Indigo Car Hire > Articles by: Robert Gillespie

Top 10: Summer Holiday Destinations Popular With American Tourists

July 3, 2019 Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Hawaii, Jamaica, Mexico, USA Comments Off on Top 10: Summer Holiday Destinations Popular With American Tourists
HIRE A CAR IN THE CANARIES

I spend a lot of my time writing about the best locations for summer holidays, half term breaks and even ski trips but this is almost always from the point of view of an English Traveller. A huge chunk of our customer base is not here in the UK and this is the start of a number of posts aimed at you. Our friends abroad.

Ask any American where they are going on their summer vacation this year and I am 99.9% confident you will not hear the words Benidorm, Marbs or Albufeira. The most popular locations among American tourists are mostly, much more exotic, with a few surprise ones thrown in. Here are the top 10 that i could find, in no particular order!

Cape Cod, New England

Between Memorial Day weekend & Labor Day weekend, tourists join the locals and swarm 40 miles of picturesque beaches at Cape Cod. The temperatures throughout the day are regularly into the 70s in New England, giving the place and its residents a chance to thaw after frozen winters. In addition to relaxing on the shores, travellers can take a scenic bike ride along Rail Trail with friends and family or wander through the federal wildlife refuge on Monomoy island.

Miami, Florida

Miami is a location that has something for everyone. Take the family and explore Walt Disney World, go with friends for the summer for the beach life through the day and nightlife after dark or even take a romantic break and find some of the best restaurants in the USA. Miami is hugely popular with international travellers and Americans themselves who flock here in their millions every year.

Portland, Oregon

To be honest, not a location that has ever been near the top of my ‘list of places to visit’ but if you are looking for a different kind of vacation away from crowded beaches and theme parks then I am told Portland should be way up there. The people here make the most of their sun-filled days in the summer months. Outdoor live music, food and drink festivals, pop up beer gardens, white water rafting and forest hikes are just a few of the activities to get involved, and that is just day one.

cayman island holidays

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

If you like the beach life then this should be next on your list. Seafood, water sports, sunbathing and diving, A water lover’s paradise. And that is just by day. At night this place transforms into a cosmopolitan city with clubs, bars and restaurants full to bursting. I’m told you haven’t experienced the Cayman Islands until you have woken up on Seven Mile Beach.

Jamaica, Caribbean

Close your eyes and disconnect for a hot second. And by hot, we mean temperatures are definitely warm in the summer in Jamaica. When the weather is warm it is time for some of the best sunrises, sunsets, beach days you will ever know. When you’re not thumbing through the latest novel, explore the many shorelines, including Dr’s Cave Beach and Walter Fletcher among others. If you’re into snorkelling or scuba diving, the protected waters at Montego Bay Marine Park are a must-dive, too.

Maui, Hawaii

Maui is possibly the most amazing of the Hawaiian Islands. Visit any time of year but summertime is obviously the most popular. The majority of people enjoy traveling to Maui with their families in the summertime and Maui is a great place for a family vacation. Make sure to take in the summer events like 4th of July (Independence Day) parade or the Slack Key Guitar Festival!

Las Vegas, Nevada

From amazing stage and stadium shows and death-defying magic acts to vast casinos and huge dancing fountains, Sin City is a dazzling playground by night. By day you will find the holidaymakers, making the most of the climate at one of a hundred different pool parties at bars, hotels and casinos up and down the strip. Las Vegas is the place to go if you do not intend to sleep for long periods of time.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

On the sun-soaked Caribbean coast, Playa del Carmen or to the regulars and locals – just Playa – was made famous by back-packing travellers who arrived for the perfect beaches and coral reefs. This small fishing town has been quickly changed into a haven for party goers with an extra cluster of hotels in Playa car. However, if you really want to party then ‘Playa’ has a noisy neighbour that will suit you. A little place called Cancun!

Cancun, Mexico

If you are looking for a holiday destination in Mexico, Cancun must be top of the list. The 70’s saw this former fishing village transform into a hot spot for tourism with the development of the Hotel Zone. The 18KM long island with the Caribbean Sea on one side and Laguna Nichupté on the other. This place spoils its visitors with shopping malls, casinos, golf courses, and the best nightlife you can find in south America.

punta cana holidays

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Punta Cana is party central and is located on the north-eastern tip of the Dominican Republic. Bavaro is the liveliest of the resorts with a beach that has been modelled from the pages of a glossy travel mag. Between learning how to surf, scuba dive around coral reefs and investigating shipwrecks, you will find a non-stop list of things to do on dry land too. Punta Cana is home to over a dozen golf clubs but if the countryside is your scene, head to the rain forest in a buggy on a guided tour or, fly through air along the tree canopies on a zip wire excursion.

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Debit Card Car Hire In Norway With A Low Deposit

June 28, 2019 Debit Card Car Hire News, Norway Comments Off on Debit Card Car Hire In Norway With A Low Deposit
Debit card car hire in norway with low deposit

About Norway

Norway is the land of fishing, hiking and skiing, if you love the natural world you will love Norway. Located in Scandinavia is filled with mountains, fjords and glaciers, debatably making it one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The capital city Oslo has open green spaces and museums, one of which contains a preserved 9th Century Viking ship! With so much to do in Norway there is no reason not to visit.

Car Hire In Norway

As there is so much to do, we recommend hiring a car, so you don’t miss any of it. One big problem is that Norway can be expensive so your holiday can easily add up leaving you with not much money to spare. The last thing you want is a massive deposit been held on your card for your car hire.
We are pleased to announce we can offer low deposit car hire in Norway, so you have some extra cash to spend doing the things you love. Better still, low deposit is available even if you are hiring using your debit card. These are just some of the ways we help make car hire more accessible and a better experience for you.

Other Service available in Norway

Young Driver car hire: If you are over 21 and have held your licence for at least 1 year we can hire a car to you.

Senior Driver Car Hire: Just like we can offer car hire to young drivers in Norway, we can also offer car hire to anyone over the age of 75.

Unlimited Mileage Car Hire: With so much to do and so much to see you will want to make use of our unlimited mileage offer so you can explore without any limits.

If you are interested in any of the services above, please contact us directly, you can call us on +44 (0) 113 88 00 748, email us to sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or chat with one of our team online using the function to the bottom right.

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Travelling To Japan For The Rugby World Cup?

June 26, 2019 Japan Comments Off on Travelling To Japan For The Rugby World Cup?
Travelling To Japan For The Rugby World Cup

The Rugby World Cup is the pinnacle of the sport, bringing nations of the world together in union to compete and eventually crown another world champion in 2019. Japan plays host to this monumental event. Whether you’re a fan of England, the All Blacks, the Wallabies or even of the mighty Cherry Blossoms themselves, the rugby world cup provides a perfect opportunity to explore the endless discovery of Japan.

We at Indigo will be following England, unfortunately from the office or home rather than watching live in Japan. We know thousands of Rugby fans from around the world are making the trip so we wanted to write this article to help people decide how to navigate themselves around Japan.

Where are England Playing?

Lets take England’s group games:

  • England V Tonga, 22/09/19 @ 11.15am GMT, Sapporo Dome
  • England V USA, 26/09/19 @ 11.45am GMT, Kobe Misaki Stadium
  • England V Argentina, 05/10/19 @ 9.00am GMT, Tokyo Stadium
  • England V France, 12/10/19 @ 9.15am GMT, Yokohama Int Stadium

Travelling from one to the next without return journeys is a total of over 2,200KM. That’s a long way even for a die hard fan. The saving grace is that there is plenty of time between matches which gives you days to make the journey to your next location. There is a lot to see on the way so you are not going to want to rush.

If I was travelling alone and only intent on watching the matches then I would probably use public transport. Its rated very highly compared to what we are used to but does come at a cost. Buses are cheap but trains and more specifically the bullet train can be hundreds of pounds a time.

If there is a small group travelling then for me your best and most economical mode of transport is to hire a car. Not only will this keep costs down, it means that you can stop anywhere you like to see and do anything you like along the way.

At today’s prices, Japan isn’t a cheap country to hire a car compared to other Asian locations. However, when compared to the alternatives it is by far the lowest cost option. A car large enough for 4 with luggage will set you back around £1400 but this would include a sat nav, an additional driver and unlimited KM’s, which will be important. That’s around £350 each (4 people) for all of your travel for a 23 day rental.

Other expenses for fuel, toll roads and ferry crossings should be considered but are relatively low cost. Fuel is around 30 pence per litre less than what we are used to in the UK.

What Else Is There To See In Japan?

In no particular order, if you are travelling around Japan and have time to kill, you must visit some if not all of the below attractions and locations.

Suzuka

If you are staying for all of the group games then you will be around for the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix, this could be your best chance to tick one off the buckets list, that is indeed if F1 is your thing.

Peace Park

North of the hypocentre, Peace Park is presided over by the 10-tonne bronze Nagasaki Peace Statue, designed in 1955 by Kitamura Seibō.

Mt Fuji

Fuji is an active volcano about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. Commonly called “Fuji-san,” it’s the country’s tallest peak, at 3,776 meters.

Kinkakuji Temple

One of Kyoto’s most famous attractions, this temple was originally built in 1397 as a residence for shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. The structure was completely covered in gold leaf, earning it the name Golden Pavilion.

Minato Mirai

Minatomirai is a futuristic waterfront with a high-rise observation deck and stylish boutiques at Yokohama Landmark Tower and Plaza. Families also take in the skyline from the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel or tour the 1930s sailing ship Nippon Maru. Mitsubishi Industrial Museum has dynamic exhibits of rockets and submarines, while Rinko Park hosts summer concerts. Waterside promenades host upscale bars and eateries.

Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

On 9 August 1945, the world’s second nuclear weapon detonated over Nagasaki, and this sombre place recounts the city’s destruction and loss of life through photos and artefacts

Tōshō-gū

A Unesco World Heritage Site in an idyllic natural setting.

Tokyo National Museum

If you visit only one museum in Tokyo, make it the Tokyo National Museum. Here you’ll find the world’s largest collection of Japanese art, including ancient pottery, Buddhist sculptures, samurai swords,

Ryōgoku Kokugikan

If you’re in town when a tournament is on, don’t miss the chance to catch the big boys of Japanese wrestling in action at the country’s largest sumo stadium.

Sunayama Beach

Just 4km north of the Hirara district of Miyakojima city, you’ll find this little, archetypally tropical Japan beach, which lies at the bottom of a large sand dune.

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Travelling To Spa For The Belgian Grand Prix?

June 26, 2019 Belgium, F1 Comments Off on Travelling To Spa For The Belgian Grand Prix?
Travelling To Spa For The Belgian Grand Prix

If you are travelling to Belgium this year for the Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps you may find our following guide helpful. Spa is one of the most rural locations on the F1 calendar and as such, can be more difficult to get to than other racetracks on the ‘circuit’ (no pun intended). Yes, once you are there, travelling between your hotel or campsite and the track itself can be very easy, but how do you intend to get there from the airport in the first place?

Closest Airports To Spa

Depending on where you are travelling, routes into Belgium can be sparse. Below are the closest airports you will find to the circuit, most of which aren’t even in the same country.

  • Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST), 80km from the circuit: limited seasonal connections to Alicante, Barcelona and Bari.
  • Luxembourg Airport (LUX), 110km south of Spa: Luxair, the flag carrier of Luxembourg, flies to 20+ destinations in Europe. In addition, there are flights with British Airways (to London Heathrow), Easyjet (4 routes), KLM (to Amsterdam), TAP (to Lisbon) and more.
  • Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN), 140km east of Spa: large number of connections, mainly with discount carriers. Airlines serving the airport include Germanwings (40+ routes), Air Berlin (17 routes), Ryanair (19 routes, including to the UK & Ireland) and Wizz Air (6 Eastern Europe routes).
  • Brussels Airport (BRU), 140km west of Spa: a major international airport serving most European routes, plus destinations as far afield as the Middle East, Asia and the USA.
  • Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), 140km west of Spa: an important hub for Ryanair, which flies 50+ routes from all over Europe to CRL. Wizz Air also serves the airport with around 10 routes to Eastern Europe.
  • Dusseldorf Airport (DUS): 155km east the circuit: a major international airport serving most European routes, plus destinations as far afield as the Middle East.

Travelling To & From The Track

Lets work on the basis that you arrive into Maastricht Aachen Airport, the closest one to Spa, you have a few options on how you are going to get there.

Train

You can get a train from Maastricht City Station to Spa for around £25 per person according to today’s rates on Trainline.com, We don’t tend to travel alone to these things, so lets say there is 3 of us. That’s £75 on Train fares. A taxi from the Airport to Maastricht Station at a guess would be around €20 for 14km journey and at the other end, a taxi from Gare De Spa (train station) to the circuit would be around another €40 for 25km trip.

The other thing to bear in mind with the train journey is that there is no direct train to Gare De Spa, from Maastricht there are 2 changes, in Liège-Guillemins and in Pepinster. Keen travellers won’t be put off by this but it is something to consider when deciding how to get from A to B.

Car Hire

Our obvious favourite choice would be to hire a car but there is no bias attached to this article, all prices, distances and timings are what I can find online today. Sticking with arriving at Maastricht Aachen Airport, you can hire a car from various suppliers. All who offer different terms to suit different folks. Im just going to go with the cheapest I can find but with a household name and a car that will fit 3 adults and luggage for 4 days.

Hiring a car from Thursday 29th August at 10am and Returning on Sunday 1st September at 7pm. A compact car like a Vauxhall Astra, Citroen Cactus or VW Golf would cost £136.97 with Budget car Rental. Factor in the fuel cost, which 80km each way isn’t going to be much and you have a pretty good deal.

If you flight doesn’t arrive into Maastricht, the same car From Luxembourg Airport would be slightly less at £132.27 but would add another 60km onto your round trip. On the same note, if you do not mind driving a few extra KM’s, you can hire the same car from Cologne-Bonn Airport for less than £77. That’s around £60 less if you are prepared to drive a little further.

Other Transport Options

Aside from the train or car hire options, you may want to look into local buses or coach journeys. These can become expensive when travelling across border but the main reason for us not including them in our comparison is because it is 2019 and it should not take 5 hours to travel 80km’s.

If you are travelling to Spa for the Grand Prix or indeed Belgium for any other reason then our reservations team are here waiting to find you the right rental car to suit your needs. Contact us direct before making a booking and we will ensure that you will not find a better package elsewhere. Call us on 0113 88 00 748, chat with us online or email sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk.

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Skoda Octavia Lease With A Debit Card

June 19, 2019 Leasing, Skoda, Volkswagen Comments Off on Skoda Octavia Lease With A Debit Card
skoda octavia leasing deals

The Octavia is the best-selling Skoda there is, selling 3.7 million around the world since 1996. Classified as a family hatchback the Octavia comes with 5 seats and a decent sized boot. It also comes with a whole host of features including hill hold assist, stop/start engine and heated wind mirrors. If you are looking for a cheap family car there isn’t much to fault the Octavia on.

You might be convinced to buy one or maybe already be looking at buying one. If you are however much you read about them, you still won’t have full peace of mind that you will like it a few weeks down the line. There are always everyday situations where you realise your perfect car isn’t quite as perfect as you thought. Sometimes the car can fail to meet your expectations in day to day life and when this happens you can’t just hand it back to the dealership. We have a solution to avoid this;

You can now lease a Skoda Octavia with Indigo. This means you can try it out for a long period of time to decide if it is the car for you. To make this even better you can lease this car even if you don’t have a credit card! We are able to take debit card as payment for leasing even if you have bad credit. The lease price comes with VAT included and comprehensive insurance, all for the price of £555 per month. Make sure the Octavia is the perfect car for you before you buy it.

Along side the Skoda Octavia we offer lease with a debit card on a range of different VW’s and Skoda’s so take a look at our full list of lease deals and see if one of them catches your eye.
If you are interested in this offer or you just have any questions we recommend that you call us on +44 (0)113 880 0748 or send us an email at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk

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Noise Cameras – What Are They & How Will They Work?

June 14, 2019 Motoring Law News, News, UK Comments Off on Noise Cameras – What Are They & How Will They Work?
Noise cameras in the UK

Noise Cameras could fine drivers for having loud exhausts

Cars with loud exhausts, we have all heard it before whether it is in the middle of the day or the middle of the night. I’m sure most people can agree that it is a nuisance, but you can’t do anything about it. Well that is until now…

The government is trialling a prototype noise camera in several locations across the UK over the next seven months to cut down on motorists with extremely loud cars or motorbikes. If these trials are successful there is a good chance these cameras will be rolled out across the whole country. The man behind this is the Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, who described the noise pollution of cars as an “absolute misery”. He also went on to say noise pollution has “very serious health impacts”.

What Is the Legal Noise Limit For Cars And Bikes?

The current law across Europe is that it is illegal for your car to be louder than 74 decibels. The Police have suggested that to be considered a nuisance it would have to be 90 decibels. This does raise some questions as some high-end supercars or older cars are in excess of the 74-decibel limit, so it will be interesting to see what happens with them if the camera was to be successful.

How Will the Cameras Work?

The trial will consist of noise detectors been placed on ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras in this phase the ANPR cameras will not be used to issue fines. If the trial is deemed successful, they will operate in a similar way to speed cameras. The noise detector will be triggered if the microphone detects sound levels that are louder than the legal limit. Once the noise detector has been triggered the camera will take a picture of the offending vehicles number plate. With this information the police will then issue a fine of £50 to the offender’s address.

What is your opinion on this, is it a good idea or do you think there is a better way? Be sure to let us know.

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VW And Skoda Rental Deals, Try Before You Buy

June 13, 2019 News, UK Comments Off on VW And Skoda Rental Deals, Try Before You Buy
Long Term Car Rentals

The Problem

Buying a new car is always a tricky process and can take a lot of time to decide the perfect car for you. It costs a lot of money to buy a new car, so you want to make sure it’s the right one for you. If you have bought a car before you will know that you spend hours traipsing around car dealerships and comparing every detail of every car. On top of this you go back to the dealerships again to test drive the cars, this process can take weeks, maybe even months!

When you finally decide on a car and you decide to buy it, a few weeks or a month down the line you might realise that you don’t like the car as much as you originally thought. At this point it is too late, you can’t just take it back and say you don’t like it anymore. The problem is, however much you read about a car and even test drive it, you won’t know if it is the right car until you have used it for a long period of time. This is where you find out that you don’t like it on the motorway or it’s hard to park and countless other unforeseen negatives to your new car.

The Solution

You don’t have to experience this anymore instead of spending £1000’s on a new car why not lease the car first? It makes perfect sense, you lease the car and you can try it out for a month see how it goes. If you like it you can then go to the dealership and buy it with full knowledge of how the car performs on a day to day basis. This can make you sure that you are getting the car you want and there are no hidden surprises.

Our Car Lease Offers

With Indigo you can now lease a variety of VW’s & Skoda’s to find out If it is the car you want to buy. You can lease a wide range of cars from the 7-seater SUV, the Skoda Kodiaq to a hatchback like a VW Polo. Prices start from just £509 and with a deposit of just £250. If you’re worried about going over the mileage limit, don’t worry this lease offer comes with 2,000 miles per month allowance, which should be more than enough. To make this deal even better, you can still lease if you have with bad credit, so there is no excuse not to try out a VW or Skoda with Indigo today. This car lease offer is available throughout the UK and all prices include VAT and comprehensive insurance.

If you have any queries or would like to book please email us at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)113 880 0748 and we will be more than happy to help.

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Best Small Cars For New Drivers

June 6, 2019 News Comments Off on Best Small Cars For New Drivers
BEST SMALL CARS FOR NEW DRIVERS

What Is The Best Small Car For A New Driver?

When you first start to drive the thought of going out in a car and driving about by yourself can be scary. One thing that can make your experience a lot easier or harder is the car that you drive. It is recommended that you get a small car so it’s easier to fit drive on tighter roads and way easier to park. The question a lot of young people ask is “what is the best small car for a new driver?” In this this post I will take you through what I think are the best first cars for new drivers.

Skoda Citigo

The Skoda Citigo is a great all-around car and definitely meets the requirements to be a small car as it’s one of the smallest cars on this list. You may recognise the car as it is very similar to the Seat Mii and VW Up which are all part of the VW group. The reason I chose the Skoda out of the 3 is because it is the lowest price starting from just over £8,000 and it doesn’t perform much different to its sisters. The Citigo comes in both 3 door and 5 door variations and is very cheap on insurance, sitting in insurance group 1 or 2. Despite only having a 1 litre engine that provides either 59bhp or 74 bhp (depending on the model) it is a nippy car around tight areas like city centres. All the power is transmitted through the front wheels using a five-speed manual gearbox. Surprisingly, for its size the car has a good ride and is quiet on faster roads. Even with the lack of power because of how small the car is it feels nimble and can reach speeds of just over 100mph. One of the big selling points of this car is that it can produce a combined mpg of 67! Finally, to give you peace of mind the Citigo comes with Skoda’s warranty of 2 years with unlimited miles and a third year up to 60,000 miles.

Ford Fiesta

We couldn’t make this list without including the Ford Fiesta as it is the best-selling UK car and it’s easy to see why. The car looks amazing and drives just as good as it looks. Like the Citigo the Fiesta is a 1 litre, front wheel drive, five-speed manual the main difference between the 2 cars is the size difference. If you are looking for something that is a bit more practical the Fiesta is something you should definitely look at and it also comes in both 3 door and 5 door models. The acceleration and top speed of the Skoda and Fiesta are very similar. The big disadvantage of the Fiesta is the price tag, starting from nearly £15,500 you will need a good job or kind parents if you want this to be your first car. The car comes with Ford’s standard 3-year, 60,000-mile warranty and for nearly double the price of the Skoda it’s up to you whether it’s worth the extra cost. Keep in mind that the Fiesta does come with a handful of features such as Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and Hill-start Assist which are great additions, especially for your first car!

Kia Picanto

The Kia Picanto is another car that is one of the smaller ones on this list, but only comes in a 5-door version. The price starts from just under £10,000 and for that you get features like Hill-start Assist Control and Automatic Headlight Control, both great features so you have one less thing to worry about when you are getting used to driving. Like the other cars on this list the Kia runs a 5-speed manual, powered by the front wheels and producing 66bhp, taking it to a top speed of 100mph. It accelerates at a similar speed to the Skoda & Ford, so you won’t be left behind. Fuel consumption isn’t bad either, producing 59mpg, so you won’t be spending most of your time at the petrol station. One of the best things about the Picanto is that it has Kia’s 7 Year, 100,000-mile warranty! This gives you complete peace of mind and means you won’t have to worry about your car breaking down and having to fork out large amounts of money.

Toyota Aygo

The Toyota Aygo, to start off with it’s a Toyota, which if you didn’t already know are bulletproof. As well as been very reliable, Toyota’s are known for been very safe. Prices starting from just over £9000, means this is in the lower price range on this list. For that price you get Hill-start Assist, Tyre Pressure Warning System and many other features. This car is great value for money and as it can produce 68mpg, so it’s dirt cheap to run. Again, this car is a 5-speed manual, front wheel drive and produces 68bhp, propelling it to a top speed of 99mph. Its acceleration is on par with the Skoda, Kia and Ford so you can still get around them tight cities with speed. The Aygo comes with either 3 doors or 5 doors, so you can choose which one suits your needs best. The insurance group is slightly higher than most on this list as it is in group 6, but for the price of the car plus the insurance it will still be cheaper than the Fiesta without insurance. Toyota offers a 5 year, 100,000-mile warranty making it the second longest warranty on the list only behind the Kia. However, as it is a Toyota it will probably run on many more years after the warranty has expired.

Does the Toyota Aygo interest you?

If the Aygo is a car you could see yourself buying, why not book it for the weekend with Indigo. You can pick an Aygo up for the weekend for only £69, this is a great opportunity to try out the Aygo and see if it’s the perfect car for you. If you are interested in the Toyota offer please contact Indigo via call on +44 (0)113 880 0748 or email at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk.

Dacia Sandero

Yes, I admit the Dacia Sandero is not the best-looking car on this list, but apart from the looks it ticks every other box. The starting price is just under £7,000! That makes it the cheapest car on this list and the low-price tag doesn’t mean it compensates anywhere else, in fact quite the opposite. Like all the other cars on this list it is a front wheel drive, 5 speed manual that pumps out 71bhp and tops out at 98mph. It is the slowest car on the list, not by much, but it will accelerate just as quick as the other cars on this list and keep in mind this car is only £7,000. If you did want more power you can upgrade the engine, which would make it the fastest accelerating car on this list by a long way and still all for under £10,000. For such a cheap price it still comes with Hill-start Assist and a Tyre Pressure Monitor. The Sandero sits in insurance group 3 and generates 53mpg. This is definitely the perfect car if you are on a budget and as it comes with a 3-year warranty you will be able to save your money for doing things you love.

Vauxhall Corsa

Finally, the Vauxhall Corsa, I’m sure most of you have heard of the Corsa as it’s probably the most popular first car for young drivers. The sporty look is an attention grabber for young people, starting at just under £12,000 it is the second most expensive on this list. For your money you will get Hill-start Assist and Cruise Control with Speed Limiter as standard. This is very helpful so you can make sure that you don’t end up speeding by accident. The car is also a front wheel drive, 5-speed manual and despite having the slowest acceleration on this list it can still reach 101mph. It is in insurance group 3 so won’t burn a hole in your pocket when you come to insure it. Fuel consumption is average, coming in at 50mpg and the car comes with a 3 year, 36,000-mile warranty. The car can be bought in either a 3 door or a 5 door, depending on if you want a sportier look or more practicality.

Final Verdict

In conclusion, each car on this list is a great first car for a new driver. It’s up to you what you are looking for, if you want a cheap car the Dacia is the car for you, on the other hand, if you plan on keeping the car for a long time you might opt for the Kia or Toyota, as they have a longer warranty. Whichever you decide to buy make sure you stay safe on the roads and enjoy having your own freedom to travel about independently.

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Driving A Van For The First Time? Here Are Some Tips

June 5, 2019 Van Hire Comments Off on Driving A Van For The First Time? Here Are Some Tips

The ease of driving a van is now comparable to that of the family car, but the reputation of big slow vehicles with no power steering has stuck, and can often put people off renting or buying a van for jobs that require them. That’s where this guide comes in.

Here are 10 tips that will make sure that when you embark on your van hire experience, it will be stress free and enjoyable.

Driving A Van, Top Tips

1) Size is the main thing on most drivers minds when they consider hiring a van. The vehicle may be a bit bigger than you are used to, and so parking and turning will require extra room and careful attention, and the height of the van should also be considered when approaching low bridges and multi-storey car parks.

2) When picking up your van it is important to listen to any instructions you are given about the vehicle. It’s better to pay attention and ask questions now than to be caught in the dark with no clue how to turn the lights on, open the fuel filler cap or worse!

3) The features of a van can be very different than those of your car; the lack of a rear view mirror for example. If this is the case, it is especially important to correctly adjust and make use of your side mirrors. Make sure to be cautious of sudden stops or reductions in speed, and always be conscious of what may be behind you!

4) It may sound simple, but remember to lock the back door before driving off, and make sure you know how to do it properly. All too often the contents of a van will spill out onto the road due to an improperly locked door: don’t let it be you!

5) The last thing you want is your cargo rolling around in the back when taking corners, so make sure it is secured safely. Bungee chords and cable ties can work wonders.

6) Centre the weight in the back of the van; put heavy items down first, and the lighter ones on top. Make sure any especially heavy items are placed on the floor in the centre of your van and are secure from moving around. This will ensure a low centre of gravity to keep your van stable.

7) Wearing a seatbelt is an essential. Just like in a car you must wear your seatbelt, they are there for a reason, and might just save your life.

8) Be over cautious. If you aren’t sure if you can change lanes or pull out safely on a busy road, then don’t. A van is less responsive than a car, so you can’t get away with as much!

9) Check all tyre pressures before driving a van. Remember that your van needs a higher tyre pressure than a car due to the weight of the load, so check the manufacturer’s instructions, or ask your supplier for the recommended pressures, and always check pressures before beginning a journey.

10) Use common sense! This is the most important tip – if it doesn’t seem sensible, it probably isn’t!

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Van Hire With A Debit Card

June 3, 2019 Car Hire News, Van Hire No comments yet
van hire with unlimited mileage

As Many people know hiring a car with a debit card is hard, let alone hiring a van with one but you will be surprised to hear that you can actually arrange van hire with a debit card with us. This offer is available at most UK locations. We make it quick, simple and easy with no catches to hire when ordering without a credit card. We essentially do all the leg work for you, you just click the buttons.

When hiring your van through Indigo car hire we advise two forms of identification are provided upon collection of the vehicle in addition to your credit or debit card you need to produce your full drivers licence, it’s important to note that if you hold a UK two part licence both the photo card and counterpart have to be produced for it to be considered a full license. A second form of identification may also be required; things like a bill or passport are adequate.

Some of our vans in our range include

  • Small Van – Vauxhall Combo or similar
  • Short Wheel Base Van – Ford Transit 280 SWB or similar
  • Long Wheel Base Van – Ford Transit 350 LWB or similar
  • Luton Box Van – Iveco Box Van, Luton with Tail Lift

All these vans are great for all heavy duty activities such as moving house or anything else. Make sure you get the right size van for your given activity as it can be rather inconvenient if your van isn’t large enough to fit what you wanted to squeeze in. Make sure you check the measurements and sizes of the different vans, so you get the right van for you.

We have a large amount of suppliers that offer van hire throughout the UK however only some offer it without a credit card so in order to find these deals/offers from us you MUST speak to us directly as we only accept Visa Debit and credit cards. With that been said, in some cases Visa Electron and Maestro Cards may be available.

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