Hiring a car for holiday travelling is the normal situation for visitors from overseas who want to explore the country in their own time and fashion. However, holiday hire cars are also becoming increasingly popular with interstate visitors. By taking advantage of discount air fares, travellers can save time by flying to their destination, driving around in a hired car, leaving it at the airport at the end of the holiday and flying home.

For the traveller embarking on this option for the first time, there are a few things a novice needs to know about hiring a vehicle that will save time and money. The first thing to consider is whether it is more cost effective to buy a basic package and pay for extras independently, or opt for the hire company’s add-ons. The only way to be sure is to cost both options and decide which one is the best for individual circumstances.

Is BYO the Cheapest and Best Option?

If you need a satellite navigation device to find your way around, it could be cheaper to bring your own than to pay the daily cost for one from the hire company. The same applies to baby seats and child booster seats which can become expensive, especially if there is more than one child who needs them. Again, check the car hire company prices and decide if you would rather bring your own. Remember to check if the airline will allow them as luggage and what the extra cost it will be to bring them along. It may be cheaper to pay the hire company charges but unless the comparison is done, you will never know.

Ensure that there are ample funds on your credit card to not only cover any unexpected expenses during the holiday, but to cover the cost of the car insurance excess that the hire car company may pre-authorise in the event of an accident. This is normal practice but if it is not explained clearly at the outset, people run the risk of maxing out their credit card.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Before taking delivery of the car, note all damage and video or photograph both the exterior and interior. Make a note of any pre-existing damage on the rental agreement unless the hire company provides an inspection checklist for the same purpose. Ensure that someone from the hire company countersigns the notes to avoid any disputes when the vehicle is returned. Do the same again when the vehicle is handed back and keep the paperwork. This should prevent an unscrupulous hire company from trying to assign blame for damage you did not do.

The final thing to be careful of and one of the most important, is to check credit card statements to make sure nothing appears on there that was not part of the rental agreement. Do this for several months to make sure nothing sneaks on there when you least expect it. Most hire car companies are ethical and value positive customer feedback and repeat business, so if you see something out of the ordinary just give them a call and they will sort it out for you.

The trend to rent a car while travelling, especially interstate, instead of using an own vehicle is continuing to gain momentum. There are a few reasons, and one of them has no short-term solution. In a country as large as Australia with such a small population, it is difficult for governments of any persuasion to provide super quality roads that must of necessity cover such vast distances. To have these roads and bridges regularly damaged or destroyed completely by floods and cyclones are a major on-going transport challenge.

Couple that with some of the horrendous accidents that innocent travellers are involved in on our interstate highways, and it is no wonder that people are looking for alternatives to the traditional road trip. Flying in and out of a destination, and using a hire car to get around while there, is proving to be a much safer and more convenient alternative. Car rental companies are offering discounts and deals that make the industry very competitive and this is also a major attraction.

Special Deals Draw Travellers to Hire Cars

Some hire companies offer special deals to encourage people to hire their vehicles in off-peak times such as a Sunday or Monday. If travellers can change their arrangements to fit in with these deals they can save as much as ten percent off the total car hire price for three days. Other companies offer a travel partner to be a co-driver for free, and others offer free tyre and windscreen protection. All special deals have conditions attached, so travellers should make sure to check the fine print before committing to anything.

With small cars being offered for hire at around $29 a day, mid-range vehicles from $42 a day and a “people mover” eight seater at $69 a day, these competitive rates have brought hire cars within the reach of the average person. They are no longer the exclusive province of business people with expense accounts. Customers who require additional extras, such as Sat Navs and baby seats, are being offered capped rates so the costs don’t escalate. With all these inducements and such transparent pricing, the astute traveller can plan a journey and budget for the costs up front.

Insurance charges also offer options and choices to reduce the renter’s liability. Packages offer an optional excess waiver that reduces financial liability in case of an accident to zero. At a cost of $38 a day and capped at $570 per rental, this could be an effective option for a longer term rental. An optional Collision Damage Liability can also be taken out to reduce financial responsibility for multi-vehicle accidents to $550 for over 25s and $1100 for under 25s. All these charges are on a sliding scale and reduce per day the longer the vehicle is being rented.

Renting a car while travelling is a very convenient way of getting to a destination, and with the rental and insurance costs now so competitive, there is no reason for the average traveller not to try it out.

With school holidays comes the possibility of road trips. These days can be some of the best you’ve ever had, and even some of the worst. When children spend long stints in the car they can quickly become bored and grizzly, leaving the adults in the car frustrated and irritated.

There is hope, however. When you are travelling in your car, it’s essential to keep things calm, interesting and as comfortable as possible for all involved. Some careful planning and the will to make it work are good ingredients for having a happier road trip than ever before, especially if you select a reliable car hire company.

Timing is everything

You may well have noticed that there are other times in the day that your children are happier in the car than others. Some children take much better to morning travel as this tends to be when they are in their best moods. However, if your child is not a morning person, then afternoon trips may be more their style.

The key is to consider when travel best suits them; after all, they are the ones who will make or break your good mood on the trip. Younger children often drift off to sleep in the car so you might like to plan you driving around their nap or sleep times. Bear in mind though that driving through the night is not necessarily a safe option as you will need sleep too.

Entertainment a must

This is an age where children are very adept with technology and the chances are that you have some gadgets on hand to entertain them during the day. The Nintendo DS, iPod, iPad and any of the battery operated learning and entertaining pads such as Leap Frog are your friends in the car. Ensure you have batteries charged for the iPod and iPad with all the games loaded and ready to entertain. Car chargers if possible should be on hand and also some batteries to replace in the toys that can’t be charged.

Car DVD players are not expensive to pick up and always come with a charger to use in the car for the really long trips. Be wise and pack DVDs or USBs. Also pack some ear phones if you think their movies might drive you mad.

Travel well

Some children, and adults, suffer from car sickness. It’s quite an unpleasant ailment to have but there are ways to prevent it. There are medications available for severe cases but if possible try to stick to a natural approach. Peppermints and even salt and vinegar chips have been known to settle a queasy tummy. Nevertheless, it’s wise to keep sick bags handy just in case.

Sometimes reading in the car can bring on sickness; if this happens to your children, encourage them to keep their eyes directly ahead on the road to stave off that awful feeling. They should also get plenty of fresh air. Snacks and water are a must too so you’re not listening to the tune of ‘I’m hungry’ constantly.

Travel is also made a lot easier if the car is clean and comfortable to ride in. If you want to hire a vehicle that is great for travel for your next road trip, please visit our website at www.alphacarhire.com.au.

With school holidays comes the possibility of road trips. These days can be some of the best you’ve ever had, and even some of the worst. When children spend long stints in the car they can quickly become bored and grizzly, leaving the adults in the car frustrated and irritated.

There is hope, however. When you are travelling in your car, it’s essential to keep things calm, interesting and as comfortable as possible for all involved. Some careful planning and the will to make it work are good ingredients for having a happier road trip than ever before, especially if you select a reliable car hire company.

Timing is everything

You may well have noticed that there are other times in the day that your children are happier in the car than others. Some children take much better to morning travel as this tends to be when they are in their best moods. However, if your child is not a morning person, then afternoon trips may be more their style.

The key is to consider when travel best suits them; after all, they are the ones who will make or break your good mood on the trip. Younger children often drift off to sleep in the car so you might like to plan you driving around their nap or sleep times. Bear in mind though that driving through the night is not necessarily a safe option as you will need sleep too.

Entertainment is a must

This is an age where children are very adept with technology and the chances are that you have some gadgets on hand to entertain them during the day. The Nintendo DS, iPod, iPad and any of the battery operated learning and entertaining pads such as Leap Frog are your friends in the car. Ensure you have batteries charged for the iPod and iPad with all the games loaded and ready to entertain. Car chargers if possible should be on hand and also some batteries to replace in the toys that can’t be charged.

Car DVD players are not expensive to pick up and always come with a charger to use in the car for the really long trips. Be wise and pack DVDs or USBs. Also pack some ear phones if you think their movies might drive you mad.

Travel well

Some children, and adults, suffer from car sickness. It’s quite an unpleasant ailment to have but there are ways to prevent it. There are medications available for severe cases but if possible try to stick to a natural approach. Peppermints and even salt and vinegar chips have been known to settle a queasy tummy. Nevertheless, it’s wise to keep sick bags handy just in case.

Sometimes reading in the car can bring on sickness; if this happens to your children, encourage them to keep their eyes directly ahead on the road to stave off that awful feeling. They should also get plenty of fresh air. Snacks and water are a must too so you’re not listening to the tune of ‘I’m hungry’ constantly.

Travel is also made a lot easier if the car is clean and comfortable to ride in. If you want to hire a vehicle that is great for travel for your next road trip, please visit our website at www.alphacarhire.com.au.

One of the least attractive aspects of air travel is arriving at a destination only to find a long queue of equally frustrated travellers waiting for buses and taxis to get them to their accommodation. Couple that with having to manage hand luggage and suitcases, throw in some inclement weather and it’s a wonder people travel at all. How good would it be, then, to avoid all that unpleasantness by having a car waiting for you?

Step Out of the Airport into a Free Courtesy Shuttle

Renting a car from Alpha Car Hire comes with a fantastic ‘meet and greet’ service and a range of specials. The service starts at the airport where Alpha’s courtesy shuttle meets the flight and whisks the customers quickly to their chosen vehicle, leaving the airport queues behind. The courtesy shuttle is entirely free and part of the service that customers can expect when renting a vehicle through this fast growing, independent car hire company.

Specials have been mentioned and rightly so. Picking up the hire car on a Sunday or Monday will slash an immediate 10% off the price. Booking car hire and airport parking together will reduce the cost of the airport parking by 20%. If the hire vehicle needed is a truck, hiring it mid-week will drop the price by a crazy 50%. There are no extra hoops to jump through to get these specials other than do some minor rescheduling. Delaying departure by twenty-four hours, for example, could shave many dollars off the cost of a driving holiday in and around Sydney.

Customer Service Backed up by Price Beat Guarantee

So confident is Alpha Car Hire Sydney that they have the best pricing on offer, that they offer a Price Beat guarantee. This means that they will match a competitor’s pricing as long as the customer provides the quote to them on the same day they make the booking. Naturally, to be comparable, the hire vehicle must be the same age with similar terms and conditions as Alpha Car Hire.

This new car hire company believes that quality customer service will set them above their competitors. To show how seriously they take that statement, their entire hire fleet is made up of new vehicles. They also offer their customers a range of options, from small, economical sedans to 8-seater vans and commercial vehicles. Prefer a luxury SUV? They have those too! The vehicles are fully maintained for customer safety and immaculately presented at the time of hiring.

There are no surprises when you hire a vehicle from Alpha Car Hire Sydney. Simply enter the hire dates, type of vehicle and a few other details into the space at www.alphacarhire.com.au/locations/sydney. Follow the prompts and get a free quote. Start your trip on a positive note and leave airport queues behind forever.