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Techy tours of Silicon Valley
Once you know the way to San Jose, you’ll discover the birthplaces of several global tech companie...
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Hertz at San Jose International Airport
It’s California, but not as you know it. Arrive in San Jose, close to Silicon Valley (the airport is often called Silicon Valley Airport by frequent flyers) and you’ll find a place bathed with more than a scintilla of Spanish style. No surprise, really, as it was called El Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe when it was formed towards the end of the 18th century. Today it retains much of its Hispanic flavour even in the face of the rush of modernity.
Yet don’t expect just Spanish and American touches here. It’s a city with a Japantown, a Vietnamese population and lots more besides. Make the most of car hire at San Jose International Airport and you can explore not just this fascinating place, but also get out to explore California, whether it’s the dramatic coastline or the lush vineyards that have your attention.
Browse our car collection now and pick from vehicles perfect for that dream American road trip, as well as family-oriented SUV’s with plenty of space. It’s your holiday – do it your way.
Best-Loved Car Brand
Chevrolet Equinox
The average price per day is calculated using Hertz car rental data from the previous week.
Average Daily Price
USD 97 /day
Top Deal
USD 96 /day
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Location Information
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Driving & Quick Guide
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FAQs
Pick-up locations information
San Jose International Airport
Mon-Sun 6:00AM-12:30AM
1659 Airport Boulevard, San Jose, 95110, United States
408-938-6000
**(Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company's access charge)
Driving in and around San Jose
Hop in your choice of hire car at San Jose International Airport and you’ve got one key piece of information to remember: you need to drive on the right-hand side of the road. You’ll be overtaking on the left throughout the US, but many of the main driving laws will be similar from home. There’s no using mobile phones while driving and everyone has to wear seatbelts.
The other main thing to remember is to enjoy your driving – California is one of the greatest states in the US to explore by car. The landscapes have an extraordinary variety and you’ll be driving past forests, deserts, vineyards and mountains made for skiing. Freeways are the US equivalent of motorways, with a speed limit of 65mph in urban areas, 70mph in rural stretches. Speeds dip in towns and residential areas to 30ph. Always check the speed limit of the road you’re on.
The airport is perfectly located for getting into San Jose, only a 10-minute drive away along the CA-87. The I-280 cuts east to west across the city, passing by many of the main attractions such as the Winchester Mystery House. It’s bisected by the I-880 which runs south to north through the heart of San Jose.
If you plan on heading further afield, you can stay on the I-280 as it then shifts north-west all the way up to San Francisco. However, an alternative route to ‘San Fran’ is the 101, which heads through Palo Alto and has some wonderful coastal stretches.
For Los Angeles, you can drive east on the 130 before taking the I-5 as it snakes south. Heading north instead will take you to Sacramento, from where you can join the I-80 for the winter sport resort of Reno, just across the border in Nevada. For a truly memorable US road trip, head to the coastline west of San Jose and get on route 1, the sensational Pacific Coast Highway.
A quick guide to San Jose and beyond
San Jose is a fascinating mix of the new and the old. It buzzes with Silicon Valley invention but also has roots dating back to America’s foundation and the gold rush to the West. And, of course, you’re in California, with great cities, beautiful coastal roads and amazing beaches only a drive away.
A glimpse of the future
The airport itself is strikingly modern, very much a hub for the digital age. You may well be greeted by the sight of the Space Observer, built in 2010 and looking like something straight out of a science fiction film. It sets the tone for the futuristic side of San Jose, which you can explore further at The Tech museum. This state-of-the-art visitor attraction is proudly hands-on, aiming to inspire the innovators of the future. Learn about robots, virtual reality and alternative energy before heading to the on-site IMAX cinema for awe-inspiring visuals.
More than a mystery
At the other end of the spectrum is the Winchester Mystery House, a piece of late 19th and early 20th century whimsy built by a true eccentric. Sarah Winchester started building the house in 1884 and conducted séances so that the spirits could guide the development, which went on until 1922. The spirits were clearly in a playful mood – this is a house with 40 bedrooms and 40 staircases, but includes doors that open to reveal walls, a staircase leading nowhere and chimneys that don’t reach the roof. The furniture and glass are inspiring, but so are the parquet floors – one craftsman alone dedicated 33 years of his life to them.
Park Life
Make the most of that famed California sunshine by exploring the Kelley Park in San Jose. Sprawling over 156 acres, it houses a park and zoo, a Japanese friendship garden and several museums, but also the wonderful History Park. The latter is full of historic buildings that have been relocated to the park in an attempt to recreate what San Jose once looked like. Houses, banks, stables, a print shop and fruit barn, all from the early 1900s, are sympathetically arranged with exhibits. It’s a reminder of life before the tech explosion. You may be visiting for business in Silicon Valley or starting out on a road trip around California and the west. Either way, car hire at San Jose International Airport brings it all much closer.
FAQs about car hire
Can I hire a car from Hertz at San Jose International Airport?
Can I hire a car one way from San Jose International Airport?
Can I get a flexible car hire, or cancel after I book a car at San Jose International Airport?
Are there any specific requirements to hire a car from Hertz at San Jose International Airport?
Is it possible to return my Hertz rental car to a different location from origin?
How can I cancel or modify my booking with Hertz Car Rental at San Jose International Airport?
What is the procedure for collecting and returning a car with Hertz at San Jose International Airport?
Can I check in online for my Hertz rental at San Jose International Airport?
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Does Hertz offer after-hours returns at San Jose International Airport?
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