One of the decisions travelling families have to make is whether they will use public transport in the places they are visiting or if car rental would be a more convenient solution. Well, in our experience, renting a car solves more problems than it creates in most cases. While in most countries public transport is highly organized and effective, it might actually be less so when travelling with your big family! However, it's worth looking at some of the reasons not to, before we can make an informed decision!
1. It raises the budget of the trip
Well, this is probably the most popular counter-argument and it is valid of course. Add the parking price if your hotel is at a central location and it is definitely a significant addition to your travel expenses. On the other hand, there are factors that should also be considered. For example, are you visiting one place? I mean, are you exploring one big city and staying there for your whole trip? Well, in that case, a car might be an inconvenience. You would basically be paying for transport to and from the airport, which might still be worth it, if, for example, you are arriving on a late night flight or there is a long commute and taxi fares are particularly expensive. But in most cases, the car is more of a problem in a big city than a solution.
If, however, you are planning to go around a bit, making short trips in the area around the city or town you're staying at, then a rental car is your best option. It spells freedom and makes sure that you will see as many places as possible. It allows you to choose your route, plan your stops and leave or come back any time without being limited by bus or train timetables. Remember that rental cars are usually very economic, low-consumption models and lower speeds mean much less petrol used.
2. It is an added responsibility
This is a completely understandable concern. Having a rental means having to make sure you obey the speed limit or other road regulations, finding proper parking spots, taking extra care not to scratch it (oh, the horror!) and filling up. I've often said that driving a car in a different country is a lot like speaking a foreign language. Apart from cases where you drive on a different side (takes a little getting used to!), signs look different, limits are different and there are also many unwritten rules that native drivers simply know about and you don't. But, like a foreign language, it only takes a day or two to start feeling comfortable enough to actually forget you are driving on strange roads!
Another important argument in favour is the easy access to a very reliable GPS. Having to drive while your partner was struggling with the map was a nightmare! Nowadays, you just leave it to lovely Cassie (that's the name of the voice on my GPS!) and she'll get you where you need to be!
3. I'm afraid I'll get tickets
I get that. Actually, to be honest, I've paid my share of tickets in the past. They usually arrive long after we've returned, though, so that's something! However, a general rule of thumb is: if unsure, drive slower than you would. When parking, double- and triple-check that it's allowed, if you're not putting it in a designated parking space. Avoid medieval town centres altogether! Seriously, drive safe, be mindful of road signs and it'll be fine.
4. There are too many extra charges
Well, as is the case with plane tickets and hotel rooms, there's a way for everything. But that's what we're here for! There will be a step-by-step guide in a different post, but here are some quick tips. There are pages that work as search engines-slash-intermediaries between the customer and the rental company. They get a number of quotes for use by their customers. They usually offer very tempting prices, but it is important that you check a) the actual rental company's rating and web presence, and b) the actual rental company's website to see if there are any other charges that your quote does not seem to include. We mostly use EconomyCarRentals and they always include the basic insurance in the offer they make. Check that so you don't arrive and you are asked to pay something you weren't prepared for at the desk.
Other things, including the green card that allows you to cross borders on certain conditions or winter tyres for Northern Europe, are usually included. The only thing you will have to pay for extra is the child booster seat if your kids are below a certain height and weight. But what many people don't know is that most budget airlines allow you to take baby safety equipment free of charge (see: Ryanair's policy for baby equipment), including a booster seat. You have to check it in, but if you prefer not to, so as to avoid damaging it, for instance, here's a little trick we tried and it worked: If you ask for a Duty Free plastic bag and put the booster seat in it, they will allow you to take it on board!
All things considered, we will always vote for getting a rental car. You pick it up at the airport, you leave immediately (no waiting at bus terminals), you drive all the way to the doorstep of your hotel, it enables you to explore faster and better, and.... it doubles as storage space (more on that soon!). It is less tiring for the kids, and less tiredness means less whining (Yay!!!). You can rely on Google Maps for navigation, you pay one part when you book it and most of it when you drop it off, and it will definitely be cheaper than train tickets for a family of four or five plus the Uber to the station when you decide to move around!
Until next time...
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