Corfu Airport Auto Rental: 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking

Corfu rewards the tourist who can movement on their possess agenda. The island seems small on a map yet when you get off the most important roads, distances really feel longer, buses skinny out, and taxis upload up shortly. That is why such a lot of travellers pick out up a motor vehicle the instant they land at Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias.

I even have rented cars at Corfu airport for work and vacations, in high season and in late October drizzle. The trend is invariably the comparable. The people who did some homework are on the street in 20 mins. The ones who rushed the booking stand in queues, argue over insurance on the desk and become aware of surprise expenditures on their card every week later.

If you want a soft Corfu airport vehicle condominium journey, the well suited lesson is to have in mind the place others pass wrong. The following ten mistakes are those I see mostly at Corfu airport, consisting of what to do alternatively.

1. Assuming “airport automotive condo” forever capability on-site

Many travelers look up “Corfu airport auto condo” or “hire car or truck Corfu airport” and imagine every influence is in the terminal. It is absolutely not that useful.

At Corfu, some manufacturers have desks within the arrivals hall and their motors within the airport parking simply throughout the road. Others perform “meet and greet” or go back and forth functions. You exit arrivals, look for a person protecting a small signal, and experience a minibus to an off website online lot a few minutes away.

That is absolutely not necessarily bad. Off site carriers can also be more cost-effective and greater flexible on issues reminiscent of mileage or additional drivers. The issue appears to be like for those who be expecting to walk on your auto in five mins and alternatively lose forty mins monitoring down a travel in 30 measure heat after a three hour flight from London.

If you prefer a unquestionably on website online Corfu airport appoint a vehicle alternative, take a look at sparsely. Look for clean wording comparable to “desk interior terminal” or “on airport”. If the affirmation mentions a trip, assembly point or “place of job four hundred m from terminal”, construct that into your timings. It subjects on arrival, and it clearly matters if you have an early morning departure and desire to drop the automobile and nonetheless verify in on time.

2. Booking simplest on payment and ignoring the insurance coverage structure

I still see folks brag that they chanced on the “preferable car or truck condo Corfu airport” for 12 euros a day in August. That base price is incomprehensible without figuring out the insurance plan.

In Greece, traditional policy cover oftentimes consists of third occasion liability and a few type of collision spoil waiver (CDW) with a top extra. I have considered excesses from seven hundred to one,800 euros for an economic system car or truck. If there may be injury, you pay up to that quantity except you've extra cowl.

The basic mistakes are two. First, human beings pass any excess canopy and cross their arms, then spend their excursion worrying about narrow streets in Corfu Town. Second, they buy an “extra refund” policy from a broking website online and do not comprehend that the condominium manufacturer will nevertheless block the entire extra on their card at sequence.

A shrewd process at Corfu airport automotive rental counters is to decide earlier how you prefer to address probability. Some visitors are secure with a sizeable deposit as a result of they've got a mighty credit card and knowledge with condominium claims. Others sleep improved with a “0 excess” bundle that fees more in line with day but shrinks the safety block and monetary exposure.

Read the insurance segment before you click on “Book”. Compare the price of including complete canopy from the condo company with a standalone extra policy from a good insurer. There isn't any unmarried top reply, however walking as much as the desk with out a plan is the fastest route to pressure and high priced upsells.

3. Not checking gasoline coverage and mileage in the past confirming

Corfu airport apartment motors practically invariably use the equal couple of fuel insurance policies. The issue is they look equivalent at a look, but charge very different quantities over per week.

“Full to complete” manner you decide up the car with a complete tank, go back it complete, and merely pay for what you use. This is on a regular basis the fairest option, mainly in the event you plan to force round the island.

“Pre buy” or “full to drain” potential you pay for a tank of gasoline at collection and might go back it on fumes. It sounds handy however infrequently works in your favour until you can surely use such a lot of the tank and the employer expenses gasoline at almost pump expenses plus a small check. Many do no longer.

Mileage is any other quiet entice. Most Corfu automobile apartment enterprises supply unlimited kilometres, which is perfect for exploring Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, the south coast and inland villages with no concerned with distance. A few low payment promises cover a in step with kilometre can charge above a modest day-after-day restriction.

If your affirmation e-mail is obscure or uses phrases you do not know, e mail or message the agency and ask for clarity. You choose written affirmation of either gasoline policy and mileage. Verbal causes at a hectic airport table are light to misconceive and lots more durable to dispute later.

four. Overlooking using realities on Corfu when settling on car size

Looking at modern images, that is tempting to upgrade to a bigger car or truck. More area for bags, bigger air con, might be even an automatic for convenience. On Corfu, the larger the auto, the extra you want to think about the place you plan to pressure.

The street from the airport into Corfu Town is huge enough, but as quickly as you wander into older districts, roads slim to at least one lane with stone walls on equally aspects and tight corners round buildings. Some coastal villages and hilltop settlements are even tighter, with parking that barely fits a compact hatchback.

If you are staying at a resort on the primary east coast highway, a bigger automotive might not be a complication. If your villa is up a steep lane inside the north of the island, a small to medium automotive with good potential and nice turning circle is a much stronger desire than a cumbersome SUV. I even have watched laborers spend 15 mins maneuvering a sizable automobile out of a lane that turned into surely designed for scooters and donkeys.

For most friends, the candy spot for Corfu airport motor vehicle condo is a small or compact car, manual or automatic based for your convenience. Enough boot house for bags, yet small enough to slip into tight parking areas and meet oncoming traffic with room to breathe.

five. Ignoring reviews of distinct Corfu airport branches

Many visitors do a immediate verify of the manufacturer identify and stop there. They see a massive worldwide corporation they comprehend from house, imagine a standard adventure, and reserve. In prepare, branch quality can range greatly.

Search mainly for the supplier name plus “Corfu airport” and learn the recent reports for that location. Patterns topic more than unique complaints. If one particular person mentions an extended wait time, which will just be a hectic Saturday in August. If 20 persons throughout 3 months file aggressive injury claims or unexplained charges, pay concentration.

This information applies equally to regional suppliers. Some small Corfu lease a car enterprises close the airport are amazing, with pleasant carrier and bendy regulations. Others reduce corners or depend on technicalities to boost revenue. Reviews ordinarilly make the change clean.

A 15 euro difference on per week’s condo just isn't value a bad argument over “pre current” scratches you have been in no way allowed time to report.

6. Not preparing your data and card correctly

One of the dullest concerns, yet I nonetheless watch it spread in line at the airport each and every summer time. The forms for hiring a auto in Greece is simple, but there are about a useful facts.

You ordinarily need:

1. A legitimate using licence that you simply have held for not less than three hundred and sixty five days, regularly two, depending at the business enterprise and vehicle group.
2. For non EU / EEA drivers from unique countries, an International Driving Permit along your property licence. Check this prematurely, because you shouldn't obtain an IDP after you are already in Greece.
3. A credit card inside the fundamental motive force’s call with adequate available minimize to cover the deposit or extra block.
4. Passport or country wide ID card for identity.

Where folk get stuck is with the card. Many Corfu airport car condo desks do now not take delivery of debit playing cards for the security deposit, merely for fee. Others receive them but in simple terms with dear excess insurance plan. Prepaid playing cards are primarily refused outright.

If your affirmation does now not evidently state that debit playing cards are well-known for the deposit, anticipate you want a known credit score card with embossed name and numbers. Also verify the cardboard restrict is excessive sufficient. I watched a couple from Germany became away when you consider that their modest prohibit couldn't accommodate a 1,500 euro block for the excess plus their hotel’s pre authorisation.

Print or retailer your confirmation e-mail as a PDF, together with the voucher if you happen to booked by a broker. Mobile cyber web at Corfu airport is routinely quality, however a lifeless battery or roaming situation should always not stand among you and your auto.

7. Chasing “no deposit” deals with out studying the small print

The word “Corfu airport automotive apartment no deposit” is sexy, fairly whenever you dislike the conception of enormous quantities of euros blocked to your card. Genuine low deposit or no deposit preferences do exist, but the devil sits in the element.

Usually, when a institution advertises no deposit, it skill one among two matters. Either they've developed the hazard into a better day-by-day expense with crucial complete insurance coverage, or they're going to still hold a smaller quantity as a gas or site visitors nice warrantly. Sometimes either.

There is nothing improper with paying a bit greater for the peace of brain that comes from now not having 1,000 euros frozen in your card. Just keep in mind what you're shopping for. Check:

The distinctive quantity they can hang to your card, if any.

Whether the no deposit provide is tied to a selected insurance bundle. How they care for minor harm, corresponding to small scratches or chips.

Compare this to a conventional kit from yet one more friends that uses a deposit however delivers lessen quotes. Over per week’s trip, the full price can swing either method. The worst mistake is to booklet at the potential of “no deposit” by myself after which identify a protracted listing of exclusions and extra charges after you reach the desk.

8. Skipping the inspection and graphic ordinary at pickup

You are worn-out, the queue has been sluggish, and the coastline is calling. The agent issues to the car, you signal the kind, throw your luggage inside the boot and force off. That five minute shortcut can money dearly if there's existing wreck that not ever made it onto the file.

At Corfu airport, wherein dozens of vehicles rotate between renters each and every week in summer time, small bumps and scrapes are regimen. Most groups are honest about this and mark everything they recognise. Some are usually not thorough, especially at height occasions.

Treat your inspection as portion of the condominium, no longer a nuisance. Walk around the auto, inspect every panel, the wheels, and the the front and rear bumpers chiefly. Pay consciousness to:

Small scratches and dents.

Alloy wheel scuffs and hubcap destroy. Chips or cracks within the windscreen. Any hurt at the roof if you are tall satisfactory or can see from an perspective.

Photograph the whole thing, even subject more info matters which might be already marked. Capture the car from each corner, the odometer examining, and the fuel gauge. Time stamped portraits to your phone create a record it is onerous to argue with later.

Encourage the team member so as to add any missing marks to the variety prior to you signal. If they appear reluctant, reside polite but organization. A short while here is worthy a ways greater than an indignant email alternate after you come back abode.

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

Corfu airport automobile condo is the common piece. The more difficult half, fairly in peak season, is living with the car if you reach your lodging.

Many outdated villages and some areas of Corfu Town have very restrained parking. Some beachfront resorts have exclusive masses, others be counted completely on public areas that replenish instantly in July and August. Steep exclusive driveways are widely wide-spread for villas, every so often with awkward angles and unfastened gravel.

Before you e book, ask your accommodation about parking in actual, purposeful terms. Do not accept “parking obtainable”. Ask no matter if it's miles individual or public, how many areas they've, how tight the get admission to is, and whether or not greater cars fit without problems.

This ought to impression no longer most effective your alternative of rental automobile dimension, as cited until now, but additionally even if you even want a motor vehicle for your complete reside. For illustration, when you are spending 3 nights in Corfu Town after which every week in a north coast village, you are able to do more desirable to spend the 1st edge strolling and taxis, then set up a Corfu airport automobile condominium commencing at the day you go away metropolis.

Thinking in segments like this would keep check, parking headaches and the pressure of threading a auto due to the town’s one method process for those who are nonetheless jet lagged.

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

I actually have misplaced count of how many disputes beginning at drop off simply because the renter is hurrying to trap a flight. When you might be rushing, you disregard fuel, you park the place you are usually not alleged to, otherwise you hand over keys without checking the final forms.

Give your self a real buffer for return. If your flight is at thirteen:00, do not plan to roll into the automobile park at 11:forty five, incredibly in the event you rented off web page and desire a shuttle experience back to the terminal.

At go back, aim to:

1. Refill the tank at a station almost about the airport if you happen to are on a complete to complete policy. Keep the receipt. There are several petrol stations inside of a brief force, but a few will probably be busy.
2. Remove all own presents from the automobile, including door wallet and below seats.
3. Walk around the car or truck with the agent the place feasible and ask them to ascertain in writing that the automobile is back and not using a new injury and with a complete tank if suited.
4. Take closing photographs, including the gas gauge and odometer.

If you want to use a key drop container on account that you might be returning backyard place of business hours, pictures and a rapid video walkaround transform even greater very important. Corfu airport appoint a vehicle prone typically take care of those returns quite, yet a clean visual list protects you in case a new dent appears on the inspection sheet later.

A instant pre booking checklist

Used well, a auto turns Corfu into a versatile, uncomplicated island to explore. Used badly, it turns into a thread of hysteria operating by means of your break. Before you commit to any airport auto appoint Corfu deal, run because of this quick checklist.

1. Verify if the friends is on airport or off website with a travel, and the way that influences your timings.
2. Read recent comments mainly for the Corfu airport department, no longer simply the model.
3. Compare general check, inclusive of coverage, gas coverage and any mileage limits, no longer simply the base daily cost.
4. Check parking and entry at your accommodation and pick out automotive dimension for this reason.
5. Confirm what playing cards and information you desire and no matter if any “no deposit” provide has restrictive stipulations.

Handled with this degree of focus, Corfu airport condo motors believe much less like a gamble and more like a neatly managed software in your commute.

Final concepts from the queue at Corfu airport

If you spend half-hour in the arrivals corridor on a hectic afternoon, you'll practically predict who will breeze by and who will find yourself annoyed. The ones with published confirmations, clear choices on insurance coverage and reasonable expectations approximately the automobile and the island generally tend to depart smiling. The ones who booked on worth on my own and did no longer read a phrase of the phrases are those arguing on the table.

Corfu automobile apartment does not need to be intricate. It is quickly a count of matching the fact at the flooring along with your personal tolerance for danger, finances and riding confidence. Look past headline fees, realise how coverage and deposits work, select the top size of car or truck for Corfu’s roads, and provide yourself time at the two pickup and go back.

Do that, and your appoint a vehicle at Corfu airport will become what it could be: an trouble-free gateway to mountain villages, quiet seashores and overdue dinners in small tavernas, to your personal clock rather then every person else’s.