Apart from those people who rent cars on a regular basis for business use, most of us only ever hire vehicles when we go on holiday. It represents a low-cost way of travelling around our chosen destination, and it can provide some much-needed variety, especially if you’re not a big fan of lying on the same beach day after day until you finally fly home again at the end of your stay.
And while most of us will inevitably choose a standard vehicle that can match our needs, such as a hatchback for couples and a larger saloon for family groups, sometimes it can be fun to hire something a little different. After all, if you spend fifty weeks of the year behind the wheel of a Ford Focus, why on Earth would you want to go on vacation for two weeks and hire the self-same make and model?
In warmer climes, such as southern Europe, many car hire companies offer convertibles for rent, and it has to be said that driving around with the roof down, letting the breeze sweep through your hair every day, is an unforgettable experience. There’s something truly wonderful about taking the coast road in Spain or Italy with a stunning view of the Mediterranean to savour at every turn.
Go Stateside and have fun
A significant number of people have opted to drive across the United States over the years. The iconic backdrops of locations such as Monument Valley on the Arizona-Utah border or California’s Yosemite National Park are enough to make any driver shudder with excitement, and what better way to see them than from a classic American car from an era when these vehicles looked more like ships with wheels?
If you’re planning to enjoy a journey on some of the more rugged roads around the world, such as those in the Andes in South America or some of the quieter byways of Australia, it’s a good idea to rent a larger SUV. With undulating terrain, you need to make sure you are as comfortable as possible, and the best way to do that is to rent a 4×4 that has all the mod cons you could possibly need.
Although there are a great many conventional car hire options that are fine if you just want to go for something standard, it should be pointed that in hotter climates you should insist on renting a vehicle that has air conditioning fitted. Without it, you’ll soon start to regret your choice, and the chances are you won’t want to spend much time in the car at all.
David Showell lives in the UK and always hires a car when he goes on vacation. He works for www.carrentals.co.uk.