Tarifa, Grenada, Cordoba, Seville

HI All -

I need to be in Tarifa later this week for about 7 days, after which I will want to explore the south. I am told Grenada, Cordoba and Seville are some do not miss highlights. Currently in BCN and not sure the best way to start the journey.

1. BCN to Tarifa seems a bit difficult as there are no (or not any convenient) direct bus routes from either Malaga or Seviile. So I was planning to hire a car. Rates seem really inexpensive at 30 Euro a week or so. Am i better off flying from BCN and starting the journey in Malaga or Seville, and then driving to Tarifa? Google says Malaga-Tarifa is 1.5-2hrs depending on traffic and Seville-Tarifa is 2-2.5hrs depending on traffic. I need to be in Tarifa first for a commitment I already have then will travel after.

2. From Tarifa, what is the best routing to visit these 3 cities - Grenada, Cordoba, Seville, or reverse? After my last city (either Seville or Grenada) I was planning to go across to Portugal and the Algarve. I will not take the rental car for this portion as it might be easier to bus across and then hire a car in Portugal separately. Not sure if the rental agencies allow intl crossing either and if they do, might be a hefty surcharge.

3. It may be the case that it is cheaper to rent and drop off at the same location. I have not looked into that yet. If so, which would be a better starting point - Malaga or Seville? Those seem to be the 2 closest airports to Tarifa.

Thanks,

Blasky

On second thought -

Is it easier to fly BCN-MALAGA (shortest distance to Tarifa); hire car in Malaga-Tarifa-Malaga portion, and then do the rest by bus and/or train (Malaga-Grenada-Cordoba-Seville)?

This saves the hassle of driving and having to find parking for the car in the towns. Cost is probably the same between car and bus, because the car rate is so inexpensive. But I want whatever is easiest.

Suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

Blasky

Just a thought regarding car hire....

One from the TT archives is dusted off once more, just in case.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/europe-western-europe/topics/goldcar-my-review

Oh wow - thanks for this. Yes, Goldcar was the company that seemed to be offering the lowest rates. The other was Firefly (similar terms esp with the gas - maybe related as I know a lot of car companies are owned by the same larger corporation). I will go with one of the bigger companies if I hire a car. Thanks for the heads up!

Blasky

We used pre-booked buses to travel Malaga - Seville - Cordoba - Granada - Malaga earlier in the year.

Booked via www.alsa.es and used PayPal to do the bookings as we didn't have a Spanish bank card.

Granada bus station is a couple of miles or so out of the centre, so we got a cab from and to the station as we were staying in a hostel on the edge of Albacin.

Wrth booking any visit to Alhambra in advance as we saw Sold Out notices up when we picked our pre-booked tickets up at 9am.

Few mentions re: Goldcar have also appeared on UK newspaper websites over the last year.

Heading back to same part of Spain next year for another road trip and will be using buses again.

Yes - I think bus might be best. And less headache. Trying to figure out how the best way to get from Malaga to Tarifa on Weds 6, Sept.

There is only one direct bus (1330-1600) and the times are not convenient with the flights that land into Malaga from BCN.

Not been to Tarifa as yet so can't help on that one.

Others may be able to help though with other suggestions...

Before you rent a car please read my answer to your question about an IDP.

We've also had TERRIBLE experience with both Goldcar and Firefly. Europcar is pretty reliable here in Spain though, and we've found they can be very cheap.

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