Most car rental companies have a reasonable attitude when it comes to the car’s condition at the end of the trip, but if you have not been able to keep the car in good order then you may be faced with a cleanup bill you didn’t expect.

So, in order to avoid this problem let’s look at some ways to make sure your rental car is in tiptop condition at the end of your trip.

• Do a small cleanup at the end of each day. It doesn’t take long to clean out the interior of your car by removing loose paper and dirt which has accumulated during the day. Some cars are supplied with small vacuum cleaner which you can use for this purpose.
• Wipe the inside of the windows at the end of each day with pre-moistened towels. This will prevent the build-up of grime which spoils your vision and can be difficult to remove at the end of a long trip.
• Every three days, take the car to a drive-through wash. You don’t need to pay for a top end clean, just a simple hose over will be enough. You’ll be surprised how much cleaner the car will be by doing this every two or three days.
• Avoid driving along dusty dirt roads. Where possible stay on bitumen roads to avoid duty relational dust. If you do travel on country roads be sure to host a vehicle down at the end of the day and give it a quick chamois.
• Place a receptacle inside the car to collect rubbish during the day so you don’t have to look under seats for rubbish.
• Keep all your belongings organised. This means making sure all of your music CDs are kept in one place inside the vehicle and that children’s games are placed in a box which can be kept in the boot.
• Avoid over packing in the first place. When you are planning your trip make sure you include only the essentials. It is surprising how quickly those are modelled items are either lost or are found scattered throughout the car.
• Avoid eating food in the car. Apart from small snack items like peanuts and fruit, make sure you consume all main meals outside of the vehicle. Even when it you are eating peanuts and fruit make sure you place a news portions into your rubbish receptacle as you finish with them.

These simple tips may seem like common sense, but it is surprising how easy it is to put them off when you are on the road.

The simple fact is that if you do a little bit each day and follow the rules, you will be able to return your vehicle to the car hire company in tiptop condition.

1car1 offer affordable and convenient worldwide car hire, servicing Sydney, London, Edinburgh and Dublin. Our range of vehicles includes Economy, Prestige, 4WD, People Carriers, 8 Seaters and Commercial vehicles such as vans. To make a booking or view our range, visit Car Hire.

• As a cheap alternative to flying, car rental packages can really save you some money. If you choose your current carefully by making sure you read only the minimum size that you need field trip then, although it may take a little longer, hiring a car can be much cheaper.
• A family that travels together can create some wonderful memories which will last the rest of their lives. When you travel on a plane and the trip is over and done with very quickly and you have to suffer the indignity of airline security. Travelling together in a family car makes life a lot easier.
• If you are prepared to spend the money which you were going to spend on air travel on a car rental deal, it’s quite likely you’ll be able to choose a luxury vehicle for your trip. Think of how much the family will enjoy the luxury of leather seats or travelling in a European classic saloon instead of cramping up in an airline economy seat.
• If time is at a premium you can consider renting a car for part of your trip by driving one-way and flying the other. This way you may not compromise your time constraints and be able to save money at the same time.
• Think of how much more you will be able to enjoy a driving holiday by exploring places you’ll never seen before. The children will appreciate learning a little more about their country and it will give you a lot more satisfaction to.
• How many times have you experienced flight delays because of bad weather. The weather can easily stop a plane or train but roads are generally still accessible. This makes renting a car field trip much more unlikely to result in delays.
• If you book your car rental package online and are prepared to pay in advance, you can save even more money which makes the comparison to flying even more uneconomical.
• Think of the flexibility in your travelling plans when you have a vehicle at your disposal. You won’t have to rely upon public transport once you arrive at your destination, in fact you’ll be older save even more money by driving yourself around town whenever and wherever you want to go.
• No more taxi costs. That’s right, when you are driving around rental vehicle around town is no more need to hire a taxi. You’ll appreciate this even more at night-time when it can become quite difficult to find a taxi to take you back to your hotel.

All in all, car hire is more than just an option, it is a cost-effective plan which you can put into operation for your next holiday.

1car1 offer affordable and convenient worldwide car hire, servicing Sydney, London, Edinburgh and Dublin. Our range of vehicles includes Economy, Prestige, 4WD, People Carriers, 8 Seaters and Commercial vehicles such as vans. To make a booking or view our range, visit Car Hire.

Let’s summarise a few ways you can economise when booking your holiday flights so you might be able to save enough money to pay for some special treats during your vacation.

• Check Online. You may be surprised to find it that’s by simply booking your flights online you can save a lot of money. Airlines offer cheap flights for online bookings because they avoid having to pay an agent’s fee. They also keen to fill flights up as early as possible so they can add extra flights to cater for more bookings and by accepting cheaper bookings early they achieve both ends at the same time.
• Insure Yourself Carefully. In many instances, travellers tend to over insure themselves especially when it comes to missed flights and health cover. Normal airline policy may allow you to keep your existing travelling plan without penalty provided you give sufficient notice. Check out the detail of your flight time conditions with your booking agent or the airline directly. Make sure you ask about all contingencies so you don’t insure yourself unnecessarily.
• Package Deals. When booking your holiday flight you can often package a car rental deal and accommodation at the same time. Many airlines have cooperative deals with hotel chains and car rental companies that allow you to maximise your savings by booking everything at once. Sometimes, you may be able to negotiate upgrades when paying for a packaged holiday deal online. Another tip is to compare online package deals with the airlines or hotel chains directly. A simple phone call could save you even more money.
• Book Later. Sometimes airlines suffer from late cancellations and will often have vacancies that they are keen to fill. It is no surprise that these seats can be offered at a discount for travellers making late bookings. There is no problem in checking your flight a day before you are due to depart and see if there are any cheaper seats on offer. If so you may be able to cancel your existing booking and replace it with the cheaper one.
• Choose a Different Travelling Time. Travelling at odd hours is not the choice of most tourists and so it is no surprise to discover that very early morning or late evening flights are under booked. Airlines are frequently keen to fill the seats at a discount, so make sure you check before you finalise your booking. If your travelling plans can accommodate it, this is a great way to save money.

Whether you are looking to save money on your holiday flights, your car hire or your hotel booking, these tips can save you hundreds of dollars you have extra cash to spend during your holiday on things that matter more to you.

1car1 offer affordable and convenient worldwide car hire, servicing Sydney, London, Edinburgh and Dublin. Our range of vehicles includes Economy, Prestige, 4WD, People Carriers, 8 Seaters and Commercial vehicles such as vans. To make a booking or view our range, visit Car Hire.

Although cost is not always the primary consideration, let’s face it you don’t want to be staying in a stable during the holiday just to save money, there are always budgetary concerns to consider, so let’s look at some ways you can easily save money when booking your holiday accommodation.

• Book in advance. It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for a hotel accommodation or a hire car, you can always save money by booking far enough advanced to take advantage of the specials that many companies offer. You can visit websites or your travel agent to find out whether there were any earlybird specials that will suit your travel plans, and save money by making the booking as soon as possible.
• Last-minute specials. Even if you have not been able to plan far enough in advance to take up an earlybird special, the rapidity of sites dedicated to last-minute bookings as many companies seek to fill seats or hotel rooms by offering discounts to people for near immediate occupation. In some cases, you can receive large discounts on normal rates, sometimes at a 50% discount. So check online before you make your final arrangements.
• Package deals. When booking your accommodation, airfare and car hire, see if it’s possible to get a package discount. Many companies combined forces to offer attractive deals to people who make all the bookings at the one time. In some cases you can receive not only a discount price but extras like petrol vouchers or food vouchers thrown in for free. This is great for travelling families who want to stretch their travel dollar as far as possible.
• Look at nonpeak travelling times. When it comes to airline travel it is a great way to save money by booking in nonpeak times. But you can make our savings by looking at other Intel travel arrangements like fairies and trains and make your booking s for overnight travel. This means that you can travel between cities overnight and avoid paying accommodation expenses, another great way to save money.
• House Swaps. An increasingly popular way that holidaymakers can save money on their overseas accommodation expenses is to list your house as a potential swap with the traveller from another country. You might be surprised to find that you can swap your house for accommodation in the destination of your choice without having to pay anything for the duration of your holiday. It is just like staying at home because you have all the comforts waiting for you. Things like comfortable beds, fully stocked kitchens, central locations and maybe even things like swimming pools and air-conditioning.

Just follow these five easy steps and you’ll save money on hotel bills, car hire and airfares leading with more money to spend on things you really enjoy.

1car1 offer affordable and convenient worldwide car hire, servicing Sydney, London, Edinburgh and Dublin. Our range of vehicles includes Economy, Prestige, 4WD, People Carriers, 8 Seaters and Commercial vehicles such as vans. To make a booking or view our range, visit Car Hire.

There are many advantages in booking on the Internet, not the least of which is the amount of money you can save by taking advantage of the specials which are on offer. Many sites offer discounts not normally available to the travelling public, and certainly not available should you book through a travel agent or indirect communication with the hotel itself.

Although it is difficult to narrow down the number of booking sites that can give you the best deals we will take a look at three sites that offer you specials, service and a great range of choices.

• TripAdvisor.com. This site is a popular choice for many travellers who are looking for information on the best means of arriving at their chosen destination. It contains details of things like hotels, flights, restaurants and car rentals to take the worry out of planning a trip by making everything available in the one place. The site also contains helpful reviews by other travellers which can give you an idea of the value and type of deal you are looking for. This way you don’t have to rely upon claims made by the hotel itself.
• Hotel.com.au. As the name implies, this site specialises in hotel accommodation. Surprisingly however, it also offers information on flights, package deals car rental and insurance. Another one-stop shop for the would-be traveller. Available in eight languages, it appeals to travellers from most nations on earth and is a great starting point for getting ideas of costs and availability in any destination you want to choose. It provides information about hotels in just about every capital city on the planet and provides extra information regarding to the latest deals in each hotel has on offer. You can only save time and effort by using the site but you also are more than likely to save plenty of cash.
• Car1.com.au. This site provides a specialist service for car rentals. You can make enquiries and seek information on car rentals in Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Italy, Spain and Turkey. One of the unique features of the site is that the prices quoted online are guaranteed to be the actual costs so you will not be in free surprises at the other end. It also has valuable information on car leasing arrangements in Europe offered by various motor vehicle manufacturers like Renault. If you are looking for cheap car rentals this is the site for you.

These three excellent sites are a great resource to use when planning your next trip. You will find it easy to not only book the accommodation of your choice, but discount car hire and other car rental specials too.

1car1 offer affordable and convenient worldwide car hire, servicing Sydney, London, Edinburgh and Dublin. Our range of vehicles includes Economy, Prestige, 4WD, People Carriers, 8 Seaters and Commercial vehicles such as vans. To make a booking or view our range, visit Car Hire.

What can you do to make your trip not just more comfortable, but safer and easier for you and your family? Whilst it is not easy to give a definitive list in this respect, let’s take a look at some things you can do to get the most out of your holiday.

• Pillows. Always make sure you pack some comfortable pillows to take with you irrespective of your type of travel. In a car, you will find your favourite pillow of great comfort and make it easier for you to take a short nap lost in the passenger seat or even lying down in the back. Of course, you should always take adequate precautions to secure your seatbelt in these circumstances, but a pillow will always make things a little bit more comfortable. In an aeroplane, a neck pillow can be a real boon on a long haul trip and can make sleeping a lot easier.
• Plan ahead. There is nothing worse than setting out for a day’s driving without being sure that you can reach your destination with a comfortable timeframe. It is a dangerous proposition to be speeding to your overnight accommodation see you can arrive at a comfortable hour. By planning properly, you can ensure that you allow adequate time to get your destination with ease and taken to account the comfort stops you will need to make a longer way. Plan to enjoy your trip and plan to arrive on time.
• Drinks. Always take suitable drinks with few, not coffee or soda or other soft drinks. Water is the best alternative for both short and long haul trips, as it will help prevent dehydration and keep your mind alert during a long hot day. If you plan to stop for short breaks along the way, as you always should, you can pick up mineral water at service stations during your journey
• Entertainment. Your MP3 player or iPod can give you a welcome break from the monopoly of a long road trip. As well as you keep your music to yourself by using headphones you can distract yourself from the boring nature of some travel and be ready to take over a driving stint at any time. Music can refresh your mind and keep you alert.
• Chat and play games. Don’t forget to keep the driver alert by maintaining a chatty conversation and maybe even suggest a few games to break the journey. Children will benefit from your playful approach is well so that you arrive at your destination in a happy mood.

Any road trip can be made much more comfortable if you plan ahead and take into account the steps we have mentioned here. Every time you rent a car you can implement this plan to make your trip a memorable and enjoyable one.

1car1 offer affordable and convenient worldwide car hire, servicing Sydney, London, Edinburgh and Dublin. Our range of vehicles includes Economy, Prestige, 4WD, People Carriers, 8 Seaters and Commercial vehicles such as vans. To make a booking or view our range, visit Car Hire.

• If you are travelling overseas, then it is obvious that you should always ensure that your passport is easily located and retrievable at all times. The same applies to Visa’s which are required for some destinations; you should make sure you are ready to show them to any public official who requires them. Although it depends on the particular country to which you are travelling, you should also make photocopies of all your valuable documents including passports, visas, insurance details and airline tickets. In the event of loss you can use these photocopies as source evidence for insurance claims and also to obtain speedy replacements.
• Money belts. It goes without saying that security for your cash is of vital importance, and although you will more than likely be drawing funds from automatic teller machines with your ATM cards, you may need to consider the value of actual cash. Currency in American dollars, and sometimes Australian dollars or Euros, can give you a bargaining advantage at better than nominated exchange rates. If you are carrying cash therefore, you will want to use a money belt to secure it to your person and make it as obscure as possible.
• A camera. Probably the tourists best friend and worthy of inclusion in any packing list a camera will record your most precious memories so you can enjoy them three years to come. If you always make sure you have adequate insurance on your camera in the event of loss. This way you can at least obtain a replacement one at no cost even if your precious photographs may have been lost. To prevent this, you should consider uploading photographs at the end of each day to either your laptop or to a remote server where they will be stored safely in perpetuity.
• Clothing. Although it goes without saying that you will be packing clothes no matter what your destination, one thing to remember Take into account the whether you are likely to be encountering and bring only the essentials. This way you will save on your baggage allowance on air planes and you will also be able to travel easily without having to lug heavy suitcases with you around crowded cities. Savvy travellers can often limit themselves to a single backpack.
• Mobile phones. Mobile phone is a valuable communication tool in any country, and you can purchase prepaid Sim cards in any country. Even if you only use a mobile phone in an emergency, you will never regret having this vital device with you wherever you go.

The most important thing however is your driver’s licence and this is worthy of special mention. Make photocopies of your driver’s licence and keep one inside your wallet or somewhere about your body so that you can use it in an emergency. When you obtain your car rental you will need to produce it at the pickup point so make sure it is the first item on your packing list.

1car1 offer affordable and convenient worldwide car hire, servicing Sydney, London, Edinburgh and Dublin. Our range of vehicles includes Economy, Prestige, 4WD, People Carriers, 8 Seaters and Commercial vehicles such as vans. To make a booking or view our range, visit Car Hire.