Cyprus an all inclusive holiday destination – Travelling Diary

Strong essences are kept in small bottles. This is Cyprus: a small island in the Mediterranean Sea that has something unique to offer for each of us! Sea lovers, mountain lovers, good food lovers, history and mythology lovers, hikers and bikers you’ll all find a home in this little paradise.
There are two important questions to ask when planning a vacation to Cyprus: where to go and when to go? Cyprus has a subtropical climate with very mild winters and warm to hot summers. If you’re chasing the beach, hot summers are the perfect time for you. If you’re interested more in visiting the archaeological sites from the historic old towns and villages and meet the Cypriot hospitality you should probably visit Cyprus during the spring or autumn when the temperature is mild and enjoyable. You could visit Troodos Mountains, too. This is the only period when you can see its villages, its painted churches and monasteries in a fresh green landscape. If you’re more like a snow lover, visit the Troodos Mountains during the winter because with a bit of luck, snow is possible.

Hire a car in Cyprus is an easy process

All right! So you got there! Travelling to Cyprus is very easy to everyone. Many major airline companies provide frequent flights, especially during the summer period, so this shouldn’t be a problem for you either. Unfortunately one of the first things you should know at your arrival is that public transportation in Cyprus is not quite great despite the fact that the country is very small: it measures 240 kilometres (149 mi) long from end to end and 100 kilometres (62 mi) wide. This is actually a result of the fact that almost everyone in Cyprus drives a car. And that would be probably the best solution for you, too if you want to be sure you won’t spend 3 hours changing 2-3 buses to go from a specific point in town A to another point in town B. Renting a car is handy, very affordable and give you the freedom to hold Cyprus in the palms of your hands. Hire a car in Cyprus with Indigo is now very easy due a large number of locations all over the island which includes: Protaras, Paphos, Larnaca, Limassol, Famagusta, Nicosia, Paralimni and Ayia Napa. If you want to hire a car straight from the airport you can do it from both Northern Cyprus Ercan Airport, or the South part of the Island in : Larnaca Airport, Paphos Airport.

Now you’re only minutes away from the most popular beaches, restaurants, night clubs and of course, your accommodation. Don’t miss the chance of tasting this vivid island life and the spectacular sandy beaches from Agia Napa, Protaras and Paralimni. Here places like Nissi Beach or Cavo Greco are simply unforgettable. On the other hand Cyprus has to show also his wild and quiet beaches in Pafos and Akamas, ideal for those seeking relaxation. If you get close to the southwest coast in the Pafos you must visit Petra tou Romiou known as Aphrodite’s birthplace a geological formation of huge rocks. It alsowould be a pity not to visit Akamas Peninsula and the forests of Tilliria which are two of the island’s great wilderness areas. A Jeep Safari would be the best option for you if you don’t mean to miss a great adventure in this unique place on earth.
If you’re more attracted to the city life you shouldn’t postpone visiting Paphos , Limassol and Larnaka. They come with a complete sightseeing package: shops and restaurants, pretty harbours, elegant promenades, historical monuments, ancient ruins, art galleries, ancient museums all by the seaside. You should maybe end this tour with Girne (Kyrenia), the most beautiful harbour town on the island. But again, visiting all this places without giving up on your comfort at the same time, definitely requires a car.

If you are interested in hiring a car for your trip to Cyprus or anywhere in the world and need guidance in terms of vehicles or 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.

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La Costa Verde – The Green Coast of Spain – Travelling Diary

Spain is one of the most popular holiday destinations due to its reliable climate, beautiful beaches and good value food and drink. When we think Spain we normally think of traditional and familiar holiday destinations such as Benidorm, Magaluf, Marbella, Tenerife etc on the Costa Del Sol, Costa Blanca, in Majorca or the Canary Islands. Less familiar but infinitely more beautiful is La Costa Verde, or the Green Coast in Northern Spain.

If you prefer a less commercial holiday, with breathtaking scenery and cooler temperatures the aptly named Green Coast may be more to your taste. This is the name given to the Coastal strip in the North of Spain lying north of the Cantabrian and Basque mountains, along the Bay of Biscay. This land strip includes Asturias, Cantabria and the northern half of the Basque country from Galicia through to the French border. Although you are more likely to see rain in this area than the rest of Spain, especially through the summer months the sun is out most of the time and the sea is warm enough to swim.

It is the warm, moist climate that has created the forests and rich vegetation that give this region its name and it is a very popular holiday resort for the Spanish. The area has many old and elegant seaside towns, and a dramatic landscape featuring tiny, isolated coves along the coast and inland mountains and forests. Beauty, unique gastronomy, tradition, and rural essence are the the components of the Green Coast.

There are several airports from which you can start your journey, renting a car to have the opportunity to travel around the area, either on a circular route and dropping back at the same airport or maybe picking up from one airport and dropping off at another. Asturias, La Coruña, Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, Oviedo, Santander, Bilbao and San Sebastian are all airports along the Costa Verde.

Green Spain is for travellers who want the beach, but also want to see more authentic Spain, and you will be surprised at the greenness and lusciousness of the countryside. The Green Coast is often described as the green beauty of the Scottish Highlands but with sun!!!

Asturias and Cantabria are two Northen Regions that share Green Spain´s most picturesque mountains, the Picos de Europa, along with pastoral landscapes of river valleys and gorges, misty hills and an unspoilt coast. A driving holiday would be perfect and why not treat yourself and rent a cabriolet to really make the most of the scenery, with the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. Fabulous.

There are many choices of places to stay, one of the best things about Spain is the variety and value of accommodation. You can go low budget from approximately 20 euros per night for a double room, but even a four or 5 star hotel will cost you less than you think, maybe only 40/45 euros if not in peak season. Try www.littlehotels.co.uk/spain/ for economic hotels with character and charm, or there are many cottages and villas for rent, Sites such as www.ownersdirect.co.uk are also informative and useful.

Renting a car means that you can travel around, driving in Spain is generally a pleasure as there is a noticeable absence of traffic outside the big cities due to the fact that Spain is a huge country with a small population. With a car, you can make sure you make the most of your trip to the exquisite Green and often forgotten Coast of Spain.

If you are interested in hiring a car for your trip to Spain or indeed anywhere in the world and need some guidance in terms of vehicles or 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.

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Electron Card Car Hire Cardiff

Electron Card Car Hire Cardiff – FLASH NEWS

Until recently Indigo Car Hire customers were able to hire cars in Cardiff with some types of debit cards as long as they met some conditions. Well, we are happy to announce that from now, Electron Card Car Hire Cardiff is now available with Indigo.

Electron Card Car Hire Cardiff Conditions

Now with Indigo Car Hire you can hire a car with debit cards, no matter if they have embossed or flat numbers. The debit cards with flat numbers are called Electron, and we are proud to include them into our offers.

The main condition for this type of rentals, is the deposit which the customer needs to pay for the car hire. In this case: Electron Card Car Hire Cardiff, comes with a 250 pounds deposit, no matter what type of car you are renting.

INDIGO CAR HIRE OFFERS IN Cardiff ALSO INCLUDE

Beside the electron debit card car hire payment option, Indigo also offers services like:

Cardiff is the capital and mostly populated city in Wales and has an estimated populations of 350,000 people. Set in the county of Glamorgan, South Wales Cardiff is the 10th largest city in the UK. Cardiff is famous for its bustling night-life and many sporting venues, the largest of which is the Millenium stadium set in the heart of the city.

The stadium has played host to many sporting events including world cup and European football qualifiers and in the early 2000’s the rugby league challenge cup final. The stadium has also been selected to host events for 2012 summer Olympics.

For more information about hiring a car in Cardiff or in any other Wales location contact us over the phone on +44 (0)113 880 0748 or via email on sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk

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Glasgow Commonwealth Games

There is no better time to visit this historic city.

The 2014 Commonwealth games will begin in Glasgow on the 23rd of July and continue until the 3rd of August. The motto of the games is “PEOPLE, PLACE, PASSION” . If you are planning to go along to watch you may well be flying into Glasgow airport. At Indigo, as well as meeting your standadrd car hire needs, we can also offer a unique meet and greet service from that airport, perfect especially if you are inviting clients and offering any type of corporate hospitality to visiting VIPs and want to make a good impression.

Celtic Park, located in the East End of Glasgow, will hold the opening ceremony, whereas Hampden Park, on the South Side and Scotlands national football stadium, will be the site of the close. The games will see 17 sports played over 11 days by athletes from 71 countries and territories. It will be Scotlands biggest ever multi-sport event and will have more events and Para sport medals than any other Commonwealth games.

The events are:

glasgow commonwealth games

  • Aquatics
  • Athletics
  • Badminton
  • Boxing
  • Cycling
  • Gymnastics
  • Hockey
  • Judo
  • Lawn Bowls
  • Netball
  • Rugby Sevens
  • Shooting
  • Squash
  • Table Tennis
  • Triathalon
  • Weightlifting
  • Wrestling

There will be 13 venues in total, and besides the opprtunity to watch some world class sport, why not hire a car and also explore Glasgow, which is the largest City in Scotland and the third largest in the United Kingdom.

A historic city, Glasgow is well known for the football rivalry between Celtic and Rangers. It is also a city with many amenities for cultural activities, curling, opera, ballet and art, having a large selection of museums. In 1990, Glasgow was designated European City of Culture. If your tastes are cultural the Kelvingrove Art Museum is a must as is the Victorian Necropolis, Glasgow´s Victorian City of the Dead. Other places of interest are the Peoples Palace and Winter Gardens, the Merchant City, The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and the Riverside Museum of Transport and Travel.

It is also the Gateway to the Highlands and the Islands of Scotland. If you have rented a car, you will be able to explore the breathtaking scenery that Scotland has to offer, and maybe even get a glimpse of Nessie at Loch Ness or visit the beautiful Glencoe Valley, with its dramatic cliff faces and steep slopes. Glencoe is especially haunting for its treacherous history of the slaughter of the MacDonald Clan by the English. Fort William, Ben Nevis, and Loch Lomond are all also in day trip distance of this vibrant City.

Glasgow is also renowned for its music scene, having many live music venues, pubs and clubs. It is said to have the most talked-about independent music scene outside the USA. Comedy clubs are also prevalent, many famous comedians started their career in front of tough Glaswegian audiences and went on to become famous over the border too. Billy Connolly, Frankie Boyle, Kevin Bridges, Elaine C Smith and Janey Godley.

Glasgow is a great city to visit and the Commonwealth Games fortnight makes it even more attractive. If you are interested in hiring a car in Glasgow at any time or take advantage of out unique meet and greet service from Glasgow airport 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.

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Top 10 Public Golf Courses In Scotland

As the Scottish Open kicks in to gear at Royal Aberdeen I thought I would run through some of the best golf courses in Scotland that are open to the public. I havent personally played all of them but hope that one day I can say I have. The below information is based on what I have heard and read about playing golf in Scotland.

If you are planning a trip to Scotland to play some of these beautiful courses then please do get in touch regarding your vehicle hire needs, we have lots of availability of vehicles to accommodate larger groups with luggage and clubs. We have a wide range of vehicles fit for purpose for any size group these include:

1. St. Andrews (Old Course), Fife

Nowhere else in the world can you walk in the spike marks of every legendary figure to have played the game. Augusta National is rightfully hallowed, but Bobby Jones himself said that if he had to play only one course for the rest of his days he’d grow old on the Old Course.

2. Royal Dornoch, Dornoch

Dornoch was formed in 1877 and has been a Royal club for more than 100 years. The course is not close to major population centers and has never hosted a major tournament, but it has been the site of the Northern Open, the Scottish Ladies and the Scottish Professional Championships.

3. Turnberry (Ailsa), Turnberry

If Turnberry’s Ailsa course lacks the natural ripples and chaotic contours of other British Open rotation links, it’s easy to understand why: During World War II, 18-inch-thick concrete was poured over parts of the layout for use as runways.

4. Carnoustie (Championship), Angus

The course’s primary defense ‘the wind’ is wildly unpredictable. From one day to the next, the gales can turn, morphing an eminently playable hole into a nightmare. ‘Tis nae wind, nae golf, the Scots like to say. That’s seldom a concern at Carnoustie, where ’tis always wind.

5. Royal Troon (Old), Troon

Host of eight British Opens, Troon plays through brambles, gorse and broken sand hills. The most famous hole on the links is the “Postage Stamp,” so named because the 123-yard par 3’s green is so small. The front nine plays along the beach and then the course turns inland on the back nine.

6. Kingsbarns, Kingsbarns

Kingsbarns was built by American developers and an American architect about six miles from St. Andrews. Although a considerable amount of dirt was moved to create this links-style course, it looks as if it has always been there.

7. Cruden Bay, Cruden Bay

Drenched in quirky charm, this cult classic offers one wild seaside hole after another, including the head-scratching par-4 14th with its amazing funnel-shaped green.

8. Western Gailes, Strathclyde

A well-balanced links crossed by three burns, its higher holes offering impressive views of the Firth of Clyde and the ragged peaks of Arran. Like many of Scotland’s older links, the course is wedged between the sea and a railway. Constant changes in direction invite the wind from all angles. The greens at Western Gailes, imagainatively contoured and demanding careful approach, are among the finest in Scotland.

9. Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie), Bridge of Don

Balgownie is one of the truest linksland layouts in golf. It’s a course to test the better golfer, one who can accommodate the many variable conditions this arduous links can throw at you. Balgownie’s front nine holes rank amongst the very best in the world. No two are the same within a natural ecosystem, interspersed with rich turf and tight rolling fairways, that is a sheer delight to behold. The Balgownie course is a classic links layout – out through the dunes and back along a plateau.

10. Prestwick, Prestwick

The venues in the southwest of Scotland range from classic Open venues to one of the game’s most lovable dowagers, Prestwick, a priceless antique and birthplace of the Open Championship (1860). Prestwick hosted its last professional event in 1925, the same year competitors grumbled that success here depended a wee bit too heavily on the rub of the green. But for antiquarians with a sense of humour, this throwback of a links, sandwiched between the seashore and a railway line, has giddy surprises in store. Take, for example, the par-five third hole and its infamous Cardinal bunker. The fairway, incongruously, stops abruptly in front of a bunker big enough to sleep a brontosaurus. An elevated section of fairway, propped up by blackened timbers, swings sharply to the right above the sand pit. Forget your instincts. Follow your caddie’s instructions to the letter.

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Corfu Debit Card Car Hire

FLASH NEWS – Corfu Debit Card Car Hire

Corfu Debit Card Car Hire is now available with Indigo. This is good news for all the customers heading to the the islands of Greece!
Indigo Car Hire Experts negotiated with an important supplier and they secured a deal. Therefore Corfu Debit Card Car Hire is now available.

The idyllic island of Corfu is one of the most beautiful islands of Greece in the Ionian Sea and the second largest. It can be reached by air or by sea and it is linked from south to north by two motorways. Due to the island size a car hire is highly recommended.

Corfu Debit Card Car Hire conditions

Corfu Debit Card Car Hire conditions are easy to be met. The requirements on your side are the type of debit card and a very small deposit. The best way to check that your card will be accepted is to call or email us.

The deposit the client must pay for Corfu Debit Card Car Hire will be just a tank of fuel. The deposit will be held on the client debit card.

If the car will be returned with the tank full of fuel, then the supplier will return the client the deposit.

Indigo Car Hire Offer in Corfu also include

…and a lot more.

With more than 20 million tourist every year, Greece is one of the most visited countries in the world. Greece has an impressive number of island which is estimated to aprox 6000.

If you want to experience endless miles of coastline with sandy beaches, ancient ruins and an amazing cuisine, than Corfu is the place to visit.

For more information about hiring a car in Greece or in the Greek Island please contact us over the phone on +44 (0)113 880 0748 or via email on sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk

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Avis Budget Group Open The Express Lane

Avis Budget Group today announced that Avis Car Rental and Budget Car Rental customers who utilize the “Pay Now” option on to pay for their rentals in advance, can now benefit from a new expedited check-out service. These customers can now utilize the new express lane at Avis and Budget rental counters and complete the process of getting into their rental vehicles more quickly.

“Customers typically choose to pay for their rentals in advance as a way to lock in discounted rates. For example, taking advantage of Budget’s Pay Now rates in San Francisco can save customers approximately £5 to £30 on a daily rental, or approximately £20 to £80 for a weekend rental,” said Tom Gartland, president, North America, Avis Budget Group. “We’re happy to enhance our Pay Now option and enable customers to save money and time, so they can make the most out of their business or leisure travels.”

Pay Now expedited check-out is available at more than 100 rental facilities across United States, including Albany, Albuquerque, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Denver, Dallas, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Tulsa and Washington, D.C.

Speaking Of Speeding things up, Avis Budget Group recently announced that Avis Car Rental and Budget Car Rental customers can now rent portable Wi-Fi devices in twelve European countries. The new offering provides customers with access to 1GB of data per day without the fear of incurring roaming charges when traveling throughout Europe.

Users can connect up to five devices at the same time, including smartphones, tablets, laptops and other Wi-Fi-enabled gadgets. The units offer a download speed of 21.6 Mbps for a simple, fast and reliable way to conduct video conferences, access documents, surf the web, stream movies and access social media sites.

“Our new mobile Wi-Fi units are compact and portable so that they can be taken out of the car and into the hotel, business meeting, restaurant, campsite or even the beach — all with uninterrupted connectivity,” said Larry De Shon, president, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Avis Budget Group. “It’s a hassle-free and cost-effective way for travelers to stay connected — and another way we ‘put the customer first.'”

We hope to see these services rolled out to their worldwide locations over the next year or so… If you would like more information about this service then please dont hesitate to contact us before making a booking.

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Golf Trip & Luggage Space

I have recently being trying to arrange a rental for myself and a group of people travelling to the Isle Of Arran in October to play in the ‘Arran Challenge’ which is a golf competition running throughout the month.

The problem I have had is finding a suitable vehicle to accommodate a group of lads, a weekend bag and a set of golf clubs each.

The group was initially 12 people so my intial thought was to go for two 7,8 or 9 seat vehicles which would take 6 chaps each and squeeze the luggage in with them at a cost of about £300 per vehicle per week. Im not sure if you have ever seen the space in a 9 seater but there is just no chance that 6 bags and 6 sets of golf clubs would fit.

The next option was a 17 seater minibus, we have a driver with a D1 on his licence so we are ok from that point of view, this would provide more than enough room for everyone and the luggage and at £395 for the week it was cheap enough divided between 12 of us.

The group then grew slowly and reached a peak of 20 people. This presented us with a problem as the 17 seat minibus is the largest vehicle we can hire. So do we lay out another £300 for a people carrier to give us 24 seats but still struggle with luggage space or… Hire a van.

What a great idea, that gives us exactly 20 seats and whole SWB Transit worth of luggage space. The cost of the van is about £175 for the week which is a hige saving compared to a people carrier.

So we have a minibus at £395 and a SWB van at £175 which is £570 for the week, £28.50 per person which is an absolute bargain. Yes we do need to consider that we now have 2 fuel tanks to fill and 2 ferry crossing charges but all in all this is by far the best option for us.

Really looking forward to the trip and will no doubt be blogging about the Isle of Arran when im back, just dont mention the golf…

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The UK prepares for Tour de France Grand Départ

With just a few days to go before the Grand Départ of the Tour de France, the excitement in England surrounding the Grande Boucle is already palpable.

Stretching along the whole route from Yorkshire to Cambridge, momentum is steadily building.

In London and Harrogate, the four Fan Parks are busily preparing for fans of the Tour and the world of cycling to descend upon them in their droves.

With a range of activities on offer and big screens set up especially for the occasion, they will be at the heart of the action from July 3rd-7th and then during the final four stages.

Whilst the British Fan Parks will allow fans to follow all of the day’s action live as it happens, visitors will also be able to enjoy several fringe events hosted by the event’s partners.

Alongside bars, restaurants and rows of stands dedicated to cycling (and France!) visitors will be offered the opportunity to seek health and fitness advice or even a free health check from the experts from Nuffield Health, the presenting partner of the Tour de France Fan Parks, also take their place in history in the race director’s iconic red SKODA, or visit the Ibis “Fun Space” which has activities for the young …and young at heart.

As sites of future British Tour festivities, the Fan Parks will also see appearances by renowned sporting personalities.

Serge Betsen, former rugby international, will be swapping the oval ball for two wheels and organising a spin bike challenge with his foundation which will see players from the four main London clubs (Saracens, London Irish, Harlequins and London Wasps) competing at the Green Park Fan Park on July 7th.

Three days earlier Monsieur Paris-Nice himself, Irish cyclist Sean Kelly, will also be dropping in to give an exclusive masterclass in Harrogate.

And because the race doesn’t end at the finish line, the Tour’s flame will also be lighting up the British night sky.

The Fan Parks will have events carrying on well into the evening with concerts in Trafalgar Square and the documentary Rising from Ashes being shown at the Green Park and Harrogate sites to keep the party going until the next day’s stage.

While Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish put the finishing touches to their physical preparations in the run up to the event, people from across the whole country are certainly entering into the spirit of the Tour de France.

This July, from the Tour’s roads to the Fan Parks, prepare for the whole nation to have a distinctly French flavour to it.

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Enterprise Rent A Car’s European Expansion

Enterprise Rent A Car is now available to customers in the new markets of Belgium, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Bosnia Herzegovina and Macedonia.

This is the next step in the company’s phased expansion programme and means that the Enterprise brand is currently operating in 19 European countries with more in the pipeline.

The branches form part of Enterprise’s new European franchise network, providing a presence at strategic locations including major airports and cities across the five markets.

Over the past two years, Enterprise Rent-A-Car has extended its network across the continent to countries that represent more than 90 per cent of European vehicle rental market.

Enterprise’s growth is directed at increasing service, choice and value to international travellers, in particular to the many business and leisure renters who are already customers in their home country.

This has been achieved through acquisition as well as the creation of partnerships with carefully selected domestic car hire companies that have reputations for excellent customer service.

Vice-president of global franchising at Enterprise, Peter Smith, said: “Customers who enjoy the Enterprise experience at home want to be able to rent vehicles from us when they travel abroad.

“This is why the expansion of the Enterprise network in Europe is so important.

“It has been driven by our culture and a belief that great things happen when we listen to our customers.

“The Enterprise name on a car hire desk means a lot to us.

“It represents our promise to deliver the best service to anyone who rents a vehicle from Enterprise.

“Our focus is to provide the same friendly service to our customers wherever they see the Enterprise sign.

“We are grateful to our franchise partners across Europe for enabling us to fulfil our promise consistently and to the highest standards.”

In Europe the Enterprise brand is also available in Ireland, the UK, Germany, France, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Greece, Bulgaria, The Netherlands and Croatia.

The Enterprise brand will be available in additional European countries throughout 2014.

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