Car Rentals at Lourdes Tarbes Airport

Lourdes Airport is located approximately 9km, or 6 miles south-southwest of Tarbes, and also 10km from the city of Lourdes, in the south western regions of France. It is very nearby the smaller town of Ossun, about halfway between the two cities mentioned. The airport handles around 430,000 passengers per annum and is served by several airline companies. Passengers can take the local buses available to several towns in the nearby vicinity, hire a taxi, or rent a car from one of the Lourdes car hire companies. To thoroughly enjoy the magnificent Pyrenees region, a hire car is recommended, as it will easily allow you to reach all destinations in your own time.

Within the terminal building of the airport, the car rental companies are found across from the arrival area, and include Avis, Hertz, National, Europcar, Alamo, Auto Europa and Easycar. The arrivals area is on the ground floor of the building, and the rented cars of the various companies are parked in a nearby parking area. All facilities are within easy walking distance of either the departure or arrival areas. The car hire companies are not open twenty-four hours a day at this location, since that the airport is not very large or busy when compared to some other French airports, but they are open to meet the majority of arrival flights. Passengers can therefore collect their vehicles shortly after they have arrived and found their baggage items.

All the Lourdes Airport car rental companies are internationally recognised businesses, providing car hire services from thousands of locations around the world. Hertz and Auto Europa are two of the largest car rental networks available, and are found at just about every French airport and at many other European airports. Hertz is perhaps a popular choice for their vehicles which can be more specifically reserved by make and model, and for their wide variety of additional items of equipment which can be hired, including satellite navigation systems, child seats and hand controls for disabled drivers. Hand controls are free of charge, but should be reserved in advance. National Car Hire is a company which has mainly focused their attention on the frequent airport business traveller, and Alamo offers the ideal services for leisure customers. Over the years, both of these companies have offered many innovative services. Avis is an all-round favourite, Europcar is one of the more popular car rental companies in many European countries, and is part of a global strategic alliance with National and Alamo, and Easycar is often chosen for their low rental rates and excellent customer service.

Anyone renting a car at the airport will need to be 21 years of age or older, and be present to collect their vehicle from the car hire companies. Additional drivers will also need to be present, in order to show their valid drivers license. Most local licenses are accepted, but those which are not printed in English may need to be accompanied by an International Driving Permit. An IDP will need to be acquired in your country of residence prior to your flight to Lourdes. It is mainly used for translation purposes. All the major car hire companies will charge additional fees for young drivers insurance, and this will be applicable to customers who are under the age of 25. Larger vehicles and specialty cars are sometimes only available to those 25 years or older as well. Your return airline ticket may also be required, and a major credit card will be used for payment of the rental, for example, American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard, Mastercard and Visa.

All vehicles collected from Lourdes Airport will begin their rental with a full tank of fuel, and it may be required that a full tank of fuel is purchased. In this case, the car will need to be returned as empty as possible, as no refunds are given for unused fuel. For shorter rental periods, customers may simply return the car full, and will not be required to purchase fuel upfront. One way hires may also be arranged, which allow the customer to return the vehicle to a different rental location, either in the country of France or in another nearby European country, such as Spain. Always confirm the return location with your chosen car hire company, and find out if any additional charges for the service will be applicable.

Cars for hire may be small and fuel efficient, or larger and more elegant vehicles ideal for business occasions. The car hire companies offer a large selection of vehicles, and will definitely have the ideal option for your holiday or business trip. In general, low rental prices are charged for small cars, such as the Renault Twingo, Opel Corsa or Citroen C3, while the larger vans are much more expensive. However, groups of travellers will find a van to be suitable, and those for seven or eight passenger are the Citroen C8, Opel Zafira and Renault Espace, and a van for nine is the Renault Traffic Combi. Cars ideal for families are often found in the Intermediate, Fullsize or Standard vehicle categories, and may be similar to the Citroen C5, VW Passat, Renault Scenic or the Renault Megane. More elegant vehicles are usually manufactured by BMW, Volvo or Mercedes, and are hired from the Premium or Luxury car categories.

Many wonderful attractions await those who are visiting the Pyrenees region of France, and the road network of the country will take you and your rented car to all of them. There are twelve superb ski resorts in the nearby mountains, and a spa resort about thirty minutes from the airport. Gavarnie is about a fifty minute drive from Lourdes, and its stunning waterfall, a true natural miracle, is not to be missed. Towns and cities nearby include Pau (25 minute drive) and Bayonne and Toulouse, which are about a ninety minute drive away. Bayonne is on the western coastline of France, and nearby Anglet and Biarritz as well. Many other intriguing towns are also found nearby.

Contact your favourite Lourdes car hire company to arrange a rented car for your holiday or business trip in the Pyrenees.