Corfu Airport Auto Rental: 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking

Corfu rewards the traveller who can pass on their own time table. The island seems small on a map but while you get off the main roads, distances suppose longer, buses thin out, and taxis add up shortly. That is why so many friends decide on up a motor vehicle the moment they land at Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias.

I actually have rented cars at Corfu airport for paintings and holidays, in high season and in overdue October drizzle. The trend is all the time the related. The individuals who did a few homework are on the road in 20 minutes. The ones who rushed the booking stand in queues, argue over assurance on the desk and come across surprise bills Corfu airport vehicle hire rent a car on their card a week later.

If you need a tender Corfu airport vehicle rental adventure, the best suited lesson is to take into account the place others move mistaken. The following ten errors are those I see most likely at Corfu airport, along side what to do instead.

1. Assuming “airport automobile condo” at all times approach on-site

Many guests look up “Corfu airport automobile condominium” or “lease automobile Corfu airport” and think each consequence is within the terminal. It seriously isn't that fundamental.

At Corfu, some brands have desks within the arrivals corridor and their autos inside the airport parking simply throughout the road. Others function “meet and greet” or go back and forth expertise. You go out arrivals, look for anyone preserving a small signal, and experience a minibus to an off website lot a couple of minutes away.

That just isn't necessarily poor. Off web page businesses will also be more cost effective and more bendy on matters which includes mileage or extra drivers. The complication seems once you anticipate to stroll for your car or truck in five mins and as a substitute lose forty minutes monitoring down a go back and forth in 30 measure warm after a 3 hour flight from London.

If you would like a genuinely on web page Corfu airport hire a car or truck alternative, examine carefully. Look for clear wording which include “desk internal terminal” or “on airport”. If the confirmation mentions a go back and forth, meeting factor or “place of business four hundred m from terminal”, construct that into your timings. It subjects on arrival, and it without a doubt topics if in case you have an early morning departure and want to drop the car and nonetheless money in on time.

2. Booking only on worth and ignoring the insurance coverage structure

I nonetheless see men and women brag that they stumbled on the “biggest auto rental Corfu airport” for 12 euros an afternoon in August. That base expense is meaningless devoid of know-how the insurance.

In Greece, average coverage typically comprises 3rd celebration legal responsibility and some kind of collision wreck waiver (CDW) with a high extra. I actually have considered excesses from seven-hundred to at least one,800 euros for an economic system vehicle. If there may be harm, you pay up to that quantity unless you could have additional canopy.

The basic blunders are two. First, individuals bypass any greater cowl and pass their arms, then spend their vacation disturbing approximately slender streets in Corfu Town. Second, they buy an “excess refund” policy from a broker web page and do no longer have an understanding of that the condominium business enterprise will nevertheless block the total extra on their card at assortment.

A real looking system at Corfu airport automobile apartment counters is to decide in advance the way you favor to address chance. Some visitors are gentle with a vast deposit seeing that they have got a effective credit score card and ride with condominium claims. Others sleep more advantageous with a “0 extra” bundle that fees extra in step with day yet shrinks the safety block and financial exposure.

Read the assurance section before you click on “Book”. Compare the price of including full cowl from the rental firm with a standalone extra coverage from a good insurer. There is no single perfect answer, however jogging as much as the desk devoid of a plan is the quickest path to rigidity and steeply-priced upsells.

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

Corfu airport condo autos close to consistently use the identical couple of gas policies. The concern is they glance equivalent at a look, yet price very diversified quantities over per week.

“Full to full” approach you choose up the automobile with a full tank, go back it full, and most effective pay for what you use. This is often the fairest preference, enormously once you plan to pressure around the island.

“Pre acquire” or “full to drain” way you pay for a tank of gasoline at selection and may go back it on fumes. It sounds handy yet hardly ever works on your favour except you are going to simply use maximum of the tank and the guests prices gas at on the subject of pump rates plus a small money. Many do not.

Mileage is yet one more quiet capture. Most Corfu car or truck condo businesses supply unlimited kilometres, which is right for exploring Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, the south coast and inland villages with out curious about distance. A few low worth bargains cover a consistent with kilometre cost above a modest every single day prohibit.

If your affirmation email is obscure or makes use of terms you do now not recognize, electronic mail or message the employer and ask for clarity. You need written confirmation of either gas coverage and mileage. Verbal explanations at a hectic airport desk are easy to misunderstand and much harder to dispute later.

four. Overlooking riding realities on Corfu while opting for car size

Looking at modern portraits, that's tempting to upgrade to a bigger vehicle. More space for luggage, higher air con, perhaps even an automated for remedy. On Corfu, the larger the car, the extra you want to think ofyou've got the place you plan to force.

The road from the airport into Corfu Town is vast adequate, yet as quickly as you wander into older districts, roads narrow to at least one lane with stone partitions on the two facets and tight corners around constructions. Some coastal villages and hilltop settlements are even tighter, with parking that barely matches a compact hatchback.

If you are staying at a inn on the principle east coast road, a larger vehicle won't be a trouble. If your villa is up a steep lane in the north of the island, a small to medium car with first rate electricity and great turning circle is a much more effective collection than a bulky SUV. I have watched men and women spend 15 mins maneuvering a super vehicle out of a lane that became without a doubt designed for scooters and donkeys.

For maximum friends, the candy spot for Corfu airport car or truck condo is a small or compact automobile, guide or computerized depending in your remedy. Enough boot space for luggage, but small sufficient to slip into tight parking areas and meet oncoming traffic with room to breathe.

5. Ignoring studies of exact Corfu airport branches

Many travellers do a rapid cost of the brand call and end there. They see a colossal overseas manufacturer they know from residence, count on a preferred expertise, and reserve. In prepare, department caliber can range widely.

Search mainly for the friends identify plus “Corfu airport” and read the up to date critiques for that situation. Patterns count more than unusual complaints. If one individual mentions a longer wait time, which could just be a hectic Saturday in August. If 20 other folks across three months file competitive break claims or unexplained prices, pay recognition.

This suggestion applies both to native suppliers. Some small Corfu hire a car or truck groups close the airport are great, with pleasant service and flexible policies. Others minimize corners or depend on technicalities to raise profit. Reviews most often make the difference transparent.

A 15 euro distinction on per week’s condominium isn't really valued at a nasty argument over “pre existing” scratches you were in no way allowed time to rfile.

6. Not making ready your files and card correctly

One of the dullest complications, yet I nevertheless watch it spread in line at the airport every summer time. The office work for hiring a car or truck in Greece is straightforward, however there are about a necessary info.

You frequently desire:

1. A valid riding licence that you simply have held for no less than 12 months, usually two, based at the firm and car or truck community.
2. For non EU / EEA drivers from detailed nations, an International Driving Permit alongside your place licence. Check this earlier, for the reason that you won't be able to download an IDP while you are already in Greece.
3. A credit card within the foremost motive force’s title with ample accessible minimize to cover the deposit or extra block.
4. Passport or countrywide ID card for identity.

Where employees get stuck is with the card. Many Corfu airport automobile condo desks do not accept debit playing cards for the protection deposit, best for payment. Others take delivery of them however in simple terms with highly-priced further coverage. Prepaid cards are mainly refused outright.

If your confirmation does no longer definitely country that debit cards are universal for the deposit, assume you desire a regularly occurring credits card with embossed call and numbers. Also make sure that the cardboard restriction is excessive adequate. I watched a pair from Germany turned away on account that their modest restriction couldn't accommodate a 1,500 euro block for the extra plus their motel’s pre authorisation.

Print or retailer your confirmation email as a PDF, including the voucher should you booked simply by a broker. Mobile net at Corfu airport is regularly great, but a useless battery or roaming challenge need to now not stand between you and your car or truck.

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

The word “Corfu airport automobile apartment no deposit” is pleasing, specially in case you dislike the proposal of a whole lot of euros blocked to your card. Genuine low deposit or no deposit strategies do exist, however the devil sits in the element.

Usually, while a firm advertises no deposit, it approach one among two issues. Either they have got built the probability into a greater daily price with needed full insurance plan, or they will nevertheless retain a smaller quantity as a gasoline or visitors fine warrantly. Sometimes each.

There is nothing fallacious with paying slightly extra for the peace of thoughts that comes from no longer having 1,000 euros frozen on your card. Just take into account what you might be purchasing. Check:

The exact quantity they will hang in your card, if any.

Whether the no deposit be offering is tied to a particular insurance kit. How they control minor harm, akin to small scratches or chips.

Compare this to a everyday package deal from yet another organisation that uses a deposit yet bargains lower prices. Over per week’s trip, the complete charge can swing either approach. The worst mistake is to publication on the electricity of “no deposit” alone after which find a protracted checklist of exclusions and further prices if you reach the desk.

8. Skipping the inspection and photo activities at pickup

You are worn out, the queue has been slow, and the seashore is looking. The agent aspects to the automobile, you signal the shape, throw your baggage within the boot and force off. That five minute shortcut can settlement dearly if there may be current destroy that on no account made it onto the file.

At Corfu airport, wherein dozens of motors rotate among renters every week in summer, small bumps and scrapes are recurring. Most groups are honest approximately this and mark all the things they be aware of. Some are usually not thorough, highly at height instances.

Treat your inspection as section of the condo, now not a nuisance. Walk round the car, take a look at each panel, the wheels, and the the front and rear bumpers mainly. Pay attention to:

Small scratches and dents.

Alloy wheel scuffs and hubcap break. Chips or cracks within the windscreen. Any wreck at the roof should you are tall satisfactory or can see from an angle.

Photograph the whole lot, even things which can be already marked. Capture the auto from every corner, the odometer examining, and the fuel gauge. Time stamped pictures in your phone create a record that's challenging to argue with later.

Encourage the staff member to add any lacking marks to the model beforehand you signal. If they seem reluctant, remain well mannered however enterprise. A couple of minutes the following is well worth far more than an angry e-mail trade after you come homestead.

9. Forgetting to plan parking and get admission to at your accommodation

Corfu airport automobile condominium is the mild piece. The harder part, in particular in height season, is residing with the auto whenever you attain your accommodation.

Many vintage villages and some constituents of Corfu Town have very confined parking. Some beachfront motels have private loads, others remember utterly on public areas that refill quickly in July and August. Steep individual driveways are conventional for villas, in certain cases with awkward angles and free gravel.

Before you book, ask your accommodation about parking in special, practical terms. Do now not settle for “parking on hand”. Ask no matter if it's miles exclusive or public, what number of spaces they have, how tight the get right of entry to is, and whether large cars suit effortlessly.

This needs to impact not simply your decision of condo auto size, as pointed out beforehand, however also no matter if you even desire a automotive to your total reside. For instance, in case you are spending 3 nights in Corfu Town after which a week in a north coast village, you can actually do larger to spend the 1st section strolling and taxis, then set up a Corfu airport vehicle condo commencing on the day you depart the city.

Thinking in segments like this can keep cost, parking complications and the rigidity of threading a car or truck by way of the the city’s one way technique for those who are nonetheless jet lagged.

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

I have misplaced depend of what number of disputes start at drop off considering the fact that the renter is hurrying to catch a flight. When you're speeding, you disregard gas, you park the place you usually are not alleged to, or you surrender keys with out checking the remaining documents.

Give yourself a proper buffer for go back. If your flight is at 13:00, do now not plan to roll into the automobile park at eleven:forty five, distinctly should you rented off website and want a travel ride returned to the terminal.

At return, objective to:

1. Refill the tank at a station practically the airport while you are on a complete to complete coverage. Keep the receipt. There are a few petrol stations within a brief power, yet some will be busy.
2. Remove all very own items from the car, along with door wallet and under seats.
3. Walk across the car or truck with the agent wherein doable and ask them to be sure in writing that the automobile is returned with out new hurt and with a full tank if ideal.
4. Take last footage, together with the gasoline gauge and odometer.

If it's essential to use a key drop field considering the fact that you might be returning outdoors place of job hours, portraits and a quickly video walkaround come to be even more main. Corfu airport rent a car or truck companies oftentimes manage those returns notably, yet a clear visible report protects you in case a brand new dent seems on the inspection sheet later.

A swift pre booking checklist

Used neatly, a automobile turns Corfu right into a bendy, clean island to discover. Used badly, it becomes a thread of hysteria running by using your trip. Before you commit to any airport motor vehicle appoint Corfu deal, run due to this brief checklist.

1. Verify if the corporation is on airport or off website online with a travel, and the way that affects your timings.
2. Read up to date comments exceptionally for the Corfu airport branch, now not just the model.
3. Compare whole can charge, together with insurance plan, gasoline policy and any mileage limits, not simply the base daily rate.
4. Check parking and get admission to at your lodging and settle on motor vehicle size consequently.
5. Confirm what playing cards and documents you desire and even if any “no deposit” supply has restrictive stipulations.

Handled with this stage of consideration, Corfu airport apartment vehicles experience less like a big gamble and more like a well managed instrument in your day trip.

Final recommendations from the queue at Corfu airport

If you spend half-hour within the arrivals hall on a hectic afternoon, that you could practically expect who will breeze by using and who will finally end up pissed off. The ones with printed confirmations, transparent judgements on insurance and sensible expectancies about the auto and the island tend to depart smiling. The ones who booked on fee by myself and did now not read a word of the terms are those arguing at the table.

Corfu auto apartment does not have got to be tricky. It is with no trouble a be counted of matching the certainty on the flooring with your possess tolerance for probability, budget and using confidence. Look past headline expenditures, recognize how insurance coverage and deposits work, favor the top size of motor vehicle for Corfu’s roads, and provide yourself time at either pickup and go back.

Do that, and your rent a auto at Corfu airport turns into what it need to be: an hassle-free gateway to mountain villages, quiet beaches and late dinners in small tavernas, on your own clock in preference to every body else’s.