Your holiday is booked; the flights are organized and the time honored tradition of counting down the days has begun. You're envisaging how you'll spend your days in the sun, but have you remembered to organize the transfers from the airport?



Why not hire a car? With the cost of an airport transfer being almost equal to that of a whole week's car hire surely they offer the holiday maker a better deal? With the flexibility and convenience offered to you by a hire car your holiday experience will be improved significantly.

Imagine being able to avoid a Spanish Taxi and taking the trip to La Manga Del Mar Menor at your own pace, with the ability to stop at places which give this particular region of Spain its unique cultural and scenic heritage.

For many Murcia is merely a city passed through en-route to La Manga. However if you can spare the time I urge you to stop and sample some of the fantastic Spanish culture on offer.

Murcia is the regions capital and for those on a longer vacation is the perfect destination for an excursion. Murcia is a melting pot of architectural movements, an indisputable creole of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque building styles.

There is no where better to view all of these conceptions in one place than the magnificent Cathedral de Santa Maria. Construction began in 1358 on the site of a previous Mosque. The building work of the front fa?ade alone spanned more than 200 years and is considered a masterpiece in eclectic architecture. Once described as, "Rising in compartments like a drawn out telescope." It makes a great starting point for a visit to the city.

Churrigueresque style 'star' vaulting and echoing gothic chambers compliment the sculptures of Francisco Salzillo which are situated all around the Cathedral. He worked almost exclusively in polychromatic wood; the vividly colored works are dotted all around the region so see how many you can spot.

Salzillo, considered one of the most prolific sculptors of religious works of all time he has an entire museum dedicated to him. Situated on the edge of the city near to the bus station it's definitely worth a visit and another perfect opportunity to use your hire car.

You will probably have worked up quite an appetite by this point, a trip to the "Calle Traperia" is a welcome rest stop. This bustling pedestrian street is Murcia's Main shopping location. Enjoy the Spanish Boutiques or sit back and watch the world go by from one of the many exceptional tapas cafes located here. Make sure you sample the local specialty tapas on offer such as pisto, zarangollo , la ensalada murciana.

The Casino in Murcia dates back to the early 19th Century and is worth a look even if you're not feeling lucky. Step inside and you're whisked back in time to a long gone era. The foyer boasts an amalgamation of the city's Moroccan routes, Neo-Rococo styles and a fine gentleman's club. The courtyard has been built in true Moroccan style; it's a small scale replica of the fantastic Alhambra palace in Granada. These days Murcian Gents spend their days here reading the papers and plying billiards.

The Old Town located close to the Cathedral is the perfect spot for an evening meal, there are several good quality restaurants located here and plenty of convenient places to park your hire car close by.

Should you be visiting Murcia in March or April be sure to check the dates of the Murcia Spring Fair. The fair culminates with "The burial of the Sardine" and is almost certainly the wackiest night of the year in Murcia.

For three days the streets in Murcia are paraded by a colorful spectacle of giants, 'big heads,' Brazilian samba groups, floats, demons and any one who wants to join in. On the culminating Saturday evening thousands of Euros worth of toys are thrown into the crowd, A ceremonial effigy is burned to appease the most varied gods of Olympus, and for the party animals the festivities go on into the early morning when the testament of Dona Sardina is read from the balcony of the Town Hall in the midst of riotous public rejoicing.

Murcia is a city where your hire car will come into its own. Offering you complete flexibility and freedom as the city's points of interest are spread out over a wide area. For the tourist who doesn't want to miss out on anything a hire car is an essential