Choose bigger cars for group holidays advises car hire firm

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The advice being given by a leading car hire provider is to choose larger capacity cars instead of multiple smaller cars for those holidaying in large groups.

Popular car hire price comparison website, Carrentals.co.uk, advise those travelling as part of a large group such as with family members, business colleagues or friends, that the best deals on car rentals are available on large capacity cars with 7-seats or more.

The car hire giant says there is a wide choice of larger sized vehicles available to hire throughout the 9,000 global destinations they cover including the Renault Scenic, Chrysler Voyager, and also luxurious vans with seating for up to 12 passengers.

In the majority of cases, the car hire operator found that hiring one large vehicle as opposed to several smaller cars, works out much cheaper. So if you’re planning a holiday with family members or a group of friends this summer, you’d well advised to request a quote for a larger vehicle, instead of hiring a car each.

Carrentals.co.uk offers the opportunity to compare car hire quotes across leading car rental providers, with new deals being updated on the website daily. Check out the website to compare the cost of car hire for your next holiday, there’s a wide range of cars and people carriers to choose from so you’re bound to find exactly the right hire vehicle to suit your needs.

Car Hire firm encourages Brits to holiday at home for the Royal Wedding

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Car Hire company Avis is encouraging Brits to stay at home during the Easter break by offering travel tips for interesting breaks in the UK.

With an extra bank holiday granted for the Royal wedding planned for April 29th, which falls the week after Easter weekend, many British holiday makers are planning a staycation during the break in order to make the most of the royal nuptials and the extra bank holiday.

Avis car hire rates start at £16 a day, which makes for affordable travel for people who don’t own their own car. Plus, with the Avis Preferred Service, customers are guaranteed to have the keys for their rental car in their hand within 3 minutes of entering their Avis rental centre, or they’ll receive £20.

The car hire giant conducted some research recently into Brit’s holiday plans for this Easter and found that a third of people are planning to stay in the UK for the break. Thanks to the extra bank holiday which has been granted especially for the Royal wedding, workers can enjoy a whole seven days off by just booking 3 days holiday from work.

Avis say they have noted an increased volume of bookings for car hire for April as people plan ahead for the extended break. So if you’re planning a staycation this Easter, you’d we well advised to book your car hire in advance.

Car Hire in Beijing soars by 300%

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Car hire in Beijing is booming with the Chinese press reporting bookings have increased by a massive 300% compared to the same time last year.

There are two main reasons for the sudden surge in car hire bookings, the first being the introduction of new policies by local government to help reduce carbon emissions in the city, and also the forthcoming Spring Festival.

The authorities have introduced a number of radical policies to help the Beijing promote environmentally friendly travel and also ease congestion on the inner city roads. Beijing residents have to draw lots to determine who and when they are permitted to use their car in the city, plus a lottery has been introduced whereby only those who are chosen are allowed to purchase a new car.

Another reason for the increase in car hire in the city is the Spring Festival which takes place on February 18th and is part of the celebrations for the Chinese New Year. At this time, people from all over China and also from overseas, are likely to descend on the city, which has contributed to the rise in car rental bookings.

Because of the high demand for car rentals in Beijing during the Spring Festival combined with the new government regulations, car hire providers have warned that hire prices are likely to increase unless vehicles are booked well in advance.

Budget rent-a-car reveals Dubai expansion plans

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Car and van hire giant Budget have revealed their expansion plans for the United Arab Emirates starting with the launch of three new car rental outlets in Dubai.

The first of the three planned car hire outlets has already been opened. Conveniently situated in the Burji district in Dubai, this centre is will be popular with both business and holidaymakers as it’s close to the financial hub of the city, and also the tourist area of Sheikh Zayed Road.

The bosses at the Budget car hire say they feel buoyed by the recent signs of economic recovery and say they are hoping to capitalise on this by aiming for 20% growth within the next two years.

Budget is one of the world’s leading car and van hire providers, however they have their sights set on developing the brand in the United Arab Emirates to help boost further company growth.

The car rental firm plans to have the second Dubai hire centre up and running in Dubai Marina by the end of the year, with another outlet in Dubai Investments Park set to open by early next year.

With the introduction of the three brand new car hire outlets in Dubai, Budget’s tally of outlets in the United Arab Emirates will stand at 17, and a collective fleet of 6,000 vehicles.

Tips for keeping car hire costs low this summer

To avoid paying over the odds for a rental car on your holidays this summer, follow these simple tips

To avoid paying over the odds for a rental car on your holidays this summer, follow these simple tips

Recent statistics revealed that the cost of car hire in a number of popular European holiday destinations has tripled in the space of just three years. In order to keep the cost of car hire low during your summer trip, you’ll need to be savvy to bag a bargain.

Booking in advance is the biggest tips for keeping car hire costs down. Sorting out your car hire 6 months before your holiday will save you a considerable amount, although there are still decent savings to be had by booking just 4 weeks prior to your break.

Car hire during July and August will be more expensive than any other time of the year and as these months draw closer, the prices shoot up further as availability becomes tighter.

Surprisingly, hiring a bigger car could also work out cheaper as smaller vehicles are more popular and tend to book out quicker. Because less people opt for a larger car, there tends to be more availability and they are more reasonably priced as demand is lower for these types.

Check the excess insurance waiver before signing on the dotted line for car hire. Some companies have a large excess on their hire vehicles so if you have a bump, you may have pay out more than you’d expect. Clarify the excess waiver before committing yourself to a car hire contract.

Beware of the added extras which may not be included in your policy. Some car hire companies will let you add an additional driver to the policy at no extras cost, whereas some charge for this. Also things like the hire of a child’s bumper seat could push up the cost of car rental.

Limo Broker announce cheap limo hire rates for 2010

Limo Broker introduces ultra low rates on limo hire for the new year

One of the leading limo hire providers in the UK, Limo Broker, have announced all time low prices to kick start 2010. The limo giant have slashed rates across their whole range of vehicles so there’s never been a better time to pick up a bargain limo ride for your special occasion this year.

With a massive selection of chauffeur driven limousines to choose from you’re bound to find something to suit your occasion perfectly. From top of the range Hummer limos with the capacity to carry 18 passengers, to exquisite wedding cars like the open-top Beauford, and exclusive vehicles such as the Ferrari limo, you won’t find a more comprehensive and exciting fleet anywhere else in the country.

As a nationwide operator, Limo Broker can provide you with a limo hire regardless of where you are based in the UK. From London to Edinburgh, Cardiff to Belfast and Swindon to Birmingham, no destination is out of bound when you make a booking with Limo Broker.

These ultra low limo hire rates won’t hang around for long so if you need a wedding car for you big day this summer, or a novelty limo to surprise your best mate on her birthday, or a party bus to celebrate your stag do in style, now is the time to bag a bargain. Call now and receive a rock bottom price for your limo trip courtesy of Limo Broker’s exclusive January sale.

For more details, please visit www.limobroker.co.uk

The leading car hire company in the world is named

Europcar has been named as the World’s Leading Car Rental Company as part of the World Travel Awards held earlier this month in London’s Excel Centre. It’s the latest in a host of trophies picked up by the firm recently; in October they were named Europe’s Leading Car Rental Company as part of a regional awards ceremony in Portugal.

Europcar named World's Leading Car Rental Company

Europcar named World's Leading Car Rental Company

The World Travel Awards are held in great esteem and are regarded as the highest accolade within the travel industry. The award is also voted for by Europcar’s peers making it an extra special achievement.

Europcar are particularly pleased to have picked up the prize given the current economic climate. The award is based on the company’s performance over the last 12 months, the period when the credit crunch was at its height.

The car rental giant is now well on its way to achieving its goal of becoming the biggest car hire provider in the world. The Global Marketing Director, Jehan de The, who was in London to collect the award, said Europcar is flying high at the moment after picking up similar accolades in the Middle East, Africa and Central America.

After introducing a number of new initiatives and Europcar’s continued to commitment to customer service, the company have further strengthened their position within the industry, which this latest award is testament to.

Car Hire Company launches legal action for defamation

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car hire firm Hertz launch legal action

Hertz launch legal action

Car Hire company Hertz are taking legal action against Audit Integrity Inc for defamation after they released a report naming Hertz in the top 20 companies who were likely to declare bankruptcy in the next 12 months. The complaint was filed at the Superior Court in New Jersey against Audit Integrity, an independent research organisation which evaluates a range of businesses providing quarterly accounting and governance reports.

The press release in question was issued in September. It is alleged that the information stated that Hertz had “potential for fraudulent reporting of financial statements.” The CEO of Audit Integrity, Jack Zwingli, added fuel to the fire by appearing on TV network CNBC to promote his companies new findings. He is accused of saying that Hertz “lacks integrity and lies to shareholders.”

Car hire firm Hertz hit back at the remarks saying the accusations are completely without substance. Instead of showing signs of floundering, Hertz shares have actually risen at the New York Stock Exchange in recent days.

Hertz are angry that Audit Integrity issued the press release “knowing how defamatory and disruptive such charges can be to a publically traded company.” Hertz added that they have substantial assets in the form of their fleets of hire cars and these would provide sufficient funds should they find themselves in financial difficulties.

The car hire firm is calling for a retraction of the press release and is seeking damages for defamation and trade libel.

Porsche joins car hire fleet

Porsche Panamera joins car hire fleet

As part of Avis’s Prestige Rental Car Services, the car hire company are now offering the luxury Porsche Panamera for hire. The exquisite vehicle is only available in Germany at the moment, however if demand is high enough, we could see the Porsche being rolled out across the whole Avis network.

Porsche Panamera joins car hire fleet

Porsche Panamera joins car hire fleet

The beauty of the Porsche Panamera is that it’s big enough to accommodate 4 passengers, unlike the majority of sports cars. Instead it features 4 doors, luxury leather seating for 4 people, and a boot at the rear of the vehicle to carry luggage. As for the technical mechanics, according to the Porsche specification the new model has standard direct injection, PDK, start stop technology and optional aerodynamics.

It’s a recent addition to the Porsche family having only been revealed at the Shanghai Automobile Show last April. Avis is the first car hire company to pick up the Porsche Panamera. It joins an already impressive line-up of sports cars including the new Jaguar XKR 5.0 Cabriolet, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster and the Ferrari F430 F1 Spider which are already available to hire through Avis.

The starting hire price for the Porsche is €189 for a day or €567 for a weekend. According to the car hire firm, the Porsche Panamera isn’t too expensive to run as it features brand new technology which aids fuel efficiency.

Car Hire Company loses 10 more outlets

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The Car Hire Company, Dollar Thrifty, has announced the sad news that it intends to close 10 more of its rental outlets before the year is out. The struggling firm has been on a drive to shut down its poorest performing stores in order to cut costs during the economic downturn.

Car hire firm Dollar Thrifty make cut backs

Car hire firm Dollar Thrifty make cut backs

So far Dollar Thrifty has closed a staggering 115 stores across its network. This represents 4% of the company’s revenue in 2008 and equates to 5,500 cars. A leading analyst commended Dollar Thrifty’s strategy saying the cut backs probably saved the car hire company from going bankrupt last year.

The Chief Executive of Dollar Thrifty conceded that the actions taken by his company were somewhat aggressive and extreme, however he believed they had been vital to their survival. He added that he doesn’t expect to have to make any more cuts within the company following the 10 announced losses. Although they have suffered as a result of recession in the same way as other car hire companies have, their ruthless approach to restructuring as enabled them to ride out the storm.

The forthcoming closures have been designed to coincide with the expiry date of the each of the stores’ rental contracts. Despite the massive cut backs, Dollar Thrifty still retains a considerable proportion of business assets with outlets in 700 locations and 6,800 employees.