Travel Advice Archives - Indigo Car Hire

Things To Avoid When Hiring A Car

September 28, 2021 Robert Gillespie Travel Advice Comments Off

We have written a number of blogs like ‘top tips to get the best deal on your rental car’ and ‘best way to avoid the queue’s at the rental desk’. What we haven’t covered before is what to avoid when booking or collecting you rental car. Things you just should not do.

If you stick to the suggestions outlined below then not a lot can go wrong with your rental. Obviously things can and do go wrong sometimes but with the support of our reservations team, we will ensure that you have all of the tools needed for a smooth experience when renting a car.

In no particular order, have a read and let us know if you have any suggestions to add to our list of Things To Avoid When Hiring A Car.

Do Not:

Leave It Until The Last Minute.

With the slow production of cars, booking in advance is encouraged. The closer you leave it to the collection date, the likelihood of obtaining a good price is unlikely. Now that countries are opening up, people are starting to move confidently and those who are desperate for some sun are booking in advance to make sure the best price is booked.

We know that paying in advance through these uncertain times is not ideal, so we offer flexible payment options. Contact us to discuss further as we have pay on arrival options.

Book Without Entering Your Age.

Hiring a vehicle under the age of 25 or over 70 can be tricky; not all suppliers offer rental options to drivers outside of the ages mentioned due to their insurance providers restrictions. Booking a vehicle online without specifically inputting your age could mean that you cannot collect the vehicle and you lose the money that you have paid.

To avoid this issue, contact our team, we have locations where we can avoid the substantial young drivers fee and have suppliers who can help up to the age of 99.

Assume You Can Pay With Someone Else’s Card.

When hiring a vehicle, we can arrange a pre-payment through anyone’s card, so long as you speak to an agent over the phone, via email or through our online chat facility. However, when collecting the vehicle, the lead driver must present their own card for the supplier to block the security deposit.

Book For An Airport Location Without Giving Your Flight Number.

If you book and pay for a rental car at an airport, especially those arriving late at night and do not add your arrival flight number, if your flight is delayed the desk staff will not be aware and will not wait around.

Just Click ‘I Have Read The Terms & Conditions’ Before Booking.

This is a big ‘do not’ when hiring a vehicle. The reason being, each supplier has different terms and conditions, some require high deposits, some cannot accept debit cards and some even have an upper age limit. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU READ ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU ARE SIGNING UP TO. THIS IS ALSO VALID WHEN COLLECTING YOUR CAR, DO NOT JUST SIGN THE PAPERWORK, READ AND CHECK IT.

Assume Anyone Can Drive The Car.

When making a reservation, unless stated clearly, the price that you book and see online will include one driver. The details of the driver that you input will be the lead driver. When collecting, representatives will offer an additional driver, however this will be an additional charge with most suppliers.

Depending on where you are looking to hire from, our agents can search for a supplier who offer a free additional driver to reduce your overall car hire cost. You will need to speak to us though by way of phone, email, or the live chat facility on our website.

Accept An Upgrade Unless Offered For FREE.

The representatives earn commission from selling additional products such as a GPS, child seat, additional driver, additional insurances, and vehicle upgrades. If offered an upgrade, always ask whether it is a FREE upgrade prior to saying yes.

Try & Use A Payment Card If You Do Not Know The Pin Number.

Although smart phones provide the option to pay without using a pin or even presenting your card, this does not work when hiring a vehicle. Our suppliers will strictly require the lead driver to present their valid payment card, inputting that into their chip and pin machine and processing the pin. If you do not know the pin, that will lead you down a sticky path, the payment will not process, and the supplier will not release a car to you.

Forget To Inspect The Car Prior To Driving Away.

Prior to leaving the depot where you are collecting the vehicle, we encourage all our clients to have a walk around the vehicle to make sure that the damage sheet is up to date. It could be that the agent who checked the vehicle in from the previous customer missed a scratch or dent. So, if you walk around the vehicle and make sure the agent is aware of anything that is missing, you will not be penalised.

Doing the opposite to the above and not walking around the vehicle, driving away could lead you to paying for damage that you have not caused.

Sign A Contract Without Checking It.

If you are hiring a vehicle on holiday, the flight can be very tiring, and you may think that rushing through the airport and signing the paperwork for the car is the easiest thing to do, wrong. Representatives earn commission from selling additional products to each client, so items will be offered to you, which if you are tired can be added quite easily, especially if there is a language barrier or you feel pressured.

We always encourage clients to make sure the rental agreement matches up to the price that we have quoted. Should there be any additional charges that do not make sense, or you are struggling to understand why there is a difference, call us. Our team are always available, no matter what time – we have an out of hours facility if you are collecting a vehicle out of our normal operational times.

Forget To Take Your Driving Licence.

Hiring without the photo card of your driver’s licence is very, very tricky. Depending on the location, we have suppliers who can help, but you cannot book online yourself.

95% of suppliers will strictly require the photo card of your driver’s licence to be presented on collection of the vehicle and should you fail to present it, you could lose the monies you have originally paid.

Forget To Refuel The Car Before Returning.

When collecting a vehicle, 90% of suppliers have a full-to-full fuel policy, meaning you will be provided with a full tank of fuel, simply return the vehicle full to avoid an overly inflated refuelling fee plus an administration fee for having to refill the vehicle.

Return The Car And Post The Key If There is Someone Around To Check The Car In.

When returning your hire vehicle, if it is within the suppliers operational hours, do not post the keys through the key drop box. We always encourage our clients to find a representative to sign the vehicle in, making sure that you do not incur any surprising charges at a later date.

Forget To Take A Photo Of The Car If Returning Out Of Office Hours.

If you are scheduled to leave on an early or late flight. Or you are in a rush to get to work early in the morning, if there are no representatives around to sign off the paperwork, cover yourself by taking pictures of the car in the safe spot where you have parked, from various angles (the wheels and all around the car). Showing that there is no damage.

Return The Vehicle Without Giving It A Clean.

When returning your vehicle back to any rental company, the last thing you want to incur is a valet fee for some sand, dirt or animal hair that has been left in the vehicle. These fines can be quite high, so you are always worthwhile giving the vehicle a quick clean vacuum.

Look For The ‘Sanitised Car’ Badge Online

June 24, 2020 Robert Gillespie Travel Advice, Travel News Comments Off

When using our online booking tool, for added confidence in the supplier you are using, We have added a ‘Sanitised Car’ badge. This is there to tell you that this supplier brand uses cleaning measures as per WHO COVID-19 guidelines including these minimum standards a supplier should be implementing;

Staff using protective and disposable equipment (e.g.: masks, gloves) when cleaning car units
Use of disinfecting products recommended by Covid-19 safety guidelines to clean car units
Emphasize the cleaning of common surfaces like steering wheel, windows, gear, handles, car keys, seat belt buckles, as well as optional extras like child seats, GPS
Disinfecting soft and porous material or items like carpet, rugs and seating areas

If you have any questions about car hire, driving a car abroad and covid-19 restrictions on car hire then please contact us. You can do so by phone, email, text and online chat. It has never been easier to contact us.

Flybe Customers Told Not To Travel To The Airport…

March 5, 2020 Robert Gillespie News, Travel Advice, Travel News Comments Off

Flybe enters administration

This morning, on the 5th March, airline provider Flybe released a statement to confirm that they had entered administration. All Flybe customers were advised not to travel to the airport unless other arrangements had been organised. The statement went on to say that there would be no alternative flights arranged by Flybe. So, what happens next if you have a flight arranged with Flybe in the near future?

Alternative travel arrangements for Flybe customers and staff

You have a few choices for alternative travel arrangements. Firstly, if you are travelling on a domestic flight in the UK, you may be able to get a free train ticket. FirstGroup, which is the largest rail operator in the UK, have announced that if you can prove you had a flight booked with Flybe within the next week, you are eligible to travel on their trains for free. You will need to have a boarding pass or another valid proof that you have booked a flight for these dates, Flybe staff can just show their staff ID for the same offer. Another rail provider, LNER, have also offered free rail travel for Flybe customers throughout the 5th March.

Secondly, easyJet are offering a free flight for any customers or staff that are due to fly on the 5th March. If you are travelling after the 5th March, easyJet will allow Flybe customers to fly for £65 up until the end of May. On this flight you will be allowed to take a 15kg hold bag with you.

Can I get a refund for my Flybe booking?

If none of that helps you, the only other thing you can do is re-book a flight with a different company. The good news is, you may be able to get a refund for some or all of your money. If you have travel insurance, there is a good chance you will be covered and will get a refund. With that being said not every supplier covers cancelled flights due to an airline collapse, but it is worth checking, if you have travel insurance. Secondly, you can apply to your credit or debit card provider and they may be able to reimburse you. Finally, if you bought your holiday as package from a 3rd party, separate to Flybe, you may also be eligible for a refund due to ATOL protection.

Travelling Abroad? 3 Things You Can’t Forget

December 23, 2019 Robert Gillespie Travel Advice Comments Off

Whether you’re a seasoned traveller with years of adventures under your belt or you’ve never been outside of your home county before, travelling abroad is an undeniably exciting experience, be it your first or one thousandth time. So, once you’ve saved for flights and booked your hotel that’s it – you’re ready to go, right? Wrong. To achieve a smooth, stress-free trip, taking care of the essential tasks means so much more than simply getting to your destination – it means ensuring you’ve ticked off all the ‘boring’ organisational tasks, allowing you to make the most from your holiday abroad.

So, in this post, our friends at Jolly Good Loans share 3 tips for travelling abroad, helping you to rest assured that you’re as prepared as possible ahead of your overseas adventure.

Remember to book travel while you’re away

So, you’ve landed in your chosen destination and have managed to pick out your ‘unique’ black suitcase against the sea of similarly ‘unique’ black suitcases on the conveyor belt. You’re ready to go – but where, and how? Airport taxi services are likely to come with an inflated price tag, and while in some countries there is room to haggle for the best price, with limited language skills this prospect can be a daunting one for many travellers looking to put their feet up in their hotel after a long journey.

Therefore, to ensure you’re fully prepared, make sure you sort out your airport transfer in advance – searching online for the best price for a taxi to ensure you’re not getting ripped off in the moment or, alternatively, planning a route using airport shuttle buses or other modes of public transport online ahead of travelling.

Depending on the type of holiday you’re going on, it’s vital you consider how you’ll be getting around before you fly. For example, if your budget hotel is situated 5KM away from the beach, is there a local bus that can take you too and from on daily excursions? Or, if your itinerary involves exploring a little off the beaten track, how do you plan on getting around to visit hidden away places?

In instances like these, it’s important you consider organising a car rental service for your stay. At Indigo Car Hire, they have cars in multiple destinations around Europe, so book up now and give yourself peace of mind that your internal travel is already arranged.

Make sure you’ve considered insurance

While you’re booking flights for your forthcoming trip, you‘ll likely be asked during the checkout process whether you’d like to add travel insurance. While this is certainly something you should consider, booking it through your flight provider isn’t a necessity. As such, make sure you do the appropriate research when it comes to picking a travel insurance provider – checking their policies against your itinerary.

For example, if you’re planning a lot of sports activity while you’re away, most standard policies won’t cover this despite claiming they cover the basics – so you’ll need to take out additional cover if you’re choosing to take part in the following: winter sports, extreme sports, water sports or golf.

Additionally, it’s crucial that you keep a copy of your documents with you at all times. Make sure you photocopy versions of your passport and insurance information, keeping them on you throughout your time away – this is particularly important for instances where you don’t have your physical passport on you or in the unfortunate event of you losing it.

Don’t forget to do your local research

Upon arrival, the first day or two will likely be spent wandering around getting to grips with your bearings and learning about local customs – in addition to eating foods defined as local from busy, central restaurants. To ensure you make the most out of your holiday, however, we suggest doing your research about places to eat and drink and sights to see before you fly.

As a result, you’ll be able to avoid touristy restaurants known by the locals to be more expensive and, instead, eat in places where local foods are home-cooked for a typically far cheaper price. Additionally, by checking out local landmarks online ahead of your trip, you’ll be made aware of busy times during various seasons – allowing you to plan your visit for quieter times where you can really make the most of the landmark without worrying about having to dodge a crowd of selfie sticks.

Undoubtedly, the most important aspect of travelling is how much fun you’ll have while doing it – no matter if that involves laying on the beach or hiking up a mountain. But, in order to ensure that you’ve grasped every opportunity possible, minimising stress is key. So, by following the above steps we’re sure you’ll be on your way to creating a memorable holiday for all the right reasons.

Author bio:

Keith Harrison is a content creator and writer for Jolly Good Loans – your online personal loans encyclopedia. Photo by Ina Carolino on Unsplash

Is There A Baggage Allowance When Hiring A Car?

August 21, 2019 Robert Gillespie News, Travel Advice Comments Off

Recently on several occasions we have been asked, is there a baggage allowance when hiring a car? We thought the best way to cover this would be to explain everything you need to know in one blog.

The confusion arises when using our booking engine. When you look at a car, there is a symbol for a bag with a number next to it. This is common across most car hire companies, and the point of confusion can easily be identified. People assume that the baggage symbol works in the same way as person symbol, which tells you the limit for the number of people allowed in the car at once. However, the baggage symbol is only to be used as a guideline for considering what car size you should hire, it is not a maximum allowance. The baggage guidance can be useful however, you might have different size baggage and it should only be used as a guideline.

The attached image shows a Nissan Qashqai with the number of bags being 4, if you hover over this symbol during the booking process it will tell you “This car can fit 4 small suitcases” now I am not sure on what scale a small suitcase is measured but again, it is there to be a guide. If you turn up with 4 Kardashian sized suitcases then your may be in some trouble. Now I have driven one of these and know for a fact that more than 4 small suitcases will fit, but when you consider everything else in this class, this is probably the right amount. There are a number of smaller cars is the same class like, Nissan Juke, VW T-Roc and Audi Q3, all of which have 5 doors, 5 seats and pretty small boots.

So what is the right size car for me?

Well there are several factors that need to be considered when choosing what size car you need to hire. The first and most obvious is the amount of people who will be travelling in the car, make sure you choose a car that has enough seats. Secondly, you need to consider how much baggage you are taking with you. For example, if you are taking just 5 people with a bag of hand luggage each, you will not need a car that has the recommended amount of luggage as 5.

The majority of deciding what size car you need is down to your own research and judgement. Make sure you know how big your cases are and how many you are going to be taking. Once you have this information try and compare it to different cars you are familiar with and decide if you think it would be suitable for you. Better still, if you have a friend who owns a different size car to you, ask them if your luggage and number of passengers would fit in. If you are planning on taking a lot of luggage and only 5 people, it might be better to hire a people carrier, as instead of using all 7 seats you can use that area as luggage space.

If you have any questions and would like further clarification of vehicle sizes, do not hesitate to get in contact with our knowledgeable team. Once you have decided the right size car for you, get in touch with us and we can get you booked in, you can contact us via call, email or by using the live chat function.

Driving Licence Check Code For Car Rental

May 23, 2019 Robert Gillespie Travel Advice Comments Off

The driving licence check code system has now been in place almost 3 years and we are pretty happy to report that the transition has been almost without issue.

One or two glitches with the system in the early days, which if you know anything about software or technology, you would expect to happen. So why are we writing an article on a 3 year old procedure that works? Well the one thing we have noticed is that the procedure only tends to fail if we, the soft human element do something wrong.

What is a driving licence rental code?

The DVLA check code is something that will let you or someone else access and download your licence information from the DVLA. It allows car rental companies to find out if you have points or convictions on your licence. The driving licence rental code lasts 21 days.

Let me explain, to hire a car in the UK and Ireland you must be able to provide proof to the supplier that you have a good driving record. To do this, we used to have a bit of paper called the counterpart that the DVLA would list any points or convictions on. It was scrapped because the process wasn’t immediate and people were regularly losing them. The counterpart licence was replaced in 2015 by a live government database.

How To Get A Driving Licence Check For Car Hire (Code)

If you arrive to pick up your hired car or a van without having a licence check code then you will need to get your check code from the DVLA.

Getting a code or print out for the hire company is easy.

You can access this database in order to get a hire car DVLA code at anytime providing you have an internet connection and 3 key pieces of information and follow these steps:

Go to the DVLA view driving licence page
Enter your UK Driving Licence Number, postcode & National insurance number
Click on the share your licence information button, which will then lead to “create a code” button
Pass this code to the car hire company

How Long Does A DVLA Check Code Last?

The DVLA check code will remain valid for 21 days, but it can only be used once.

DVLA Access Code For Car Rental By Phone

Alternatively if you arrive without a code you can also call the DVLA hire car number which is on 0300 790 6801 which will allow you to give permissions to the nominated hire company to verbally check your driving record. Once you’ve done this you can call 0906 139 3837 which is another DVLA number to then check the details after permissions has been given.

It provides you with up to date information on your licence validation dates, what you are eligible to drive, any points you may have and when they expire. It also has a function for you to be able to generate a ‘Driving Licence Check Code‘ which are now valid for 21 days. They used to last only 3 days but it was decided that this was not enough time for a lot of travellers. This code is what you need to provide when you arrive to collect a hire car in the UK and Ireland, along with the last 8 digits of your licence number.

What Does The Car Hire Check Code Do?

This enables the hire company to see the same information outlined above and make an educated decision about lending a vehicle worth thousands of pounds to you. Many car hire suppliers will have different insurance policies. On the whole, if you have more than 6 penalty points or a major conviction such as an IN10 or DR10 they will be unable to provide a vehicle. Obviously it is important for them to be able to check this before allowing you to drive away.

If you do not log on to the government website and generate a dvla car hire code within 21 days prior to collecting your vehicle then you will not be able to hire a car in the UK and Ireland.

What If I Don’t Know My NI Number?

If you do not know your National Insurance number you will not be able to login to the government gateway to perform a check. You have one other option, the DVLA offer telephone checks to car hire companies. This means the supplier calling a premium rate telephone number to check the details on your licence. This will be chargeable to you.

A telephone DVLA check can only be performed while the DVLA offices are open. YOU MUST CONTACT YOUR SUPPLIER AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THIS IN ADVANCE. If you leave it until the last minute you may miss out.

Do I Need A DVLA Code For Van Hire?

Yes, it works exactly the same as hiring a car. If you cannot prove your eligibility to drive the vehicle then they will not hire to you.

Driving Licence Check Code When Hiring Abroad

Car hire suppliers abroad do not tend to perform DVLA checks as it is not a worldwide system, however it won’t hurt to have a dvla car rental code ready just in case. They don’t cost anything, you are not limited on how many you can generate and it takes less than a minute. So if you are travelling and you may want to hire a car within 21 days, then log on and have one ready.

Suppliers outside of the UK will want to see your driving licence photo-card and passport and will expect the details on each to match. Some will also require a return flight ticket or proof of address. Always check your booking confirmation for a list of what you will need to provide on arrival to avoid any delays or even being turned away.

If you have any questions about driving licence check codes for hiring a car then please contact us and we will be happy to help. Our reservations team are experts when it comes to all things car hire both in the UK and abroad. You can call us on 0113 88 00 748, email sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or chat with our team online.

How To Get To Madrid For The Champions League Final

May 10, 2019 Robert Gillespie Events, Spain, Travel Advice Comments Off

Extortionate Prices For Flights To Madrid

With Tottenham and Liverpool both getting to the champions league final, thousands of fans from the UK are all trying to get to Madrid to see this all English final. One big problem many people have encountered is the price of flights to Madrid, costing over £1000. Frankly, this is unfair, and people should have a chance to see their football team play in such a prestigious event without spending so much. As a result of this we decided to conduct some research of alternative ways to get to the game without burning a hole in your pocket.

Drive From The UK To Madrid!

The first way is that you can drive all the way to Madrid! Yes, people are actually doing this and apart from the monstrous journey this might not be a bad idea. If we use an example of 63mpg, for your car to get there and back would cost, about £140 in petrol. That is not taking into account any toll roads that you might have to pay. Also as the drive is over 21 hours you might want to add an overnight stay to break up the journey. Nevertheless, this is the cheapest by a long way, but is also the longest, so the choice is it up to you. If your car is old and not reliable, we offer cross border car hire from the UK so you have a car you can rely on. For this offer please contact the reservations team directly via call or email.

Fly Then Hire A Car

The other ways to get there involve getting a flight to somewhere else then finding your way to the Madrid from there. If you are going with just 1 or 2 people you might want to check the train prices from the airport to Madrid. If there is more than 2 of you then car hire is probably the cheapest option. Below is a table of different locations you can fly to and how much car hire from there would cost to get to Madrid and back. For some of the flights instead of flying from Liverpool airport we used Manchester Airport as it was a lot cheaper. We used Skyscanner for flight prices and all the prices are accurate as of the 5th May 2019 but may change as they are on a live price rate system.

[table id=7 /]

Things to note about this table:

The petrol cost is assuming the car does 63mpg with the petrol price using the average price in Spain(£1.07)
Tolls and parking are not included.
Flight time includes stop overs for connecting flights.
Prices are based on the smallest and cheapest car.

Booking Car Hire To Madrid

If you decide to fly to one of these destinations and need car hire, Indigo can arrange this for you stress free. Contact us directly with the requirements of your car hire, and we can help find the cheapest deal for you. If you have any questions or want to book a car then call us on +44 (0)113 880 0748 or send us an email at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk and we will be more than happy to help.

Top 5 Campsites In The UK For Families

January 10, 2019 Robert Gillespie Travel Advice, UK Comments Off

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

1. Trellyn Woodland Campsite, Pembrokeshire

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

2. Harvest Moon Holidays, North Berwick

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

3. Wild Boar Wood Campsite, Sussex

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

4. Shieling Holidays, Isle Of Mull

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

5. Woodland Tipis and Yurts, Dewchurch

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

Top 10 Hazards While Driving In Winter

December 12, 2018 Robert Gillespie Travel Advice, Winter, winter car rental Comments Off

Top 10 Winter Driving Hazards

Almost a quarter of all car accidents can be attributed in some measure to the weather, and winter driving can be particularly treacherous. Here are the top 10 winter driving hazards, and what you can do to stay safe.

1. Black Ice

This is the deadliest of all winter driving hazards, and the hardest to prepare for. Black ice is formed when water freezes on the surface of a dark asphalt, making it almost impossible to see by motorists. It is often found on bridges, under overpasses and wherever the roadway is lined with trees. If temperatures are close to freezing, slow down, don’t tailgate, and take your foot off the accelerator (don’t slam on the brakes) if you hit a patch of ice.

2. Poor Visibility

If you can’t see, you can’t drive. Clear all snow and ice off the windshield before your turn the key, and make sure your washer fluid is topped up.

3. Blizzard Conditions

If you’re caught on the road in a blizzard, pull over and wait it out. Better to be late than never to arrive.

4. Dead Batteries

It is harder for the current to pass through your battery in colder temperatures, so make sure yours is in good shape before you set off.

5. Unpreparedness

Expect the worst and hope for the best. Carry an emergency kit which includes replacement fuses, flashlight, first aid equipment, blanket, gloves, hat and tools.

6. Leaving the Vehicle

If you are stranded in a storm, stay in your car. You are far more likely to suffer from exposure by walking to find help than you are from waiting for help to find you.

7. Speed

Just slow down. Always factor in additional time to reach your destination in winter, and adjust your speed for ice, snow and freeing rain. This is a winter driving hazard that is entirely within your control to manage.

8. Poor Traction

If you live in a cold climate, invest in winter tyres. Nothing is more important when it comes to starting, stopping and staying on the road in wintery conditions. You can use snow chains or snow socks as an alternative.

9. Cruise Control

Using cruise control will decrease your ability to make sudden adjustments to road conditions and increase your risk of aquaplaning on wet surfaces. Don’t use it in winter.

10. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

If your tailpipe is clogged with snow and ice, fumes can leak into the car and causes severe illness or death. Check your pipe, especially if you are parked for a considerable period or waiting out a storm in your car.

Being aware, prepared and conscientious should help you avoid these most common winter driving hazards and get you safely home.

6 Road Trip Destinations to Satisfy Your Wanderlust

September 13, 2018 Robert Gillespie Australia, Czech Republic, Germany, Iceland, New Zealand, Spain, Travel Advice, USA Comments Off

Road trips offer the ultimate dose of freedom for your holiday, and luckily, there are plenty of roads in the world that are a little more interesting than the M6 on a drizzly January afternoon – with stunning coastal vistas, dramatic mountain scenery, and picture-perfect towns and villages waiting to be explored.

1. The indomitable, irreplaceable, Route 66

The obvious starting point is the world’s most iconic road, Route 66 – still drivable despite the era of the soulless ten-lane-wide freeway dawning in the 1950s. Spanning 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, the route takes in seven states, mountains, lakes and everything in between.

It would be a mammoth commitment to drive the whole thing – so we suggest a few short sections, such as the drive through the desert across the Arizona-California border, evoking the famous journey undertaken by the dust bowl migrants of the 1930s – immortalised in John Steinbeck’s classic novel The Grapes of Wrath.

At the other end of the route, a drive into Chicago from St Louis takes in the Cahokia, the remains of an ancient Native American city on the banks of the Mississippi and ending at the steps of the beautiful Art Institute of Chicago in the famous city’s centre. Whatever section you choose, you’ll be driving a culturally iconic route immortalised in songs and literature.

2. The Elbe Valley: Germany to Czechia

This beautiful, meandering river valley is somewhat of an underrated road trip. Driving from the historic German city of Dresden, you’ll follow the river as it slowly coils round beautiful forested hills and picturesque riverside towns such as Bad Schandau, right on the border with Czechia – where you might see rock climbers scaling the riverside cliffs. There’s a certain thrill in crossing an international border in a car, and once you’re in the Czech side of the valley, take a trip to the historic town of Děčín, overlooked by the imperious and unmissable Děčín Castle.

After driving’s done for the day, make sure you indulge in a few local Czech beers overlooking the river – the perfect way to round off your border-crossing, culture-swapping, beautiful road trip.

3. Australia’s Great Ocean Road

By Australian standards, a 150 mile drive is easy – there are cattle stations in the Outback that are three times that size – but luckily for you, the Great Ocean Road packs a whole country worth of jaw-dropping scenery into the winding coastal road between the towns of Torquay and Warrnambool. The undisputed highlights of the drive are the stunning, otherworldly limestone structures in the Port Campbell National Park, known as the Twelve Apostles. It’s such a great route, and it isn’t too far from Melbourne for a little slice of city life after your drive along the rural coast.

4. Get lost in Lanzarote

The advantages of exploring an island with a hire car are numerous. There’s less traffic, nothing is too far away and you’re only minutes from the beach at any given time. You can really find your niche in Lanzarote, especially in the less crowded side of the island. The attractive town of Yaiza is a great place to stop for lunch, before driving over to the bewitching, treeless moonscape of the Timanfaya National Park, where the island’s volcanic heritage comes into its own. With home-from-home private villas scattered across the island, you can set up a basecamp and hit the road in search of adventure or tranquility – whatever appeals most!

5. Iceland: Reykjavik – The Golden Circle

From one volcanic island to another, driving is just about the only way to get around the jaw-dropping, rugged countryside of Iceland. We recommend taking in the pint-sized urban chic of Reykjavik before heading to what is known as The Golden Circle – the combination of the Pingvellir National Park, the Haukadalur geysers and the two hundred metre tall waterfall at Gullfoss. The ancient scenery streams past your window as you drive the simple two-lane roads between these places. Iceland is truly a country that looks great from any angle, so fuel up the car and prepare to be amazed.

6. New Zealand: The Alpine Highway

This route across New Zealand’s South Island starts in Christchurch, a vibrant, buzzing city undergoing the remarkable process of rebuilding itself following a catastrophic earthquake in 2011. Once you’ve exhausted the city, wind your way up to the Southern Alps, where your route will take in lakes, ski resorts and the jewel in the crown, the Arthur’s Pass National Park. Spend a night high in the mountains before driving yet more beautiful roads such as the Otira Viaduct, where the scenery could have been taken straight out of a car advert. Just about anywhere in New Zealand is beautiful, so you’re best off booking a car for a few days and satisfying your wanderlust by, well… wandering.

With these 6 stunning routes just waiting to be discovered, the only real difficulty will be choosing where to start!