> We are also hoping to find a reasonable price for an economy rental car for three weeks.

For car hire you could try getting quotes from these consolidators.

• http://www.autoeurope.co.uk
• http://economycarrentals.com
• http://www.holidayautos.com

they all resell the same cars. (Spain tends to run on the bring it back empty con, they make you buy a tank of gas when you pick the car up, you can’t get out of this)

Check that they include excess insurance (this might be $2-4 a day more) some include it others insure you and you have to pay for damage and claim the excess back from consolidator.

I’d also ask for a diesel, you’ll get twice the mpg and gas is expensive over here compared to the USA, about $6-8 a gallon (~$2/L), they have good engines and are as quiet as a normal petrol/gas car and you get lots of power from the turbo for overtaking.

Paul, London, UK