Corfu Airport Auto Rental: 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking

Corfu rewards the traveler who can circulate on their personal schedule. The island seems small on a map but while you get off the key roads, distances sense longer, buses thin out, and taxis add up quick. That is why so many visitors select up a automobile the moment they land at Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias.

I actually have rented motors at Corfu airport for work and holidays, in top season and in overdue October drizzle. The development is always the equal. The those that did some homework are on the road in 20 mins. The ones who rushed the booking stand in queues, argue over insurance coverage at the table and explore marvel premiums on their card a week later.

If you want a glossy Corfu airport auto rental enjoy, the fine lesson is to be aware of wherein others pass unsuitable. The following ten blunders are the ones I see pretty much at Corfu airport, which includes what to do as a substitute.

1. Assuming “airport motor vehicle apartment” always skill on-site

Many viewers look for “Corfu airport vehicle apartment” or “rent automotive Corfu airport” and count on every end result is in the terminal. It is simply not that standard.

At Corfu, a few brands have desks inside the arrivals corridor and their autos in the airport parking simply throughout the street. Others perform “meet and greet” or trip expertise. You go out arrivals, seek for anyone preserving a small sign, and journey a minibus to an off web page lot a few minutes away.

That will not be always awful. Off site establishments should be more cost effective and more bendy on issues reminiscent of mileage or added drivers. The difficulty looks in the event you count on to stroll to your auto in five mins and as a substitute lose 40 mins monitoring down a trip in 30 degree warmth after a 3 hour flight from London.

If you want a genuinely on website Corfu airport lease a automobile choice, check in moderation. Look for transparent wording inclusive of “table inside terminal” or “on airport”. If the affirmation mentions a trip, assembly element or “office 400 m from terminal”, build that into your timings. It topics on arrival, and it in truth subjects in case you have an early morning departure and want to drop the automobile and still look at various in on time.

2. Booking only on rate and ignoring the assurance structure

I nonetheless see worker's brag that they came across the “best automobile rental Corfu airport” for 12 euros an afternoon in August. That base worth is meaningless with no information the insurance plan.

In Greece, hassle-free insurance veritably contains 3rd social gathering legal responsibility and some kind of collision spoil waiver (CDW) with a top excess. I even have obvious excesses from 700 to 1,800 euros for an economic climate auto. If there is hurt, you pay corfu airport car rental deals up to that quantity except you've extra quilt.

The regularly occurring blunders are two. First, humans pass any excess cover and cross their fingers, then spend their vacation demanding about slender streets in Corfu Town. Second, they buy an “extra refund” policy from a broker web page and do now not understand that the condo service provider will still block the full extra on their card at choice.

A real looking means at Corfu airport auto condo counters is to choose earlier how you need to deal with threat. Some guests are comfortable with a enormous deposit due to the fact they've a mighty credit score card and adventure with apartment claims. Others sleep superior with a “zero extra” package that prices more according to day yet shrinks the safety block and fiscal publicity.

Read the assurance phase earlier you click on “Book”. Compare the price of including complete hide from the rental corporation with a standalone extra policy from a reputable insurer. There isn't any single desirable resolution, but strolling up to the desk with out a plan is the fastest course to rigidity and luxurious upsells.

3. Not checking fuel coverage and mileage earlier than confirming

Corfu airport condominium cars practically constantly use the equal couple of gasoline guidelines. The situation is that they glance related at a glance, yet charge very different amounts over every week.

“Full to complete” way you pick up the auto with a full tank, return it complete, and simply pay for what you use. This is aas a rule the fairest option, tremendously in case you plan to pressure across the island.

“Pre buy” or “complete to drain” capability you pay for a tank of gasoline at collection and may return it on fumes. It sounds handy but not often works to your favour unless you may in fact use such a lot of the tank and the organisation costs fuel at close to pump rates plus a small check. Many do not.

Mileage is a different quiet lure. Most Corfu motor vehicle apartment enterprises provide limitless kilometres, which is ideal for exploring Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, the south coast and inland villages without puzzling over distance. A few low cost bargains conceal a consistent with kilometre cost above a modest on daily basis prohibit.

If your affirmation email is obscure or uses phrases you do not realize, e mail or message the guests and ask for clarity. You choose written affirmation of the two fuel policy and mileage. Verbal explanations at a hectic airport desk are basic to misunderstand and lots tougher to dispute later.

four. Overlooking driving realities on Corfu when identifying automobile size

Looking at smooth portraits, it's miles tempting to improve to a larger auto. More house for baggage, stronger aircon, probably even an automatic for relief. On Corfu, the larger the car, the more you desire to give some thought to where you intend to drive.

The street from the airport into Corfu Town is extensive ample, however as quickly as you wander into older districts, roads slim to 1 lane with stone walls on both facets and tight corners round constructions. Some coastal villages and hilltop settlements are even tighter, with parking that barely suits a compact hatchback.

If you are staying at a hotel on the main east coast road, a larger automotive would possibly not be a quandary. If your villa is up a steep lane inside the north of the island, a small to medium car with decent strength and top turning circle is a miles larger alternative than a cumbersome SUV. I have watched men and women Informative post spend 15 minutes maneuvering a extensive car out of a lane that used to be genuinely designed for scooters and donkeys.

For maximum travellers, the sweet spot for Corfu airport motor vehicle condo is a small or compact vehicle, handbook or computerized based to your relief. Enough boot house for luggage, yet small ample to slip into tight parking areas and meet oncoming visitors with room to respire.

five. Ignoring critiques of express Corfu airport branches

Many guests do a rapid investigate of the model name and quit there. They see a great global company they recognise from abode, imagine a essential enjoy, and reserve. In follow, department pleasant can differ extensively.

Search specifically for the organization call plus “Corfu airport” and read the fresh evaluations for that location. Patterns be counted greater than man or women lawsuits. If one user mentions a longer wait time, that will simply be a hectic Saturday in August. If 20 laborers across three months document competitive damage claims or unexplained rates, pay attention.

This guidance applies both to native services. Some small Corfu lease a car enterprises near the airport are significant, with friendly service and versatile guidelines. Others reduce corners or depend on technicalities to raise revenue. Reviews typically make the big difference clean.

A 15 euro difference on per week’s condo is simply not valued at a nasty argument over “pre current” scratches you have been on no account allowed time to document.

6. Not making ready your documents and card correctly

One of the dullest issues, yet I nevertheless watch it spread in line at the airport each summer season. The paperwork for hiring a automobile in Greece is easy, yet there are a number of invaluable facts.

You repeatedly want:

1. A legitimate driving licence that you just have held for as a minimum twelve months, in certain cases two, relying on the visitors and auto community.
2. For non EU / EEA drivers from unique countries, an International Driving Permit along your own home licence. Check this earlier, as a result of you can't receive an IDP when you are already in Greece.
3. A credit score card inside the principal motive force’s call with sufficient achievable limit to conceal the deposit or extra block.
4. Passport or nationwide ID card for identity.

Where worker's get caught is with the card. Many Corfu airport automobile apartment desks do now not take delivery of debit playing cards for the security deposit, basically for price. Others take delivery of them yet basically with pricey greater assurance. Prepaid playing cards are in the main refused outright.

If your confirmation does now not naturally kingdom that debit cards are widely wide-spread for the deposit, expect you want a widespread credit score card with embossed identify and numbers. Also confirm the cardboard limit is top adequate. I watched a pair from Germany became away given that their modest restrict could not accommodate a 1,500 euro block for the excess plus their lodge’s pre authorisation.

Print or keep your affirmation electronic mail as a PDF, which includes the voucher if you booked by means of a dealer. Mobile net at Corfu airport is ordinarilly tremendous, but a lifeless battery or roaming factor need to not stand between you and your car or truck.

7. Chasing “no deposit” presents devoid of interpreting the small print

The word “Corfu airport vehicle condo no deposit” is eye-catching, exceedingly in the event you dislike the idea of thousands of euros blocked on your card. Genuine low deposit or no deposit preferences do exist, but the satan sits inside the element.

Usually, while a brand advertises no deposit, it skill one of two issues. Either they've outfitted the hazard into a better every day rate with essential full insurance coverage, or they may nonetheless hang a smaller volume as a fuel or site visitors nice assurance. Sometimes the two.

There is nothing fallacious with paying a bit greater for the peace of intellect that comes from not having 1,000 euros frozen in your card. Just understand what you might be acquiring. Check:

The accurate amount they'll continue in your card, if any.

Whether the no deposit present is tied to a specific assurance kit. How they care for minor wreck, together with small scratches or chips.

Compare this to a usual bundle from one other enterprise that makes use of a deposit however delivers minimize costs. Over per week’s vacation, the entire fee can swing both method. The worst mistake is to e book on the energy of “no deposit” on my own and then come across an extended listing of exclusions and further charges whenever you reach the desk.

eight. Skipping the inspection and picture movements at pickup

You are worn-out, the queue has been sluggish, and the seashore is looking. The agent issues to the auto, you signal the style, throw your bags within the boot and drive off. That five minute shortcut can money dearly if there's existing destroy that by no means made it onto the file.

At Corfu airport, where dozens of autos rotate among renters every week in summer season, small bumps and scrapes are events. Most carriers are truthful about this and mark all the things they realize. Some will not be thorough, distinctly at peak times.

Treat your inspection as section of the condo, not a nuisance. Walk around the car, fee each panel, the wheels, and the entrance and rear bumpers chiefly. Pay focus to:

Small scratches and dents.

Alloy wheel scuffs and hubcap ruin. Chips or cracks inside the windscreen. Any smash on the roof should you are tall sufficient or can see from an perspective.

Photograph every little thing, even disorders which might be already marked. Capture the car from every one nook, the odometer interpreting, and the gas gauge. Time stamped footage to your cell create a report it truly is demanding to argue with later.

Encourage the group member to feature any lacking marks to the type sooner than you signal. If they seem reluctant, continue to be polite but enterprise. A short time the following is worth far more than an indignant email change after you come dwelling house.

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

Corfu airport automobile rental is the straight forward piece. The harder facet, above all in height season, is residing with the car once you succeed in your accommodation.

Many antique villages and some materials of Corfu Town have very constrained parking. Some beachfront inns have individual a lot, others be counted fully on public areas that stock up straight away in July and August. Steep personal driveways are overall for villas, at times with awkward angles and unfastened gravel.

Before you book, ask your accommodation about parking in distinct, purposeful terms. Do no longer accept “parking possible”. Ask whether it is confidential or public, what number areas they've got, how tight the get admission to is, and even if large motors are compatible effortlessly.

This may still have an effect on no longer simply your choice of apartment auto size, as talked about formerly, yet also regardless of whether you even desire a motor vehicle in your entire continue to be. For instance, in the event you are spending three nights in Corfu Town and then per week in a north coast village, you possibly can do bigger to spend the 1st side walking and taxis, then set up a Corfu airport car or truck condo opening on the day you depart city.

Thinking in segments like this can retailer cash, parking complications and the strain of threading a auto by using the town’s one approach device whenever you are nevertheless jet lagged.

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

I actually have misplaced count number of how many disputes bounce at drop off because the renter is hurrying to catch a flight. When you are speeding, you fail to remember gasoline, you park the place you are not purported to, otherwise you surrender keys with out checking the final documents.

Give your self a actual buffer for return. If your flight is at thirteen:00, do now not plan to roll into the car park at 11:45, surprisingly while you rented off website online and want a trip ride returned to the terminal.

At return, aim to:

1. Refill the tank at a station just about the airport if you happen to are on a full to full coverage. Keep the receipt. There are quite a few petrol stations within a quick force, yet some is also busy.
2. Remove all individual presents from the car, including door pockets and under seats.
3. Walk across the vehicle with the agent wherein attainable and ask them to ascertain in writing that the automobile is returned without a new spoil and with a complete tank if proper.
4. Take last graphics, together with the gas gauge and odometer.

If you will need to use a key drop field since you are returning outdoors office hours, footage and a quick video walkaround come to be even greater relevant. Corfu airport lease a vehicle suppliers routinely control these returns really, but a clear visual file protects you in case a brand new dent appears at the inspection sheet later.

A quickly pre booking checklist

Used neatly, a car turns Corfu into a versatile, smooth island to explore. Used badly, it turns into a thread of tension operating because of your excursion. Before you decide to any airport auto appoint Corfu deal, run using this short record.

1. Verify if the employer is on airport or off web page with a commute, and how that impacts your timings.
2. Read up to date critiques namely for the Corfu airport department, now not just the logo.
3. Compare entire cost, such as coverage, gas policy and any mileage limits, no longer just the base each day rate.
4. Check parking and get right of entry to at your lodging and favor vehicle dimension therefore.
5. Confirm what cards and information you desire and no matter if any “no deposit” offer has restrictive prerequisites.

Handled with this point of recognition, Corfu airport apartment motors believe much less like a bet and greater like a good controlled device in your time out.

Final recommendations from the queue at Corfu airport

If you spend half-hour inside the arrivals hall on a hectic afternoon, that you could essentially predict who will breeze through and who will come to be frustrated. The ones with revealed confirmations, clear judgements on assurance and useful expectations about the automobile and the island have a tendency to leave smiling. The ones who booked on rate alone and did not learn a note of the phrases are those arguing on the table.

Corfu vehicle condominium does no longer have to be challenging. It is definitely a topic of matching the actuality on the floor together with your very own tolerance for hazard, funds and using self assurance. Look past headline costs, take note how insurance plan and deposits paintings, select the right size of automobile for Corfu’s roads, and supply your self time at equally pickup and go back.

Do that, and your hire a car at Corfu airport turns into what it should still be: an trouble-free gateway to mountain villages, quiet shores and past due dinners in small tavernas, on your own clock rather then a person else’s.