Switzerland Car and Van Hire with a Maestro Card

Switzerland Car and Van Hire with a Maestro Card

Switzerland Car/Van Hire with a Maestro Card

Hiring in Switzerland with a debit card is notoriously difficult, especially if your debit card is a Maestro card. Maestro cards are a type of debit card issued mainly in central Europe, and the reason they are so rarely accepted for renting is that they lack the 3 digit CVV code that is generally needed for payment deposits. Luckily we have arranged a deal with a major supplier that is able to circumvent this issue, and you are now able to have the deposit held on just a Maestro card – no strings attached.

Where and what in Switzerland can I hire?

We have many branches across the country with this deal available, here are our main branches below:

Zurich City Zurich Airport Basel Airport
Basel Train Station Lucerne Zug
Schlieren Schaffhausen Geneva Airport
Geneva City Altenrhein Airport Bern Airport
Lausanne Gstaad Lugano

 

With such a long-reaching network I’m sure we’ll have somewhere that’s convenient for you!

We have a wide array of vehicle groups available, the only exclusions are sport and luxury cars. This also includes vans from small Berlingo size vans to large Luton vans. Here are all the groups below:

  • Mini – small city cars such as the Fiat 500 / Kia Picanto / Ford Ka etc.
  • Economy – small hatchbacks such as the Ford Fiesta / VW Polo / Opel Corsa.
  • Compact – larger family size hatchbacks such as the Ford Focus / Peugeot 308 / VW Golf.
  • Intermediate – large saloon cars such as Ford Mondeo / Opel Insignia and also premium versions such as BMW 2-series and Mercedes B Class.
  • Estate – large station wagons such as a Ford Focus Estate / VW Golf Estate
  • 7-Seaters – MPVS’s such as the Ford Galaxy / VW Sharan
  • 9-Seaters – and lastly 9-seat minibuses like the Mercedes Vito or Ford Tourneo.

And for vans we have:

  • Small vans – such as the Citreon Berlingo / VW Caddy
  • SWB vans – such as the Ford Transit / VW Transporter
  • LWB vans – such as the Renault Master Van / Mercedes Sprinter
  • Luton vans with a tail lift

So as you can see you’re really not hindered at all by using a Maestro Card, and we even have a lot of other offers in conjuction with this one.

Other deals / services

Here are some of the other services we have available in Switzerland, all available while using just a Maestro Card:

If you have any other questions at all or just wish to take advantage of Switzerland car/van hire with a Maestro then please give us a call on +44 (0) 113 880 0748, or alternatively, email us at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk.

 

 

 

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Car Hire With Free GPS

Car hire with free GPS

Car Hire With A Free GPS

One of the questions we are asked most here at Indigo is whether our rental cars include a GPS. While travelling in a new country is exciting, it’s important to know where you’re going to be able to make the most of your trip – which is likely why this is one of our most requested extras.

With most rental companies, a GPS is charged as an additional extra – and with most suppliers charging per day, the cost can soon add up. However, we have managed to secure a deal with our suppliers to offer FREE GPS in some European locations, meaning that customers travelling in the following locations can find their way around, without the fuss and without the fee:

This option guarantees you will receive a vehicle with a built in GPS, rather than an additional device which can be often be tricky to use. There are other alternatives when renting, such as using a mobile phone – however a vehicle with an inbuilt GPS means you get to avoid any extra roaming charges and still enjoy exploring a new city with ease, at no extra cost.

Car hire with a free GPS is only available in certain locations through us directly (not available online) and supply will be limited. If you’re travelling in any of these locations and a free GPS is an absolute must-have for your rental, contact our reservations team – they will be happy to do all the legwork to find you the best possible rental deal and help your trip go smoothly.

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Car Hire In Switzerland With Winter Tyres

Hiring A Car In Germany With Winter Tyres

Throughout the year Switzerland is visited by millions of tourists. Most people visit in the Winter to ski on the many slopes that the country has to offer. Even if you visit for skiing, it is likely you will travel about to see everything else Switzerland has to offer.

If you are going skiing, there is a high chance you are travelling during the winter. To make sure you are complying with the law, we have gathered all the information you will need when hiring a car in Switzerland in the Winter. Everything you need to know regarding winter tyres, snow chains and ski racks can be found below.

Are Winter Tyres A Legal Requirement In Switzerland?

Yes, between November and March, winter tyres are compulsory in Switzerland. Luckily for you, they are included in the cost of the rental and are equipped as standard, so you don’t need to worry about them.

Do I Need Snow Chains In Switzerland?

Yes, some roads require snow chains in order to be driven on. If you do not have snow chains, you will not be able to continue your journey and will have to drive an alternative way if there is one. Snow chains can be requested from your supplier for the additional price of around £40 per week.

What Else Should I Consider?

If you are visiting in Winter, it is more than likely you are going skiing. If you need to transport ski’s, renting a ski rack with your hire car might be useful. Ski racks can be booked with your rental at the price of around £50 per week. Please be aware that ski racks have a maximum capacity of 2 sets of skis. Should you need to carry more than 2 sets, it might be more convenient to hire a larger car and carry the extra skis within the car.

When you book cross border car hire it is important that you check the laws of the countries you plan to visit. If any of the countries you plan to visit require you to have snow chains, winter tyres or anything else, you must arrange this with the supplier when booking. Failure to comply with the laws of the country you visit, your insurance may become void or you may get in trouble with the local law enforcement.

If you are looking to hire a car, we always recommend that you call us, even more so if you have specific requirements. Our expert team can answer all your questions to ensure you have a stress-free car hire experience. Contact us today!

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Top 5 Ski Locations In Europe

Top 5 Ski Locations In Europe

Top 5 Ski Locations In Europe For 2019/20

As it comes to the time of year where Winter hits Europe, it is now the perfect time to be booking a ski holiday. Whether you have never touched the slopes or visit every year, there is something for everyone, with many different locations to choose from. The problem is which locations are the best for skiing, here are my Top 5 ski locations in Europe.

Courchevel, France

Courchevel is the biggest and best known of the Les Trois Vallées (Three Valleys), a group of interlinked ski resorts. This resort has so much to offer, with 150km of its own mountainous runs that can be accessed by the resorts 60 lifts. Not to mention the surrounding ski runs that are connected, bringing you to a total of 600km of ski runs, that’s a lot of places to ski. With 4 glaciers, 10 summits, and heights of over 2,500 meters, you can’t ask for much more for the perfect ski resort. Whether you are a complete novice or an expert, there is something for everyone, with a quarter of all the ski runs at the resort been for beginners and a third for intermediates.

How to get to Courchevel

There are several airports that are all a similar distance away from the resort. Depending on your location and day of departure one airport might be more suited for your travel. Once you have landed at the airport you will need to travel between 2 to 3 hours depending on which airport you choose. The quickest and best way to do this is hire a car. Don’t worry we have your ski car hire covered, with ski racks, snow chains and GPS all available to make your travel as smooth as possible. If you fly to any of these airports, get in contact with us to discuss the best options for your needs.

Geneva Airport (149km) – 3 hours
Lyon Airport (187km) – 3 hours
Chambery Airport (110km) – 2 hours
Grenoble Airport (174km) – 2 hours

Zermatt, Switzerland

Want to go even higher? Zermatt is home to a ski run with altitudes of 3900 meters, making it Switzerland’s largest vertical drop. The scenic backdrop of the iconic Matterhorn that can be seen from most of the 350km alpine system makes this a favourite for many top skiers. Zermatt is renowned for it’s long runs, some are so long that they finish in the village, meaning you can ski home! There is a range of slopes at different skill levels to suit everyone. One for the more experienced skiers is to take the newly reopened, Matterhorn Glacier Ride all the way up to nearly 3900 meters. To make this trail network even safer and more accessible you can download a free app which gives you live updates of all the information you will need.

How To Get To Zermatt

Like with many ski resorts, due to their isolated location there is a long travel after your flight. There are several options of varying distances, below are all the ones in the surrounding area, so you can decide which is best for you. As you will be travelling anywhere between 1 hour and 4 hours, the best method of transportation is by having your own car. This allows you to travel at your own pace and gives you the freedom to stop off at any points of interests. We offer ski car hire at most airports, if you need to hire a car get in touch with our team who will make sure you have everything you need for your skiing holiday. Please be aware that Zermatt itself is a car free zone and the town is served by trains every 20 minutes from Täsch or by electric taxis.
Bern Airport (126km) – 2 ½ hours
Geneva Airport (230km) – 2 ½ hours
Basel Airport (232km) – 3 ½ hours
Zurich Airport (229km) – 3 ½ hours
Milan-Malpensa Airport (192km) – 3 hours

Val d’Isere, France

Due to its location, you can be sure Val d’Isere will be open well into May and some areas are even open until July. With the lowest slopes at 1,550 meters, and the highest reaching over 3,400 meters, you are guaranteed to have lots of snow. Here you can try over 300km of slopes that can be reached by over 150 ski lifts. Val d’Isere is home to an Olympic triple gold medal winner, Jean-Claude Killy, Espace Killy is even named for him. The slopes are suited to all skiers including covered magic carpet lifts for kids and some of the best instructors in the industry. Val d’Isere itself is car-free and known for its high-quality restaurants and welcoming après-ski events.

How to get to Val d’Isere

There are a few options when travelling to Val d’Isere, however some are less suitable. For example, although Chambery and Grenoble Airport are closer, finding flights and ones that are reasonably priced is a lot harder. Also, options for car hire are limited at these locations. However, the other 2 airports are slightly further but as they are bigger airports you can hire a car with all your ski car hire needs. That includes a ski rack, snow chains and a GPS to help you find your way there. Once you arrive at the resort there is a free shuttle service that takes you to all the main lifts.
Chambery Airport (144km) – 2 hours
Geneva International Airport (222km) – 2 ½ hours
Grenoble Isere Airport (217km) – 2 ½ hours
Lyon St. Exupery Airport (221km) – 2 ½ hours

Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

Once home to the Winter Olympics, all the way back in 1956, Cortina d’Ampezzo is still a superb ski resort. At the resort you will find shops and entertainment venues that you can make use of in between time on the slopes. Let’s not forget that the main purpose is to be skiing and with Olympic standard slopes with high altitude snowfields it’s hard to do anything but ski. Even if you’re a beginner or intermediate there is plenty of snow for you to enjoy. Unlike other resorts, Cortina d’Ampezzo, comes with cross-country ski trails with scenic views, a bobsled run, and an Olympic rink for ice skaters. There really isn’t much more you can ask for.

How to get to Cortina d’Ampezzo

Cortina d’Ampezzo can be best reached by one of the nearest airports. Despite the distance from the airport to the resort been marginally closer than others on this list, you are still looking at a minimum travel time of just under 2 hours. Things to be aware of are that some of the airports below are in Austria and if you wish to hire a car you will need to contact us to arrange cross border car hire. Other than that, if you would like a car, contact us today so we can arrange stress free ski car hire, with everything you need for the perfect ski holiday.

Canova di Treviso airport (136km) – 1 ½ hours
Venice Marco Polo airport (148km) – 2 hours
Innsbruck airport (164km) – 2 hours
Klagenfurt airport (228km) – 3 hours
Verona airport (265km) – 3 hours

Chamonix, France

Chamonix can be found on Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc, that stands at 4,807 meters high. The altitude of the glaciers and the mountain itself cool the surrounding area preserving the snow. This means you will find some of the best and most long-lasting snow conditions in the alps here. Chamonix is best known for hosting the first Winter Olympics. Since it’s original fame, people still visit year after year to tackle some of the worlds most challenging terrain. There is a good mix of slopes for everyone, at Grands Montets, you can ski the slope with the world’s greatest height differential. Whereas, at Domaine Skiable des Planards or La Vormaine areas, beginners and families can make use of the great learning facilities.

How To Get to Chamonix

Chamonix is one of the easiest resorts to get to on this list. Nevertheless, you will still need to find a method of transportation once you land. We think hiring a car and exploring the beautiful surrounding areas is the best way to do it, but that choice is up to you. If you decide to opt for car hire, get in touch with our team who can discuss your requirements and make sure you have everything you need when going on a ski holiday. This could be snow chains, a GPS or ski racks.
Geneva Airport (101km) – 1 hour
Chambery Airport (142km) – 1 ½ hours
Lyon St Exupery Airport (220km) – 2 hours
Grenoble-Isere Airport (220km) – 2 hours

Contact us for your ski car hire

If you are looking to go on holiday to one of the locations above or any other location for that matter, we have your car hire covered. We offer Ski car hire with optional extras that include everything you could need for skiing such as:
4×4’s
Winter Tyres
– Ski Rack
– GPS
– Snow Chains
Not all of these services are available at every airport, for this reason we recommend that you contact our team to find the best deal for you. You can contact us via call, email or by using the live chat function.

For more fantastic articles on Travelling in Europe, check out our friends at bookmarktravel.com – Travel Directory.

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Top 5 Things To Do In Switzerland

Top 5 Things To Do In Switzerland

Switzerland is found in western and central Europe, it borders several countries including France, Italy & Germany. When most people think of Switzerland they think of skiing in the Swiss Alps. On top of skiing the country has so much more to offer, here is our Top 5 Things To Do In Switzerland.

Jungfraujoch

Have you ever wanted to climb a very high mountain but don’t have the effort to do it? Don’t worry, you can now get a train to the top. The Jungfraujoch stands at an impressive 4,158 m, that’s 13,642 ft, it was first climbed in 1811 and was a tricky task. Luckily for you in 1912 the Jungfrau railway opened to the public. This railway takes you to the highest train station in Europe and most of the journey is tunnels that have been carved through mountains. There are places the train stops where you can look at the breathtaking views as you travel up the mountain. Once you reach the top you will find plenty to do ranging from the snow fun park to walking around a palace made from ice! Travelling up this mountain is certainly a unique experience, second to none.

Lucerne

Lucerne is found in central Switzerland; this medieval village is packed with things to see. The city is best known for its Chapel bridge and 13th century water tower. The medieval bridge is 200 metres long and is the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe! The bridge stretches over Lake Lucerne, a pearlescent blue lake that is home to many boat trips that you can partake in to enjoy the tranquil surroundings and learn about the history of the town. Another attraction in Lucerne is a very detailed lion that can be found carved into stone, so make sure you don’t miss it.

Rhine Falls

Rhine Falls is in northern Switzerland and is the largest waterfall in Europe! There is a short walk which takes you to a platform right next to the falls. If you want to get even closer to the falls you can take a boat trip which will last between 10 to 30 minutes. As well as the stunning waterfall there are castles nearby including the castles of Wörth and Laufen, which can both be reached by boat.

Toboggan Run

When most people think of a toboggan run, they imagaine someone on a toboggan (Sledge) going down a hill in the snow. In Switzerland there are some toboggan runs that are slightly different. These ones don’t require snow as they are toboggans on rails fit with a brake so you can travel at your own pace. One of the longest ones in Switzerland is at Churwalden, this run is 3060 metres long and descends nearly 500 metres. Lasting between 7 and 10 minutes and capable of reaching speeds of 25mph, this will certainly make your heart race. The cherry on top is that all of this is set in magnificent scenery which you can watch race by as you fly down the hill.

Schilthorn

Like Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn is another mountain in the bernese alps. The Schilthorn is nearly 10,000 feet tall and instead of a train, you will need to take a cable car to the top. What makes this mountain unique is on the summit of the mountain is a revolving restaurant! That means you can enjoy mouthwatering food as the restaurant spins around enabling you to have a 360-panorama view of the surrounding mountains. Don’t worry the restaurant takes just under an hour to complete a full rotation. If you are a James Bond fan you might recognise this place as it featured in the 1969 James Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. Make sure you try the fan favourite “007 burger” which comes in a bun with a 007 logo stamped on the bun!

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Young Driver Hire In Switzerland With No Extra Cost

Car Hire With Zero Deposit

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

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

Where in Switzerland is this offer available?

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

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

Can I take the car cross-border?

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

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

Is there an extra charge for winter ready vehicles?

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

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

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Basel Airport Debit Card Car Rentals

After years of trying, we are now able to offer Basel Airport Debit Card Rentals on all international sides. As you may know, Basel Airport is not your typical airport. It is based within 2 different international zones meaning there is a Swiss side and a French side.

Until now if you wanted to hire a car with a debit card at Basel Airport you would have had to cross into the French side (Mulhouse Airport) to find a supplier. We have now agreed a deal with one of the largest suppliers in the world to offer our customers a better deal.

Basel Airport Debit Card Requirements

If you do not have a credit card and wish to hire a car at Basel Airport (Swiss side) now you can, and with a relatively low deposit too (500 CHF). This is not available online through our normal booking engine, for us to book the right supplier on your behalf we need to discuss this with you on the phone, via email or via live chat on our website.

There are certain criteria that we need to confirm before booking, so speaking to us direct is the very best way.

Other Offers At Basel Airport

We have various offers at Basel Airport, not all necessarily with the same suppliers so before booking, ensure you speak to one of our reservations specialists to confirm the best supplier for your requirements.

Free Winter Tyres When required, we have suppliers that will supply vehicles with snow tyres at no extra cost.
Young Drivers 19 years old is the minimum age to hire a car, at least one supplier doesn’t charge an additional fee for this.
Low Deposit Deposits can be as low as 300 CHF with one supplier.

For more information on any of the above offers at Basel Airport, please contact us directly. Call 0113 880 0748, Email sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or chat with us live on our website.

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Car Hire with Debit Card at Mulhouse Airport

Car Hire with Debit Card at Mulhouse Airport

News Flash: Car Hire with Debit Card at Mulhouse Airport is from now available at Indigo Car Hire.

Mulhouse Airport is an international airport in eastern France near the borders with Switzerland and Germany. The airport serves the cities of Basel (Switzerland), Mulhouse(France) and Freiburg in Germany.

If you are travelling to one of the above cities via Mulhouse Airport and you are looking to hire a car with debit card, you are in the right place.

Recently after few enquiries from our customers, we decided to arrange a deal also for those who don’t own credit cards.
So we’re happy to announce that Car Hire with Debit Card at Mulhouse Airport is the result of our negotiations with the French partners.

Car Hire with Debit Card at Mulhouse Airport has never been easier now, you simply contact Indigo Car Hire, explain your requirements and we will find you the right supplier for you. We’ll do all the leg work!

Mulhouse Airport Debit Card Car Hire Conditions

First, it’s important to mention that hiring a car with debit card at Mulhouse Airport is not available online. You must contact us at +44 (0)113 880 0748 and discuss with our reservation agents prior booking.

Arranging Car Hire with Debit Card at Mulhouse Airport wasn’t easy for our experts. In France, due to security reasons, most of the car rental companies accept credit cards only.
Therefore, this deal comes with few restrictions set in place by the car rental suppliers.

Not all the debit card types are accepted at the Mulhouse Airport car rental desk. The debit card must meet the restrictions set by the suppliers. To check if your card meets the restrictions, please contact us via call or email prior to booking.

The debit card acceptance is conditioned also by the rental deposit which in this case is 250 euros (approx. £200). When you pay with debit cards, the deposit is just held on your card and released after the car is returned, but the refunding period is up to 10 working days.

For more information about Car Hire with Debit Card at Mulhouse Airport, or in any location in France, contact us over the phone on +44 (0)113 880 0748 or via email on sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk

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Geneva Airport Debit Card Car Hire

Geneva Airport Debit Card Car Hire

News Flash Geneva Airport Debit Card Car Hire

Indigo Car Hire is happy to announce that starting from this month we offer: Geneva Airport Debit Card Car Hire. This means all the tourists travelling to such a popular destination like Geneva – Switzerland, will be able to Hire a Car Without a Credit Card at Geneva Airport.

Since credit cards are not used by everybody, we needed to make sure that we will be able to help everyone in need of a car hire.
So our Car Hire Experts secured another amazing deal with a well known supplier and we are able to offer Geneva Airport Debit Card Car Hire.

Geneva International Airport, formerly known as Cointrin Airport is the international airport of Geneva, Switzerland.

With more than 13 millions passengers a year and covering destinations like: London, Munich, Porto, Zurich, Paris, Istanbul, Brussels and many others, Geneva International Airport is a major travel hub for tourists all over the world.

Geneva Airport Debit Card Car Hire Conditions

When it comes to Geneva Airport Debit Card Car Hire Conditions, our our negotiation team got the best deal for our clients. The car hire conditions refer to the debit cards accepted and to the deposit held by the supplier.
The debit card must meet the restrictions set by the suppliers. To check if your card meets the restrictions, please contact us via call or email prior to booking.

The deposit amount required for the Geneva Airport Debit Card Car Hire is 150 GBP. The deposit mentioned is for all types of cars.
Usually when you pay with debit cards like Visa or MasterCard, the deposit is just held on your card and released after the car is retuned, but the refunding period is up to 10 working days.

INDIGO CAR HIRE Geneva Airport Deals

Known as the smallest of big cities, Geneva is a global city, a financial centre, and worldwide centre for diplomacy. Situated along the banks of Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps, Geneva is an amazing experience for tourists world-wide.

Geneva is the perfect home base for the tourist who like exploring the countryside. Whether you enjoy hiking, biking, boating,just want to have a ski vacation, Geneva offers easy access to all of these.

For more information about Geneva Airport Debit Card Car Hire, or in any location in Switzerland, please contact us over the phone on +44 (0)113 880 0748 or via email on sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk

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Lugano Airport Debit Card Car Hire

News Flash – Lugano Airport Debit Card Car Hire

Lugano Airport Debit Card Car Hire is our latest offer in Switzerland. Our Car Hire Experts did it again and secured a deal with one of our great suppliers. So from this month: Lugano Airport Debit Card Car Hire is possible with Indigo.

Lugano Airport is a regional airport located in the city of Lugano, Switzerland. It connects the city of Lugano with destinations like Ibiza, Rimini, Elba, Geneva and Zurich.

Lugano Airport Debit Card Car Hire Conditions

As you probably might already know, the Lugano Airport Debit Card Car Hire Conditions are easy to be met. To check if your card meets the requirements of the supplier, please contact our team via call or email.

The deposit the client must pay for Lugano Airport Debit Card Car Hire is 300 GBP. There is also a tax for fuel of 100 GBP, so the total amount you should pay will be 400 GBP.

If the car will be returned with no damage and the tank with fuel full, then the supplier will return the client both the deposit and the fuel charge.

INDIGO CAR HIRE OFFERS IN Lugano Airport ALSO INCLUDE

Lugano is a Swiss city, in the Italian speaking canton of Ticino. Lugano has two main attractions: the Lugano Prealps and Lake Lugano.

It is a very appreciated travel destination by many artists, celebrities, athletes and business people. This is how it was nicknamed: the “Monte Carlo of Switzerland”.

For more information about Lugano Airport Debit Card Car Hire, or in any location in Switzerland, please contact us over the phone on +44 (0)113 880 0748 or via email on sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk

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