Debit Card Car Hire In Morocco

We’ve had a debit card option available in Morocco for some time now, however up until now we have only been able to help from Marrakech Airport, which was a huge limiting factor in the number of people we could help. Since making a new arrangement with our suppliers though we are now able to arrange debit card hire from almost all the major airports, including Morocco’s most famous and populous city Casablanca, as well as its capital – Rabat.

Airport Locations

  • Rabat Airport
  • Fez Airport
  • Marrakesh Airport
  • Agadir Airport
  • Oujda Airport
  • Tangier Airport
  • Ouarzazate Airport
  • Essaouira Airport
  • Nadar Laroui Airport
  • Casablanca Airport
Downtown Locations

  • Casablanca
  • Rabat
  • Fes

What cars are available to rent with a debit card?

The only restriction when hiring with a debit card is that you cannot rent premium / luxury vehicles – other than that you can take your pick at any of the vehicles available:

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What other services are available at these locations?

We have quite a few services here that we can offer in conjunction with a debit card hire:

Low deposit car hire – on most of these vehicles we can offer a very low deposit of only 2000 MAD (Just £160 / €185), which is just held on your debit card on arrival and released back to you on return. This is much more affordable than a lot of our contemporaries, many of whom have deposits up to 30000MAD (around £2500!).

Young driver car hire – we can offer debit card rentals to anyone over the age of 21 with a licence held for at least a year. Young driver fees are also minimal to none at this location too, so don’t expect to have to bear a huge cost just for being under 25.

As part of being able to hire a car in these locations with the use of a debit card then we had to agree to some conditions in regards to which debit cards we were allowed to accept. They were very specific as to which cards could be allowed, if you wish to find out if your card will be accepted, please contact us.

If you are planning to rent a car in Morocco and don’t have a credit card then please make sure that you contact us directly so that we can ensure you get the right supplier. Simply call our experienced and knowledgeable reservation agents on +44 (0)113 880 0748 or emailing them at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk.

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Young Driver Hire In Switzerland With No Extra Cost

Car Hire With Zero Deposit

That’s right, we’ve managed to team up with one of our suppliers in Switzerland to arrange something extremely rare in the car rental industry – car hire for young drivers with no extra fees or surcharges! You don’t even have to have held a licence for a full year – the only requirement is that you are over 21 and have held your licence for 6 months.

With young driver fees often reaching up to 25-30 CHF per day, it’s not rare for them to double or even triple the cost of your car, making it extortionately expensive for anyone under the age of 25. We decided to rectify this issue with an affordable car hire option for younger drivers – no strings attached.

Where in Switzerland is this offer available?

We have numerous branches that we can arrange this from, at both airport and city locations:
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Am I able to hire without a credit card?

Yes, we can arrange a debit card rental from any of the airport locations as of writing, and are currently working on arranging this for the downtown locations too. We also offer a very low deposit from this location, just 200 CHF (approx. £153 / €175) held on the debit / credit card on arrival and released back to you at the end of the hire. That’s a far cry from the standard 1500 CHF deposits you get with most suppliers!

Can I take the car cross-border?

With this option you can take the car into almost all EU countries for no extra fee. These include:

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Just make sure you let us know when booking so we can make all necessary arrangements.

Is there an extra charge for winter ready vehicles?

If you’re hiring in the winter months (November to March) all cars will come fully equipped with the winter pack as mandatory by law in Switzerland, so they will already be fitted with the correct tyres for harsh weather conditions. If you’re going up to the Alps for a skiing holiday too you can also hire snow chains or a ski rack at the desk.

Please ensure you contact us directly for this option too as it’s not available to book on the website – you can contact us via email to sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or call us on 0113 88 00 748.

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Car Hire With A Debit Card In Fiji Now Available

car hire fiji with a debit card

We are happy to announce that we are now able to offer debit card car hire on the main island of Fiji, an tropical paradise in the South Pacific.

The Fiji Archipelago consists of over 300 islands – known as “The Soft Coral Capital of the World”, it’s abundance of impressive coral reefs and marine wildlife make it a front runner for scuba diving and snorkelling holidays. Fiji is also popular for its pristine white sand beaches and tropical temperatures year-round, so there’s still plenty for the less adventurous of us!

Which locations can I hire from?

We can help from a few branches on the largest main Island of Viti Levi – namely the capital city, Suva, both in the airport and city centre. We can also help from the popular tourist city Nadi, again both from the airport and city.

How large is the deposit hold on the card?

We have luckily managed to arrange a very low deposit option, so the deposit hold would just be 500.00 FJD (only around £183 / €207). This would be the same on all car groups, from the mini size to the SUV’s and 9-seaters.

Other Services Available At These Location:

We have quite a few other offers available in conjunction with this option:

Young driver car hire: We can offer this for anyone over the age of 21 with a licence held for 2+ years. The best part though is that we can offer this with no young driver fee – so you don’t have to worry about paying double the cost just because you are under 25!

One-way car hire: As long as the car remains on the main island, we can arrange a rental with different drop off locations, between the two main cities and Coral Coast.

As always, please get in touch with us directly for these options as they are not available on the website, you can call us on 0044 (0) 1138800748 or email us to sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk.

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Debit Card Car Hire in Malaysia Now Available

Low Deposit Car Hire in Malaysia

We are happy to announce that we have now managed to secure a debit card rental option with one of our suppliers in Malaysia, with multiple locations spanning across the mainland and the island of Borneo.

Travel and tourism is booming in Malaysia, they are currently ranked 9th in the world for most visiting tourists! This is not surprising when you consider the number of beautiful beaches, tropical islands and coral reefs, and that it’s also home to several World Heritage sites, such as the historic cities of Malacca and George Town.

Where in Malaysia can I rent with just a debit card?

We have locations at almost all the major cities on the mainland and Borneo, take a look below for the full list:

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Do I have to have a large deposit held on my card?

Not at all! The deposit amount on all vehicles is just 500 MYR – which converts to just £92 or €106 at today’s exchange rate. This is just held on your card for the hire and released after returning the vehicle.

What are the age requirements?

The driver just has to be at least 23 years old to rent in this location, with no young driver’s fee to be charged either. If you have any other questions, or with to arrange a rental in Malaysia with a debit card, please contact us on 0113 88 00 748 or at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk, as it is always best to discuss you requirements with us before booking.

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Exclusive VW & Skoda Lease Deals

VW & SKODA LEASE DEALS

If you are in the market for a short term lease or longer term rental then we have a fantastic package for you. We have teamed up with Volkswagen and Skoda to bring you exclusive monthly lease deals.

With a minimum term of just 3 months, these packages are ideal for those waiting for a new car to be delivered from the manufacturer, company car drivers awaiting their new choice or even employers looking for a GAP vehicle for a new employee.

All rates are per calendar month and include VAT and fully comprehensive insurance. The mileage cap is a good one at 2,000 miles per month and if you were to go over this, its just 15p per mile. This is a full drive away package unlike the typical lease deals that mean you have to insure the vehicle yourself.

There are various collection points around the UK or delivery can be arranged subject to a small charge if over a certain distance from the nearest location.

The Vehicles

The vehicles available are the same ones that you will find on our No Credit Check Leasing Page

Trim levels can vary but this will be confirmed with you when booking the vehicle. Remember, the above prices are inclusive of Insurance and VAT. These vehicles are not available to book online. You can complete the enquiry form here, call us on 0113 88 00 748 or email us on sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk

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New Car Hire Deals In Jamaica

jamaica car hire deals

We have teamed up with a new car hire supplier in Jamaica and this means we have access to much better deals when it comes to hiring a car on this beautiful Caribbean Island.

One of the benefits of using a local company rather than a big international brand or franchise is that they can set their own terms and policies and do not have to follow the rules put in place by a CEO that is sitting behind a desk in a lovely office a thousand miles away. These smaller business owners know their market and tailor their business to suit the people who need and want to hire from them. Below are some brilliant examples of this:

Free Additional Driver

You can add a 2nd driver to your rental free of charge, you can also add a 3rd driver to the policy for just $3 USD per day. So if you intend to take in the sights or party like you are supposed to in Jamaica then having the option of another driver can be valuable.

Pay With A Debit Card

The vast majority of car hire suppliers require a credit card for the rental payment and deposit hold. This can exclude a lot of potential customers and this supplier has identified that by accepting debit cards, they could increase their target market. No need for a credit card here, just a valid debit card in the name of the main driver.

Low Deposit Car Hire

For the majority of rentals, the most costly part is the deposit. Although in most circumstances this amount is not taken from your card, its just held (frozen) similar to checking into a hotel. Some suppliers require a deposit upwards of $1,500 USD which to a lot of people is not affordable. The standard deposit here with all vehicles is $750 USD, this can be reduced even further with additional insurances to $250 USD.

Young Driver Car Hire

The standard age restrictions apply with most suppliers in Jamaica. Typically if you are under 25 or over 75 then you will struggle to hire a vehicle. However, with our supplier we can offer car rental to those the age of 21 and 22 with just a small additional fee of $6 USD per day, 23 and 24 year old’s can be insured with no extra charge at all providing you have held your driving licence for 12 months or more.

Collecting A Hire Car In Jamaica

All of the above are available from 3 depots in Jamaica. Norman Manley Airport, Sangster International Airport and Kingston Town. Delivery can also be arranged to private addresses or hotels.

None of the above deals are guaranteed when booking online, we cannot be certain you will be matched with the correct supplier unless you contact us before making a booking. You can call us on 0113 88 00 748, email us on sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or chat with our reservations team online.

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Top 5 Most Popular Hire Cars

There are so many options when it comes to choosing hire cars but it’s often the case that a lot of people request the same cars. Here at Indigo we get many requests for different cars however these are our top five most common requests by a long shot.

#5 VW Passat

The Passat is a very tidy business like car. A comfortable interior and a smooth drive it comes as no surprise that the Passat is the 5th most requested car. The car comes with such a variety of options to choose from such as a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, or the optional 3.6-liter V-6, which includes 4-motion all-wheel drive there’s a Passat for everyone from business too family.

#4 Ford Focus

A casual front wheel drive car suitable for most occasions, it’s quite an average size car and its quite compact giving it the easy travel through cities and towns making it a popular option for customers. It’s a five door hatchback suitable for most journeys and it also has a good miles per gallon ratio making it cost effective and a popular choice.

#3 Vauxhall Corsa

The Vauxhall Corsa is an exceptionally easy drive and great for parking and driving in small spaces as it’s a fairly small car. This 3 door hatch back is a quick comfortable option if you’re going for a three door, it’s not very spacious as it’s a small car however when hiring it is a very affordable option which shows in its popularity.

#2 Ford Fiesta

Coming with tens of different options the ford fiesta is pretty much fully customisable from 3 door hatchbacks to 5 door, both manual and automatic options it’s a great choice so it’s not surprising it’s the second most popular rented vehicles there is a constant stream of requests for ford fiestas.

#1 VW Golf

I can’t begin to tell you how many requests there are for golfs; it is by far the most requested vehicle beating the ford fiesta by a long shot. A great small car with a comfortable ride and beautiful exterior it can be used for absolutely any kind of drive, smart enough to be a business car and fast enough to put a smile on anyone’s face the golf is the only truly all-rounder. It’s hard to fault the golf in anything making it the number one most popular hired car.

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Top 5 Seaside Hotels In England

The Pig on the Beach, Dorset

The latest addition to The Pig litter has just opened on Dorset’s scenic Studland Bay. The group’s first beach hotel follows a country house in the New Forest, a city pad in Southampton, and a rural retreat in the Mendip Hills just outside Bath. Opened within the shell of the old Manor House Hotel, it features uninterrupted views of dune-backed sands and the sea. Decked out in the same shabby-chic style as its sister properties, it contains 23 rooms, with rustic wooden floorboards, four-poster beds, botanical prints and soft, pastel shades. Elsewhere, expect a greenhouse-style restaurant by chef James Golding that uses produce from the hotel’s kitchen garden and a dinky spa concealed within two converted sheep huts.

The Mizen Head, Northumberland

This restaurant-with-rooms sits in the tiny village of Bamburgh on the sweeping Northumberland coast. Freshly-caught seafood and fine-quality meats are the order of the day, with dishes that range from seared scallops to lobster thermidor and Scottish Borders charcuterie. Roaring log fires, parquet floors, and a grand staircase give way to six rooms upstairs, furnished with either coastal or country views. Offshore, Lindisfarne and the Farne Islands beckon for coastal exploration.

Titchwell Manor, Norfolk

From the north Norfolk village of Brancaster, this hotel looks out across open marshes to the North Sea. Housed in a former Victorian farmhouse, it has been owned by the same team, Margaret and Ian Snaith, since 1988. Some of the rooms shrug off the traditional nautical palette of coastal hotels in favour of audacious, clashing colours, while others keep it calm and neutral. Downstairs, there are two restaurants, the Eating Rooms and the Conservatory, both run by the Snaith’s son, Eric.

The Scarlet, Cornwall

The Scarlet stands above Mawgan Porth beach on the north Cornwall coast, with an adults-only policy that makes it ideal for a romantic getaway. Add to that a sought-after spa – with tented treatment rooms, an indoor pool and a clifftop hot tub – and you’re in couples heaven. Each of the rooms boasts its own outdoor patch, from private courtyards to garden terraces and balconies. Many cast their eyes across the Atlantic, while those that don’t will find the sea waiting through the windows of the hotel’s restaurant

The Gallivant, East Sussex

The Gallivant prides itself on bringing a slice of the Hamptons to the shores of Sussex. Set back from dunes of Camber Sands, it’s decked out in soothing coastal colours of blues and whites. Rooms come with homely touches: books, beach bags, and regularly refilled cookie jars. Downstairs, there’s a Larder of Guilty Pleasures for guests to tuck into and a seafood restaurant by Ben Fisher, who trained under Thomas Keller of the French Laundry. Food is sourced from within a 30-mile radius, supplied by local fishermen and farmers.

Car Hire In UK

If you plan to travel to any of these hotels and don’t have your own car to get there, why not hire a car? We will find you the best car hire deal to keep your prices as low as possible. If you are interested in hiring a car in the UK or anywhere else in the world for that matter, please contact us.

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Top 5 Campsites In The UK For Families

Top 5 Campsites In The UK For Families

After my recent camping trip to north Wales, I decided to do some research on some of the best campsites in the UK for my next holiday. On reading reviews and comparing activities for the kids ect, here are my Top 5 Campsites In The UK For Families.

1. Trellyn Woodland Campsite, Pembrokeshire

Trellyn Woodland Campsite’s location is hard to beat. Not only does it lie within 10 miles of a dozen coves and beaches and barely 100 yards from the Pembrokeshire Coast Path at Abercastle, but you are also within easy striking distance of St David’s, Ramsey Island (ramseyisland.co.uk) and the reconstructed Iron Age hill fort of Castell Henylls (castellhenllys.com). The campsite itself has plenty to keep you occupied, whether it’s stargazing around the campfire or learning how to make fire yourself on one of Trellyn’s three-hour bushcraft courses (from £15 per person). There are just five pitches, each with its own picnic table and campfire, while the Dragon Tipi has a double bed, two futons and a separate campfire kitchen. Upping the glamping stakes, the yurts have oak floors and handcrafted furniture, while the modern and spacious geodomes have panoramic windows and wood-burning stoves.

2. Harvest Moon Holidays, North Berwick

Choose between luxury tree houses and safari tents at Harvest Moon Holidays’ fabulous new glamping site on Lochhouses Farm, adjoining the John Muir Country Park, east of Edinburgh. With sweeping views across sand dunes towards gannet-festooned Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth, this is a great spot for free spirited families who love the great outdoors. The big empty beaches are irresistible, whether you’ve brought a bucket and spade or your own horse (£12 per night). Onsite there’s a farm shop, campfire and a kids’ corner with ducks, rabbits, lambs and other cuddlies. Boasting an internal area of 40sq m, the seven safari tents sleep up to eight and feature en suite toilets and hot showers, a fully equipped kitchen with Belfast sink, pine dresser and wood-burning stove, plus a lounge/dining area that opens onto a covered veranda. The seven tree houses are actually cabins on stilts just 2m off the ground, but they are just as stylish and beautifully furnished as the safari tents, with covered walkways connecting the sleeping and living areas. Kids love the integral hammock and swings.

3. Wild Boar Wood Campsite, Sussex

This is not glamping. It’s ‘real camping made easy’. At least that’s how the owners of Wild Boar Wood Campsite, a leafy retreat in West Sussex, prefer to describe their nine fully equipped bell tents. The luxury here is not about hot tubs or feather duvets, but a chance to really get away from it all. Apart from the occasional shrill whistle from the Bluebell Line as it trundles past the edge of the five-acre wood, this is back-to-nature camping, complete with a full cast of wildlife. In fact, the campsite is so secluded that you won’t even be told its exact location until your booking is confirmed. Each of the pre-erected tents is equipped with beds and cooking equipment. The onsite warden ensures everyone’s a happy camper – whether it’s delivering firewood for your barbecue or offering advice on days out. Nearby family-friendly attractions include Bodiam Castle and the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum.

4. Shieling Holidays, Isle Of Mull

With wonderful views over the Sound of Mull and across Loch Linnhe towards Ben Nevis, Shieling Holidays’ grassy campsite on the Isle of Mull is a short stroll from the ferry pier at Craignure. You can watch the CalMac ferry coming and going from Oban and listen out for the whistle of the narrow-gauge steam train that trundles back and forth between Craignure and Torosay Castle. There’s even the possibility of glimpsing seals, porpoises and otters from your tent, although you’ll get a better chance of seeing wildlife, including eagles, on a safari with Island Encounters. Named after the summer cottages of Highland shepherds, white canvas tents known as shielings bring a touch of original glamping to the site with their carpets, wood-burning stoves, real beds (up to six per tent) and self-contained bathrooms and kitchens. All you need to bring is bedding, cooking and eating utensils – or, if you prefer to travel a bit lighter, you can hire them from the campsite.

5. Woodland Tipis and Yurts, Dewchurch

Woodland Tipis and Yurts is located on a farm in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Little Dewchurch, Herefordshire. It has six Mongolian yurts and three traditional Sioux Native American tepees tucked into woods less than a mile from the River Wye. It’s the kind of place where youngsters can run wild with the woodland fairies, building them miniature wigwams of sticks and leaves decorated with petals and feathers. The six-acre ancient woodland is also a den-builder’s paradise. Hop over a stile and you find yourself on a grassy hillside that’s ideal for picnics. Each tepee or yurt sleeps up to six people, has an outdoor fire pit, picnic table and hammock. Inside, there’s a cosy jumble of rugs, sheepskins and mattresses, plus a king-size bed and a wood-burning stove. In addition to the two well-equipped kitchen shelters, there are separate bake houses with traditional earth ovens – perfect for making pizzas.

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4×4’s & Winter Tyres: Which do I need?

4x4 with winter tyres

Hiring a car in the winter period can be quite an arduous task, with conflicting information all over the internet on what is mandatory when and where. Hopefully the below will help clear this up and simplify it for you.

Winter Tyres:

Winter Tyres are tyres made from a different compound that prevents the rubber from hardening in low temperatures – ideal for driving in harsh conditions. There are quite a lot of countries that do indeed require winter tyres throughout the winter period (typically 30th November – 1st March). It is important to note that when collecting a car in certain countries during this time the car will come already fully equipped with winter tyres, here is a list of those countries:

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If you are collecting a car elsewhere and taking the car into one of the above countries then you need to make sure you hire a car with guaranteed winter tyres – for example winter tyres are not often guaranteed in France, even near the Alps, but we can arrange an option with them if you speak to us directly, allowing you to take the car into Switzerland. One that trips a lot of people up in particular is Geneva Airport, as you can end up hiring a car from the French side without winter tyres and then take it directly into Switzerland – which can cause huge problems! There are also countries that don’t require winter tyres but do require at least snow chains, such as most of Northern Italy. If in doubt, it’s worth just contacting us directly so we can advise you on what is and what isn’t necessary.

Another important distinction to make is that winter tyres and all-weather tyres are not the same thing. When they are fully sold out of winter tyre options some suppliers will encourage you to take all-weather tyres instead, however these would not be accepted if you are taking the car into a country that requires fitted winter tyres.

4×4 Rental Cars

4×4’s on the other hand are not mandatory anywhere really, except for very niche cases like specific roads in Iceland during the summer months. This means that when you are renting a car with winter tyres it’s not guaranteed to be a 4×4 also. That being said, it’s undeniable that a 4×4 is much preferred if you do have to drive in winter conditions, so while not necessary we can still arrange these at most locations on request. In countries like France where winter tyres are not mandatory it can also be an easier / cheaper option to rent a 4×4 instead of a car with winter tyres.

Hopefully this has provided some clarity on winter tyres for you, but again feel free to contact us directly if you have any further questions, or if you are looking for a hire with guaranteed winter tyres or 4WD. You can contact us directly via email to sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or by phone on 0113 88 00 748.

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