Sixt rent a car blog » spain

Sun 4 U Direct enter administration

David Jackson — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:35:08 +0000

As of 21:00 hours on Wednesday the 11th of August Sun 4 U Limited has ceased trading leaving many holidaymakers stranded whilst alternative arrangements are sought. Amongst those affected are 1200 travellers stranded in Spain.

Anyone covered by the ATOL scheme, which is run by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), will be able to finish their holiday and return home. However it could be the case that they will still need to pay for their hotel twice.

Sun 4 U also arranged flight and accommodation only deals that are not covered by ATOL.

Customers stuck overseas on a Sun4u holiday package should call 0161 444 5810 for more information.

Sun4u package holiday customers who are due to travel and need advice should call 08445 717260.

Any Sun 4 U customers renting with Sixt should contact the local branch from which they hired if they need to extend their rental.

New Sixt car hire office at Bilbao Airport

Florian Wude — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:06:56 +0000

Today opened our new car hire office at Bilbao Airport. The office is located just 500 meters from the airport terminal within the Hotel Holiday Inn Express Bilbao. Our customers can take the free shuttle-bus departing in front of the terminal building. In only 2 minutes this shuttle-bus will arrive to the Holiday Inn Express Hotel Bilbao and Sixt rent a car branch.

The new Bilbao car hire office is managed by Mr. Thomas Ritter (former Mallorca Airport) and will attend corporate customers as well as tourist visiting the nice town of Bilbao with its world famous Guggenheim Museum. Bilbao is also well located for trips to Santander, San Sebastián or to cross the boarder to France.

Get up to 30% discount on a rental booked for a minimum of 7 days until 14 December 2010. Book now and get a “smart fortwo” for only 199 Euro per week* incl. insurance, premium location fee and all mileage! For additional offers and to make a reservation, simply visit the ‚Best Deals‘ section on www.sixt.co.uk or call +44(0)844499 33 99. Don‘t forget to quote our CD number 9818751 to reserve these special opening offers.

Benefits of booking direct with Sixt in Bilbao include:

Cut out the middle man by booking direct for an even better price and quick service
Our courtesy coach transfers you quickly from the drop off station to the terminal
You can make your booking from your iPhone and blackberry
English speaking customer service staff available both before and after your rental on +44(0)844 499 33 99
24 hr. Sixt assistance free of charge in case of an accident or breakdown
Selection of brand new rental cars from renowned manufacturers (none older than 6 months)
Fully comprehensive insurance without excess
We consider your frequent flyer status or membership of a loyalty programme
Freedom to choose your fuel option (full-to-full or prepaid)

Book your hire car at Bilbao Airport now!

A day at the races in Mijas

Victoria Morgan — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:57:25 +0000

The summer race season has started in the Costa del Sol Hippodrome in Mijas. The first race took place on the 3rd of July and there is a whole month to follow if you missed the first one!

The Costa del Sol Hippodrome is located in “Mijas Costa“, Málaga, and was inaugurated in the year 2000. It is the biggest hippodrome in Andalucia, alongside with the one in Dos Hermanas, Seville, boasting two sand tracks that measure 1700 and 1600 meters long and 25 meters wide each. Facilities include 320 boxes for racing horses and two jumping tracks. The hippodrome also offers an athletics track and a football field situated in the centre of the equestrian ring and the stands have capacity for up to 1500 people.

If you´re looking for a day at the races then you are still in time, the next races will take place on July the 10th, 17th, 24th and 30th. The last opportunity you will have this summer to watch these fascinating animals in all their speed is Friday the 6th of August. For more information visit the hippodrome website.

What a better way to enjoy the horses than combined with the “horses” we can offer you at Sixt Marbella?

Drive like never before behind the wheel of one of the extraordinary cars we offer you exclusively here at Sixt Marbella.
Your decision will be hard when you have to choose between cars with over 200 horse power that cars like the BMW 7 Series or the Mercedes Benz S Class offer you. If you fancy something even more exciting take a look at our Mercedes Benz E Class Cabrio or our luxurious Porsche 911 Carrera which offer over 300 horsepower. You will float up to heaven and back down again as soon as you accelerate with our Porsche Panamera Turbo and feel it´s 502 “horses“ as they start galloping or the 511 you can feel with our very recently acquired Jaguar XKR.

For more information visit Sixt Marbella online or call us on (0034) – 952 773 440. Our Sixt team will be happy to assist you.

Hotel Review: Hotel Bahía Estepona

Victoria Morgan — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:17:01 +0000

The Kempinski Hotel, Estepona

At Sixt, we strive to provide high-quality standards paired with impeccable service, and it is thanks to this shared vision that we proudly recommend the luxury Five-Star Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

If you are looking for an indulging stay in the South of Spain, on the borders of the Mediterranean Sea, with breathtaking views to Northern Africa and Gibraltar then Kempinski Hotel Bahía is the perfect hotel for you. Surrounded by subtropical gardens with palm trees the refined luxury and elegance is clear to see, whilst their services and amenities is what sets them apart.

Following a full-scale refurbishment, the hotel boasts 132 elegantly decorated rooms and 15 luxurious suites, all with balconies or terraces and varying degrees of sea view. The Levante and Poniente Suites are the finest and one of the largest in the south of Spain, and feature sophisticated and glamorous interior design, state-of-the-art technology and 24-hr security, coupled with unrivalled friendly service.

With a variety of restaurants on offer (some seasonal), each with its own ambiance and exquisite cuisine, guests may choose anything from organic Spanish fine-dining to Mediterranean specialities from the grill, and much more. For a more intimate dinner, the Almenara Tower, an ancient medieval watchtower, is perfect for a private dinner with close friends or family (seating up to 10 persons), with a butler providing to the guests’ every need. For a more relaxed meal in the privacy of one’s own balcony, room service is the ideal choice.

Guests may also enjoy a cocktail or light lunch at the Pool Snack Bar, or relax at La Veranda Bar and savour the moment with a glass of their favorite drink.

For those looking to be pampered, the Kempinski Spa offers a variety of treatments and massage rituals with Ligne St. Barth and Terraké products, as well as an indoor heated pool, fitness studio and sauna. Surrender to an oasis of sensations at the hands of trained specialists, or take advantage of the Physio-Spa, the best plan after a hard day playing golf in one of over 40 golf courses available in the area. Parents also have it easy with the Kempinini Kids Club, full of fun games and activities, available every summer for children aged 4 – 12.

The Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona is also the perfect place to go for meetings, banquets, conferences and weddings, with extensive indoor facilities and breathtaking subtropical gardens, paired with the most detailed organisation. These marvellous facilities are always complemented with the warm welcome and assistance of the receptionists, concierge and staff available 24 hours a day.

Last but not least, any guests staying at the Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona will also be needing a car to explore the Andalusian paradise that surrounds the hotel. Sixt is the perfect partner to complete such a luxurious stay. Our aim is to provide our clients with the best service possible, always surpassing their expectations, and our team will be more than happy to help you choose the car that suits your necessities. Sixt Estepona, sited at the Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona’s reception, is at your entire disposal to provide you with the car of your dreams.

Hotel Review: Hotel Claude Marbella

Victoria Morgan — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:03:23 +0000

Here at Sixt Marbella our aim is always for you to live a unique experience with every car you rent with us and for us to surpass all your expectations. That is why we highly recommend the Hotel Claude in Marbella, an enchanting 17th century mansion town-house, perfect for anyone looking for a peaceful and relaxing stay in the centre of Marbella and one that you will remember forever.

Hotel Claude is a small luxury hotel in Marbella located 5 minutes away from the centre and the beaches, which has preserved it’s original architectural features during restoration, taking you on a flash-back into the past.

This hotel provides 7 magnificent interior-designed rooms and suites located around the galleries of an interior patio, each unique in their themes (Arabian, French, Oriental…) without loosing the general rustic aura this little charming hotel has inherited. Rooms include large princely beds, chaisse-longues, flat screen T.V’s and iPod docking stations as well as most of the other facilities you can imagine to fulfill your every need.

The whole house can also be rented sleeping upto 14 people in 7 double rooms.
The Hotel Claude’s restaurant offers daily a la carte breakfast, tapas, mediterranean snacks, 24 hr room-service and also evening dinner with prior arrangement. If your aim is to surprise one of your loved ones, special occasions can also be oraganised. During the summer season a candlelight dinner can be prepared on the luxury roof-top terrace so you can enjoy the exquisite cuisine whilst watching the sun dive down into the horizon.

Excursions and tailor-made cultural and leisure programmes can be organised for you. But if you prefer a laid-back, at-your-own-rhythm visit, Hotel Claude is a Sixt cooperation hotel and we will be delighted to help you choose the car that suites you best, from Smarts to Porsches, and deliver your car to the hotel so you don’t even have to move to access your vehicle.

Go ahead! Enjoy the charms of Marbella and it’s surroundings with your best choices, Sixt Marbella and Hotel Claude will make your stay unforgettable.

50% Discount for Malaga Passengers Affected by Flight Cancellations

Andy Aspden — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:31:27 +0000

Smoke and ash rise through the clouds above Iceland. Photograph: Ingolfur Juliusson/Reuters

As flights to and from the UK are grounded Sixt customers currently affected by the cancellations at Malaga Airport are being offered a 50% discount on continuing their booking if they present a valid ticket for a cancelled flight at their Sixt Malaga Car Hire Branch.

Correction to article: Please note this offer is not for extending your current rental as stated. The offer stands for rental of a new vehicle, to cover the period of disruption the Icelandic volcanic eruption has caused, when you have had to return the car you are currently using.

The area affected by the volcanic ash cloud. Images from the Met Office

The ash cloud created by the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland is currently affecting flights across Northern Europe and Scandinavia. The cloud is set to clear the area later this evening, but until conditions are considered to be safe, airlines are advising all customers to check before arriving at airports to check the current situation before getting to the airport.

You can currently track the air traffic across Europe at http://www.flightradar24.com/.

We will keep you updated with any further developments as and when they happen.

Update 13:42: UK Airspace is now closed until 6:00 am on the 16th of April. Please contact your airline for further details.

Update 17:02: Closure of airspace extended until 7:00am.

Update 08:50: The latest update from the National Air Traffic Services who are now saying that the UK’s airspace will remain closed until 1:00am at the earliest, although some domestic flights may be allowed into Scotland and Northern Ireland if the air clears by 7:00pm tonight.

Update 15:02: The Airspace closure has been extended until 07:00 on Saturday.

Great savings on car hire in Spain

David Jackson — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:58:23 +0000

Early bird customers can take advantage of great savings on car hire in Spain this weekend. For a limited time only prices across our corporate Spanish locations, for example at their nice Majorca Properties, will be reduced by 20%.

Sixt have car hire locations at all of the top Spanish holiday destinations including Malaga Airport, Majorca Airport, Alicante Airport, Barcelona Airport, Madrid Airport and Seville Airport.

The lack of availability in the car hire market across Spain was a constant source of attention in the travel press last summer and whilst car rental firms are better prepared for the increased demand this year it’s worth reserving your car early to avoid disappointment.

Whatever your requirements you will find the perfect hire car in Spain with Sixt. Our fleet ranges from the small Smart Car right the way to luxury BMW and Mercedes convertibles, and with prices from just £20 per day you can be sure there’s a car for your budget.

The super savings will begin at 18:00 on Friday 29th and run through until midnight on Sunday 31st – so don’t delay, book your hire car with Sixt in Spain this weekend!

Visit our Sixt car hire website to book.

Spanish MP blasts FBI over Bin Laden image

David Jackson — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:07:59 +0000

Bin Laden (98) with the new digitial image

A Spanish politician has blasted the FBI after it was revealed that they had used a photo of his face to produce a digital image of what Osama Bin Laden may now look like.

Gaspar Llamazares, a former leader of the United Left coalition of Spain, described the incident as “shameless” claiming he would no longer feel safe travelling to the US.

The image appears to use a cut and paste version of Llamazares’ hair and jaw line despite having been produced by “cutting edge” technology by one of the FBI’s forensic artists.

Speaking at a news conference Llamazares said “I was surprised and angered because it’s the most shameless use of a real person to make up the image of a terrorist”.

The image was based on a 1998 photo of Bin Laden, however the FBI did admit that certain features had been based on an image “from a photograph found on the internet “, but denied any wrong doing stating that “the forensic artist was not aware of the identity of the individual depicted in the photograph. The similarities between the photos were unintentional and inadvertent.”

Source: BBC News

Spain turns to Hollywood to boost tourism

David Jackson — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:59:39 +0000

Spain has been one of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits ever since air travel began available to the masses. However the recent economic downturn and the unfavourable exchange rate for British travellers heading into Europe has had an inevitable knock-on effect.

However tourism in Spain could be given a much needed boost after the Government announced plans to encourage film production in some of the countries holiday resorts.

One of the first productions to benefit from the accommodating plans is Knight and Day a action comedy film starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. The movie will be filmed in the Spanish cities of Cadiz and Seville and it’s hoped that scenes such as the one’s filmed in Cadiz showing bulls running through the centre of the city will draw visitors in to the charming destinations in the south of Spain.

Although the Spanish inbound holiday market is dominated by visitors from other European countries the Spanish Government are keen to increase the number of visitors from further infield in particular the lucrative US outbound market.

The latest push won’t be the first time Spain has benefitted from the silver screen, the 2008 film Vicky Cristina Barcelona was, unsurprisingly, filmed in Barcelona. The Canary Islands are also taking advantage of the potential benefit from featuring on the big screen having recently agreed to partially finance the remake of the 1973 classic Papillon which will be produced by the famous Hollywood producer Branko Lustig, in the hope of boosting tourism.

Book car hire in Spain with Sixt.

Tarifa – A unique experience at the bottom of Europe

Sixt rent a car News — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:06:03 +0000

The road leading to the beach and car park at Tarifa

As you pass through the wrought Iron gate called ‘Valdevaqueros’ the road twists and turns its way into another world; the world of the Surfer. Tarifa is a hot spot for kite surfers in particular, with some enthusiasts considering it to be the best destination in Europe for the sport.

At the end of the twists and turns of the meandering road you’ll see sand dunes and a small parking area. In a secluded area, sheltered away from the wind, is the main car park where the vehicles are well protected from all the sand blowing in the air.

The conditions for surfing and kiting are perfect almost throughout the year and from the waters edge you can watch surfers and kite surfers riding the waves and taking to the air with the tricks and jumps.

For surfers, there is an enormous choice of different beaches, whether you’re a beginner or advanced pro, summer through to winter, there is something for everyone.

Tarifa became the European ’surfer capital’ due to two winds which meet here, the levante and the poniente, keeping conditions ideal almost throughout the year. With the wind blowing through the straits of Gibraltar works like a gigantic funnel, accelerating the wind around the coastline improving the surf and kiting conditions.

Kitesurfers enjoying the conditions at Tarifa

Tarifa and the surrounding beaches are regarded to be at the top of the list for surfing locations within Europe and hardly a day goes past without winds of a strength of force 4.

Although Tarifa is considered to be the ‘capital’, there are other places in Spain which come up in conversation between surfers in the surfing community such as Almeria, in the southeast.

For those interested in kite surfing, the British Kite Surfing Assocation has an extensive list of clubs, events and training schools for you to attend and give the sport a try.

Sixt have a strong presence throughout the south of Spain including branches in Estepona, Marbella and Malaga.