Once again I’m off to sunny Spain – hey Viva espania

Previous visits to Malaga have prompted various posts such as top things in Malaga which included details of the delightful Flamenco museum, the little known Malaga treasure the Botanico la Conception and of course following last years disappointment of the shortage of car hire we offered the essential guide to Malaga Bus Station an illuminating guide to Estacion L’Autobus, Malaga.

Getting around Spain

Public transport in Andalucia is good between them rail and bus routes serve the major towns and cities well but to cover all the things during this forthcoming short visit we’ll be booking car hire Spain so we can get on our way the moment we arrive at the Airport – the range of companies offering low season, cheap car hire in Malaga is good news for those able to take advantage of travelling without working around school holidays therby grabbing good deals on flights, hotels and cars hire.

This year the itenery will include Jerez Flamenco festival – Late Feb early march and hopefully after visiting various bullrings perhaps take in at my first live bullfight – although this letter in the Times from Saskia Oskam, PR Officer CAS International does prompt reservations:

The bullfighting industry is a horrible business which not only tortured and kills bulls and horses, but is also not afraid to use children to boost the popularity of this dying and bloody tradition. Most Spanish people are against this gruesome spectacle, as well as the majority of the inhabitants of the other bullfighting countries. But as long as foreign tourists (unfortunately still a lot of British people) keep visiting bullfights, they will maintain this bloodsport with their money. Spain is getting sick of bullfighting, so please help them by NEVER visiting a bullfight or cruel festival, such as the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. For more information about the REAL story of bullfighting, please visit our website www.cas-international.org

This horrific and one sided so-called “sport” was still prime time viewing on  Spanish TV on Sunday evenings but the broadcasts of live fights on Spain’s TVE quietly stopped  in airing live bullfights in 2007. Bullfighting was recently banned in The Catalonian region of Spain.

The narrow vote in favour of banning the torture of bulls in Catalunya is a great step forward. It is in no way a political issue. This is about human beings abusing animals for entertainment. It is barbaric and abhorrent. We must have care and respect for all life.

Time for a bullfighting joke:

I went to a restaurant close to a bullring near Malaga. The specialty was a plate of meat balls. When I asked what the meat was the waiter said they were ‘the bull’s most prized assets’. I’ll try anything one so I gave it a go and it was quite good actually.

About two weeks later I took a collegue and ordered up the same dish. This time the waiter brought a tiny portion and I asked what was going on. The waiter said. ‘Sometimes the bull wins!’

A terrible threat looms this summer – 2009 may become known as “the year of the great European car hire shortage”.

Check up to date car hire availability accross Europe online at easyCar

An unexpected side effect of the economic down turn this year has resulted in early reports of a car hire shortage throughout Europe. Places most likely to suffer most from the shortage of hire cars will be popular holiday destinations in Europe especially Spain where car hire companies have cut fleet sizes to reduce operating costs.

Popular locations and airport car hire companies all expect demand to exceed supply but are resisting the temptation to buy in more cars for rental during the busy summer months because they fear that a falling second hand car market wont allow them to sell on the used hire cars in the volumes they are used to.

Car Hire Shortage.

Whilst many of the leading car rental companies have no solution other than to turn away customers who haven checked car hire availability there are some businesses who should do well from the shortage of hire cars – car rental brokers.

Car hire brokers don’t actually have any vehicles – instead they specialise in finding cars for their customers from other third party rental companies. Brokers have excellent relationships with many small independant car hire companies throughout Europe and are confident that they will be able to secure cars even at short notice.

Car shortages in Spain

By far the most popular European destination for UK holiday makers is Spain and the fact that people return year after year makes the market for car hire in Spain one of the biggest in Europe.  Although the public transport system in Spain is adequate – see previous post about Malaga Bus Station the attraction of hiring a car to give you the freedom to explore is high.

If you are planning to visit Spain and don’t want to be disappointed by either lack of choice or indeed lack of availability due to the hire car shortage then consider checking various websites to secure an advance booking.

Car Hire Price Increase?

In fact there have been suggestions that if the demand for hire cars cannot be met rental firms will hike the prices so it may be worth considering booking now even if you haven’t got the full trip details worked out.  When we last looked the prices offered on the main websites were still cheap – Spain has enjoyed cheap motoring for many years – but with the current exchange rate abd the threat of price increases it may be worth buying now  – if the hire car shortage takes hold  it is unlikey that any better deals will come along.