It would amaze you how many times people come into our office and tell us of something they have forgotten to do so we thought we would put together a quick guide to some of the things that you should think about to ensure you are well prepared for your forthcoming holiday.

Plan for healthcare and other emergencies
If you are traveling from a EU country (and the UK still counts as a EU country!) then you should obtain your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card).  This is a recipricol agreement between EU countries that gives you access to the state health service in the event of a medical emergency on holiday.

Even with a EHIC card you should still be aware that this is simply to provide healthcare in an emergency.  You should also consider taking holiday insurance because this will usually entitle you to private healthcare but also cover many other things such as lost baggage, emergency flights home and so on.  The EHIC and good travel insurance go hand in hand to give you peace of mind. If you do find yourself sick on holiday in Spain you will be in very safe hands with both the state-run and private medical sectors which are to a very high standard.

It´s worth pointing out that when you take out travel insurance you should be completely open and honest about any pre-existing health problems because if not and later you are taken ill you could find yourself without cover.

Also in general, holiday travel insurance does not cover your hire car although with all-inclusive car hire at Alicante airport or Mallorca airport from Drivalia you have peace of mind knowing that you are covered completely with us, we will talk more about that later.

Passport & Driving License
Make sure that your passport is valid and in date with validity beyond your planned return date.  You can renew passports several months in advance and it is important that you have some extra time on your passport just incase you are delayed in your return (if you are taken sick for example).

Flights
Shop around for your flights and make sure that you get ones at times to suit you.  Often late night flights are cheaper but then if you are hiring a car or even taking a taxi you could find yourself paying more for out of hours charges so what you save on one thing you loose on another.  Taxis in Spain operate on various tarifs depending on the time. Look for the final price of flights and take into account any credit card charges that may apply.

Accomodation
There are so many things to choose from when it comes to your accomodation.  Do you want to stay in one place? Prefer to visit different places? Want the hassle-free hotel experience or prefer the flexibility of self-catering?  So much to think about but remember that when you book an all inclusive car rental with Drivalia at Alicante airport or Mallorca airport you get real freedom to explore and see many places.

Car Hire
It´s always important to get the best deal when it comes to car hire but the best deal doesn´t always mean the cheapest deal.  In the last few years we have worked hard to change the misconception that car hire in Spain is really a euro a day!  Sure, you can find low cost deals and even through some brokers there are low cost deals available through Drivalia but low cost usually comes with certain conditions such as limited insurance, high excesses and deposits, mileage limits, higher than market rate obligatory fuel payments.

Drivalia Ultimate was designed to stand apart from the norm of low headline prices and huge hidden extras and since launching it we have found it to be without doubt the most popular package we sell.  You still get a car hire for a lower price than most airports in the world so a great deal but what you get is a full and final honest and transparent car hire with no hidden extras, the price you see really is all you pay and you benefit from:

  • Fully comprehensive insurance.  No need to buy any extras in Spain nor in your home country
  • No excess
  • No deposit
  • Free 2nd driver
  • Priority over upgrades when available
  • Unlimited km
  • Speedy pick up and return

Furthermore, because there is no credit card deposit needed you can rent a car with a debit card from Drivalia.  In fact our Ultimate package has been a hugely popular package for people searching for debit card car hire and Alicante airport or Mallorca airport.

Finally, with everything sorted don´t forget to pack your flip flops and sun cream and that´s you all set for a great holiday in the sun!