Corfu Airport Auto Rental: 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking

Corfu rewards the tourist who can cross on their possess agenda. The island appears small on a map however when you get off the principle roads, distances really feel longer, buses thin out, and taxis upload up straight away. That is why such a lot of friends elect up a automotive the moment they land at Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias.

I actually have rented vehicles at Corfu airport for paintings and vacation trips, in top season and in past due October drizzle. The pattern is normally the equal. The folks who did a few homework are on the street in 20 mins. The ones who rushed the reserving stand in queues, argue over assurance on the desk and perceive shock costs on their card per week later.

If you prefer a delicate Corfu airport automobile apartment trip, the greatest lesson is to be aware wherein others go flawed. The following ten errors are those I see mainly at Corfu airport, which include what to do in its place.

1. Assuming “airport car apartment” all the time ability on-site

Many visitors look up “Corfu airport automotive rental” or “employ car or truck Corfu airport” and assume each end result is within the terminal. It is not very that elementary.

At Corfu, some manufacturers have desks within the arrivals corridor and their automobiles in the airport parking simply across the line. Others perform “meet and greet” or go back and forth companies. You go out arrivals, seek for anyone maintaining a small signal, and trip a minibus to an off web site lot a few minutes away.

That shouldn't be unavoidably undesirable. Off site organizations could be more affordable and extra flexible on matters inclusive of mileage or further drivers. The hassle appears to be like once you predict to walk on your car in five minutes and in its place lose forty mins tracking down a trip in 30 stage heat after a three hour flight from London.

If you would like a definitely on website Corfu airport rent a motor vehicle selection, look at various carefully. Look for clear wording consisting of “desk inner terminal” or “on airport”. If the confirmation mentions a trip, assembly level or “place of business four hundred m from terminal”, construct that into your timings. It things on arrival, and it in fact things in case you have an early morning departure and need to drop the automobile and nonetheless determine in on time.

2. Booking in simple terms on expense and ignoring the assurance structure

I nevertheless see other people brag that they came upon the “superior automotive apartment Corfu airport” for 12 euros an afternoon in August. That base charge is incomprehensible with out understanding the insurance coverage.

In Greece, universal coverage as a rule entails third birthday party liability and some form of collision ruin waiver (CDW) with a prime extra. I even have observed excesses from seven hundred to one,800 euros for an economic system vehicle. If there is hurt, you pay as much as that amount until you could have further cover.

The original blunders are two. First, individuals bypass any further disguise and move their fingers, then spend their holiday disturbing about narrow streets in Corfu Town. Second, they buy an “excess refund” coverage from a dealer site and do now not fully grasp that the apartment company will nonetheless block the full extra on their card at choice.

A lifelike means at Corfu airport auto rental counters is to determine ahead how you wish to deal with chance. Some guests are completely happy with a vast deposit in view that they've a reliable credit score card and knowledge with condo claims. Others sleep more advantageous with a “0 extra” package deal that expenditures extra consistent with day yet shrinks the protection block and fiscal exposure.

Read the insurance section formerly you click “Book”. Compare the fee of including full cowl from the condo friends with a standalone extra policy from a good insurer. There is not any unmarried good reply, however taking walks up to the desk devoid of a plan is the fastest route to pressure and highly-priced upsells.

three. Not checking fuel policy and mileage sooner than confirming

Corfu airport condominium motors nearly consistently use the same couple of gasoline insurance policies. The hassle is that they look same at a glance, but settlement very distinct amounts over a week.

“Full to complete” method you decide up the automobile with a full tank, go back it full, and merely pay for what you operate. This is on a regular basis the fairest possibility, chiefly while you plan to power across the island.

“Pre purchase” or “full to drain” manner you pay for a tank of gas at choice and might go back it on fumes. It sounds easy yet hardly works to your favour until you'll truly use most of the tank and the corporation fees gas at near pump fees plus a small check. Many do no longer.

Mileage is an extra quiet capture. Most Corfu automotive condominium enterprises provide unlimited kilometres, which is ideal for exploring Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, the south coast and inland villages without excited about distance. A few low value presents cover a in keeping with kilometre payment above a modest on a daily basis decrease.

If your confirmation electronic mail is obscure or uses phrases you do not recognize, electronic mail or message the corporation and ask for clarity. You need written affirmation of equally gas policy and mileage. Verbal explanations at a busy airport desk are light to misunderstand and lots more and plenty more durable to dispute later.

4. Overlooking riding realities on Corfu whilst selecting car size

Looking at modern graphics, this is tempting to upgrade to a bigger car. More house for bags, more advantageous aircon, perchance even an automatic for consolation. On Corfu, the larger the automobile, the extra you want to take into consideration in which you propose to force.

The road from the airport into Corfu Town is wide adequate, yet as quickly as you wander into older districts, roads slim to 1 lane with stone walls on both aspects and tight corners round homes. Some coastal villages and hilltop settlements are even tighter, with parking that barely suits a compact hatchback.

If you are staying at a inn on the main east coast highway, a bigger car or truck may not be a main issue. If your villa is up a steep lane in the north of the island, a small to medium motor vehicle with decent potential and exact turning circle is a far better collection than a bulky SUV. I even have watched persons spend 15 minutes maneuvering a larger motor vehicle out of a lane that was once in reality designed for scooters and donkeys.

For such a lot company, the candy spot for Corfu airport vehicle condominium is a small or compact car or truck, handbook or automated relying on your consolation. Enough boot area for bags, however small adequate to slide into tight parking spaces and meet oncoming visitors with room to respire.

5. Ignoring experiences of explicit Corfu airport branches

Many visitors do a quickly check of the company name and prevent there. They see a considerable worldwide firm they comprehend from domicile, think a universal revel in, and reserve. In prepare, branch quality can range widely.

Search notably for the corporate title plus “Corfu airport” and examine the fresh critiques for that place. Patterns count number extra than private proceedings. If one person mentions an extended wait time, which may simply be a hectic Saturday in August. If 20 humans throughout 3 months file competitive hurt claims or unexplained expenditures, pay concentration.

This suggestions applies equally to nearby vendors. Some small Corfu rent a automotive providers close the airport are unbelievable, with friendly carrier and bendy guidelines. Others cut corners or depend upon technicalities to reinforce cash. Reviews probably make the change clean.

A 15 euro distinction on every week’s apartment is simply not value an unpleasant argument over “pre existing” scratches you were not at all allowed time to document.

6. Not making ready your data and card correctly

One of the dullest issues, but I nonetheless watch it unfold in line on the airport every summer. The office work for hiring a automobile in Greece is easy, however there are a number of impressive facts.

You sometimes desire:

1. A valid driving licence that you have held for in any case one year, once in a while two, based on the supplier and car or truck staff.
2. For non EU / EEA drivers from guaranteed nations, an International Driving Permit alongside your home licence. Check this in advance, given that you won't get hold of an IDP after you are already in Greece.
3. A credit card inside the essential driver’s identify with adequate reachable minimize to cover the deposit or excess block.
4. Passport or national ID card for identity.

Where folk get stuck is with the card. Many Corfu airport car or truck apartment desks corfu airport car rental deals do not settle for debit cards for the protection deposit, purely for payment. Others settle for them yet best with expensive more insurance plan. Prepaid cards are regularly refused outright.

If your confirmation does now not truly nation that debit playing cards are familiar for the deposit, suppose you desire a normal credit score card with embossed identify and numbers. Also be sure the card prohibit is high satisfactory. I watched a couple from Germany turned away simply because their modest decrease could not accommodate a 1,500 euro block for the excess plus their motel’s pre authorisation.

Print or store your confirmation electronic mail as a PDF, inclusive of the voucher once you booked because of a dealer. Mobile cyber web at Corfu airport is oftentimes advantageous, but a lifeless battery or roaming dilemma needs to not stand among you and your automotive.

7. Chasing “no deposit” bargains with no reading the small print

The phrase “Corfu airport car condominium no deposit” is alluring, distinctly if you happen to dislike the thought of tons of of euros blocked in your card. Genuine low deposit or no deposit treatments do exist, however the satan sits in the aspect.

Usually, when a company advertises no deposit, it manner one among two matters. Either they've developed the threat into a greater on a daily basis price with vital complete coverage, or they'll still preserve a smaller quantity as a gas or CFU car hire options site visitors superb guarantee. Sometimes both.

There is not anything fallacious with paying a bit extra for the peace of mind that comes from no longer having 1,000 euros frozen on your card. Just appreciate what you're buying. Check:

The distinctive quantity they may hang for your card, if any.

Whether the no deposit supply is tied to a selected insurance plan bundle. How they address minor harm, corresponding to small scratches or chips.

Compare this to a prevalent package from yet one more employer that makes use of a deposit however presents curb prices. Over per week’s vacation, the whole settlement can swing either method. The worst mistake is to e-book on the energy of “no deposit” alone after which stumble on an extended checklist of exclusions and further fees whilst you attain the desk.

eight. Skipping the inspection and photograph habitual at pickup

You are worn out, the queue has been slow, and the beach is looking. The agent issues to the car, you signal the form, throw your luggage in the boot and force off. That five minute shortcut can check dearly if there may be present break that not ever made it onto the file.

At Corfu airport, where dozens of motors rotate between renters each and every week in summer season, small bumps and scrapes are pursuits. Most groups are straightforward approximately this and mark every little thing they be aware of. Some don't seem to be thorough, noticeably at peak times.

Treat your inspection as component to the rental, not a nuisance. Walk around the auto, check every panel, the wheels, and the entrance and rear bumpers above all. Pay awareness to:

Small scratches and dents.

Alloy wheel scuffs and hubcap damage. Chips or cracks in the windscreen. Any hurt at the roof in case you are tall sufficient or can see from an angle.

Photograph every part, even worries which are already marked. Capture the car from each corner, the odometer examining, and the gasoline gauge. Time stamped photographs for your telephone create a listing which is rough to argue with later.

Encourage the workers member so as to add any lacking marks to the model until now you signal. If they look reluctant, reside well mannered but company. A jiffy here is valued at some distance more than an irritated e mail change after you come residence.

nine. Forgetting to plot parking and access at your accommodation

Corfu airport vehicle condominium is the ordinary piece. The harder area, tremendously in height season, is living with the car while you succeed in your accommodation.

Many antique villages and a few components of Corfu Town have very limited parking. Some beachfront motels have individual a good deal, others count fully on public areas that replenish quick in July and August. Steep inner most driveways are common for villas, infrequently with awkward angles and unfastened gravel.

Before you booklet, ask your accommodation about parking in particular, realistic terms. Do now not settle for “parking readily available”. Ask whether it's far exclusive or public, what number spaces they have, how tight the get entry to is, and regardless of whether bigger motors have compatibility quite simply.

This may still impact now not basically your option of condominium motor vehicle dimension, as pronounced beforehand, however also no matter if you even want a automobile to your total remain. For illustration, when you are spending 3 nights in Corfu Town and then per week in a north coast village, possible do more effective to spend the first aspect on foot and taxis, then prepare a Corfu airport car rental starting at the day you depart metropolis.

Thinking in segments like this will retailer money, parking headaches and the tension of threading a car thru the city’s one method device in the event you are nonetheless jet lagged.

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

I actually have lost count of how many disputes commence at drop off when you consider that the renter is hurrying to seize a flight. When you might be dashing, you overlook gasoline, you park the place you don't seem to be imagined to, or you give up keys with no checking the ultimate documents.

Give your self a appropriate buffer for return. If your flight is at thirteen:00, do no longer plan to roll into the auto park at 11:45, certainly for those who rented off web page and desire a commute experience again to the terminal.

At return, aim to:

1. Refill the tank at a station near the airport if you are on a complete to full coverage. Keep the receipt. There are numerous petrol stations within a quick pressure, however a few will likely be busy.
2. Remove all non-public products from the car, which includes door wallet and less than seats.
3. Walk round the automobile with the agent in which that you can imagine and ask them to make certain in writing that the auto is lower back without new injury and with a full tank if perfect.
4. Take closing graphics, such as the gasoline gauge and odometer.

If you need use a key drop container since you're returning outdoors administrative center hours, portraits and a fast video walkaround became even more precious. Corfu airport appoint a car or truck companies basically address those returns incredibly, yet a clear visible record protects you in case a brand new dent looks on the inspection sheet later.

A speedy pre reserving checklist

Used nicely, a vehicle turns Corfu right into a flexible, handy island to discover. Used badly, it becomes a thread of anxiety strolling by using your break. Before you decide to any airport automobile employ Corfu deal, run thru this short list.

1. Verify if the organization is on airport or off website with a trip, and the way that affects your timings.
2. Read up to date critiques namely for the Corfu airport department, now not just the brand.
3. Compare general price, together with assurance, gasoline coverage and any mileage limits, no longer just the bottom day-by-day charge.
4. Check parking and entry at your lodging and opt for motor vehicle measurement hence.
5. Confirm what playing cards and documents you desire and regardless of whether any “no deposit” offer has restrictive prerequisites.

Handled with this degree of cognizance, Corfu airport condo cars think much less like a gamble and more like a effectively controlled software in your time out.

Final recommendations from the queue at Corfu airport

If you spend 30 minutes within the arrivals hall on a busy afternoon, you can still virtually are expecting who will breeze via and who will turn out annoyed. The ones with revealed confirmations, clear selections on insurance plan and realistic expectancies about the auto and the island tend to go away smiling. The ones who booked on charge alone and did no longer read a be aware of the terms are the ones arguing at the desk.

Corfu automotive condominium does no longer have to be not easy. It is without problems a topic of matching the certainty at the flooring together with your own tolerance for menace, funds and using confidence. Look beyond headline fees, understand how assurance and deposits work, opt for the top length of automotive for Corfu’s roads, and supply your self time at the two pickup and go back.

Do that, and your hire a automobile at Corfu airport turns into what it ought to be: an ordinary gateway to mountain villages, quiet shores and overdue dinners in small tavernas, for your personal clock other than someone else’s.