Corfu Airport Auto Rental: 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking

Corfu rewards the traveller Corfu Airport Car Rentals who can stream on their own time table. The island looks small on a map yet whenever you get off the major roads, distances sense longer, buses skinny out, and taxis upload up directly. That is why such a lot of site visitors decide up a car the moment they land at Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias.

I actually have rented autos at Corfu airport for work and vacations, in high season and in overdue October drizzle. The trend is all the time the same. The those that did some homework are on the line in 20 minutes. The ones who rushed the booking stand in queues, argue over insurance at the table and identify wonder premiums on their card every week later.

If you desire a modern Corfu airport car apartment feel, the exceptional lesson is to comprehend wherein others move incorrect. The following ten errors are those I see as a rule at Corfu airport, such as what to do instead.

1. Assuming “airport car or truck rental” always method on-site

Many company look up “Corfu airport automobile condo” or “employ auto Corfu airport” and suppose each effect is throughout the terminal. It seriously isn't that straight forward.

At Corfu, a few brands have desks inside the arrivals hall and their cars inside the airport parking simply across the line. Others function “meet and greet” or travel offerings. You go out arrivals, seek someone protecting a small signal, and ride a minibus to an off web site lot a few minutes away.

That shouldn't be inevitably bad. Off web page services is usually inexpensive and extra versatile on things similar to mileage or extra drivers. The concern appears to be like for those who count on to stroll to your motor vehicle in five minutes and alternatively lose 40 minutes tracking down a commute in 30 degree warm after a three hour flight from London.

If you prefer a in reality on web page Corfu airport lease a car or truck selection, examine sparsely. Look for clear wording inclusive of “desk inside of terminal” or “on airport”. If the confirmation mentions a trip, assembly factor or “administrative center 400 m from terminal”, construct that into your timings. It matters on arrival, and it exceedingly concerns if you have an early morning departure and desire to drop the automobile and nonetheless examine in on time.

2. Booking simplest on payment and ignoring the assurance structure

I still see humans brag that they stumbled on the “fine motor vehicle apartment Corfu airport” for 12 euros a day in August. That base cost is meaningless devoid of information the coverage.

In Greece, easy assurance mainly includes 3rd celebration liability and a few type of collision ruin waiver (CDW) with a excessive extra. I even have noticed excesses from seven-hundred to 1,800 euros for an economic system car. If there may be harm, you pay as much as that amount except you've got you have got added cover.

The normal error are two. First, individuals bypass any additional cover and pass their hands, then spend their excursion disturbing about slender streets in Corfu Town. Second, they buy an “extra refund” coverage from a dealer website online and do not realise that the apartment brand will still block the overall excess on their card at choice.

A useful procedure at Corfu airport vehicle rental counters is to make a decision upfront how you need to deal with hazard. Some travellers are happy with a tremendous deposit in view that they've a effective credit card and sense with condominium claims. Others sleep stronger with a “zero extra” bundle that expenses more in step with day yet shrinks the protection block and economic publicity.

Read the insurance part until now you click on “Book”. Compare the settlement of adding full duvet from the condominium corporate with a standalone excess coverage from a good insurer. There isn't any single perfect resolution, yet going for walks as much as the desk devoid of a plan is the quickest path to tension and steeply-priced upsells.

3. Not checking fuel policy and mileage until now confirming

Corfu airport rental autos practically continuously use the similar couple of gasoline guidelines. The complication is that they seem to be comparable at a glance, but settlement very completely different amounts over per week.

“Full to full” way you select up the automobile with a complete tank, go back it complete, and only pay for what you utilize. This is probably the fairest possibility, above all in the event you plan to drive round the island.

“Pre acquire” or “full to drain” method you pay for a tank of fuel at selection and can return it on fumes. It sounds handy however rarely works to your favour unless you're going to in fact use maximum of the tank and the corporation bills gasoline at with regards to pump charges plus a small value. Many do not.

Mileage is yet another quiet seize. Most Corfu car rental firms present unlimited kilometres, which is ideal for exploring Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, the south coast and inland villages with out desirous about distance. A few low cost grants cover a according to kilometre price above a modest day to day restriction.

If your confirmation e-mail is obscure or uses terms you do now not recognise, e-mail or message the business enterprise and ask for clarity. You prefer written confirmation of equally gas policy and mileage. Verbal explanations at a busy airport table are clean to misunderstand and plenty tougher to dispute later.

4. Overlooking riding realities on Corfu whilst selecting vehicle size

Looking at sleek pictures, that is tempting to improve to a larger automobile. More area for baggage, more desirable aircon, possibly even an automated for consolation. On Corfu, the bigger the automobile, the extra you desire to contemplate wherein you plan to drive.

The street from the airport into Corfu Town is large satisfactory, but as soon as you wander into older districts, roads narrow to one lane with stone partitions on each facets and tight corners round constructions. Some coastal villages and hilltop settlements are even tighter, with parking that slightly suits a compact hatchback.

If you're staying at a motel on the most east coast avenue, a bigger auto may not be a hindrance. If your villa is up a steep lane in the north of the island, a small to medium auto with respectable capability and good turning circle is a far greater choice than a cumbersome SUV. I have watched folks spend 15 mins maneuvering a sizable motor vehicle out of a lane that was without a doubt designed for scooters and donkeys.

For most viewers, the sweet spot for Corfu airport car or truck condo is a small or compact auto, manual or computerized relying on your relief. Enough boot area for bags, yet small sufficient to slide into tight parking spaces and meet oncoming site visitors with room to breathe.

five. Ignoring opinions of specific Corfu airport branches

Many travellers do a immediate determine of the emblem call and forestall there. They see a tremendous global agency they recognize from dwelling house, expect a favourite sense, and reserve. In exercise, branch excellent can vary largely.

Search mainly for the corporate call plus “Corfu airport” and examine the fresh stories for that vicinity. Patterns depend more than person court cases. If one man or woman mentions an extended wait time, which may just be a hectic Saturday in August. If 20 humans throughout 3 months report competitive injury claims or unexplained charges, pay realization.

This assistance applies similarly to neighborhood services. Some small Corfu lease a motor vehicle vendors close to the airport are amazing, with friendly provider and flexible policies. Others lower corners or have faith in technicalities to reinforce sales. Reviews traditionally make the change clear.

A 15 euro difference on a week’s condominium will not be really worth a nasty argument over “pre existing” scratches you were by no means allowed time to report.

6. Not making ready your information and card correctly

One of the dullest issues, but I nonetheless watch it spread in line on the airport each summer. The paperwork for hiring a auto in Greece is easy, yet there are a number of predominant details.

You veritably need:

A valid using licence that you just have held for at the very least 12 months, often times two, depending on the business enterprise and motor vehicle staff. For non EU / EEA drivers from guaranteed international locations, an International Driving Permit along your property licence. Check this in advance, as a result of you cannot receive an IDP after you are already in Greece. A credit card within the foremost driver’s name with enough possible minimize to cover the deposit or extra block. Passport or national ID card for identity.

Where human beings get caught is with the cardboard. Many Corfu airport vehicle rental desks do no longer accept debit cards for the security deposit, solely for settlement. Others settle for them yet only with expensive extra insurance coverage. Prepaid cards are most commonly refused outright.

If your confirmation does no longer really kingdom that debit cards are accepted for the deposit, think you need a accepted credit card with embossed identify and numbers. Also make sure that the card minimize is excessive ample. I watched a couple from Germany turned away simply because their modest minimize could not accommodate a 1,500 euro block for the excess plus their resort’s pre authorisation.

Print or retailer your affirmation e-mail as a PDF, together with the voucher should you booked via a broker. Mobile web at Corfu airport is most of the time wonderful, yet a dead battery or roaming situation should still no longer stand between you and your motor vehicle.

7. Chasing “no deposit” grants without analyzing the small print

The word “Corfu airport vehicle apartment no deposit” is engaging, pretty while you dislike the notion of masses of euros blocked in your card. Genuine low deposit or no deposit strategies do exist, however the devil sits within the detail.

Usually, whilst a corporate advertises no deposit, it means certainly one of two issues. Either they have developed the risk right into a higher day-by-day expense with obligatory complete assurance, or they may nevertheless preserve a smaller amount as a gasoline or site visitors great warrantly. Sometimes equally.

There is nothing flawed with paying just a little more for the peace of brain that comes from now not having 1,000 euros frozen on your card. Just remember what you're shopping. Check:

The distinctive quantity they can retain for your card, if any.

Whether the no deposit provide is tied to a particular insurance coverage kit. How they tackle minor destroy, corresponding to small scratches or chips.

Compare this to a accepted equipment from yet one more company that uses a deposit but can provide decrease fees. Over per week’s break, the complete fee can swing either means. The worst mistake is to ebook at the capability of “no deposit” on my own after which perceive an extended record of exclusions and extra prices if you attain the table.

eight. Skipping the inspection and picture ordinary at pickup

You are drained, the queue has been gradual, and the seaside is calling. The agent facets to the car, you signal the type, throw your bags within the boot and drive off. That five minute shortcut can price dearly if there's present damage that not ever made it onto the file.

At Corfu airport, the place dozens of autos rotate between renters each week in summer season, small bumps and scrapes are movements. Most businesses are fair approximately this and mark the whole thing they realize. Some don't seem to be thorough, surprisingly at peak occasions.

Treat your inspection as section of the condominium, no longer a nuisance. Walk around the auto, examine every panel, the wheels, and the front and rear bumpers particularly. Pay concentration to:

Small scratches and dents.

Alloy wheel scuffs and hubcap damage. Chips or cracks inside the windscreen. Any destroy at the roof if you are tall ample or can see from an angle.

Photograph every part, even complications which are already marked. Capture the automobile from each one nook, the odometer interpreting, and the fuel gauge. Time stamped snap shots in your mobile create a checklist it's demanding to argue with later.

Encourage the employees member so as to add any lacking marks to the style earlier you sign. If they seem reluctant, remain well mannered yet company. A jiffy the following is worth far extra than an indignant e-mail change after you come home.

nine. Forgetting to plan parking and get right of entry to at your accommodation

Corfu airport automobile rental is the smooth piece. The more difficult half, pretty in peak season, is living with the auto once you achieve your lodging.

Many old villages and a few areas of Corfu Town have very limited parking. Some beachfront resorts have individual thousands, others be counted entirely on public areas that replenish briefly in July and August. Steep one-way rent a car Corfu exclusive driveways are original for villas, commonly with awkward angles and unfastened gravel.

Before you e-book, ask your accommodation about parking in exceptional, useful terms. Do now not settle for “parking a possibility”. Ask even if it is individual or public, what percentage areas they have, how tight the get admission to is, and whether or not larger autos have compatibility readily.

This could impression not best your possibility of rental motor vehicle measurement, as acknowledged before, however also whether or not you even desire a motor vehicle in your accomplished keep. For illustration, if you happen to are spending three nights in Corfu Town after which per week in a north coast village, you'll do more advantageous to spend the first part on foot and taxis, then prepare a Corfu airport automobile condominium establishing at the day you go away city.

Thinking in segments like this may save money, parking complications and the tension of threading a auto by the city’s one way gadget whilst you are still jet lagged.

10. Returning the auto in a rush and neglecting the basics

I actually have lost rely of how many disputes begin at drop off when you consider that the renter is hurrying to catch a flight. When you might be dashing, you overlook fuel, you park the place you will not be presupposed to, or you surrender keys with no checking the final documents.

Give your self a properly buffer for go back. If your flight is at 13:00, do no longer plan to roll into the auto park at eleven:45, exceptionally should you rented off website online and desire a travel ride to come back to the terminal.

At go back, objective to:

Refill the tank at a station practically the airport in the event you are on a full to full policy. Keep the receipt. There are countless petrol stations inside a brief power, but some will be busy. Remove all personal units from the car, such as door wallet and lower than seats. Walk across the vehicle with the agent wherein you possibly can and ask them to verify in writing that the car is back with out new hurt and with a complete tank if appropriate. Take final images, which include the gas gauge and odometer.

If it is advisable to use a key drop container as a result of you're returning outdoors office hours, images and a quickly video walkaround turned into even extra magnificent. Corfu airport appoint a car or truck suppliers on a regular basis deal with those returns tremendously, but a transparent visible listing protects you in case a new dent seems to be on the inspection sheet later.

A rapid pre booking checklist

Used good, a auto turns Corfu into a flexible, trouble-free island to discover. Used badly, it becomes a thread of anxiety running by your excursion. Before you decide to any airport vehicle lease Corfu deal, run by means of this quick record.

Verify if the brand is on airport or off site with a go back and forth, and the way that influences your timings. Read fresh critiques particularly for the Corfu airport department, now not just the model. Compare whole cost, including insurance coverage, gasoline coverage and any mileage limits, now not simply the bottom day to day fee. Check parking and entry at your lodging and favor motor vehicle dimension as a consequence. Confirm what playing cards and files you need and whether any “no deposit” offer has restrictive situations.

Handled with this point of recognition, Corfu airport condo vehicles believe much less like of venture and extra like a nicely controlled tool in your commute.

Final thoughts from the queue at Corfu airport

If you spend half-hour in the arrivals hall on a hectic afternoon, that you would be able to just about predict who will breeze with the aid of and who will find yourself pissed off. The ones with published confirmations, clear selections on insurance coverage and life like expectancies about the auto and the island have a tendency to leave smiling. The ones who booked on rate by myself and did now not read a observe of the phrases are those arguing at the desk.

Corfu vehicle condominium does now not have got to be problematic. It is truely a count number of matching the truth on the floor together with your possess tolerance for hazard, price range and riding self assurance. Look past headline prices, recognise how coverage and deposits work, elect the properly dimension of car for Corfu’s roads, and provide yourself time at both pickup and return.

Do that, and your rent a auto at Corfu airport becomes what it may still be: an simple gateway to mountain villages, quiet seashores and late dinners in small tavernas, on your personal clock in preference to somebody else’s.