modern Museum of Contemporary Art "MUSAC" - these guys know how to roll!

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Black sand or White sand? - the Canary Islands!

 

Seven stunning islands make up the Canary Islands of Spain : La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote

 

Canary Islands car hire

Photo via mydaily.co.uk. Follow this link and you can explore each of the seven islands that make up the Canary Islands, don't forget your flip-flops!

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Barcelona, Aragon & Catalunya?

 

On the north-eastern seaboard of Spain, Barcelona feels like a capital city, the area has amazing beaches and one or two successful football teams to boot! Barcelona | Zaragoza | Lleida | Girona

 

Barcelona car hire

It's not just about Barça, a true capital city facing the sea, don't miss the "Sagrada Familia" cathedral or exploring Mont Serrat for some truly breath taking views and of course, some excellent Catalan wines.

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Zaragoza car hire

Photo by Pablo Sanchez. Although part of the Aragon region, Zaragoza is within striking distance of Catalunya. Great historic buildings, including the famous Basilica, and the stone bridge stretching across the Ebro river. Also, don't miss a visit to the fabulous waterfalls at the Monasterio del Piedro an hour and a half's drive away from the city centre.

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Lleida car hire

Photo PCB75. Lleida (in Catalan) Lerida (in Spanish) is one of Catalunya's oldest cities, today connected by the AVE high-speed rail network to Barcelona. Check out the "Els Vins" area of town for tapas and the local wines.

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Girona car hire

Girona is the gateway to the Costa Brava on the north-east coast of Spain. It's also a fabulous city to visit with parts of the city dating back to the 1st Century. Don't miss the "hanging houses" which perch above the River Onyar.

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