Driving In Alicante - First Time

[muchlovex]

I have booked a holiday in Alicante and hired a car. I've never driven in a a foreign country before but I would say I am a fairly confident driver here in the Uk. only worried incase I drive on the wrong side.

any advice on driving in a foreign country?

[AlwaysConfused]

stay on the correct side!

[Prudie]

I think it's natural to be nervous, I know I was, but very quickly you'll get used to it. The main thing is to concentrate more than you would at home - not too much chatting or music at first. Also think particularly hard at roundabouts! Are you getting the car at the airport? That might be a baptism of fire because there are a lot of motorway/fast road connections in the area - you'll need to watch the road signs. I'd advise familiarising yourself with the area before you go via google maps.

[nailit]

I have been through Alicante but only on a coach. Dont know if the driver was p1$$ed or if thats the way they drive there. Either way it was a tadge hair raising. Fasten your seat belt in any case.

[pusskin]

Never let your mind wonder and dont have any alcohol what so ever for good concentration. Have a lovely safe holiday muchlove.

[-Talbot-]

If you are driving a left hooker just think the same as in the UK, you (the driver) must be in the middle of the road. (As opposed to me driving an English car in Germany ! I have to remember that the path should be directly on my right)

[EDDIE51]

Much easier if (as you will be) you are in a car that has the correct side driver seat for the rule of the road. What is harder is driving a UK right hand drive car on the continent or vise versa .

[-Talbot-]

If you see the path directly on your left.......Panic!

[jomifl]

Remember that the speed limits are in kmph per hour not mph (shouldn't be a problem in a hire car 'cos the speedo will be in kmph). The worst time for driving on the wrong side is when you set out in the morning as there will probably not be any reminders to drive on the right. Some people leave a reminder on the steering wheel. If the car does not have a sat nav buy a road atlas when you get there if you are going to do anything other than local trips. Avoid busy roads for the first couple of days and gen up on Spanish road sign language.

[Prudie]

There are some odd driving rules in Spain too - apart from having a fluorescent jacket and spare bulbs (which the hire car would) you're not allowed to drive in high heels or put any shopping or bags on any of the seats, I doubt they'd pick on tourists but you never know.

[pusskin]

It was pointed out to us y/day while were in spain, not to drive in flip flops.
its not allowed.

[muchlovex]

I'd be picking car up from the airport. ooops

[Baldric]

Until I got used to being on the 'wrong side' I had a large sticky back plastic arrow on the dash' pointing at the correct side, it helped!

[Captain2]

I just kept say 'pavement/kerb to me' until it became second nature

[-Talbot-]

Cap't that only works when in a UK car abroad.

[bookbinder]

Get some advice from one of the motoring organisations. Don't just plunge into driving abroad without finding out something about it beforehand.

[Captain2]

Ooops thanks talbot - wasn't thinking - have always taken my car.

[bhg481]

Don't pull-off onto the "wrong" side of the road eg, for fuel or into a lay-by - it's too easy to pull-out onto the left of the road and stay there.

If you wear specs you have to carry a spare pair in Spain.

[sunny-dave]

You'll be fine in a hire car - much easier than a UK car on 'the wrong side'.

If you have a satnav then take it with you - set it for Spain and change the readouts to kilometres and kilometres-per-hour - it will then prompt you with local speed limits as well as your own speed - very useful.

[Sycamore3House]

Make sure the White line in the middle of the road is nearest the driver. And at roundabouts or junctions just think a bit.

[Jennykenny]

When I drove in Spain I used to put my watch and wedding ring on my right hand. They always felt slightly uncomfortable and concentrated my mind.
And yes as bhg says be particularly careful after you have pulled off the road into a petrol station etc. take a moment or two to watch both lanes of traffic pass before you pull out.