Vacationing during Spain's touristy summer season doesn't have to mean overcrowded attractions or pricey hotels. Keep the crowds and high prices in the rearview mirror by renting a motorhome or RV (usually called camper vans or caravans in Europe) and experience Spain's scenic Mediterranean coast through seaside towns, ancient ruins, bucolic orchards and sprawling badlands.
CAMPER VAN 101 Before embracing your inner Kerouac, if you're American you'll need to get an International Driving Permit from AAA, http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html , or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA), http://aataidp.com/. It's issued in person or by mail and is valid for a year.
For coastal routes, you can choose autopistas, toll roads denoted with the letters AP, or free motorways, generally called autovias, marked with the letter A. You can pay tolls by credit card or cash, but be warned that they add up.
NOT YOUR PARENTS' RECREATIONAL VEHICLE You may have memories of the family's vintage behemoth van, but today's savvy road trippers know that modern motorhomes come in smaller, sleeker packages with nearly every amenity imaginable. Using the van's various features is surprisingly uncomplicated, but you do need to know how to drive with a manual transmission. Do not drive into city centers, which typically have narrow, winding streets, or you could get stuck. Park farther out and take metros in.
Barcelona's Orson Rent, http://en.orsonrent.com/ , offers airport pick-up and drop-off, plus campers that sleep two to five people, with bathrooms, showers, refrigerators, freezers, stove tops, two double beds and optional add-ons like bikes or barbecue grills. Rentals run 175 euros daily for summer high season, 130 for September and 110 other times. Budget another 35-50 euros nightly for campsites in peak season. Amenities like Wi-Fi and electricity are extra. In some places, vans may park overnight in public spots, but towns are less tolerant of this during crowded summer months.
Know the difference between a caravan — with the living unit trailer towed behind the car — and an autocaravan, where the living unit is attached to the driver's cab. PLAN YOUR PIT STOPS BARCELONA What to do: Head to the rooftop terrace at the Hotel Barcelo Raval for stunning (and free!) 360-degree views, https://www.barcelo.com/en-us/hotels/spain/barcelona/barcelo-raval/
Sample local cuisine and cava (Catalonia's sparkling wine) while exploring Barcelona on a sidecar tapas tour, http://brightsidetours.com/ . Don't miss Antoni Gaudi's iconic works, including Casa Batllo, Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia. Beat the lines at the breathtaking basilica by purchasing tickets in advance, http://www.sagradafamilia.org/en/ .
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