Renting a hybrid

Taking the idea of renting a car to travel a step further, you might stumble upon high gas prices. Considering how much that would cost you, especially if you are renting for a longer period, that might not sound as the greatest idea, right? So where does that lead you…

I leads you to renting a hybrid. They might have a little higher daily rate but there is a significantly less fuel consumption. Depending on the how much kilometers you’ll pass or for how long you’ll rent it, you might just need to partially refuel the car. When you add environment protection to it, it makes you feel even better. Although it sound great in theory, it’s somewhat more challenging in practice.

Finding hybrids at rent-a-car companies is still a rare miracle these days, even though they have been around for quite some time.  A tip for searching them is to look in larger cities and countries with the biggest network or in countries that are oriented to environmental protection and development. The expansion of environment offerings around Europe should be an important part of every rent-a-car company since that is what customers are demanding more and more, since gas prices are high, automobile industry is making a huge turn and  the green movement is finally making people conscious.

Now, officially, Avis takes the first prize when it comes to renting hybrid cars. “The launch of the 20 Prius vehicles onto the UK fleet follows the announcement, in February, that Avis Germany introduced natural gas VW Tourans to its fleet at 19 locations in 15 cities across the country.

Avis Portugal introduced hybrid cars to its fleet in 2005 and currently operates 50 hybrids across the country, reducing its CO2 emissions by over 50 tonnes. Avis Scandinavia also offers customers the chance to rent environmentally friendly vehicles with over 400 ethanol-powered Saab 9-5 BioPower cars, 75 Ford Flexi-fuel and 20 Toyota Prius vehicles on its fleet. “ *

A few more Priuses can be found at Europcar and Alamo but that’s about it. What car rental companies can offer you is lower emission vehicles as a green choice. So be clear what you want and what you are asking from them.

One more tip…when you’re booking online, hybrids can also be found under prestige category.

Happy hunting!

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

* from Avis News

Car rental – crossing country borders

After surviving the technical stuff, let’s focus more on what happens when you decide to expand your travel appetites and cross country borders.

First of all, most of the time when you book online (in advance), you get a better deal. But booking online to travel abroad will need a telephone confirmation so that the company can prepare everything for you. If you’re renting a car in the UK and want to travel to Ireland or continent, that might bring high surcharges. In that case, for crossing to the continent, you will get a return ticket for Channel Tunnel. Though I wouldn’t recommend, as an alternative, taking a train or a ferry boat and then rent again, it’s possible. There is one more thing that makes your life more complicated when crossing from the UK to the continent or the other way around…which side of the road you are driving at. Avis arranges a switch for you, from right-hand drive to left-hand drive. Which is great but don’t expect that service from everyone. Think how that would influence your driving and, above all, if you are ready to switch sides of the road.

Why is it also important to tell upfront the rent-a-car company where you’re planning to go? Because there is an imaginary border between Western and Eastern countries. What happens is that you might get a cheaper car and have to pay for extra insurance. That doesn’t apply to all Eastern Europe only to some. What irritates me sometimes is the label, that people who don’t know anything about countries in Eastern Europe, put no matter what.

Always ask at the car rental for unfamiliar law in countries you plan to visit. Signs are the same but speed limits, headlights, safety seats for children etc. are not. European superhighways come with tolls. Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia have a system of vignettes that you buy after you cross their border. Vignettes are valid for a period of few months up to a year. Prices are reasonable except in Slovenia which has extremely high prices. EU is pressuring them to cut the cost for tourists but they haven’t answered so far. On the other hand Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Croatia (Mediterranean countries) have toll booths on highway exits.

Don’t let all of this discourage you. Now you know what you can expect and is not as bad as it sounds!

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Car rental

One more idea to on how to travel around Europe or just a single country is by renting a car. There are many benefits like setting your own itinerary, deciding where you want to go, how much time you want to spend somewhere, stops, comfort, even listening to the music you like …ok, ok, but it’s true!

I’m sure you’re all well aware of that but making a decision to rent a car won’t come from knowing a few benefits…and believe me, there are things you should know about it.

The first dilemma is which company to choose since there are so many. Big-name companies, I have to say, have their big name for a reason. And no, they are not more expensive than smaller ones, it’s usually the other way around. They have a lot bigger network, meaning they cover vast number of countries and places where you can rent and return the car. Every time you rent a car, it will be a new one because after a vehicle reaches 10,000-12,000 km they put it out for sale. Cars are always cleaned upon their return and the services are far better. I have also heard someone say that big-name companies charge more than consolidatiors because they compare rates, find the best deal and issue you a voucher with which you can pick up your car. That’s wrong. I did my research, of course, and just to give you an example, I compared a “big-name company” and the most popular consolidator for Europe. I took the same dates, same time, same pick up and return office, same car! and got the result that said that the consolidators took around €100 more! The choice is obvious.

Prices vary not only between companies but between months and countries also. Age limit is a very important factor; to rent a car in Europe for most companies you have to be 25. Some of them allow 23 but always check so that your plan doesn’t fall through. Your age can also influence on which type of car you will be able to rent. Different countries have different rules, upper age limit is between 69 and 80. If you’re planning to spend many hours on the road, it would be wise to report another driver for which there will be surcharges by day.

Rent-a-car companies don’t need the international driving permit, in fact you can’t rent a car if you only have the international permit, you need your driving permit that you use at home. But, that you don’t say one day I didn’t mention it, if a policeman stops you, he can ask for the international permit and if you don’t have it, he can write you a ticket.

The good thing is that you can rent a car at one place and leave it at another, even in another country. Sometimes there will be surcharges for it. A day is a 24-hour rental period but you have 59 minutes of so called “grace period”. Max. lenght of rent is around 28 days, after that, you need a new agreement. Before you drive off, check the car; if you find a scratch, something torn or similar, report it before you leave. It needs to be written in the agreement or you will have to pay for it. Before returning the car, check it inside and outside.

And that’s just the technical stuff…

So far I have had the best experience with Avis Europe; they own Avis and Budget. Cars are great, usually brand new, best service I have ever experienced with car rental companies and never had any problems.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

EuroVelo Bicycle routes – travel Europe by bicycle

EuroVelo, the European cycle route network, is a venture by European Cyclists’ Federation with a goal to develop 12 long-distance cycling routes through Europe.

Have you ever thought about crossing Europe by bicycle?

Total lenght is 60,000 km, of which about 45,000 km are already in place. These routs span thousands of kilometers, from Norway’s North Cape to Sicily, from Moscow to Galway in Ireland, from London to Rome… The best thing about it is that you are planning your stage, you decide where you want to go, how many kilometers you want to pass and adjust it you your desires and tastes. Being on the road brings people closer together; everyone decided to take a cycling trip for a different reason. And you can meet people along the way, on certain parts of routes you travel.

However, you might think that those routes are only for people that are very fit and in a terrific shape. Which is not true because they are not made in a way to be only a sports activity. You choose you rhythm, stages. And most importantly, EuroVelo doesn’t have a goal to build tracks for cyclists but for people who cycle.  Tourism is already seriously developing itself around this concept.  All of the towns along routes are opening special stores for cyclist and even hotels focus around these types of tourists. Austria is an example that stands out with 40 “Bike Hotels” that provide repair tools, bicycle storage, special meals and detailed weather information; as well as, very well known, Switzerland with over 100 velotels.

For a route to be part of EuroVelo must have:

- have no gradient above 6%

- be wide enough for 2 cyclists

- have an average of no more than 1,000 motorised vehicles a day

- be sealed for 80% of it’s lenght

- be open for 365 day a year, have provision points every 30 km, accommodation every 50 km, and public transport every 150 km

While travelling, a great thing is to keep a journal. You can stop at any point to take a photo or to record your adventures. Change direction, these trips are an expression of your personality; imagine all the scenery and places you would cross through. Both inhabited and uninhabited. You will continue to enjoy it all for a long, long time after your return home.

Bicycle travel is not a new trend, it started becoming popular at the end of the 90s in Europe. There are now hundreds of thousands of tourists travelling on bicycles every year. If you’re looking for new ways of travel, new experiencs, look into it…you never know, you just might be the next person riding your bike on the Mediterranean route…

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Low cost airlines

Or as called Low Cost Carriers – LCC have become a fast growing industry in the last 10 years in Europe. The philosophy behind low cost airlines was to offer attractive prices compared to the cost of car and train transportation. Getting the prices as low would attract people from all walks of life and drastically increase the number of passengers. At first, low cost airlines could fly only from their home country to another and back but now, it’s legally permitted that airlines from other countries offer connections between two countries which are both not their home country.

Low prices and huge success are a result of many different things but what is important for you to know is that all flights are short and from point-to-point, there is no cost for baggage administration and direction to connecting flights. Most of the airlines keep only one type of aircraft which makes their maintenance cost lower, so now you know that when you’re searching for a flight, it will almost always be the same aircraft no matter which time or date you book.

There isn’t much difference between FCC (full cost carriers) and LCC. “Low costers” always operate on small distances and, I would say, are an equivalent to economy class ticket. Low coasters own aircrafts of newest generation; they are not bad or old airplanes as some think. But, services are reduced to minimum. There is no food, no drinks and no newspaper included; you can buy them on board.

One more thing I hear all the time…that taxes and fares for low cost airlines are higher than for others. That is not true.  Taxes and fares are lower for your low cost airline ticket. You can see it by the ticket price. The trick is that low costers often operate between remote places and achieve favorable conditions for airport services.

Today you can fly for less than a price of a few CDs.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

My London itinerary in detail & explanation – Part 2

Getting into more detailed parts of organizing a good trip, let’s discuss public transportation, tickets, benefits that you can use…

How to get from the airport to hotel and back not using a taxi? Big European cities have connected their airports and cities with tube/metro/train. To the city center also almost as a rule. It’s quick and cheap. You can use the services of airport buses that drive on a regular basis or other public transport. Or, most of the cities have private companies that provide you with that service. In our itinerary, I booked easyBus. They drive regularly, even in the early morning and late at night, they have stations and the ticket is affordable. Great thing, you book it online.

More and more cities have tourist cards for public transportation. You buy it online and pick it up upon your arrival (usually it’s done at the airport). They are priced by the number of days and valid for all types of transportation. Don’t forget to touch your card every time on the reader because they are electronic. Remember this tip; it’s a time saver and a money saver for sure! As an example, here is Oyster card used in London.

Tickets! Same as cards for transportation, you can order cards that include large number of places you can visit. That means that you don’t have to stand on line everywhere to buy a ticket. you just show this one at the entrance and you’re in! They can be priced by the number of places they include, but more common are universal ones. Have in mind that it maybe isn’t the best solution for you. Plan what you want to visit and see if it matches the places on the card. I personally found that London pass didn’t suit me. More and more you can find museums and other attractions providing online booking to avoid rush and have certain hour for everybody to get to see what they want.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Eurail Passes – train travel

This is for all non-European residents travelling across Europe by train. Eurail passes are basically the same as InterRail passes. The company cooperates with 30 European railways and shipping lines which makes Europe accessible for everyone.

There are 4 types of passes you can purchase:

- Global Pass is valid in 20 countries

- Select Pass is valid in 3, 4 or 5 countries (which ever you decide)

- Regional Pass is valid for one or more countries situated in the geographical area (ex. Scandinavia – includes Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden)

- One Country Pass

Prices depend on the type of the pass; you can choose between continuous passes (valid throughout a certain number of days) or a regular, decide how many days you’re going to travel/use train transportation during your vacation and find the best option.

Youth passes are valid for people under 26 and are cheaper but available only for 2nd class. Adults can buy 1st or 2nd class tickets. What I like about Eurail is that they provide Saver passes – if you are travelling with one or more people, you can get a discount.

You order your passes online and they send it to you by FedEx. Eurail website also provides you with timetables, maps, you can make reservations and a lot of good detailed information. Eurail includes travel with high-speed, scenic and hotel trains. Find out what your options are and take advantage of all the benefits.

Research alternative routes or use domestic trains if you need to save some money. They are slower but cheaper.

If you are planning to travel with a European friend that has to use InterRail pass you can. You are both allowed on most trains. InterRail and Eurail don’t have the same product range so sometimes you can find yourself in a silly situation. Make sure you plan your trip and check all the railroad companies.

For more information about train travel and passes go here.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

InterRail review – travel by train

Maybe not the first idea that pops on your mind when travelling through Europe but let me change your mind. Europe has over 40,000 railway stations. Yes, you heard right…

Before I go into reviewing a website that I chose to show you today, let me state a few benefits of travelling by train. Train stations are usually situated in the centers of large cities because most of the railways are old and a few hundred years ago, cities were a lot smaller. Newer parts grew around stations. Central stations were and still are railway stations. That knocks out additional transportation from airport, sometimes bus stations etc. When travelling by train you have the possibility to see a lot more of the scenery of the countries you travel through. Imagine that, to actually be able to get to know a lot more places and get a certain feeling; than to just read a paragraph from a paperback guide about it. They are a lot more comfortable that buses and if you take a long distance train or a night train at some point of your trip, you can relax and sleep in couchettes (mixed compartments usually with bunk beds). You can, almost always, take as much baggage as you want; but also think of it in a way…how much can I carry around with me? Trains are not necessarily slow, you can choose high-speed trains, where possible. And, don’t forget, trains are a green choice!

InterRail is a company and a really great website that has all the necessary information about European train travel and provides you with InterRail passes. Passes connect 27+ countries and come as two types: Global and One Country. Global pass is a kind of a general pass; where ever you want to go in Europe, while the pass is valid, you can. And One Country pass is available only for foreigners travelling through one country.

The pass concept is that you buy a number of days during your vacation you want to spend travelling. That means, if you choose 5 in 10 days, 10 days is the period you’ll spend in Europe and 5 of those days you can hop on and off trains with your pass. Or you can just buy a 22 days/ 1 month continuous pass if you want to be more adventurous. For prices go here. Students and generally young people under 26 can get a cheaper pass but it has to be 2nd class. You must order a pass 3 months before your first day of travel and it will be sent to you by mail.

Reservations are not required, but I still would recommend to do so for busy times and routes. They are only required for TGV (high-speed trains) and long distance trains. Baggage is not limited, only by Eurostar and some other hotel trains; always search for that information to make sure.

Your InterRail pass includes even ferry/boat passes where possible. Children under age of 12 get 50% off. Their website also provides all timetables and maps of all railways in Europe. That’s why I love it. They provide all information so you can easily plan your trip. Enjoy InterRail!

*InterRail passes can only be used by European residents. You must have been staying in Europe for more than 6 months on your first day of InterRail pass validity. But, don’t worry, I have found the same train pass for all of you travelling from outside of Europe. I will cover it in my next post.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor