Tag-Archive for ◊ Before ◊

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Renting a Car
Author:
• Sunday, February 19th, 2012

How many passengers will you have in the car? This is important to ask because there’s nothing worse than arriving after an international flight with family in tow, and not being able to pick up your rental car. If you book a 5 seat wagon, and have six passengers, most car rental companies will not let you leave the lot. One seatbelt per person is the rule in all of Europe.  Another reason this is an important question is that if you have 7 passengers, and you have booked a 7 seat van, you most likely won’t be able to fit everyone’s luggage comfortably, so you will either want to book two smaller vehicles, or one larger 9 passenger van.

How much time will you be spending in the rental car? A small car may hold you and your luggage, but be very uncomfortable in the back seat for additional passengers. If you only plan to go to and from the beach a couple of times, you can probably bet that you will be okay.

If you are going to be driving far distances like from Nice to Paris, you will probably want something with a little more room.

Do you need 4 doors? This is related to the above question. If it’s just two passengers, might as well get a 2 door. If it’s three adults, you may want to reconsider.

How much luggage do you really need? Most times, there is luggage you can afford to not bring. Consider looking into laundry stations, they are just as fast and affordable as they are in the United States!  The more luggage you have, the more you have to carry, and the worse your gas mileage will be, so lighten up if you can!

Do you need anything extra with the vehicle? If so, it’s best to book it in advance. Items that fall under this category are ski racks, child seats, GPS and snow tires/chains.

There are usually fees associated with these, so make sure to do your research so you’re not overwhelmed with additional charges. 

By asking these simple questions, you may save yourself some time and money on your next vacation to Europe!

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International Travel Tips – Before Traveling
Author:
• Friday, January 27th, 2012

Look into the site’s history, culture, natural environment, customs, legends, advisory notices and more. UNESCO’s World Heritage Center or Wiki Travel is a great starting point.

 

Buy your vacation package from a business you have confidence in. Ask family and friends to recommend a company with a good track record. Think twice if you can’t get a person on the phone to answer your questions or if the ad doesn’t give the company’s street address. Contact the state Attorney General, consumer protection agency and Better Business Bureau where you live and where the company is based to see if there is a history of complaints on file.

 

Learn a few words in the local language. Making an effort to speak the local language allows you to interact with the people who know the site best. People appreciate your efforts and your interest in learning.

Simple words like “Hello,” “Please” and “Thank you” can go a long way.

 

 

While Traveling Engage in local culture. The saying, “While in Rome do as the Romans” still applies today. Your trip provides a unique opportunity to explore a new culture and to see the world through a different perspective. Remember that eating local foods, shopping in local markets, and attending local festivals are all part of experiencing the culture. Hire local guides. Enrich your experience by choosing local guides who are knowledgeable about the destination. Ask local tour operators and hotels for good recommendations.

 

 

Get the details of your vacation in writing. Get a copy of the company’s cancellation and refund policies, and ask “What if…?” Consider whether some form of travel cancellation insurance may be appropriate.

Use a credit card to make your purchase. If you don’t get what you paid for, you may be able to dispute the charges with your credit card company. However, don’t give your account number to any business until you’ve verified that it is reputable.

 

To enrich the experience take a InternationalSIM Card, a local service here in US at the wholesale rates to save up-to 85% on international roaming. International SIM Cardincludes FREE incoming calls with service across International plus lowest call charges back to US.

 

 

Don’t have a Unlocked Cell , struck with your present US carrier rent a International – compatible cell phone from RebelFone, renting a International Cell Phoneat $ 1 a day.

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Europe Travel- What You Should Know Before Renting a Car
Author:
• Saturday, December 17th, 2011

Do you really need a car?
Before you book a car rental, decide which mode of transport will work for you. If you will be moving from city to city, trains will be a better mode of transport than cars, thanks to the excellent transport system in Europe. However, if you will be exploring the countryside, hiring a car will be better.

Money matters.
Savvy travelers are always looking to save on car rentals and one of the best ways of doing this is to reserve your car in advance. Your preferred car rental company in US is likely to be having an office in Europe. Call the agency and ask for their rates in Europe. Alternatively, look at international price scan websites and compare rates of different companies. From there, visit your preferred agency’s website and check for any special offers.

Arranging your rental will a consolidator may be cheaper.

However, the downside of using a middleman is that you may not get the help you would want in case you encounter a problem.

Renting a European car for a week and with unlimited miles is usually cheaper. Daily rates can be quite high in Europe. Find out how extending or reducing the number of days will affect your rates.

Which routes will you be travelling?
You are likely to pay more if you pick your rental at the airport than downtown. Instead of picking the car at the airport, get a taxi or board the airport shuttle to a downtown rental car agency. Picking up the car at a small town may be more expensive than in the larger towns. Also, many small towns are rigid on their working hours and you may pay extra to pick up or drop off the car during a weekend or holiday.

If you will be moving from city to city, go for bigger car rental companies which have branches all over the country. Most companies will allow you to pick up and drop off the car at different towns within at no extra charges. This is however only valid within the same country. However, be wary of international drop-off fees. They can increase your cost by $ 200 to $ 400.

If your route will be crossing through different countries, such as Ireland and Great Britain, it is better to get different car rentals in the countries.

Fees
There are many extras you may have to cater for when renting a car in Europe. Tax is usually 18% to 25% on top of the base price. You may also have to pay the CDW (Collision Damage Waiver), which is usually $ 15 to $ 35. Some countries, such as Italy, require consumers to take mandatory theft protection, which costs about $ 20 per day.

Automatics can add an extra $ 100 to $ 200 per week. Most rental cars in Europe have manual transmissions. If you would prefer automatics, book it well in advance.

The above are some of the things you should keep in mind when you will be going to rent a car in Europe.

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Europe Travel- What You Should Know Before Renting a Car
Author:
• Saturday, November 05th, 2011

Do you really need a car?
Before you book a car rental, decide which mode of transport will work for you. If you will be moving from city to city, trains will be a better mode of transport than cars, thanks to the excellent transport system in Europe. However, if you will be exploring the countryside, hiring a car will be better.

Money matters.
Savvy travelers are always looking to save on car rentals and one of the best ways of doing this is to reserve your car in advance. Your preferred car rental company in US is likely to be having an office in Europe. Call the agency and ask for their rates in Europe. Alternatively, look at international price scan websites and compare rates of different companies. From there, visit your preferred agency’s website and check for any special offers.

Arranging your rental will a consolidator may be cheaper.

However, the downside of using a middleman is that you may not get the help you would want in case you encounter a problem.

Renting a European car for a week and with unlimited miles is usually cheaper. Daily rates can be quite high in Europe. Find out how extending or reducing the number of days will affect your rates.

Which routes will you be travelling?
You are likely to pay more if you pick your rental at the airport than downtown. Instead of picking the car at the airport, get a taxi or board the airport shuttle to a downtown rental car agency. Picking up the car at a small town may be more expensive than in the larger towns. Also, many small towns are rigid on their working hours and you may pay extra to pick up or drop off the car during a weekend or holiday.

If you will be moving from city to city, go for bigger car rental companies which have branches all over the country.

Most companies will allow you to pick up and drop off the car at different towns within at no extra charges. This is however only valid within the same country. However, be wary of international drop-off fees. They can increase your cost by $ 200 to $ 400.

If your route will be crossing through different countries, such as Ireland and Great Britain, it is better to get different car rentals in the countries.

Fees
There are many extras you may have to cater for when renting a car in Europe. Tax is usually 18% to 25% on top of the base price. You may also have to pay the CDW (Collision Damage Waiver), which is usually $ 15 to $ 35. Some countries, such as Italy, require consumers to take mandatory theft protection, which costs about $ 20 per day.

Automatics can add an extra $ 100 to $ 200 per week. Most rental cars in Europe have manual transmissions. If you would prefer automatics, book it well in advance.

The above are some of the things you should keep in mind when you will be going to rent a car in Europe.

For more help and advice regarding cheap car rental, please visit car rental Darwin airport.

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