Speedily find the cheapest car hire

The good news is, car hire is fiercely competitive in many holiday destinations, so you can easily drive (sorry) prices down easily. Yet this works best before they’re busy, so book early. Also if you’re planning to drive a long distance, do check there are no extra mileage fees.

Think insurance before you start or you’ll massively overpay

Before looking at the cheapest car hire, it's important to remember that they make big money selling you the insurance, and it won’t be included in the headline price. So don’t just sign up, willy-nilly, ensure you read the Cheapest Hire Insurance section first.

Step 1. Use a comparison site to automatically shop around

Try comparing prices yourself and by the time you get a good deal you'll have missed your holiday. Yet you can search scores of car hire companies in minutes by using special screenscraper websites; here you enter your requirements and they zip them to a host of car hire websites and report back the cheapest. In other words they're ‘search-and-report’ sites that 'scrape' the data off other sites' screens to get you the prices.

My top pick is Travelsupermarket*, while a bit clunky it searches by far the biggest range, though if you’ve time it’s worth a quick check on one of the others, Traveljungle, Atlas Choice and Car Hire Search. Again, remember don’t fall for the insurance trap, you can get car hire insurance cheaper elsewhere.

Step 2. Now quickly check the ones you’ve missed

Brokers are companies which list many car hire providers and have their own direct commercial relationships with them. As such they usually have their own special offer prices. Many of the screenscrapers automatically search brokers, but the following are missed out, so for belt and braces you should include them:

These are Car Rentals, Travelocity and Car Jet (for Spain, Portugal and UK only). If you're hiring in the US Sidestep and Priceline* are cheap too.

Step 3. Are you also booking a flight and or hotel?

If you're booking a package, ie a ‘flight & car’ or ‘hotel & car’ there are a few brokers who will give you an additional discount if you book them all together including Expedia* and Travelocity. Of course always compare these to the cheapest standalone prices though, more details in Cheap Flights or Cheap Hotels articles.

If going to the US, it's worth looking at ‘flydrive’ package holiday deals as these can be much cheaper plus you can haggle down the price of the overall package (See Cheap Package Holidays).

Step 4. Do you have any Tesco club card vouchers?

It’s possible to get Avis car hire for a quarter of the list price if you have Tesco Clubcard vouchers (from in-store spending at Tesco). That’s because Avis is listed in Tesco’s Clubcard deals brochure; and when you redeem anything in there, a normal £5 voucher is worth £20. For more info Tesco Deals in the Boost Nectar, Tesco, Airmiles Points & More article.

Car Hire – a Guide to Driving in Austria

austria is an outstanding country, with a wealth of natural and historical beauty on offer.
With a car, you can explore its stunning landscape at leisure, without the constraints of timetables, spending as much or as little time in any spot.
Driving around the rugged mountain peaks, peaceful valleys, small towns and never-ending green forests is a truly unique experience.
There are also a number of architectural hotspots throughout Austria, most notable of which can be found in Vienna, the countries capital.
Salzkammergut has been noted as a particularly beautiful area of the country, recommended for new-comers to explore. With its gorgeous lakes, mountainous peaks, small towns and villages, ice caves and salt mines it proves an exciting adventure.
Although the beauty of Austria can be enjoyed all year round, its best to avoid driving in the colder seasons, as snow often blocks some of the higher roads of the country.
Driving laws throughout Austria are governed by EU rules and are obeyed and often strictly enforced.
The main dissimilarity to driving in the UK is of course that motorists in Austria drive on the right and overtake on the left. Headlights must also be used at all times and priority given to ascending vehicles.
When in Vienna, horns cannot be used. There are a great deals of rules that govern where you can and cannot park, the most important of which include not parking wherever you see a sign reading “Halten Verboten” and in front of any entrance.
Failure to comply with the parking rules can make you subject to heavy fines and you could have your vehicle towed.
As is the case in Germany and France it is compulsory to carry a warning triangle with you at all times, visibility vests are also required in Austria.

Which car hire is right for you?

f you’re going on holiday, before trying to track down the cheapest deal, there are three important questions to ask yourself:

• Do you actually need car hire? Public transport is dirt-cheap in some countries, so first check local bus or taxi prices and work out if you really need car hire.
• Could you take your own car? Is it possible to drive there? All UK car insurance policies automatically provide the minimum cover required by law in all EU countries, or the minimum cover in the UK (liability to third parties). Do check with your insurer. Also some breakdown recovery policies include driving in Europe, if not you can get it as a standalone extra (see Cheapest Breakdown Cover article).
• Do you need a flash car? Less popular models are cheaper as car hire works on a ‘supply and demand’ basis e.g.In Summer soft-top or coupes command a huge premium. Plus avoid gas guzzling 4x4s for simple day trips, and if you can drive a manual, do as it's cheaper, except in the USA, where it’s the other way round!

Accessible Travel For The Wheelchair Bound

Finding a wheelchair accessible travel agency can be something that not many people would ever think of considering. However, for those who are wheelchair users, traveling the world may be something that they previously thought that they could not do. However, in the modern world we live in today, finding accessible travel agencies can be as easy as a click of a mouse.

Such a travel agency can offer a person who thought they would never be able to travel, an experience of a lifetime. Traveling around the world is no longer limited for those who are bound to a power chair or their home. Anyone can fulfill their dreams of traveling the world if they only take a chance and believe in themselves. A person can travel with someone else or alone if they find the right agency. Travel is for everyone no matter if they are physically challenged or not.

One of the best agencies on the internet is Accessible Journeys. This agency specializes in providing the perfect trip to those who are confined to a wheelchair. A person can travel the world free of worry with this agency. Places such as South Africa, Egypt and even the Amazon are not off limits to people in wheelchairs. No longer do the physically challenged have to feel that they cannot travel without another individual with them. This agency schedules individual arrangements that allows a person to travel with family and friends or by themselves. This is a perfect option for those who are looking for such an agency to help them live out their life long dream to travel the globe.

Another great website that offers an abundance of agencies to accommodate a manual or power wheelchair user is www.mossresourcenet.org/travel. Here, a person can search an entire list of travel agencies around the globe that specialize in a variety of trips for the wheelchair user. Even handicapped students can find an agency that will specialize in providing them with an abundance of options. No matter what a person's situation or illness is, MossRehab Resource can help a person find exactly what they are looking for in vacation accessibility.

People will be happily surprised when they realize where they can travel, even if they are confined to powered wheelchairs. The trip of a lifetime is just around the corner, even for those who are physically challenged.

Trevor Kassulke owns and operates http://www.wheelchairsaccess.com Wheelchair Mobility

Car Hire Portugal

Portugal is a small country, having must-see sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from shopping to outdoor fun. To enjoy all these, you really need a car to get the best out of a Portugese holiday. If you’re thinking about a trip to this beautiful country, there’s no better place to rent a car in Portugal than with Portugal Auto Rentals. Our rates for car hire in Portugal are by far the lowest you will find; Hiring a car is the most flexible way to enjoy the best that Portugal has to offer more than just the regular car rental and hire packages. Portugal Car Rental is a trading partner of The Car Hire Group. All our cars are sourced locally in Portugal from established car rental companies. This is good for you because it keeps the rates down. Renting a car allows you to sample the local sights at your own pace. Car hire portugal is simple, friendly, professional and fast. We manage well the balance between cheap prices and good service. We have endeavoured to add many features to this site which will allow you plan most aspects of your driving holiday in Portugal and the Algarve. There's also a guide to car rental locations,and an online booking facility so you can book discount car hire in all Portugal's cities, towns and airports. We specialise in online bookings for car hire in Portugal through major car suppliers such as Alamo, Hertz Dollar and Budget.We have extensive car hire coverage throughout Portugal ranging from major cities in the north such as Lisbon and Porto to Faro and Barga in the central regions to Coimbra and Evora in the southern parts of Portugal. To check prices for your next car hire in Portugal, we offer all clients an Instant Quote system so you don’t have to wait to get a reply by email. Or to see what is included on that quote. We have a global network of travel professionals who can do a lot to smooth your holiday journeys. We offer better rates wherever you choose to pick up and drop off you vehicle. Also some rental
suppliers specialise in certain areas within Portugal, so when one supplier may not be able to offer you a hire car at a certain location. We offer instant online quotes and bookings for all inclusive cheap hire car rentals, with an online discount of 10 - 15%. We also offer, through our website, one way rentals for the whole of Portugal, including city and airport locations.We can offer great deals to both business travelers, holiday travelers.We will help you find the perfect hotel, motel or bed and breakfast accommodation in Portugal. We've tried to include accommodation properties which we think would appeal to most types of holidaymakers. We offer cheap Portugal car rental,covering all the major cities, airports. Use our special booking engine to find the best rentals and discount rates for online bookings, or just click on one of the cities to the left to start checking the best prices now. We guarantee the best rates and service available for your rentals. We will beat any major competitor's rate that offers a car hire with comparable service,location, terms, and surcharges. We have tried to give a fairly complete guide to the major golf courses in Portugal. And we've tried to include information to help you get a car and get around to these courses. It's a thankless task, for nowhere in the world are there more golf courses than Portugal. Offering a full compliment of services ranging from private to commercial rentals, our aim is to consistently offer a first class commitment to customer service to make Portugal Cars in car rental and hire services.

Car-Hire-Jerez

Being an important tourist destination Jerez is the busiest during the summer season when cars get booked quickly. So consider booking your car along with your hotel and flight reservations. You are quite likely find a reasonable deal if you reserve your rental car in advance. If you are not sure of what size you need, just reserve an economy class as you can always upgrade to a larger vehicle once your reach Jerez. Reserving your rental car before leaving home not only guarantees its availability, but also to gets you the best deal on your choice of car. An online car hire provides you with the options from premier car hire companies in Spain.

While doing an online search for a car, compare deals and availability with several car hire companies to get the best rate. You can call the company directly, can call a travel agent or search the internet. Travel agents sometimes offer hotel and flight packages that may include car rental which is not a bad option as long as you have compared the cost of the entire package to the price of booking each part separately.

Pick up point: Even though there is little difference between the cost of renting a car directly from the airport or from the city. Check the price difference between the two options and be sure to intimate your car rental company of the same. It might be cheaper to rent in town and many companies often provide transportation from the airport.

You may not always get the best deal while hiring a car, but regardless of how you find your car-hire, you should keep the above tips in mind while comparing the rental packages and finally heading for a booking.

Providing simple traveling solutions to the visitors of Spain since 1979. For further information on car hire in Jerez, visit car hire jerez

Book now to secure the car you want, when you want

Can you see yourself behind the wheel of a convertible as you speed along the Californian coast? Or piling your family (and all their luggage!) into a mini-van for your summer holiday on the Med? Or do you need a large estate car with enough room for your all your skis and luggage? We have a large selection of vehicles available from mini coopers to 4x4s and people carriers but we always recommend booking early to guarantee your chosen vehicle.

It will come as no surprise that cars are in particular demand throughout July and August as well as traditional holidays such as Christmas, New Year and Easter but it may shock you to know that some people do miss out by leaving their car hire until the last minute.

But it isn’t just certain vehicle types (such as convertibles and mini-vans) which are in high demand (although there are fewer of them around), certain destinations such as Malaga, Nice and Bordeaux run short of cars full stop in the peak summer months, whilst Geneva (Swiss side) is in particular demand each winter and, closer to home, even gateway airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick and Dublin will experience high demand whenever there are public holidays.

More and more people are getting online and putting together their own holidays - and most of them will need a car to get around.

The fact of the matter is, the earlier you reserve your car, the better the chance you have of getting exactly what you want.

However, here at Carhire3000, we realise that you might not want to tie up your cash so far in advance, which is why we offer our customers a unique low deposit scheme. Now you can rest easy knowing you have secured your hire car for a small deposit (as low as £25) with nothing more to pay until 4 weeks before you pick up your car.

Booking your car hire early makes sense - you get exactly what you want, when you want, with no risk of the price rising when cars run short. And for this peace of mind, you pay only a small deposit upfront with nothing more to pay until 4 weeks before you pick up your car.

Book your car hire online today or call FREE on 0800 358 7707

Please note that standard terms and conditions apply to all reservations and the deposit scheme is only available for bookings made at least 6 weeks in advance of picking up your hire car. The outstanding balance will then be taken 4 weeks before you pick up your hire car. Deposit amounts may vary depending on pick up point and car size and deposits are non refundable. Deposit amounts will be clearly illustrated on screen during the booking process where applicable.

Car Hire Experience

As I planned my first visit to the stunningly beautiful country of New Zealand, I knew that I wanted the freedom and flexibility to visit everything from the Franz Josef Glacier on the South Island to the vineyards in Hawkes Bay on the North Island. Because I didn’t want to waste a minute of my limited time waiting for buses or being constrained by a tour group’s itinerary, I knew that I needed a New Zealand rental car to fully enjoy all that the country had to offer. What I quickly discovered was that the car rentals in New Zealand are not only affordable and convenient; they are ideal for exploring the vast array of sites on both of the country’s islands.
With a few keystrokes on my computer, I was able to reserve an economical car rental in New Zealand prior to departing on my journey. Because I was flying into Auckland, the company offered to have a representative pick me up at the airport to take me to the rental car office. I was picked up curbside right on time in the car that I was going to rent. I was amazed by the efficiency and grateful that I wasn’t going to have to transfer my bags from one car to another at the office. The paperwork process was equally as seamless, as I merely had to show my United States driver’s license, passport, and credit card. In less than one hour after arriving in Auckland, I was handed the car keys and on my way. With maps in hand and a full tank of gas in my late model New Zealand rental car, I was starting my independent journey to experience all that the country had to offer.
My first destination was the thermal city of Rotorua, 234 kilometers (145 miles) from Auckland. I must admit that I was a bit nervous the first few minutes of driving on the left side of the road, but within a short time. I was navigating as confidently as the locals. It certainly helped that the highways and roads were well paved, mapped, and signed, and that the vast majority of drivers were courteous and law-abiding. I was thoroughly impressed with New Zealand so far and pleased that I had chosen to drive myself rather than hop aboard a tour bus. Along the way, I stopped in a small town for a quick rest and a meal. I was really beginning to appreciate the freedom that my New Zealand rental car was offering me. Unlike an organized tour, I was able to stop, eat, and rest when I felt like it in the locations that I chose. That first evening I picked up some takeout fish and chips, settled into my modest motel room along the highway, and charted on the map my route for the next following days.
After a week of touring the North Island and thoroughly enjoying my New Zealand car hire holiday that had everything from farm shows to wineries and museums, I was ready to tackle the rugged splendor of the South Island. I had coordinated with the rental car company to drive my car onto the Interislander ferry in the capital city of Wellington. The rental car representatives booked the ticket, and the entire process was amazingly easy. Three hours after boarding, I had arrived on the South Island, drove my car off the ship and began the next leg of my journey.
Driving the less traveled roads of the South Island, I journeyed to national parks, explored the coasts, and even had some time to enjoy the cosmopolitan cities of Christchurch and Dunedin. As my memorable trip came to a close, I returned to the North Island and headed back to Auckland to drop off the car and head to the airport. The return procedure was quick, and the New Zealand rental car representative kindly drove me back to the airport.
My trip to New Zealand was the most memorable and wonderful vacation that I have ever experienced. I had the freedom to explore the country on my terms and time schedule. I was able to see more than just the main tourist attractions and had the pleasure of meeting many of the friendly and welcoming native New Zealanders. I honestly don’t know if I would have appreciated as much of the unique culture, diversity, and stunning beauty of the country if I had spent my days on a tour bus. Thankfully, New Zealand is ideal for exploring by rental car and perfect for those travelers looking for a little adventure and a lot of fun. And, of course, I can hardly wait to return to New Zealand for another road trip!

Extra bonus as one car hire policy promises to go to excess

If you regularly hire cars - or even just plan one rental a year that is for longer than a week - you could save a small fortune by using an insurance policy to cover the cost of all the extras demanded by rental firms.

Insurance4carhire.com offers a starting price of £51.45 a year for a policy that covers these add-ons which can typically put £12 a day on your basic rental bill.

Most car rental companies make hirers pay an excess if they damage the car or if it is stolen during the rental. This week Hertz was quoting an excess of £616 for cars rented in Italy. Buyers have the option to pay £12 a day super collision damage waiver which reduces the excess to zero, but this can add substantially to the cost of the rental.

Those who have signed up to the policy, decline the extra insurance when they hire the car. If there is then an accident, the rental company will apply the excess to their credit card, but the driver then simply reclaims that from the insurer. The cover includes any extra drivers added to the rental - but the car has to be rented by the policyholder.

Insurance4carhire says its product will pay for itself for most rentals longer than one week. Users can hire as many cars during the year as they want - to a maximum of 31 days per rental.

There is a range of products to cover different geographical areas and age groups. Drivers in Europe only pay £51.45 - that rises to £61.45 if you add Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. A worldwide policy, including the US, costs £125.

Drivers aged 75-85 get their own cover - there are other policies for those looking to hire cars for longer than 31 days.

There are remarkably few clauses. Hirers have to be at least 21 and to rent a vehicle at a location at least 150km from their home address. The policy will only cover excesses up to £2,000, but that's well above that set by most big rental firms.

Policyholders can only make claims up to the value of £3,000 a year - but the insurance also covers damage to tyres, wheels, windows and a car's undercarriage - which are not covered by many of the rental companies' own extra insurance.

The downside is that this is an internet-only company - all transactions have to be done via its website. The company promises that all claims are paid within 10 working days.

insurance4carhire.com

Quick tips on car hire Alicante

• Air Condition
  Starting from April until November temperatures can be up to 40 C. Even now (in March) we already had days with 28 C. Needless to say that either air condition or opening the window manually are the two choices you have. (I go for the first option :-)

• Baby/Children Seat
  If you are travelling with a baby or child (we did over many years) you should really consider bringing your baby/child-seat with you. Sure, you can hire them with your car - but we tried this twice - and always got just dirty and insecure seats. We are certainly not the only one, because whenever I wait for my luggage at the airport I see people carrying there baby seats.

So don't care if it means a little bit of hassle - for your childrens safety it is worth it!

• Extra Driver
  It doesn't matter if you booked an extra driver at home - make sure at the car rental desk that they got the extra driver registered. If you and your partner want to drive the car - it must be in the papers you sign at the airport - (it does not matter what you might have ordered at your travel agency).

My wife and I had exactly this problem some years ago. So - please double check, if the extra driver is in the paper.

• Booking at Home
  Please make sure you book your car via your travel agency or via an internet travel agent. It is cheaper and easier, as particularly during summer season car rental companies are heavily booked. Book your car from home - before you travel to Alicante.

www.alicante-spain.com

Car Hire Unique Problems

You might think that renting a car is something you can do just about anywhere for the same amount of money, hassle, and time. However, with a car rental Maui, there are several different things that you need to consider. A lot of the time, a car rental Maui ends up being much harder for you to do and much more stressful than you would ever think.

Unique Area

First of all, the biggest reason that doing a car rental Maui presents unique problems is simply the area. Being in Maui is a much different thing than being in a city on the mainland. For starters when you rent a car in Maui, there is no where else that you can go. This is different from renting a car on the mainland because you can go from city to city and drop your car off in those areas. Having only one city to do your car rental Maui is something that makes it a unique situation.

Secondly, when you are doing your car rental Maui it means that you are going through one of only a few companies. This means that you have a much smaller selection of companies and deals that these companies offer. This is probably going to mean that unless you can book well in advance and have a great deal, you will end up paying much more money for your car rental Maui than you would for a car rental on the mainland.

Another factor to remember is that with a car rental Maui you might not have the exact selection that you are looking for. This is because there is a limited number of cars on the actual island. It is also because it is hard to get cars to and from the island. This means that the best way for you to do your car rental Maui is to book very early.