Visiting Benidorm Spain

So you’ve planned a trip to Spain. Perhaps you’re arriving in Alicante and exploring the countryside. Or perhaps you’re heading to Benidorm, the most popular resort area on the Costa Blanca, or the “White Coast” of Spain. If a hiring a car is part of your vacation plans, it’s a good idea to understand what’s involved.

Reserving Your Car

Over twenty car rental companies, both international and regional names, do business in Benidorm. Be sure to shop around for the best rates. Don’t forget to include hidden charges for features such as insurance and mileage.

Think about making your reservation before you arrive. You can book your car on the internet, with a travel agent, or by calling the hire company directly. Depending on when you book, one option may be less expensive than the others.

It’s convenient for most people to pick up their car at the airport. Sometimes, though, it makes more sense to reserve a car off-site. If this is the case, be sure to plan for transportation to and from the hire company. Generally, there’s an airport shuttle available to you for this very reason.

Consider Additional Fees

Many car hire companies simply quote a daily or weekly base rate, but it’s important for you to understand all of the other costs associated with hiring a car. Be sure to read your contract’s fine print to understand what your responsibilities are.

The largest undisclosed charge is usually for insurance. It’s important to be protected against any damage to the vehicle while you’re renting it. Some agreements include this, but most do not. In some cases, your personal vehicle insurance will extend to rental cars. Contact your insurance company to confirm that this is the case. You might be able to save a substantial amount of money by using your own insurance.

Mileage is another possible factor that can add to the bottom line. Some rental companies offer unlimited mileage, but if not, this can add up quickly, especially if you’re doing a lot of sightseeing.

Find out what the rental agreement states regarding pick up and drop off times. Many companies use a 24 hour clock, with fees assessed for any fraction of time over that. Some even charge a full day’s fee for a few hours.

Daily rates can be considerably higher than those calculated from a weekly rate. You might save if you reserve the weekly rate and return the car early. Be sure you understand the company’s policy on early returns. If they don’t credit you for any time, it might not be worth it to take the weekly rental.

Ask about gas charges. Some companies charge a significant fee if the car is returned without a full tank of gas. The charge is generally considerably higher than if you’d purchased the gas at a gas station.

This information should help you prepare for a car rental transaction. With this out of the way, you’ll have more time to enjoy your fabulous vacation!

Article Source: http://www.travelarticles.org

Jack Blacksmith repeatedly makes web pages on issues associated to Spain and Alicante. You can see his articles on Benidorm Car Hire over at www.alicante-spain.com .