There are many companies offering car rental, most with a wide range of cars and all with relatively similar rates. So how do you chose... Well, most people take the car that comes with the package or look for the cheapest rate but there are some things worth considering.

Book your car independent of the holiday?

If your holiday is booked with one of the large travel companies it is likely that the flight will be chartered by that company too. This means that everyone on the plane will have booked with the same company and therefore have the same car rental. So why is this bad? Well, when you have all left the plane and finally collected your luggage from the carousel you'll have to find the rep for your holiday then go and join the queue to collect your car, behind all the other people on the plane. As there is quite a bit of paperwork to fill in, four or five minutes each, this queue doesn't move fast so you may have another hour to wait...! But do you need to book the car that comes with the holiday?, probably not. Don't worry about losing out on a good deal, if you really can't find an alternative car you'll be able to call up and have a car added to your holiday later without any trouble.

Collect the car at the airport?

Pick up the car at the airport or at your resort? Good question. There are several things to consider here. If you like to have a drink on the plane, with your meal, perhaps it is better to take the transport to the resort and pick up your car the next day. Remember you'll probably have to drive on the wrong side of the road so you'll need your wits about you, not to mention the drink driving laws. Alternatively, you should think about the chance that your drop-off from the coach may be the last so you'll have to wait at each stop while the other passengers cases are unloaded. And don't forget that it is easy to pick up your car in your resort but a drive from the airport may be a bit more challenging especially as the route signs will not be familiar.

Get a big enough car !

If you do collect your car from the airport make sure you hire a big enough car. For the duration of your holiday you'll only potter around in the car visiting beaches or cities but don't forget if you are picking the car up at the airport you need to get all the cases in the boot. How can you tell if the car is big enough? book one that is as big as the car that you'll go to the airport in.

... or take a taxi

You could book a taxi to take you from the airport. Sounds expensive but remember if you do this you can collect your car from your resort and return it there so that is two days less car rental cost. HolidayTaxis.com can arrange any type of airport transfer for any party size in over 2,000 resorts and cities worldwide. Private taxi transfers, group minibus and low cost shuttle transfers are available. The booking process is quick and your confirmation vouchers are displayed and emailed instantly.

What about insurance

The insurance requirements will be included in the cost of hiring the car but there are other options such as collision damage waiver (C.D.W.). CDW contractually waives the renter's responsibility for all the cost of damage to, loss or theft of, the car regardless of fault or negligence. It is not insurance and it is not required to rent the car. this is an option. It is best to read the details of the C.D.W. offered when you are booking the car so that you can make your decision then as opposed to at the point you are picking up the car. It is very easy to feel pressured in to purchasing this option at the point you collect the car so it is better to have already made that decision otherwise you may buy something you didn't want to.

Airport Parking

You have a couple of options if you are driving to the airport... you can park in the on airport car park or you can park close to the airport and get ferried in. Parking on the airport for a couple of weeks holiday is expensive but it does mean that you just get out of your car and find a trolley and you're in the airport. If you don't fancy the expensive on-airport parking and you want to be sure you'll get a space then you can park with someone like Purple Parking who offer car parking at 19 key airport car parks across the UK. If you want the best of both workds Purple Parking offer a Meet & Greet service where you drive to the airport, they meet you and take your car away to park it off-site, they return the car to the airport when your flight comes in and away you go. Great !