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Smoking In A Hire Car, What You Need To Know

December 12, 2019 Car Hire Industry News, Car Hire News, Car Hire Tips Comments Off on Smoking In A Hire Car, What You Need To Know
Smoking In A Hire Car

I have recently read a post on a very popular money savings website that claims Smoking In A Hire Car is illegal. Smoking in any car is only illegal when there are children in the car whether the car is a hire car, lease car, company car or your own personal car.

The law states that from 1st October 2015 it is illegal to smoke in a vehicle with an enclosed roof when someone under the age of 18 is present. Click here to read more on this.

When it comes to Smoking In A Hire Car specifically, the law is the same. However, you will find that in your terms and conditions it will state that smoking is against their company policy and rules. Just because you are within the law, does not mean they must allow you to smoke in their property.

Smoking In A Hire Car, What Could It Cost?

You will find that if signs of smoking in the vehicle are found, such as the smell or smoke residue then a fine will be issued, usually under the guise of a ‘cleaning charge’ This is typically between £50 and £150.

Another way you could potentially lose out is through your damage excess, if you were to damage the vehicle by burning a seat or carpet then they will class this as the same as accident damage and require you to pay. Even if you have a zero excess, smoking in the car will void your rights because you have broken the agreement outlined in the terms and conditions.

What About Vaping & E-Cigarettes

Vaping or using an e-cigarette in a rental car does not fall under the same law in the UK, the only law that could potentially be broken is driving without due care and attention. This could apply to someone filling up their vape, taking your hands of the wheel to light a cigarette or even eating while driving.

Our research shows that most rental suppliers do not cover ‘vaping’ in their terms but i’m sure this will happen soon. Your best bet is to ask the supplier when collecting the car. Whether it is allowed or not, if the car is returned smelling of smoke, flavoured vapour or anything else. You could be charged!

If you have any questions regarding hire cars then please contact our team of experts. They are ready and waiting to answer any queries you may have.

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Driving Across State Lines In A Rental Car

December 11, 2019 Canada, USA Comments Off on Driving Across State Lines In A Rental Car
car hire locations in Wales

Cross State Car Rental

It is very common that we get customers wanting to rent a car in the USA and travel around several states in the USA and sometimes cross the border into Canada. For this reason, we decided it would be a good idea to let you know what options are available when it comes to car rental for your road trip.

Car Rental Across State Lines?

As mentioned above it is a frequent occurrence that people request to rent a car and travel around multiple states. We are happy to announce that most vehicles rented in USA are eligible to drive throughout the USA and Canada with no restrictions and free of charge. The term most means that there are some restrictions with this, for example, vehicles classes like Exotics, Large Passenger, Cargo Vans and some other specialty vehicles are not eligible to travel into Canada. If you need any further confirmation on this, contact our team and we will be happy to answer any of your questions.

One Way Car Rental Across State Lines?

Yes, we can offer one way car rental across state lines. This means that if you would like to rent a car and take the famous Route 66 or any other USA road trip, you can drop off at the end point. This can save you a lot of time and means you don’t have to worry about planning a circular trip to drop off your car at the end.

Can I Rent A Car In USA And Travel Across The Border To Mexico?

Yes, this is possible when you book with us, however in order to cross into Mexico you are required to take extra insurance. This is because the standard insurance that comes when you rent a vehicle does not cover you while you are in Mexico. If you are considering travelling into Mexico, we recommend you contact our team so we can ensure you are with the right supplier and have the correct insurance.

If you are interested in any of the above offers, we suggest you call us before making a booking. This is because some of the offers are exclusive to certain suppliers. Our team will make sure you get selected with the supplier that best meets your needs to help you get the best price for your car rental. You can contact us by calling us on +44 (0)113 880 0748, emailing us at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or by using the live chat function.

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Car Hire In Norway with Winter Tyres

December 10, 2019 Norway, Winter, winter car rental Comments Off on Car Hire In Norway with Winter Tyres
Hiring A car in Holland with Winter Tyres

About Norway

Norway is appealing to many tourists, hence why millions of people visit every year. With natural beauty everywhere you look including Fjords, cliffs and waterfalls, if you are looking for the perfect photo, Norway is the place to be. Once home to Vikings, the country has lots of history and you can even see a 9th-century Viking ship that has been preserved at Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum.

There is also a handful of ski resorts you can visit if you want to hit the slopes. The best time for Skiing is in the Winter, if you choose to visit at this time of year, make sure you know the laws around driving in the Winter in Norway. We have compiled all the information you will need into this one blog to make it easy for you.

Are Winter Tyres A Legal Requirement In Norway?

Yes and no, the reason I say this is because in certain areas you are required to have them, however in some areas you do not need them. When you need them can also vary depending on the weather. We work with a supplier who can source Winter tyres and if it is a legal requirement this will be done automatically. If you are planning to hire a car in the winter in Norway, it is best to call us so we can deal with your individual needs.

Do I Need Snow Chains In Norway?

No, there is no legal requirement to have snow chains in your car when driving in Norway. However, if you plan to travel on high altitude roads or any road that is susceptible to heavy snow, it might be worth adding snow chains to your booking. You can add snow chains for around £15 per day.

What else do I need to consider?

If you are planning to take your own skis, you will need somewhere to store them while you travel. The easiest way is to add a ski rack to your car hire when you make your booking, this can be added for about £25 for the duration of your hire. Keep in mind that the ski racks only hold 2 sets of skis, should you need to accommodate more skis, it might be worth hiring a larger car.

Our cross border car hire offer allows you to travel across the border and into different countries. It is important to research the laws of any country you are going to visit as the laws may vary between countries. If you require anything else to meet the law of the country you are visiting, you must add this to your rental when booking.

We always recommend that you call us if you would like to book a car, especially if you have specific requirements. Our team of trained experts are always happy to answer your questions and concerns to make sure your car hire is as smooth as possible. Get in contact today!

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Debit Card Car Hire Ukraine

December 9, 2019 Debit Card Car Hire News, News, Ukraine Comments Off on Debit Card Car Hire Ukraine
Debit card car hire Ukraine

About Ukraine

Ukraine is nested in between several countries in Eastern Europe. The country spans over 600,000 square kilometers making it the largest country that lies entirely in Europe. In the summer many people jet off to the warm weather to the likes or Spain or Portugal, however Ukraine makes a great alternative. There is plenty to do, with the Motherland Monument, the Medieval Golden Gate and not to mention the countless ornate churches like you have never seen before. All that and in the Summer, you can expect the temperature to lie between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius, making it ideal to explore the sites.

As Ukraine is such a large country, there is bound to be plenty of travelling between visiting attractions, due to this, we think it is best to hire a car. A car gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace and not be tied to public transport times. You never know what a city has to offer and some places you may only spend a couple of hours whereas others you may want to spend the full day there, but you may not know until you arrive.

Debit Card Car Hire Ukraine

We have been looking for offers that we can arrange in Ukraine to help make car hire more accessible and bring the prices down. After some time, we managed to arrange one of our most popular deals at several locations across Ukraine. We are pleased to announce that we can now offer debit card car hire in Ukraine, providing that your card meets the restrictions set by the supplier. These restrictions can be confusing therefore we ask that you contact our team to find out if your card is eligible.

Where Can I Hire A Car Without A Credit Card In Ukraine?

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What other deals can I get in Ukraine?

We also managed to arrange a few other offers to help you get cheap car hire in Ukraine. If you plan to use any of these offers, we always suggest you contact us directly before booking. The reason for this is that all suppliers have the same offers available, so it is important we place you with the best supplier for you needs.

Young Driver Car Hire – Hiring a car as a driver when you’re under 25 years old can be hard. We have arranged an offer that allows drivers to hire a car from the age of 23 given that you have held your licence for at least 2 years.

Free Additional Driver– Driving isn’t the most enjoyable part of the holiday, especially for the driver. Take stress off the designated driver and add an additional driver for free so you can share the driving.

As previously mentioned, if you would like to book car hire in Ukraine or anywhere else in the world for that matter, we recommend you contact us today. Our expert team will make sure you understand the whole process to ensure you have a stress-free car hire experience.

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Customer Feedback Is Not Always As It Seems Pt2

December 8, 2019 feedback Comments Off on Customer Feedback Is Not Always As It Seems Pt2
customer feedback

Following on from our post in September regarding negative feedback, here is part 2 of the series. If you haven’t read the other post, you can find it here {Customer Feedback Is Not Always As It Seems}.

We are trying to highlight what impact a negative review can have on other potential customers and if they would feel the same having read both sides of the story.

Here is a review left on our Trustpilot profile.

Rating: 1/5
Title: It is SCAM
Review: We rented a car from them. They promised us that we won’t need a credit card and can rent a car using a debit card. The conversation went well, they charged us and emailed us voucher, the voucher clearly mentioned we needed a credit card, they booked us with europcar which refused to give us car because we didn’t have credit card. We called Indigocarhire, they refused to cancel our booking and refund our money. So basically we were left with charge on our card and no car. Their customer service is super arrogant and useless. It is a scam.

You can see this review and many others here.

Here is what actually happened.

Our customer contacted us direct from Faro Airport. They had a arrived with a booking with another supplier to be told that they would need a credit card or they could not hire a car. A quick google search and they found us, when dealing with enquiries for hiring with a debit card we have solid procedures in place to ensure we can help.

First of all we have to check that the card is a valid Visa or Mastercard and not a Visa Electron or Electronic Use only card. Then we have to check that the words/numbers on the card are embossed and not printed. These are the 2 most important factors, we cannot take the enquiry any further until we have asked these questions. This customer confirmed that his card was a Visa Debit card with embossed numbers and after further checks he met the other criteria.

The reason for this is because any car rental supplier can take payment for the rental cost on pretty much any card. But, when you arrive to collect the car the deposit must be left by a specific type of card to give the supplier added security. Pre-Paid cards and electronic use card offer none of this.

We went ahead and made the booking for the customer, dealing with bookings when the customer is effectively standing at the rental desk already presents its own problems, how we normally have to give suppliers 2 hours notice for a booking. This was overcome by giving the supplier a quick call. The issue this causes is that making a booking for this minute means the system will ‘lock the booking in’ at the agreed collection time and when card details are entered the rental cost is taken. We explained to the customer very clearly, if he wishes to cancel this booking and get a refund then it has to be done before the booking is locked in, before the time he is supposed to collect the vehicle.

So the customer now has a booking with a supplier that is in a position to help in his situation. He approaches the rental desk with his email confirmation and when prompted, he supplied his card to leave a deposit. The card he gave the rental assistant was a Visa Debit Card from a bank we have never heard of with the words “ELECTRONIC USE ONLY” printed in large letters across the top.

Rather than calling us before the collection time to let us know of the issue, he decided to argue the point with the rental assistant. By the time we were made aware of this issue, it was too late.

Our team went above and beyond to speak to the rental assistant and come up with a way for our customer to be able to drive away and enjoy his time in Portugal. In the end he was pretty lucky, on another day or if there was another rental assistant on duty he may well have not received a car or indeed a refund. but, with a little bit of sweet talking we managed to save the day.

So, i’m sure you can understand how surprised we were to read the above review when it was posted a day later. Accusing us of a scam, leaving out what lengths we went to to get him a car even though all of the issues that arose were because of the mis-information he provided to us, and indeed the supplier he had originally booked with.

Could We Have Dealt With This Differently / Will We Next Time?

We are not posting these reviews to single people out or to make ourselves feel good, the idea is that people will read them and have a better understanding of why we ask for such information and why it is so important that we have an accurate picture of our customers requirements.

We do this for a living and have learned so much over the last 9 years. We ask every question we possibly can, but aside from breaking regulations and asking for a photo of the card, there is no way for us to know if the information being given to us is correct.

Thankfully these events are not the norm, in-fact they are very rare. If this review and indeed this post can help us avoid it happening again then we have helped ourselves and our customers who are our #1 priority.

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No Young Driver Additional Fee Faro Airport

December 7, 2019 Car Hire Offers, Portugal News Comments Off on No Young Driver Additional Fee Faro Airport
Young driver car hire Faro Airport no additional fee

Young Driver Car Hire At Faro Airport

If you want to hire a car under the age of 25 it can be very hard as majority of suppliers will not allow you to hire as a young driver. This can obviously be problematic as the young driver threshold is 25 years old which is fairly high, we get several requests for young driver car hire all over the world but there are a few particularly popular locations one of which being Faro Airport.

Faro Airport is one of Portugal’s main international airports with 5.7 million passengers travelling to the popular tourist locations. We have announced several times previously that we have managed to arrange a deal at Faro Airport which means that you can hire a car if you are 21 or older and have held your licence for a year prior to picking the vehicle up, we have managed to now lower this to 20 years of age now, but we have an even better deal now to announce to our customers.

Young Driver Car Hire With No Additional Charges

This is the first major deal we have managed to arrange this year so far, we can now allow for young drivers to hire a car with NO YOUNG DRIVER ADDITIONAL FEE FARO AIRPORT! This offer is fantastic and will save you a large amount of money as the cost of a young driver additional fee can often exceed the cost of the rental which is ridiculous, get your hands on this great deal and save loads.

If you are wanting to hire a car in Faro airport as a young driver then we will find you the best available price, to do so please contact us directly on +44 (0)113 880 0748 or email us at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk and we will be ready to help you get the best overall hire experience possible.

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Customer Feedback Is Not Always As It Seems

December 6, 2019 feedback Comments Off on Customer Feedback Is Not Always As It Seems
customer feedback

Our regular customers and new customers that have done their due diligence will know that we as a company, pride ourselves on the service that we offer and the feedback we get always reflects this, well not always..

It is so easy these days for someone to go online and leave feedback about a service they have received, an event they have attended or a product they have bought which is great news for shops and suppliers as word of mouth and personal recommendations are very important when an individual is looking for said service or product.

There are some downsides however, which we and many other companies have to live with. The biggest by far are negative reviews, these can really hurt a businesses reputation. We all know that things can go wrong in any business and one of the benefits of an online presence is to show our potential customers how we react when things do go wrong. One of our bug bears however are the negative reviews that are not entirely accurate. We have decided to run a series of blogs detailing these reviews, the facts behind them and the lengths that we go to when a customer of ours isn’t getting the service or product they expect.

Here is a review left on our Trustpilot profile.

Rating: 1/5
Title: Awful!
Review: My husband and I came in late to Rome airport, ready for a 2 hour drive to Orvieto, to find that Indigo had cancelled our car rental without informing us. This is despite us having email confirmation of the booking and no contact since to say there was an issue. When we spoke to Indigo, the man on the phone was VERY defensive – in fact he didn’t say sorry once. When I stated that we felt very screwed over by Indigo he got very angry and said it is OUR fault because we never received a voucher and we should have known better – he was extremely passive aggressive – such awful customer ‘service’. Safe to say we will not be using Indigo again, which is a shame for them since we have used them many times before so they have lost loyal customers.

You can see this review and many others here.

Here is what actually happened.

Our customer booked their vehicle taking advantage of the £20 down payment when booking with the remaining balance being taken 5 days before they are due to collect the car. When this date came, the system tried to take the payment and the payment was declined. There are many reasons why this could happen and the system makes us aware.

Emails were sent to the customer to advise them of the problem and to try and complete the transaction with either the correct card details or even a new payment card. No response was received by our office or by our service providers.

When the customer arrived at the airport rental desk at 10pm there was no car for them, as there was no confirmed booking. They called us on our out of hours helpline and advised us of their problem. When we explained the situation as outlined above, this wasn’t really the response they expected. However, we then followed this up by offering to place another booking with a different supplier who had a vehicle available. They took us up on this offer and were quickly on their way to their destination.

If the voucher had been printed or downloaded prior to collection of the car this problem would have been highlighted and could have been rectified.

Could We Have Dealt With This Differently / Will We Next Time?

We hope you agree that we did everything we could to avoid the situation happening in the first place and that we dealt with the issue quickly and efficiently when it occurred. We feel that having comments such as “screwed over by Indigo” and “such awful customer ‘service’” published online forever is very unfair when you are presented with the facts.

Our customers are entitled to make comments re our attitudes and if our attitude was anything less than customer friendly we apologise for this, however we maintain that our only outcome is the desire for a smooth-running rental and customer satisfaction.

We hope that this summary is helpful for others either wanting to gain more of an insight or those who have found themselves in a similar situation in the past and would like to avoid a repeat of their experience.

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Hiring A Car In Germany With Winter Tyres

December 5, 2019 Germany, Winter, winter car rental Comments Off on Hiring A Car In Germany With Winter Tyres
Hiring A Car In Germany With Winter Tyres

About Germany

Germany attracts over 80 million tourists every year, with so much to offer in different parts of the country it’s not hard to see why. Castles, cathedrals and historic buildings in abundance mean that there is certain to be something close to where you are staying. Germany is also home to several ski resorts with a range of slopes to suit everyone’s level.

If you are visiting Germany in the Winter, whether that is to see the German Christmas markets or ski until the sun sets, you will need to know the laws of the road. We have collected all the information you may need regarding winter tyres, snow chains and ski racks in this blog.

Do I Need Winter Tyres To Legally Drive In Germany?

Yes, between November and March you are required to have winter tyres on your car. Due to this being a legal requirement, if you hire a car within this period, it will automatically come with winter tyres fitted. Your full price of the rental will already include the cost of the winter tyres to avoid any confusion.

Is It A Legal Requirement To Carry Snow Chains In Germany?

Yes, it is a legal requirement to carry snow chains in your car in some areas. Signs will clearly indicate if you need to use snow chains. You can add snow chains to your booking for around £10 per day, so if you plan to visit roads that may need snow chains it is something you need to consider.

What else should I consider?

If you are going skiing and want to take your own skis, you will need to accommodate your skis while you travel. The simplest way to do this is to hire a ski rack when you book your car, this can be added for less than £10 per day. The ski racks only hold 2 sets of skis, should you have more than 2 sets it might be worth hiring a larger car to make room for any extra skis. If you are confused by anything related to ski car hire, please call or email us and we will be more than happy to help.

If you have booked cross border car hire, it is important that you research the laws in any countries that you may visit. You are responsible to meet the laws, failure to do this could results in a fine and void your insurance. If you require anything, you must request this from the supplier when booking.

We always suggest that you call us if you would like to book a car, this applies even more if you have specific needs. Our team of trained experts are always here to help answer any questions or concerns to make sure you have the best car hire experience possible. Contact our team today!

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Market Magic: Find The Best Christmas Markets In Europe This Festive Season

December 4, 2019 Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, News, Poland, UK Comments Off on Market Magic: Find The Best Christmas Markets In Europe This Festive Season
Christmas Markets Europe

Best Christmas Markets In Europe

With the year slowly drawing to a close and the festive season creeping up on us, cities across the world are decking their halls and trimming their trees in preparation for one of the best-loved Christmas traditions there is – the Christmas market.

With so many stunning locations across the globe offering their take on the traditional Christmas market, it can be hard to choose where to head for a festive break and a chance to grab those extra special gifts. Some of the most popular locations are in central Europe, including the site of the first ever Christmas market – this means not only are they a great way to fit in a city break before the holidays, they’re also relatively cheap and cheerful for travel, stays and shopping. We also offer our car rental services in every single one of these locations, giving us the ability to help make your travel even simpler. To make the hustle and bustle of travelling through the holidays just that little bit easier, we’ve put together a list of the top Christmas markets in Europe to help you decide where to visit next – all that’s left for you to do is work on that Christmas list!

Vienna, Austria

Home of the first ever Christmas market held all the way back in 1289, Christmas in Vienna is the product of centuries of tradition – but that doesn’t mean it’s old fashioned. During the holiday season, Vienna is home to more than 20 different stalls offering everything from traditional homemade gifts and Christmas decorations, to fresh local foods and hot mulled wine to keep you cosy while you shop.

The Viennese Dream Christmas market is definitely the main attraction of the festive season – set against the backdrop of the beautiful City Hall and offering ‘creative workshops’ for children to make their own special gifts and post their wish lists, it’s the perfect Christmas getaway for the family.

With flights from the UK starting at £80 and hotels in the area from £80 for a long weekend (based on two sharing) it is slightly on the higher end in terms of budget, but if you’re looking to lose yourself in festive tradition then Vienna is definitely the spot for you.

The Viennese Dream Christmas market is open 10am-10pm, 15-26 December
Admission cost – FREE

Prague, Czech Republic

With nativity, choirs and angels galore, Prague’s Christmas market in the Old Town district is the cornerstone of everything advent – if you’re after winter wonderland, then look no further. Surrounded by a backdrop of Prague’s beautiful gothic architecture, the rustic wooden huts of the Old Town Square market are the perfect place to pick up one of a kind gifts and experience some cosy Christmas magic at the same time. You’ll be able to find traditional wooden toys, handmade jewellery and delicate Christmas decorations to name just a few, so you’re guaranteed to find something for everyone. Mostly known for its twinkling lights and delicious food and drink, Prague’s Old Town market also has a petting zoo for younger children, and daily tree-lighting ceremonies that are held every hour from 16:30.

Return flights from the UK to Prague in December start at around £60, with hostels near to the markets starting as low as £30 for a long weekend (based on 2 guests) or a cosier, quieter hotel room setting you back just £50 for the weekend, Prague is definitely a good location if you’re looking for a classic Christmas trip with more money saved for the presents!

Prague’s Christmas markets are open every day from 30 November – 06 January, with the lights switched on in Old Town Square every hour from 16:30 – 21:30
Admission cost – 25 CZK (approx. 0.85 GBP)

Berlin, Germany

German Christmas markets, or chriskindlmarkt, are the ones that we in the UK most associate with the festive season, as these magical markets are where ours take most of their inspiration from. Although they’re not the origin of the Christmas market they are arguably the most famous, so it’s a no brainer that they’re one of the most popular locations for a festive break.

There are over 70 markets to choose from in Berlin alone, the largest of which is the WeihnachtsZauber at Gendarmenmarkt. Not only is it the perfect place to pick up creative gifts such as blown glass and origami; there is also an array of theatrical and dance performers to enjoy. Popular for its varied entertainment, beautiful backdrop and delicious food, this is the perfect place to visit if you want your experience to be something a little out of the ordinary.

At this time of the year Berlin is fairly middle range in terms of cost – a return flight from the UK to Berlin will set you back around £75. however the accommodation is a little on the pricier side, with hostels from around £50 and hotels from £90 for 3 nights.

The WeihnachtsZauber Christmas Market is open 11am – 10pm daily, 25 November – 31 December (closed at 6pm on Christmas Eve, and 1am on New Year’s Eve)
Admission cost – 1 EUR

Christmas Markets

Gdasnk, Poland

If you’re looking for some Christmas market magic on a tighter budget, then Gdansk’s picturesque market in Old Town is the perfect festive getaway that doesn’t break the bank.

This traditional attraction has everything you could want in a Christmas market, from cosy handmade woollen scarves and gloves to sledding competitions and a Christmas lights ceremony from Santa himself. The market also features their traditional Christmas fair, which boasts new attractions every year – this year visitors can enjoy a 2-level carousel and food court with traditional mulled wine, hot cider and delicious Polish food.

As well as visits from Santa and his elves for younger visitors, you can also expect light shows and carol performances to entertain you while you take in the sights, along with an ice skating rink within the market itself – what better way to enjoy the twinkling lights and festive spirit?

This is definitely the cheapest option for those looking to travel on a budget – flights from the UK are just £35, with hostels as cheap as £35 for 3 nights and hotels from just £50 GBP.

The Christmas Market and Fair are open 11am-7pm daily, 01 – 23rd December
Admission cost – FREE

Copenhagen, Denmark

Home of hygge and famous for its dedication to all things calming and comfy, Denmark is the perfect place to visit for a cozy Christmas break. Copenhagen certainly seems like the city with everything to offer over the holiday season – from a festive theme park at Tivoli Garden’s Christmas market, to a twinkling kayak parade, you’ll never be short of new experiences in this city that really does take Christmas to the next level.

Copenhagen was also home to storyteller Hans Christian Anderson – and of course, there is a Christmas market dedicated entirely to bringing his fairy tales to life. With a unique theme to each stall named after a classic fairytale, this old fashioned market is a magical experience that’s not to be missed.
If you’d prefer a more traditional market with a cosy Copenhagen backdrop, head over to Nyhavn’s Christmas market; situated right by the harbour it’s the perfect place to lose yourself in the city, with its cobbled streets and some of the oldest architecture in Copenhagen.

It’s no surprise that with its wealth of tradition and extensive list of must-see experiences, Copenhagen is one of the most expensive places to visit at this time of year. Flights start from around £55, however accomodation is on the pricier side, with hostels upwards of £100 and hotels from £160 for a long weekend – however if you’re looking for rich tradition and the cosiest of Christmases, Copenhagen is definitely the city for you.

Tivoli Gardens Christmas Market is open now – 05 January, from 11:00-23:00 Sun-Thurs, and 11:00-midnight Fri-Sat
Admission cost – 110 DKK (approx. 12.60 GBP)

Manchester, UK

Looking for something a little closer to home? Here in the UK we have a long list of great Christmas markets, but none quite as impressive as Manchester.

Voted the best in the UK, Manchester’s award-winning Christmas markets are spread across the city with over 300 stalls to tempt you into the festive spirit. The market is host to a range of suppliers, both local businesses and those from across Europe, so there’s certainly no shortage of stocking fillers to be found. Manchester’s Christmas markets are also famous for their food – with everything from a traditional Bratwurst to more exotic dishes like fresh paella and chorizo rolls from Little Spain and a range of vegetarian options, it’s festive street food at its best.

Albert Square is always the main attraction, with stalls in other various locations across the city. Cathedral Gardens is home to a family-friendly activities hub – this features an ice rink, and the stunning Ice Village with ice sculptures and an ice slide for children – but Santa’s grotto is guaranteed to be the main attraction. This year, Manchester’s markets will also be home to a Tiki Ice Bar serving delicious cocktails –perfect for those who aren’t too keen on the traditional mulled wine, but still fancy a festive tipple.

If you’re based in the UK, Manchester is easy to reach from almost anywhere, and transport is relatively cheap. Hotels in the centre start from £85 for 3 nights, so you can stay close to the festivities without breaking the bank.

Manchester Christmas Markets are open now – 21/22 December, 10:00 – 21:00
Admission cost – FREE

Manchester Christmas Market

So if you’re looking a quick festive getaway this year, there’s no shortage of stunning Christmas markets across Europe to get you into the yuletide spirit – whether it’s picking up last minute gifts or losing yourself in the hustle and bustle of a sparkling city, our top holiday markets are guaranteed to be exactly what you’re looking for.

If you’re heading away and looking to make your trip that little bit easier in the hectic run up to Christmas, why not treat yourself to a hire car to make exploring a new city simpler? Here are Indigo we offer rental services in all of these locations and many more – get in touch with our team to find out more about Christmas car hire.

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Exchanging Your UK Licence For An Overseas One

December 3, 2019 News, UK Comments Off on Exchanging Your UK Licence For An Overseas One
Exchanging Driving Licence

Exchanging your UK licence for an overseas one – is it necessary, and can I hire a car during the process?

With Brexit constantly looming ahead there is a lot of uncertainty currently among expats when it comes to hiring a car back in the UK – do you need to swap your licence over to your country of residence, do you need to keep the UK one, and can you hire a car whilst in the process of switching it over? Hopefully we can clear this up for you below.

Can I keep my UK licence?

So, first of all, why shouldn’t you just keep your current UK licence, and why would having a UK licence affect your ability to rent a car? Well the main reason is that with a UK licence, a large majority of suppliers do something called an electronic address check upon arrival – this involves checks such as your current address matching your licence, paying council tax at that address and being on the electoral roll. Now as you can imagaine, if you are living abroad you are practically guaranteed to fail this check, and if you do fail the supplier wouldn’t release the car to you, possibly leaving you stranded at the airport. With an overseas licence though you bypass these checks, as long as you have some proof of your return flights with you, such as a boarding pass. Depending on the country you’ve moved to also there are often restrictions to keeping a UK licence there once we’ve left the EU, feel free to check the government website for a breakdown on this.

Am I able to rent a car whilst my licence is being switched over?

With wait times at all time high from the Brexit backup, it’s very possible that you may be facing weeks without a licence while it’s being switched over, and may very well need to hire a car within this period. This can be quite a tricky area as essentially at this point your licence is in limbo, it’s not as easy as a simple DVLA check that we can do with a lost licence / expired photocard. Luckily though we have managed to arrange a solution for this with one of our suppliers, you would just need to ensure you have some extra ID with you:

  • Photocopy of your previous UK licence
  • Passport for photo ID
  • Old licence number and National Insurance number
  • Proof of flights in / out of the UK (if flying in and out)

This option is available at all the major airports in the UK and Ireland, as well as most major cities also – just make sure you contact us directly for this as you cannot arrange it online, you can contact us over the phone on +44 (0)1138800748, or feel free to email us too to sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk.

Is there anything else I should know about switching my licence over?

There are a few other things to be aware of in relation to international permits and driving history carrying over. If you are switching to an EU licence then you have nothing to worry about – all EU licences are accepted without an IDP (international driving permit), and your driving history carries over too so you should see your original licence issue date on the back of your new licence. If it’s a non-EU licence though this can be a little trickier.

You may need an IDP depending on the country, if the licence is in English or a Latin language then you will be fine without one, for example a US / AU licence will be accepted by itself, but if you’re switching it to a country with a non-Latin language though, like Arabic or Cyrillic for example, you would need an IDP to rent back in the UK. Generally, your driving history will not carry over also if you’re switching it to a non-EU country – this means it will be treated as a new licence to the car rental suppliers, most of which require at least a year since the pass date on the licence before they can rent to you. If this does apply to you though we do have a specialist option for new drivers across the UK which you can find more info by getting in touch with our team.

If you have any further questions at all regarding this or need any clarification at all feel free to contact us via the same means mentioned before – over the phone on +44 (0)1138800748, or email on sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk, we’ll be more than happy to help!

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