Jul 12

Car hire – Why it’s too cheap

Sometimes you can find some extremly low daily rental prices ie. €5/day at Malaga Airport or €12/day at Dublin Airport. How can the rental companies make a profit on that? Have you ever thinked about it? OK. Here is the thing, they don’t make any money on it.

They make profit “selling” fuel and expensive insurance policies. Recently I’ve booked a Nissan Micra from Budget at Dublin Airport for €12 a day. The guy at the desk offered SCDW for €15/day, GPS for €17/day  and prepaid fuel option.

I refused to buy all of them because I had my own excess reimbursement insurance from Worldwide Insure, I knew my way pretty much and I like to pay for petrol at the petrol station. However there were two other customer at the desk at the same time with me. The Italian group payed for the SCDW to reduce the €1200 deposit what they couldn’t pay. And the couple with a baby who also payed for the SCDW €15/day and also for a child seat which cost €50/rental for them. The reason why I get this really cheap daily price because they bought the extras at the desk.  Budget brought in clients with low prices and sell them expensive extras at the desk.

Patrick Collinson from The Guardian also travelled to Ireland and had a similar experience with his rental.

“For a four-day trip to Ireland later this month, my rental car – a four-door Ford Fiesta – will cost me £56. That’s £14 a day. I have followed all the steps in our guide to car hire, and my guess is that the firm, one of the big companies, will not make a penny. It will probably make a loss. I should be pleased with myself. In truth, the only reason I’m driving away with a bargain is that other holidaymakers are, quite frankly, being conned.

The car hire business is in a cul-de-sac of its own making. We all remember how Dixons never made much money selling electronics, but from pushing pricey warranties instead. We all know the banks never made money selling personal loans at 6% interest, but from strong-arming buyers into taking out payment protection insurance, which (for a while) made gigantic profits.

And I think we all know that running a business renting out new cars for £14 a day from a costly airport location is not going to make you any money. What is also certain is, that when I arrive in Dublin, I will be subjected to the usual amateur dramatics at the car hire counter.

You can read the full story here >>

There are good deal car hire offers available in most location. You have to prepair to keep it low when you arrive at the desk. If you want peace of mind you can buy independent excess insurance daily or annual policy. (Please read the reviews of the most popular excess covers on the market)
These policies can save you £10-15/day on extra insurance. Bring your own GPS and child seat if possible will also reduce the final price. Car rental should be simple and easy. But it is not it’s more like low cost flight ticket these days. Any extra service can cost a lot.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/blog/2012/jun/15/car-hire-too-cheap?newsfeed=true

Jul 09

UK road trip ideas

Eilean Donan Castle, Highlands (Scotland)
5 great road trip ideas in the UK

When you visit the 2012 London Olympic Games you’ll also spend some time in the UK. There are many beautiful places that you can visit during the summer. Here are a couple of road trip ideas:

  1. Norfolk Coast: distance 150 km, roads: A47, A149
    You can start your road trip in King’s Lynn, it’s a market town then drive to northeast to Hunstanton. This is a great place especially during the summer because this is the only seaside resort on the east coast to face west. You can continue your trip to Brancaster, Burnham, Holkham Bay, Blakeney, Holt, Sheringham et al.
  2. Glasgow to Inverness: distance: 275 km, roads: A9, A82, A827, A93
    This is a superb road trip in Scotland. Youcan start your journey in Glasgow, through Cairngorms National Park to Inverness. You can also discover the rest of the Highlands. It’s really worth to visit.
  3. The Outer Hebrides: distance: 240 km
    You can just get off the ferry in Stornoway which is a lovely town and you can explore the beauty of the Outer Hebrides. You won’t get lost here, it’s only one road 🙂
  4. London to Brighton
    Distance: 90 km
    Roads: A23, M23
    Brighton is a vibrant and colourful city, it’s perfect to visit in summertime. It’s a unique seaside town where you won’t get bored.
  5. The Cotswolds
    Distance: 150 km
    Roads: M4, A429, A417
    British nobilty and celebrity’s favourite place where the natural beauty is quite amazing.

Excess insurance for car hire in the UK >>

Jul 05

Car hire excess insurance at Dublin Airport

Is the car rental insurance included in the rental price? This is one of the most common question what people ask before they want to book a car in Dublin or Ireland. Third party liability insurance, theft waiwer (TW) and collision damage waiwer most likely included in the price. You can also purchase or decline extra insurance (SCDW) it is your choice.

CDW: Collision Damage Waiver is an insurance what is usually included in the price. Car rental companies make you pay for an excess also known as deductible if you have an accident or the car is stolen, this could be between €900 – €2,000 depending on the car category. If you are living and renting from the US in the a “basic” price option CDW is not included.

Super CDW (Super Collision Damage Waiver): If  you pay an extra at the rental desk you can reduce or remove the excess so if there is an accident you pay nothing or only a reduced excess amount. Usually all part of the car is covered with this accept tires, undercarriage and windshields. SCDW can cost from €10 to €20 a day depending on car type and the rental company.

Let’s see what are your car rental insurance options at Dublin Airport, in Ireland.

First Option: Drive your rental car with basic CDW

You can drive away with basic CDW insurance, quotes usually includes the CDW insurance or as also known loss damage waiver (LDW).  If the vehicle is damaged or stolen you will be covered for the most cost of repairing the rental car. However you still have to pay up to the excess amount.

For example, at Dublin Airport your liability (excess) would be €900-2000 depends on the size of the rented car.

Good: you can save €10-20/day by decline SCDW insurance.
Bad: if you had an accident you could end up paying up to €2000.

Second Option: Buy extra insurance from the car rental company at pick up

As a car hire client you can purchase additional (SCDW) insurance from the car rental desk.  It could cost €10-€20/day in Ireland. But be aware they have two different products which you can choose from. One is the “Damage excess reduction”: which reduces your cexcess to €100-€195. The second one is the “Complete cover package” which fully removes the excess.

Good: Peace of mind driving so if anything happens with the rental car, your liability is reduced further or completely removed.
Bad: SCDW insurance can cost more than the original daily rental price and sometimes it won’t cover glass and tires damage.

Third Option: Purchase car hire excess reimbursement insurance online

You can purchase independent car hire excess insurance online from €2.99/day. If you rent cars more often, there is a possibility to buy annual car hire excess policy for only €65/year. Which is a better choice when you rent 14 days or more under 365 days.

These days there are many online insurance companies on the market whose core business is the provision of car rental excess insurance. Insurance4carhire invented the products and more followed them (Questor, Icarhireinsurance, Mondial) offering more options for the clients. These product can cover you not only for the total amount of excess for which you are liable if the rental car is damaged or stolen, but also for damage to the roof and undercarriage of the car, windows and tyres, loss of keys, misfueling and even your bags in the car.

The policy can be used with any car hire company and any car. It covers the policy holder and all additional drivers named in the rental agreement, offers full protection against the excess charges (up to €3000).

Good: it offers you convenience, peace of mind and significant savings with the daily prices starting from €2.99 a day.
Bad: In case of an accident you deal with a third party (insurance company) not with the company directly. The car rental company will charge your credit card by the amount of excess which will be paid back by the online insurance company. Which usually takes 7-14days.

Fourth Option: Credit card rental car CDW cover (citizen of the USA)

Certain credit cards (ie. Mastercard Platinum) may cover car loss and damage in Ireland while others may not. Please confirm with your credit card company directly and also with the car hire company before picking up your rental car at Dublin Airport. It is also advisable to confirm it for security when you arrive to collect your rental car because some rental company will ask for a confirmation letter from your credit card company. Please note: If you decline CDW and using a credit card coverage you may ask to leave a security deposit which is between €2000 to €15000 depending on the company.

Good: Save a lot. You don’t have to purchase additonal rental car insurance because your credit card covers you.
Bad: it may not cover every damage, very high deposit, administration fee, and currency conversion fee.

Consider these options before you book a car in Dublin , at Dublin Airport or anywhere in Ireland.

For further information on car rental insurances in Dublin, please visit: excessinsuranceforcarhire.com/reviews

Jul 02

Book your car for the 2012 London Olympics

London 2012 Olympic Games Countdown

You have still time  to book your rental car for the 2012 London Olympics which will start 27 July 2012. To avoid disappointment is advisable to book it in advance because you can save money on it. Statistics show that car hire bookings for pick up will increase around the start of the 2012 Olympics. It also shows that around four times more customer will need a rental car to get around at that time.

Most of the customers will pick up their rental car at Gatwick and Heathrow aiports and they will drive to London to see the opening ceremony – 27 July  – and the events follow. They usually hire a car for 10-12 days in average.

Many visitors will have a summer holiday in the UK because of the Olympic Games that’s why car hire will be in big demand in this summer between 27 July – 12 August. London’s public transport system will be very busy during the Olympics and  it’s also quite expensive when a family travels together.

When you rent a car you journey will be more flexible and it also works out cheaper. When you book your car in time you’ll have access to wider choice of rental cars and essential extras like child seats or sat navs. Excess insurance for car hire reviews >>

More information on London Olympic Games: http://www.london2012.com/homepage-feature/

 

Jun 25

Road trip in California – cost cutting advice

california one

Fred Mawer is a great travel writer and he has collected some useful cost cutting tips when you’re on a road trip in California. It’s really interesting and you can save some serious money with it. Let’s check it out:

Spending your holiday in Europe can actually be costlier than in the US this summer. When you compare accommodation, car hire prices you can see significant difference between the two places. Just an example:

You rent a 3 bedroom villa with a pool in Orlando for £600 while in Mallorca you spend 3 times more for a similar villa with a pool in the school summer holidays – in August.

The same with car hire prices: you can rent a family-sized car for £300 in California in August (14 day-rental) while you pay appr. £420 in the South of France for 2 weeks. Petrol prices are also a lot cheaper in the US than in Europe. (1 liter of petrol costs 65p.)

Eating out in the US is also less expensive than in most of Europe. You can get excellent meals for £25-£30 for a 3 course meal. When you travel to Paris or to Rome you’ll definitely pay more, especially in the high season.

When you travel to California i.e. to Orlando and you want to visit several theme parks then buy multi-park, multi entrance tickets because they’ll work out cheaper but don’t overbuy them because you have limited time to use them.

Car hire excess insurance reviews >>

Fred Mawer’s advice on shopping in the US:

Though local sales taxes are not displayed on prices, you can still make significant savings by shopping in the US, particularly at the many factory-outlet malls. Premium Outlets (see 58 US locations on premiumoutlets.com) are recommended.

You can read more great tips from him here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/budgettravel/9160529/US-holidays-cost-cutting-advice.html 

 

 

 

Jun 18

5 car hire tips that will help you to spend less

How to spend less when it comes to car hire. Here are 5 tips that will definitely help you to save some money when you rent a car next time:

  1. Fuel can be very pricey because car hire companies can charge you a lot of money. The best option is to pick up your rental car full and return it full too. It may be a bit of hassle because you have to stop and refuel it before you return your rental car but you you don’t have to pay extra price for the fuel.
  2. Upgrade is a great thing and you may be offered at the car rental desk but think about that you have to pay extra for the fuel because you’re renting a bigger car.
  3. Aiport pickup can be costly so you can decide to pick up your rental car in the city or get a vehicle from a neighborhood car hire company. According to a survey airport pickups can cost you 11.5% more than “normal” pickups.
  4. Child seat can also cost you money so bring your own and you will save money on it.
  5. Several car hire companies have savings clubs which means that you can become a member and get reward point like airline miles. Although you have to pay a fee to become a savings clubs member. Excess insurance for car hire

 

Jun 15

Safety concerns with child seats in rental cars

If you’re traveling with your young child and don’t want to carry along a car seat most car rental agencies offer car seats for rent with their rental car. While car seat rentals sometimes tend to be inexpensive it could be a good idea to bring your own  because your baby should sit in it on the plane. Also, you can be sure it’s the right car seat to fit your child, rather than a generic model offered by the rental car company.

Keep in mind, though, that seat rentals may not be worth the expense and make sure they meet the safety standards.

Survey revealed car rental customers has concern over the standard of child seats provided with their rental.

Consumers are worried that the child seats in hire cars are ‘dirty and tatty’ and not safe for their children.

The survey, conducted by YouGov on behalf of iCarhireinsurance.com, a leading provider of stand-alone excess insurance, reveals that over one in 10 consumers (12%) who have hired a child seat with their rental car (either in the UK or abroad) were concerned for the safety of the child in the car seat, with over a sixth (16%) of consumers said the child seat was ‘dirty and tatty’.

Child safety seat.Over a quarter (26%) of travellers were also surprised that no help was given by staff from the rental car  company to fit the child seat.

A shocking 37% of travellers were given no written instructions on how to fit the child seat in the car and 11% spent at least half an hour fitting the seat.

“We’re stunned that customers are being provided with child seats that they consider substandard,” said Ernesto Suarez, founder and Chief Executive of iCarhireinsurance.com. “What’s even more concerning is that almost 40% of seats, irrespective of their condition, are being supplied with no fitting instructions; after all the best child seat in the world is still dangerous if it’s not properly fitted.

“When you’re spending around GBP 60 to rent a child seat – as much as it would cost new – as a minimum it should be clean, in good condition and provided with clear fitting instructions. Parents are absolutely entitled to expect that their most precious and vulnerable passengers are comfortable, safe and secure.”

Almost 1 in 10 (8%) of the consumers polled had hired a hire car with a child seat, which means that millions of car seats are being supplied every year by car hire companies.

iCarhireinsurance.com takes the hassle out of hire car insurance by offering stand alone policies accepted at all car and van rental locations worldwide that are fully comprehensive and significantly better value than those offered at the rental desks. An iCarhireinsurance.com excess insurance policy starts from GBP 2.99 a day (compared with the average GBP 17(i)(see Table 1)charged by the rental desks) or from GBP 39.99 for an annual policy. It also includes cover for vulnerable parts of the vehicle such as tyres and windows which are frequently excluded by the rental companies’ policies…..

Everyone thinks the installation of a child seat is easy. It could be difficult even with a written guide so how difficult could be without one?
source:http://www.marketwatch.com/story/survey-reveals-safety-concerns-with-child-seats-in-hire-cars-2012-05-29

Jun 11

Greece road trip vacation

Temple of Aphaea

Travel Channel is one of my favourite channels in the world and I was really happy when I came across this great article on Ancient Greece Road Trip vacation. It’s really fascinating and you can plan a great Greek road trip in ahead.

This road trip is a living history, you’ll visit places that you always dreamed of. Beautiful theaters, stadiums, temples and sanctuarias – this is Greece.

There are a couple of tips where you can have stops is Greece:

  • Delphi: Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi, it’s located on the Mt. Parnassus. Once it was considered the center of the world, today it’s still a very impressive place to visit. Don’t miss the Sanctuary of Apollo or the Delphi Museum where you can see stunning artifacts from the sanctuaries of Apollo and Athena. Treasury of the Athenians is also a must-see. More information about Delphi – Greece
  • Nafplio: this seaside town is situated 90 miles southwest of the Greek capital, Athens. Once it was the capital of Greece, it’s a beautiful place to visit. There are many Venetian houses and seaside mansions and it’s also the perfect location for a romantic wedding. The famous and best preserved ancient theatre – Epidaurus – is only 24 miles away (dating to the 4th century B.C.). Once you’re there you have to visit the healing temple called Asclepieion. More information on Nafplio
  • Corinth: beautiful classic ancient ruins everywhere: Temple of Apollo, Temple of Octavia, Peirene Fountain – the list is endless. It always has had strategic position on the Isthmus of Corinth what also divides the Peloponnese from northern Greece.
  • Olympia: this Greek city hosted the first Olympic Games. Unfortunately the ruins of the sport facilities are showing their age – due to earthquakes and other damages –  but they are still worth to visit. Remember: the archeological site is pretty huge so be prepared for a long day walking, don’t forget your comfy shoes at home.
  • Aegina: if you want to visit this unique place you have to ride a ferry because the island of Aegina in Saronikos Bay has the famous Temple of Aphaea which is probably the most well-preserved ancient temple in Greece. The view from here is unforgettable and you can also see 24 of the temple’s original 32 columns.
  • Athens: it’s hard to decide where to start your sightseeing in Athens. The whole city is basically a huge archeological site including  the Parthenon, Acropolis, Erechtheion, the Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Olympieion, Kerameikos and Panathenaic Stadium, also called the Kallimarmaro Stadium.

You Greek road trip is going to be a living history lesson. It’s inspiring, it’s beautiful and it’s experience of a lifetime!

Car hire excess insurance reviews >>

Source: http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/road-trips/articles/ancient-greece-road-trip

 

Jun 09

Sign up for Alamo Insiders Club – Join FREE now!

Alamo Insiders Club

Alamo Rent a Car the third largest car hire company in the US offer a free membership for their clients. The summer vacation is around the corner and Alamo’s special deals can help for families to save more money on car rental when they join Alamo Insiders.
Alamo insiders offer special member-only deals and discount for it’s members. Including weekly 10% off rates and free single or double upgrade for a higher car class. Find out more >>

Alamo Insiders Benefits

If you join for free you will get:
–  Weekly members-only deals

–  Upgrade deals, members only double upgrade

– Exclusive member only offers such as 10% OFF

– Free additional driver for members only

 

More information about Alamo Rent a Car.

Jun 04

Driving tips in Italy

Driving in Italy is not as easy as you think but there are always trips and tricks that you can follow and you’ll have a more enjoyable road trip in this beautiful country.

  • Italians drive fast: yes, that’s true but don’t let them intimidate you. Stick to your own speed and never drive faster than you feel comfortable.
  • Get a good map: I know that GPS is very popular but a good map is very important when you are on a road trip in Italy. Michelin maps are the best so buy one and plan your trip with ViaMichelin in advance.
  • About directions: it’s not easy to find them in Italy. When you drive, you drive in the direction of the largest cities.  Many signs post the larger cities that the road is traveling toward and don’t post the smaller ones until you’re almost there. So it’s a bit tricky. Follow your map and always check the larger cities. There’re signs at the round about too. Good to know: towns and cities are marked with blue sign, B&B’s and agriturismos are inwhite, historical sites are marked with brown signs, autostradas and major freeways have a green sign.
  • Roads and tolls: when you drive on the autostradas you have to stay to the right. The autostradas are marked by green and an A. You have to pay a toll when you use them. You have to stop at a booth, push the red button and grab a ticket. When you exit the autostrada you have to find the queue called “Biglietto”. Most of the time you can pay by credit card, cash. Look out for the Telepass sign and don’t use it because these lanes are for commuters who have prepaid cards.
  • Parking: Just as in any other countries there are pay machines in Italy. You’ll need change to use it and you’ll get voucher for the amount of time you’ll be there.
  • Getting fuel: remember to fill up your tank before major holidays because they usually close earlier as usual on these days.

Get your rental car covered when you’re on holiday – check our car hire excess review site >>

Source: http://onceinalifetimetravel.me/2012/02/16/driving-tips-for-your-italy-trip/