Now that Christmas is over and you’re back to work after the New Year, you’re probably sitting there dreaming of your next holiday, or if you couldn’t wait, you’ve actually already booked the flights! If you have, then great, you’re one step closer to sunbathing on the beach, roaming the city or soaking in the culture of the destination you’ve chosen. Sorting out your travel arrangements isn’t the most thrilling activity, nor is it something you’ll likely do until you’re just days away from packing your things, but it’s one of those to-do’s that must be factored in to the overall cost of your trip. How will you get to/home from the airport? To the hotel? How will you explore whilst you’re there? Often it’s best to go ahead and hire a car before you forget!
Time
If you’ve chosen one of our Top 5 Driveable European Destinations, then driving your own vehicle or choosing to hire a car may be a good option for you as it gives you the opportunity to spend uninterrupted time with your travel companions, play car games and see sights you’d miss if travelling by plane. However, driving cross-continents may be the most time consuming part of your holiday and can sometimes work out more expensive, especially when taking the EuroTunnel or Ferry. It would therefore be much simpler and quicker to drive one-way to your local airport, fly to your destination and pick up another hire car for your onward journey. Meaning you spend less time travelling and more time enjoying your holiday.
Money
While it is an option to use your own car for travelling to the airport or driving cross-channel, the costs of doing so can often add up to make it more expensive than to hire a car. When you consider the additional fuel costs of driving there and home again, not to mention the increased insurance excess on your current policy to cover you for driving abroad and costs associated with crossing the channel, it’s not such a viable option any longer. Booking a hire car will save you time and money paying for airport parking and shuttles/taxis to the terminal as you can easily park up at the car rental location and take their dedicated shuttle right to the airport, all you have to do is drop off the keys!
Top Tip: Pre-paying for your hire car can also save you money, as will booking direct with the car hire company!
Freedom
When you’re on holiday, the last thing you need to be worrying about is how you’ll get around whilst you’re there. Picking up a pre-booked hire car when you land at your destination is simple. Just hand over your driving licence and bank card and you’ll be on the road in no time. Getting lost is half the fun, but if you need help with navigation there’s always the option to add a sat-nav to your booking to programme in your accommodation, points of interest, supermarkets and theme parks, so you’re free to enjoy your holiday instead of getting taxis everywhere or relying on local bus services in an unfamiliar area. You’ve got complete freedom of travel when you hire a car; taking it cross-border isn’t an issue either, though there may be additional fees and documents required.
Comfort
When hiring a car, you can use the opportunity to treat yourself to a car that offers a little more comfort and luxury than you have at home or you usually get from local taxis so that you can enjoy your holiday to the fullest, in style and comfort! With a range of sizes and types of cars to choose from, the variety gives you peace of mind that you’ll be comfortable whilst exploring on holiday, not stuffed into the back of a taxi or up-close and personal with locals on the bus. Mini and Compact cars are perfect for nipping through narrow city streets whilst a larger family sized vehicle are perfect for long drives where comfort and a little extra legroom are essential. Trade up for a luxury hire car with additional features that will make your holiday unforgettable – who says holiday hire cars should be ordinary?
Space
There’s nothing worse than having to lug around your suitcases across towns and cities so you can explore a little before checking into your accommodation. You can’t leave them at the airport and your hotel is too far from the city centre to drop them off by taxi so you’re left juggling bags, children and your tourist guide and map all day. When you hire a car all those worries are taken care of – you’ll have plenty of space for all the family and extra room in the boot for all your bags, so you’ve got the freedom to drop them off at your accommodation or keep them in the car whilst you go out and explore.
Once you’ve decided to hire a car, the only thing left to do is enjoy your holiday!
