May 28

Spain by car

Cortijo de las Piletas, Ronda, Málaga, Andalucía (España)
We went to Spain a couple of time and I really love it. The best way to discover the country is by car. You can pick up your rental car in bigger or even smaller cities.

Here are a couple of road trips idea that can be useful in Spain:

  1. Andalucia: it’s a great place to visit. You can visit either in the summer or in spring. I’d recommend spring because it’s not as hot as in the high season so the weather is much more enjoyable plus there’re less tourists on the road.  Once you’re in Andalucia don’t forget to visit Cordoba, Sevilla and Granada. If you have more time to spend then head to Tarifa, Marbella or Ronda.
  2. Cantabria: this region is a beautiful place to visit. There are charming small villages (pueblos), rolling green hillsides and great food along the way. Once you’re in Cantabria you can book your accommodation in Santander and you can drive from there to visit the following charming little villages like San Vicente de la Barquera, Comillas and Santillana del Mar. If you have more time then you can also visit Bárcena Mayor where the countryside is truly stunning.
  3. La Rioja: wine lovers – this place is for you. The wine is amazing, the food is amazing and of course there’s culture behind it. You can stop in Elciego, Ezcaray, Laguardia, Haro or in Logroño.
  4. Costa Brava: it’s located in the North of Spain. Make sure to visit Pals – the famous medieval city which also famous for its great chocolate – and Girona as well.
  5. Galicia: you can discover Spain’s uniqueness in Galicia. It’s a bit far away from everything but you can always fly there directly. The countryside is beautiful and the seafood is fresh and tasty. Santiago de Compostela is also located here.

So these are my 5 tips which you can follow when you’re on a road trip in this beautiful country. Car hire excess insurance review for your trip in Spain >>

 

 

 

 

May 21

Road Trip in France

Cassis

When you think about road trips you may only consider the open roads of the US. Well, there is good news for you. There are some great road trip ideas in France. You can visit South of France or you can even visit Napoleon’s route.
You can pick up your rental car in Paris or in Nice, it’s up to you. Michelin France road map (map 721) will be a great help for you along the way. I’d advise to gett off those highways and explore the French countryside, it’s really worth it!

South of France Road Trip – just follow the coast

Start your journey in Montpellier and finish it in Nice: there are 2 different routes you can follow

  • You can either take the route through Provence or
  • Follow the coast line along the whole way along:

There are beautiful places what you can visit – here are a couple of examples:

– Aigues-Mortes: It is a spectacular walled village on the sea and it’s also the perfect lunch spot.
– When you take the road from Montpellier to Arleswhich  goes through the Camargues you can visit some wonderful vineyards. The road you have to follow goes through the Camargues wetlands (it’s protected) which is famousfor its wild white horses.
– Visit Aix-en-Provence for a day or stick you can spend a great at the beach before arriving in Marseille.
– Cassis: it’s located east for Marseilles. It’s famous for its liqueur which is also called Cassis. It’s also a beautiful small town.
– The road Marseille to Nice is really spectacular itself  – you can visit small seaside villages or glamorous St.-Tropez and Cannes.

From Nice you can visit Monte Carlo (don’t forget about the  grand casino), Antibes (it’s the hippest place in France), and Grasse (great perfumes).

Car Hire Excess Insurance Reviews >>

 

 

May 14

How to plan a road trip

Road Trip

There are many families who are already planning their summer vacation. Why not go on a road trip? It doesn’t matter where you’re going as long as you and your family or friends are prepared.

Let’s see a couple of tips and ideas how to make a road trip even more enjoyable:

  • Decide where to go: It’s always important to decide where to go so there won’t be any confusion. There are some great sites that can give you some hints. Check out Road Trip America, Fodors, LonelyPlanet or Frommers. You can try different cities, different countries – it’s up to you.
  • Always prepare your car for the road trip: You can go by your own car or by rental car but always check the car whether it’s prepared for a longer road trip. Check the fluids in your car: motor fluid, windshield wiper fluid, transmission and engine coolant as well. Make also sure that the tires are properly inflated. Always prepare for emergencies. All rental cars have an emergency kit or if you drive your own car make sure you also have one.
  •  Plan your stops ahead: Plan the whole trip and your stops in advance. You should have maps and/or GPS. If you travel with your kids they can help you to read the maps and in this way you can teach them too. You have to eat something during your trip and you can find great spots to grab a bite along the road. There’s a site called RoadFood that can help you to find some great restaurants, don’t get stuck only with fast food chains.
  • How to keep your fuel costs down: Try to be consistent with your driving speed when you’re on the highway. Cruise control can help you to reduce your fuel costs. Try to keep your car light, you don’t have to take the whole house with you. If you take a very heavy load you costs will add up. Your smartphone can help you too because there are different apps where you can find the best fuel prices locally – like  GasBuddy or AAA TripTik Mobile (in the US).


I’m pretty sure that these tips will save you some money and you can plan a road trip on a budget.

Car Hire Excess Insurance Reviews >>

May 07

European spring break destinations by car

London Eye.
You can discover Europe during spring by car. The roads aren’t as crowded as during summer, the weather is not as hot and there aren’t as many tourists as in the high season.  There are beautiful destinations in Europe. Let’s see the top 5:

  1. Paris: the French capital, the most romantic city in the whole world. It’s an ideal spring break destination by car. You can discover the Eiffel tower, the great museums of Paris, the famous historical sights. Well, the list is endless. There are also many amazing destinations to discover in France. If you travel by car you can discover anything and everything you want.
  2. Venice: Venice can be pretty crowded place during summer months but springtime is a great time of the year to visit this stunning city. You can ride down the canals in a romantic gondola, you can try tasty and authentic Italian food. There are also other places to visit in Italy like Rome, the Italian capital, Pisa where you can see the leaning tower, Milan which is the fashion capital of the world.
  3. Barcelona: This great catalan city is full of beautiful sights. One day probably won’t be enough to discover Barcelona. Try authentic Spanish food or walk along the La Rambla where you can see loads of friendly vendors and street entertainers.
  4. London: London is perfect for a short or even for a long spring break. There are many famous museums, beautiful parks, great markets and shops. There are also many places in the UK that you can discover by car. You can drive to Scotland or to Wales and enjoy the long, sandy beaches.
  5. Berlin: Berlin is one of the world’s great cities. The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall – there are so many historical places in this city that you need at least a couple of days to discover. Enjoy Germany during springtime, you can travel to the sea or to the mountains. It’s really worth a trip.

Check out these beautiful European cities and you’ll definitely enjoy a holiday there. If you travel by car you have the freedom to drive wherever you want. Car hire excess insurance reviews– check them out now >>

May 03

Car hire with full full fuel policy in Spain

Last week we took a look at the hidden fuel policy charges in Spain investigated by Which? Travel Magazine. As we know fuel policies can vary from rental company to rental company. I did a research to see which policy used by the biggest rental companies in Spain in 2012:

– Avis  full-full ;
– Alamo full-full ;
– Budget full-full ; full-empty for 4 days or more
– Centauro full-full ; full-empty for 4 days or more
– Europcar full-full ;
– Goldcar full-empty ;
– Helle Hollis full-empty ;
– Interrent full-full ; full-empty for 4 days or more
– Marbesol full-full ; full-empty for 4 days or more
– Nizacars full-full ; full-empty for 4 days or more
– Sixt full-full;
– Record Rent a car full-full ; full-empty for 4 days or more
– Solmar full-full;
– Hertz full-full ;

Please consider these full full and full empty policies when you book a car for your holiday or business in Spain. To use a full tank of fuel you have to drive 500km or more.

Holiday car hire deals may look cheap when you book them, but Which? members have been telling us that there are some nasty hidden charges to look out for when you collect your car for some driving in the sun. The most complaints came about car hire companies in Spain that charge for a full tank of petrol when you collect the car, potentially leaving you out of pocket if you don’t drive far enough to use it all.

So we sent a researcher to uncover exactly what was going on.

We’ve received lots of complaints from readers about the cost of fuel at Malaga. So I am here, Kathryn Liston, here in Malaga, to investigate and find out just how much people are being charged. I’ve just picked up this car from Advantage at Malaga and been charged 58 euros, actually 59 euros for a full tank of petrol.

That’s twice as much as I’ve paid for the rental of the car. And I’m only here for 4 days so I’ll never make it.

What really amazes me over here is that you always have to ask what they have taken off the credit card? You’re never given a slip to sign that says 100 euros or 60 euros, it’s really, really confusing.

Day two at Malaga Airport. We’re back here to pick up a car. This time we hired Goldcar, and let’s see what their policy is. Just paid just over 54 euros for a tank full of petrol, which is showing full, and I have to use it in four days. In a little car like this, that might be impossible. We’re driving through Torremolinos, one of the busy roads going down from Malaga.

Most people would be going down through Torremolinos down Marbella, Puerto Banus, Fuengirola. So, it’s not that far really, so you’re not going to use too much petrol. So, how are we  going to use full this tank in four days, I have no idea. What makes me laugh about all these car hire companies is not one of them has explained clearly to me what I’m paying when I’m handing my credit card over for.  No, it’s only when I’ve questioned them, what am I paying for, that they mention the fuel.

Just driven 150 kilometres, which is about about two and a half hours of driving today and I’ve used about an eighth of of a tank of petrol. It’s going to go some to use the rest of it. we’re off to Mijas today just to see how much petrol we use today. I reckon yesterday in the small little Fiat we did about a hundred and nineteen kilometres in about twohours.

So, I reckon you’d have to do nearly 200 kilometres a day in that little car just to use a tank. If you’re only here for four days. So, that’s not possible unless you’re going to spend most of your holiday or your trip driving around. I don’t see how you would ever use this full tank of petrol. We’ve been doing what any normal tourist would have been doing.

One long trip down to Marbella in to Torremolinos, out to Malaga. Now we’re just having a day out. And still the petrol gauge is not even down, so we haven’t even used a quarter of a tank of petrol.  It’s absolutely ridiculous. Right, just back from Granada, 300 kilometres, 3 hours driving, and we’re nearly on half a tank of petrol.

So you really do have to do some motoring to get rid of the petrol. Right, here we are again at Malaga just dropped off the car, used about a quarter a tank of petrol. Asked for a refund. They said no refund. They were quite adamant about that.

Our researcher has shown that these unavoidable fuel charges can triple the price of a rental, turning what looked like a good deal into a very expensive one. Consumers should not be put in to the position where booking a car rental commits them to paying an unavoidable charge with no refunds.

All charges should be made up front at the time the booking is made so consumers can make the right choice and compare prices easily.

source: http://www.which.co.uk/news/2012/04/hidden-car-hire-fuel-charges-exposed-282689/
Consumer Champions Which? 
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial 

May 02

Hertz Business Rewards Program

The world’s leading car hire company Hertz introduced a new reward program targeting small and medium sized businesses. Hertz reward program can help them to save 20% from the rental price, earn credits and free rental days. Employees will get a complementary Hertz Gold Plus membership and they can take advantage everything what this service offers. Please read below to see what can this program offer for you:

Hertz Business rentals UK

Introducing the Hertz Business reward program

The Hertz Corporation has introduced Hertz Business Rewards, an easy and flexible scheme that offers as much as 20% off discounts on car hire rates to small- and mid-sized firms and their staff. Businesses and employees will also be able to earn credits for free rentals. Joining the programme can be done for free and easily online, and companies that join on Hertz’s website will get bonus rental credits to put toward their first free rental day.

The 20% off discount given to businesses is applied when the companies rent vehicles at Hertz’ participating airport and off-airport offices. During the year, businesses will be able to take advantage of member-only promotions and special offers. Members are awarded one credit for every rental day, and companies are given five credits just for enrolling, while an additional five credits is awarded when they enroll online. On top of this, however, companies will be given a bonus of double credits for each rental over the first first 90 days of their membership. After reaching 15 credits, they will receive a certificate for a free rental day.

As for employees, they will be given a complimentary membership in Gold Plus Rewards, which is the expedited rental scheme offered by Hertz. It allows members to bypass the counter and paperwork when they pick-up and drop-off vehicles. The membership also allows them to experience the benefits of eReceipts, Carfirmations and Gold Choice. Rewards points for this programme are given for every qualifying dollar spent on hiring a car from Hertz. This allows them to earn their own free rental days. However, points can also be exchanged for hotel points and airline miles. In addition to this, the employees can use their company’s discount to get great rates from Hertz.

Hertz chairman and chief executive Mark P. Frissora says that travel is essential for businesses, and it’s just as important for small- and mid-sized companies to look into affordable options for their travel needs. Hertz Business Rewards is aimed at small- and mid-sized firms and is the simplest way for companies and their staff to earn free rental days. This is a win-win deal for both sides. Travellers will get the same great service at airports and neighbourhoods with one of the biggest networks of locations, he added.

Hertz is the biggest airport general use car hire brand in the world, operating from about 8,500 licensee and corporate locations in around 150 countries – including those in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The group’s product and service initiatives – like Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Hertz Gold Choice, unique cars and SUVs through its Green Traveler and Adrenaline Prestige Collections, NeverLost customised navigation systems, and Sirius XM Satellite Radio – set it apart from rivals.

The group also boasts its Hertz On Demand service, a car sharing unit that allows consumers to rent cars by the hour or day across the US, Canada and Europe. Additionally, Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation offers a diverse line of equipment for hire in about 315 locations around the world.

 source:http://news.carrentals.co.uk/hertz-introduces-business-rewards-34256685.html


Hertz Business rentals UK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apr 30

Hertz family collection available in UK and Europe

Kids Travel free with Hertz Family Collection! Every rental includes a free baby or booster seat with your car to celebrate the launch of the new service across 7 European country. Focusing family car rentals Hertz introduced Family Collection service in Europe which makes family holiday more fun with cars such as Vauxhall Meriva, Ford S-Max, Mercedes B Class and Ford Galaxy.
One of the biggest advantage of  the family collection is the customers can pick the exact car model what they would like to drive because the booking will not only just guarantee the car category but also guarantee the make and model too.

Enjoy Hertz Family Collection:
• Hertz’s Make and Model Guarantee – if you book a Ford S-Max the car will be a Ford S-Max not similar
• Only family friendly cars with Flexible seating, large storage space, 5-Star Euro NCAP safety rating featured in the collection
• Free Additional Driver –  One free secondary driver is added to every Hertz Family Collection car hire booking. You can share the driving with your partner

If you rent from Hertz Family Collection it is still a good idea to reduce the insurance excess with one of the best excess reimbursement  insurance product from insurance4carhire. You can find out more about this insurance here.

 Hertz Family Collection Goes to Europe

Hertz, the leading general use car hire brand in the world, has launched a Family Collection in seven countries throughout Europe. The collection is specially-tailored to focus on 5-star safety, comfort, guaranteed availability and offers a free additional driver to the rental. The vehicles will be spacious, comfortable and ideal for family and friends to travel in.

Parents who hire a vehicle from the Family Collection will be able to share the burden of driving since an additional driver can be included in the rental for free. However, they will need to use the discount code 748082 when they make their booking. Additionally, Hertz will include a free child seat in bookings that are made until the end of this month. The vehicles will include the car hire company’s unique Make and Model Guarantee as well, which means the car booked will be the car customers get when they pick up their vehicle. All of the vehicles will come with a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating too.

The Hertz Family Collection will feature the multipurpose Opel Meriva and Vauxhall Meriva through a long-time partnership with the vehicle maker and its sister company Vauxhall. The Meriva has a comfortable and spacious design that is ideal for families. It offers a practical and innovative FlexDoors system so that entry is easier, along with versatile milti-level storage and adjustable seating.

Opel Europe director of marketing operations Luca Patrignani says that the Meriva is the best car for the Family Collection at Hertz. With its comfortable, functional and flexible design, the vehicle perfectly adapts to every family’s needs. It features clever innovations and leading-class technology that help take the hassel out of journeys and make travelling more pleasant and easier.

Aside from the Meriva, customers will be able to pick a vehicle from a range of cars deemed family-friendly, including the Ford Galaxy, Mercedes B Class and Renault Scenic. However, the selection of cars available will depend on the country in which the customer is renting. Here is a list of which Family Collection vehicles will be available in which country so far:

  • United Kingdom – Vauxhall Meriva, Ford S-Max and Ford Galaxy
  • Netherlands – Renault Grand Scenic
  • Belgium – Opel Meriva
  • Germany – Opel Meriva
  • Spain – Opel Meriva and Ford S-Max
  • France – Opel Meriva and Mercedes B Class
  • Italy – Opel Meriva, Ford Galaxy and Peugeot 3008

Hertz International president and Hertz Corporation executive vice president Michel Taride says that they understand at the company that consumers need a range of mobility solutions to meet their needs. With a focus on guaranteed availability, comfort and safety, the Hertz Family Collection is the best example of the group meeting these needs. They are excited to launch a solution dedicated to families to make travelling more enjoyable and easier so they can focus on their holidays. The collection will offer everything families could need to make their journeys as stress-free and seamless as possible, he added.

Source: http://news.carrentals.co.uk/hertz-family-collection-goes-to-europe-34256657.html

Apr 26

Hidden fuel charges in Spain – Full Empty policy

One of the most common fuel policy in Spain know as “full/empty policy” which means the renter must pay upfront for a full tank of fuel at the beginning of the rental and return the car with an “empty tank”. Even if they used only a half tank there is no refund for it. Because this charge is mandatory clients must show this fee before they book the car. Unfortunately the exact fuel charge only shows up on the credit slip.

Sometimes if you drive a lot it seems like a “no hassle” service, no refueling at the end, quicker drop off etc. Needless to say the rental companies won’t sell the fuel for the same price as you could buy at the petrol station. Ohh no they don’t do that.. there is an extra mark-up per liter between 5-100%. ie. Our own investigation found out Interrent at Tenerife Airport charged €86 for 35litre of petrol while 1 liter petrol cost under €1 in Tenerife.

Because of the customer complains received by Which? about the car hire fuel rip off policies in Spain they investigated this further. Please watch the video below:

 

Apr 23

May bank holiday travel tips

Early May Bank Holiday is at out doorstep (7 May) so it’s better to be prepared for it. Everybody wants to travel away and have fun but that will also mean that the roads in the UK will be quite busy.

Here are a couple of advice from AA how to travel and drive safely on May bank holiday too:

  • It’s better to plan your route in advance and allow plenty of time for your journey.
  • Don’t forget to check the weather and the traffic report before your trip, you can always call AA Roadwatch on 84322
  • Try to travel when the roads are a bit quieter.
  • Don’t drive when you feel overtired. You better stop and drink one or two cups of coffee or have a short nap about 15-20 minutes.
  • You can become an AA member which also means that you can  get 20% off food and drink at Moto service areas, you just have to show your membership card.
  • Always check the following before your start your trip:
    – oil
    – coolant
    – windscreen wash levels
    – cooling fan operation
    – lights
    – tyre pressure
    – tread depth
    – the spare
    – caravan or trailer when you have one.
  • Always pack your car safely don’t overload it.
  • When you travel with your family prepare refreshments and plan car games for the kids.

Car hire excess insurance reviews >>

Source: http://www.theaa.com/

 

Apr 16

Car hire upgrade – do you really need it?

I came across an interesting article online. Customer rented a car at San Diego Airport in the US. He travels a lot and has rented many cars but this situation was really shocking at this time. Why? Let me share his story:

He picked up his rental car at the aiport and the car hire agent at the rental desk advised him to upgrade his rental car for a bigger one. It was a Thanksgiving weekend upgrade. The customer said no to this offer because he didn’t want to end up paying more and he didn’t need a bigger vehicle. The car hire agent was quite shocked when he refused this offer but accepted it. He got a Nissan Versa which was completely fine for him.

The story hasn’t ended here, has it? He returned the rental car and finally got his credit card statement and was quite shocked. The unwanted upgrade fee £26 has been added to the car hire price. He immediately contacted the car hire firm’s customer service which seemed to be very helpful and they sent him the copy of the original contract. It showed that the customer accepted the upgrade because his initials was beside the upgrade box on the car hire contract.

It’s a very interesting story and what did the car hire firm’s spokeswoman say:

Our advice is always to carefully read through all the terms and conditions of the contractual agreement before signing.

 What did the customer actually think about this weird scenario:

Imagine the following sequence of events: agent asks customer if they want an upgrade or extra insurance; customer declines; agent keys in the code for an upgrade anyway then prints out contract for customer to sign, circling places to initial; customer, in the mistaken belief that they have declined everything, initials without reading the details. Such a scenario promises the prospect of extra commission with no downside: even if customer spots the unwanted upgrade, the agent can explain it away as a mistake and correct it.

What’s the advice: Study every line of the car hire contract, it’s worth it.

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/travel/travel-tips/fine-print-of-hire-upgrades-1.1275315