Robert Gillespie, Author at Indigo Car Hire

All You Need To Know About Renting Vehicles With Tow Bars

June 20, 2014 Robert Gillespie Tow Bar, UK Comments Off

“Towing” the line with Indigo – All you need to know about renting vehicles with tow bars.

As summer approaches, there are many reasons you may want to hire vehicle with tow bar. Caravans, horseboxes, and trailers are the main reasons our clients need a special vehicle and British people certainly do have a penchant for taking to the great outdoors and the freedom and variety a holiday on the open road can offer.

Despite demand, renting vehicles with tow bars can be problematic as not every company offers this service. The fact that probability of damage to a tow vehicle is higher due to whatever is attached to it means that insurance liability is increased and many hire companies simply do not offer the option.

However, here at Indigo we are pleased to be able offer the service to our clients. We can offer a wide range of 4×4 vehicles and double cab pick-ups that will suit your needs. We only use vehicles from top manufacturers such as Mercedes, VW, Audi, Volvo and Ford and these are offered at certain locations throughout the UK. These are:

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So what happens if you do not live near any of these locations? Don’t worry; in many cases we can arrange vehicle hire with tow bar near me of the vehicle, so it is important that you contact us to see what we have to offer.

Summer is of course the most popular time to rent vehicles with tow bars, especially for touring holidays. Due to the limited availability of such vehicles it is essential that you book in good time to avoid disappointment. You must be over 25, have been driving for more than 2 years, and have a clean driving licence. You also need to meet the legal requirements for towing, and if you have any query on this please contact us for expert advice before you book.

All tow bars on our vehicles will be fitted with either the standard single 7 pin or new European 13 pin socket, but again, if you are unsure about which type of tow bar that you need please contact us and we will be happy to advise.

If you are planning on a touring holiday and rent car with tow bar, we can still help but you must let us know this before you book. At Indigo our strengths are transparent pricing, all inclusive quotes and excellent customer service, we offer a call back service or an online chat service to make your booking, and it is always advisable to speak to us directly if you have any particular requirements such as needing a towing vehicle.

If you are interested in hiring a car and need some guidance in terms of vehicles with tow bars or indeed any other special requirements then our reservation agents will be happy to assist you. Contact us directly by calling +44 (0)113 880 0748 or emailing us at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk and we will get right back to you.

Convertible Car Hire

June 19, 2014 Robert Gillespie Fun Stuff, Spain, UK, USA Comments Off

TOP DOWN, SUN ON YOUR FACE, WIND THROUGH YOUR HAIR-SOUNDS GOOD? -WHY NOT RENT A CONVERTIBLE?

There are not many better feelings than those driving a convertible can give you- weather permitting of course!! Although the weather in the UK is not often condusive to open top driving, if you are jetting off to sunnier climes and are thinking of renting a car, you may be surprised at the range of convertibles we have to offer at Indigo Car Hire, at very competitive prices.

You work hard all year, and your holiday is the time to pamper yourself and let your hair down, and you can do both in a fabulous convertible which will make you feel like a film star as you make the most of your well-deserved break. Maybe at last the kids are older and not going with you, so you dont´t have to think about a “sensible” car any more. Or maybe you don´t have children yet so have a little bit more budget to spend on yourself. Or perhaps you just feel like showing off a bit and why not.

At Indigo we can provide most types of converibles, from low end to prestige, both in the UK and abroad. Audi, Opel, Peugeot, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and even Porche and Jaguar convertibles and coupes can be rented from us if your heart so desires and your budget allows.

Some destinations are just made for convertibles. Make your American road trip Thelma and Louise Style, or meander through the pretty villages of Europe with the top down, sky over your head and a good view of everything. Even if your holiday is more City based, show off in a convertible as you drive around. Night time driving in a warm country after the sun has gone done with your music loud will certainly attract romantic attention if that is what you are looking for!!

The Costa Blanca in Spain is another perfect destination for driving a convertible. Heavy traffic is unlikely even in the peak season, so it is the perfect place to make the most of your ultimate driving experience. Driving south along the coast road from Alicante airport the view is fantastic of the beaches, the salt lakes, and you can make the most of this with an unrestricted view. Other ideal convertible destinations are Italy, France, Greece, Cyprus – all are ideal holidays with picturesque views for you to really enjoy driving while you are there.

A Peugot 308 convertible will cost you approximately 400 euros for six days in August, the peak season, from Alicante airport, and a Fiat 500 covertible only 295, which is excellent value for the time of year. Remember also that in Spain convertible weather probably starts May/June time and continues through to October, and the same Peugeot car would cost you only around 240 euros in September.

Why not treat yourself? If you don´t, who else will?

If you are interested in hiring a car and need some guidance in terms of convertibles then our reservation agents will be happy to assist you. Contact us directly by calling +44 (0)113 880 0748 or emailing us at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk and we will get right back to you.

Worried About Luggage Space?

June 18, 2014 Robert Gillespie Car Hire Tips Comments Off

When you come to hiring a car there are several different concerns that you may have, one of which is the space that you will have in order to fit your luggage in the vehicle. Since hired cars are different models to the cars you may own or have owned previously you are left unfamiliar with the amount of luggage space that is available.

Generally we cannot tell you which specific vehicle you will receive but we have a couple of suggestions based on luggage size, we wanted to particularly focus on informing people of the size of vehicles they should hire if they have a large amount of luggage.

The two options are people carriers and estates but what’s the best option for you?

People Carriers
These are cars such as the Vauxhall Zafira, Ford Galaxy or similar. There are two types of people carriers, the large true 7 seaters and the 5+2 seaters. The larger 7 seaters fit more luggage than the smaller ones, on the booking engine you can see what the suggested amount of luggage is, as an example…

Peugeot 5008’s, Vauxhall Zafira’s, Citroen C4 Picasso and Renault Scenic’s will hold roughly 7 pieces of standard size luggage.

Volkswagen Sharan’s and Ford Galaxy’s will hold one or two more than the smaller models listed above.

Estate Cars
We suggest estate cars if you are only up to 5 people but are carrying a large amount of luggage. Estates are essentially standard sized cars with an increased size boot in order to fit more luggage in, Estates fit on average around 6-8 pieces of luggage. Some fit slightly more than others like the BMW 5 Series Estate fits more than the Mercedes C Class Estate, you can find out a bit more about some of the estate cars in our fleet by clicking this link

We do however have a supplier in the UK that can guarantee a vehicle model, so if you are looking for something specific that you maybe familir with or have heard good things about then simply get in touch.

If you are still stuck on what vehicle you will need for the amount of luggage you have our expert reservations team will help you choose and suggest options for you whilst also finding you the best price. You can contact us on +44 (0)113 880 0748 or email us at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk and we will be glad to help.

New Mercedes C-Class Available from Avis

June 17, 2014 Robert Gillespie UK Comments Off

Avis have updated their prestige fleet with the new C-Class from Mercedes and it is available from all of their locations in the UK.

There’s plenty of standard equipment on the new Mercedes C-Class, including a reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers, Attention Assist, Speedtronic cruise control, heated windscreen wiper washers, a tyre pressure monitoring system and Collision Prevention Assist Plus as standard.

The Agility Select system is also included, allowing the driver to choose from five driving modes – Comfort, Eco, Sport, Sport+ and Individual.

The C-Class was officially revealed at an exclusive event on the eve of the Detroit Motor Show. The new, fifth-generation model is far more than just another posh compact saloon – it’s set to be the most efficient, refined and dynamic model in its class.

Michael McInerney, fleet director, Avis UK, commented: ‘As people increasingly look to hire premium cars for both business and leisure, we’re delighted to add the Mercedes C-Class C200 Sport Saloon Auto to our fleet. Whether for a city break or a longer tour across the country, it’s the perfect choice for those looking for a luxury driving experience.’

If you are looking for something extra special when hiring a car or maybe you are interested in buying one and would like an extended test drive then please get in touch, we can arrange rentals of this new model at many locations throughout the UK. You can call us on +44 (0)113 880 0748, chat with us online or email us on sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk.

Young Drivers In Sweden

June 16, 2014 Robert Gillespie Sweden Comments Off

Great news for Young Drivers In Sweden or those under 25 that are visiting, we have arranged a great deal with a large supplier that will see the costs of hiring a car tumble for those under the age of 25.

Until now, hiring a car in Sweden was a tough task for those of us under the magic age of 25 and even when it could be arranged it came with a hefty daily surcharge of upto £25 per day, sometimes more then the cost of the car itself.

The deal we have arranged means that drivers from the age of 19 can hire a vehicle with no additional surcharge providing they have held their licence for more than a year and are resident in Sweden.

For those who do not live in Sweden the same deal applies but from the age of 21.

Couple this with another deal we have available with this supplier like a low deposit and you stand to save a substantial amount of money when travelling, an extra bonus being that you can pay for the rental with a debit card for those who do not hold a credit card or those that want to avoid high international credit card fee’s.

These deals are available at all of their 80+ locations in Sweden, including all major airports.

If you are looking to hire a car in Sweden, then speak to the experts at Indigo. Call us on +44 (0)113 880 0748, chat with us online or email us on sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk.

Friday The 13th, The Cheapest Day To Fly

June 13, 2014 Robert Gillespie Fun Stuff Comments Off

Today is Friday the 13th is the most economic day to get on a plane, an airline booking site has said, suggesting that superstition keeps some of the general public from taking to the skies.

The average price of a domestic return flight during June was £233, according to the well known flight booking website but, for those brave enough to travel today, this fell by £52, with tickets on June 13th costing just £181 on average. The website claims it is the cheapest day to fly this month.

The search engine processes more than one billion queries annually and has concluded that prices have been driven back by superstition based on search trends from around the world.

Today is the only Friday 13th in 2014.

The day apparently worries fliers in other European countries too, with prices on Friday 13th being the cheapest over the whole month in France, Austria and Sweden also.

The average price of domestic return flights in France dropped by £53 on Friday 13th and in Austria by £24. Swedes seem to be the most nervous fliers, with the average price of a domestic flight on that day there falling by £89.

For domestic return flights in the UK, the average prices either side of this Friday were £258 on Wednesday 11th , £239 on the 12th, £203 on Saturday 14th and £223 on Sunday 15th.

Fear of Friday 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia as we have discussed on our blog before.

Some hotels don’t number their 13th floor but give it a name instead, such as the “pool floor” at the Radisson Hotel in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Just how superstitious are travellers? Not enough to convince airlines to do away with row 13 in their cabins.

“A lot of the rumours are simply urban myths in the aviation industry,” a British Airways spokesman said. “All our aircraft have a row 13.”

He went on to suggest that British Airways flights do not follow the booking pattern that the flight booking website discovered either.

“Prices are not cheaper on Friday 13th,” he added, “if anything they usually go up slightly at the end of the week due to demand.”

What do you think? Would you be worried to travel on Friday the 13th or would you be happy to save a few pounds and have the plane to yourself?

Family Travel – How To Save Money On The Essentials

June 12, 2014 Robert Gillespie Car Hire Tips Comments Off

Family holidays are expensive. This is not only because of the fact that families mean the cost of a holiday for several people and all that entails, flight, accomodation, spending money, clothes, car hire (bigger car) etc. On top of this, when you have children, you are obliged to book your holiday in the most expensive times of the year, the school holidays. So you are already paying premium prices. Here at Indigo we are committed to help you cut down on those expenses as far as possible. We have families too, and we have sourced some great ways of saving money on car hire optional extras.

Following on from our recent blog about child seats, if you are hiring a car and you have children with you, car booster seats are not optional they are essential. Car hire companies normally will rent out these items for what is at first glance a nominal daily rate, but when added up over say a 2 week holiday can cost as much as 140 pounds, ie 10 pounds per day.

Much more cost effective is to simply take your own. Something you may not be aware of is that most airlines allow you to take 2 items of child/baby equipment per child onboard extra to your normal baggage requirements and at no extra charge. These could be car seats, booster seats, buggies, push chairs or travel cots with EasyJet.

Alternatively with Monarch infants are allowed 10 kilos baggage allowance and travel cots are weighed as part of it but any other items are free. However they do allow you to combine the 10 kilos with your own allowance. Ryanair doesn´t give any checked or hand baggage for infants, and only allows one fully collapsible child travel item free of charge, every other item has to be either within your allowance or paid for separately.

Therefore it is essential to check with the individual airline for their policy, probably before you book your flight as you are calculating the total cost of your holiday. Although the flight might be cheaper with another airline, when you have calculated other costs you may find it is better to go with the more expensive flight with the more relaxed baggage allowance.

Another option is to buy one while you are there. In most countries there are hypermarkets, shopping centres etc where you can pick up items much cheaper than the cost of renting. Here are a few options for sale here in the UK to take along:

Fisher-Price Safe Voyage Infant Carrier Moonlight – £51.99.
Perfect for carrying infants in the car who are up to 13kg, the seat also has built in impact protection in the sides for extra safety. Also within the seat is a body support cushion that is suitable for new borns.

Pampero Plus Cosisafe Baby Car Seat – £31.49.
This baby car seat is suitable for new borns up to 12 months old, it offers extreme comfort with deeply padded fabric and ensures that every journey is comfortable. It’s also very lightweight with a comfy carrying handle and several safety features.

Britax Baby – Safe Car Seat Chili Pepper – £69.99.
Ensuring comfort and security is the main aspects of this Britax baby car seat model, it has soft padded wings and is also compatible with Britax Push chairs with a click and go feature. Safety is a main priority in this baby seat and its evident with the collision padding and head support.

As far as foreign countries are concerened, a little investigation online beforehand is all you would need to find the local hypermarkets, but of course you will need your seats from leaving the airport so you will need them with you on the plane. However, maybe other items such as travel cots etc could be bought there.

Basically we can see that a little bit of research prior to booking your flights and car hire for your holiday can help to save you money and make your life easier. Although it is great to go on holiday with the family, the travelling part is probably not the best bit!! Children get bored and restless at airports etc when they are waiting around so taking along entertainment, drinks and snacks is also a good idea. Buying food and drink at airports normally requires a second mortgage so just a little bit of planning and a picnic bag can help you save that money to spend on better things when you get there.

If you are interested in hiring a car and need some guidance in terms of baby seats then our reservation agents will be happy to assist you. Contact us directly by calling +44 (0)113 880 0748 or emailing us at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk and we will get right back to you.

Great News At Stansted Airport

June 11, 2014 Robert Gillespie UK Comments Off

We have just received some great news about the Avis/Budget location at Stansted Airport, for as long as we can remember it has been a franschise location under the Budget brand. This means although the franchisee has certain guidelines to stick to, they can pretty much run the business as they please.

This didnt go down well with our cutomers in the early days as they were used to the high levels of service generally received at other Avis locations but time and time again the feedback we got was not good. Generally surrounding the specific terms the location had in place such as, high deposits, expensive excess reduction, age limits and dubious damage charges.

Now that this location has fallen back under the Avis brand we are confident in an improvement in all areas and on top of that the general terms of business that Avis work to such as, low deposits, cheaper insurance costs, high levels of customer service and high quality vehicles.

If you are flying into the Stansted Airport and are looking to hire a car, then speak to the experts at Indigo. Call us on +44 (0)113 880 0748, chat with us online or email us on sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk.

Orlando: Not Just Walt Disney World

June 11, 2014 Robert Gillespie Travel News, USA Comments Off

As soon as we hear the word Orlando, we immediately think of the world famous Walt Disney World, which is what really put Orlando on the global map. However, Orlando has many other attractions for children and adults alike and here at Indigo we have put together 10 of the best of them that you may want to visit durung your stay.

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT: A huge complex packed with rides, shops and restaurants.

CIRQUE DE SOLEIL: A fantastic show comprising of music, gymnastics and thatr.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTRE: Get an inside look at the people and technology that conquered space.

ST AUGUSTINE CITY: Spanish colonial city, the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in North America. A must for fans ofhistory.

HARRY P.LEU GARDENS: The “Land of Flowers”, 40 acres of them!!

PLAYA LINDA: In Spanish this name literally means “pretty beach”. 24 miles of undeveloped publich beach, here you can see nesting turtles from May to October.

YBOR CITY: The home of Cuban cigar production and a lovely historic city to visit.

FANTASY OF FLIGHT: Orlando´s answer to the Air and Space museum.

SEAWORLD: See and touch the inhabitants of the ocean, learn more about the planet, and ride two fabulous roller coasters.

ORLANDO MUSEUM OF ART AND THE SCIENCE CENTRE: Watch some Shakespeare in the Shakespeare theatre, look at some nice paintings and be blinded by science.

Passenger Numbers Rising Rapidly At Manchester Airport

June 10, 2014 Robert Gillespie UK Comments Off

Over 2 million passengers travelled through the gates at Manchester Airport in May this year as summer moved into full swing, which was over 7% higher than the same time in 2013.

The bumper month saw travellers enjoying two long bank holidays as well as the school half term holidays.

Significantly, May also saw annual passenger numbers break through the Airport’s 21 million target, with Singapore Airlines carrying the 21 millionth passenger from the Northern gateway.

Now, Manchester Airport is confident that it can reach and exceed its all-time peak of 22 million passengers, achieved in 2007 – and is on track to hit this figure in the next 18 months.

Ken O’Toole, chief commercial officer for MAG, owner of Manchester Airport, said: “Reaching the milestone of carrying our 21 millionth passenger has been a significant achievement for us, and is a result of a huge amount of hard work in bringing airlines and passengers back to Manchester.

“We aim to continue that pattern and have already set the conditions for further growth here that will build on what we’ve already achieved.”

The month also saw the inaugural FlyNas to Jeddah flight take-off, along with a brand new American Airlines flight to Charlotte in North Carolina, USA, which is one of the largest hubs in America that connects passengers across North and South America.

Jet2.com also launched its new service to Vienna in Austria, a previously unserved European capital city, which the airport was keen to add to the route network for passengers using Manchester.

O’Toole added: “The new routes launched in May, together with exciting new destinations planned for 2015, will help us win back more passengers here in the North who still do not use Manchester as their departure airport of choice.

“The 22 million mark is our next target, but we are confident that Manchester can continue to deliver growth for the region.”

All You Need To Know About Renting Vehicles With Tow Bars

Convertible Car Hire

Worried About Luggage Space?

New Mercedes C-Class Available from Avis

Young Drivers In Sweden

Friday The 13th, The Cheapest Day To Fly

Family Travel – How To Save Money On The Essentials

Great News At Stansted Airport

Orlando: Not Just Walt Disney World

Passenger Numbers Rising Rapidly At Manchester Airport

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