One Way Car Hire - Spain / Algarve, Portugal

*****URGENT NEW COMMENT - 11th July 2009 *****

http://www.iberiacarhire.com has been the first site for which I have taken banners on this blog.

However, since starting a few weeks ago. it has become clear that the provider of the vehicles in Spain have no vehicles available for, at least, summer 2009 rental from Spain to Portugal.

The web site operator, who I have know for a long time is most annoyed as well. The issue is being taken up by the aforementioned car rental provider involved.

However, for the present, I will be changing the banner and apologise to all those who have been frustrated through this link and post.

Should the situation improve and/or resolve itself, I will announce it here.

Again my apologies.

*****URGENT NEW COMMENT - 11th July 2009 *****


Since my original post, in April 2009, a new website (www.iberiacarhire.com) has now been set to offer potential clients a one-stop shop for making bookings for one way car rental with economic drop-off prices between Spain and Portugal. At present this service is available via Faro Airport in the Algarve Region of Portugal.

For someone coming from Spain, they can pick up a vehicle at any of relevant depots in Spain and for a fee, drop it off at Faro Airport. They can then, if they wish, then pick up a vehicle from from another reputable agent at Faro Airport to continue the Portuguese side of their trip.

Equally, for someone starting their trip in Portugal, the system works the other way round as well.

The one-way drop off rates vary dependent on where the vehicle is picked up/ dropped off. If a vehicle is picked up at Gerona, its something like € 90 to drop-off at Faro, while a pick up in Seville and drop-off in Faro its something like € 30.00 This is still well below the drop-off fees quoted by the majors.

It is important to note that at present the vehicle drop-off/change-over can only be done at Faro Airport in the Algarve, Portugal. Nonetheless, this is a great improvement in car hire services for those wanting to do one way trips between Spain and Portugal.

www.iberiacarhire.com
Pick-up / Drop-off Points in Spain and Algarve, Portugal.(Faro Airport)

Alicante Airport	Almeria Airport	Faro Airport
Gerona Airport	Granada Airport	Jerez Airport
Malaga Airport	Murcia Airport	Reus Airport
Sevilla Airport	Valencia Airport	Chiclana De La Frontera
Fuengirola	Granada	Islantilla
La Linea	Malaga Central	Malaga Renfe
Marbella	Rota	Sevilla
Torremolinos

www.iberiacarhire.com
Pick-up / Drop-off Points in Portugal.(incl. Faro Airport)

Lisbon Airport	Porto Airport	Albufeira
Armação de Pera	Aveiro	Braga
Carvoeiro	Cascais	Coimbra
Faro Office	Figueira da Foz	Lagos office
Lisbon City office	Monte Gordo	Portimao
Porto City	Quarteira	Sesimbra
Viana do Castelo	Vilamoura

This service finally offers the promise of being able to reasonably priced car hire rentals with reasonable one-way drop-off fees between Spain and Portugal, albeit only via Faro Airport in the Algarve, Southern Portugal, at present.

Lisbon - Vila Galé Opera Location and Transport

Personally, I do not consider the location of the Vila Galé Opera ideal for Lisbon visits. There is no Metro nearby and it is located practically under the access ramps to the Ponte 25 de Abril. However, I suspect you will have a good view of the Tejo if you get a good room.

Google Maps / Satellite Image Here: (Just below the A marker) (I suggest you copy and paste url into web browser)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Travessa+do+Conde+da+Ponte,+1300-141,+Lisbon,+Portugal&sll=38.711099,-9.174271&sspn=0.062152,0.154324&g=Alcantara,+Lisbon,+Portugal&ie=UTF8&ll=38.70137,-9.180837&spn=0.00777,0.01929&t=h&z=16

As regards transport:

The Carris Nº. 15E tram from Praça de Comercio to Alges via Belem & Jeronimos runs along Rua Junqueira which is near the hotel. If you take the tram to Praça de Comercio you can then walk up through the Baixa to Rossio and the Teatro.

See this link:

carris.pt/en/bus-line-details/15E/ascendente/

I would suggest being very careful using this service at night as it does pass through certain not so salubrious areas.

I would agree you should detrain at Sta. Apolonia. I would think the price will be € 10:00 upwards depending on number of persons and bags.

Transfer from Seville Airport to Ayamonte / Vila Real Stª. Antonio

There is no direct bus from Seville Airport to either Ayamonte or Vila Real Stª. Antonio.

There is a regular bus service from Seville Airport to Seville stopping at Estacion Sta. Justa and El Prado Bus Station. From El Prado you would have to get another local bus to the Estacion das Armas Bus Station.

Mondays to Saturdays the first bus leaves the airport at: 05:45 Sundays at 06:45.

There are buses every 30 minutes until after midnight, 23:45 on Sundays.

Timetable here:

http://www.tussam.es/index.php?id=200

From El Prado to Estacion das Armas I would recommend the C4 Bus in which runs from just after 6 in the morning till 23:30.

From there there are twice daily services to Vila Real Stª. Antonio. operated by Damas/Eva. See: http://www.eva-bus.com

The current Seville to Vila Real Stª. Antonio timetable is as follows:

Seville 07:30 Vila Real S António 08:55 Daily Portuguese Time
Sevilha 16:15 Vila Real S António 17:40 Daily Portuguese Time

Damas also operates several services a day to Ayamonte from this bus station. You can find their site here:

http://www.damas-sa.es/

The current Seville to Ayamonte timetable is as follows:

Monday to Saturdays (Work Days) - 09:30
Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays - 11:00
Mondays to Fridays - 11:30
Mondays to Fridays - 12:30
Daily - 15:30
Sundays and Public Holidays - 19:00
Monday to Saturdays (Work Days) - 19:30

Transit Time takes about 2 hours.

Finally, be aware that taxis are expensive from the airport into Seville.

Lisbon to Lagos

You can get down from Lisbon by either long distance bus or train.

Cost will be between € 16:00 and € 23:00 per person each way dependent on which service you chose.

Buses:

Eva Transportes/Rede Expressos operate several daily services leaving Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station / Metro Jardim Zoologico Bus Station and taking approx 3hrs45min to Lagos.

Renex operate several daily services from Lisbon Gare Oriente Bus Station to Lagos. Transit time circa 4hrs30mins.

Trains

Take between 4hrs and 4hrs:30mins. Note you have to changre trains at Tunes Junction and take an Algarve Line train to Lagos.

If you visit my blog:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/

»» Scroll down on the right hand side until you come to the panel entitled "Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links"

»» Click on:

- Porto - Lisbon - Faro Train Timetable
- Algarve Regional Line Train Timetable for connections along the Algarve.
- RENEX Bus Service - Lisbon to Algarve timetable
- Rede-Expressos - National Bus Timetable - Updated. (National Coach Operator) - Portuguese only.
- Eva Bus Service - Lisbon Sete Rios to Lagos

Also see Cubsur's excellent site here, complete with the Lisbon to Lagos Timetable.

http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/006.htm#times

Bus is cheaper but train is more scenic and at least you can walk around.

Cafe Odeon - Lagos - English Breakfast

Just to let all Cafe Odeon fans know that following completion of the grill upgrade, Tom and Adrian are again serving Full English Breakfasts.

I've just eaten there this morning....Things are back to normal.

Foz da Ria, Odiaxere

Odiaxere halt which is now closed and in any case would be at lest 1000 metres from the complex.

You would have to take a train to Lagos and then a cab from there the 8km or so to Foz da Ria.

You will be very isolated there without a Car. The complex is situated on a hillside overlooking the Alvor estuary. There is no public transport there. Taxis will be expensive. Shopping will be a real pain.

I live on Meia Praia about 4km away as the fly crows but by road from Lagos its a lot longer.

See this link on Owners Direct for an apartment in the same complex:

http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/portugal/P5937.htm

It states: " Car hire is essential."

Also have a look at this google map reference which shows where it is:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=Foz%20da%20Ria%2C%20Odiaxere&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

If you click on Satellite and zoom out using the navigation bar on the left you will see where the site is in relation to Lagos etc.

Lagos - New School/College- Parque do moinho

Saw it yesterday when I was driving around there. There is a board up now but far back from the road. It is definitely an educational establishment/school.

There is an article in Correio de Lagos here:(in Portuguese)

http://www.correiodelagos.pt/index.php?lop=n_artigo&op=a87ff679a2f3e71d9181a67b7542122c&id=30192e936ba11d0a202097fed8f44b2d

It appears to be what is called an Escola Basica - a type of Primary School. However, the Council is making land available in the same are for what they are calling "TECNOPOLIS de Lagos". This which appears to be making provision for construction of other education institutions such as a Tech college in the same area.

Santander (Spain) to the Algarve by train

It is will be difficult to get from Santander to the Algarve by train.

According to Renfe.es, the Spanish Train operator, there is only one through route:

This will involve travelling Santander to Madrid and then night train to Lisbon. Thereafter, a Portuguese Railways train ( http://www.cp.pt ) to the Algarve

There is currently a train departure from Santander at 14:05 arriving in Madrid at 18:33, There may be a station change in Madrid but this not clear from the renfe website. The night train to Lisbon Gare Orient departing at 22:25 and arriving at 07:30 the next day. This will connect with the 08:40 departure for the Algarve.

Alternatively, there is a daily regional service leaving Santander for Valladolid at 16:55 arrivng 21:00. Sunday to Friday there is a service departing 19:20 arriving Valladolid at 22:35. The Paris to Lisbon Express passes through Valladolid and departs at 03:20 arriving Lisbon Gare Oriente at 10:54. There is a departure for the Algarve at 13:20 from Lisbon Gare Oriente.

Please note that this is not shown as a through route on any timetables and I suspect one would have difficulty buying through tickets.

If you visit my blog:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/

»» Scroll down on the right hand side until you come to the panel entitled "Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links"

You will find links to certain Portuguese Railways Timetables.

Lisbon Airport to Albufeira

There is no train station at Lisbon Airport. A metro link is being constructed but will only open within the next couple of years. Furthermore the train station at Albufeira is located 8kms from the town of Albufeira.

Depending on time of year there are 5 to 6 long distance trains daily between Lisbon and Albufeira.

If you visit my blog:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/

»» Scroll down on the right hand side until you come to the panel entitled "Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links"

»» Click on:

- Porto - Lisbon - Faro Train Timetable for the return train timetable.
- Algarve Regional Line Train Timetable for connections along the Algarve.
- RENEX Bus Service - Lisbon to Algarve timetable
- Rede-Expressos - National Bus Timetable - Updated. (National Coach Operator) - Portuguese only.

There are three main ways to get from Lisbon Airport to Albufeira by public transport:

Train: This would involve taking a taxi or bus (Aeroshuttle in direction Gare Oriente Train Station - see note below) to Gare Oriente Train Station about 10 minutes from the Airport. You would then take a train to Albufeira Station. From Albufeira Station you would need to take a bus or taxi to your final destination. For buses see the following page on Cubsur's site:

http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/042.htm

(Aeroshuttle - Copy of note from current Lisbon Airport website.

- Aeroshuttle (CARRIS Nº96) - Available everyday, every 30 minutes between 7am and 11pm, the aeroshuttle connects Gare Oriente - Airport - Entrecampos - Sete Rios - Praça de Espanha.

Tickets (3,50€) can be purchased onboard and also in the Tourism Office at arrivals (public area).

Tel. +351 213 582 334)

Bus: There are two operators on this route:

Renex: Departs from Gare Oriente Bus Station (below/alongside the Gare Oriente train station) Travel by Aeroshuttle or taxi from Airport.

Website: www.renex.pt

Timetables: Download timetables via my blog as indicated above. (RENEX Bus Service - Lisbon to Algarve timetable)

Note: Ask for a ticket for Albufeira. There may be a bus change at Vale Paraiso, the stop before Albufeira.

Rede-Expressos: Departs from Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station. Ask for a ticket to Albufeira Centro. To get to Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station take the Aeroshuttle in the direction of Praça de Espanha. Descend at Sete Rios.

website: http://www.rede-expressos.pt/ (Only in Portuguese)

The current schedule for buses from Lisbon Sete Rios to Albufeira Centro is as follows:

Depart Arrive Operates Frequency
08:15 10:55 Daily
10:30 13:10 Daily
12:30 15:10 01/06 to 15/09 Daily except Sundays/Public Holidays
15:15 17:55 Daily
18:30 21:10 Daily
20:30 23:10 01/06 to 15/09 Sunday to Friday

Pedestrian access to Meia Praia - Latest

Some late breaking not so good news.

Following the completion of the Vila Gale Hotel, I noticed last week that earthworks had started in the area behind Dunas and stretching to the Meia Praia Petrol Station.

Tonight, I noticed that the contractors have now started to put up panel fencing around this large area.

I took a drive around the area. All the parking behind the Petrol Station has been fenced off and in the direction of Dunas there are surveyors pegs and substantial earthworks.

I regret to say that it might be quite possible during the next weeks that the whole area may be closed off and that there will be no way to get to the beach by foot that way over the railway line.

It will then be back to either the Duna Beach Club Route or the Railway Station.