Photo by Wolfgang Staudt

You will achieve the best rental price by booking in advance. Most of the large multinational rental agencies have branches throughout Europe. You may even be able to secure a cheaper price by renting via a consolidator, however should you have any problems, don’t expect any assistance from the vendor.

Another advantage when dealing with a large company is that there are more choices of branches in which to drop the car back, whether it be intra-city or inter-city. Picking up and dropping off a rental car at different branches within the same country usually does not incur any extra charge. Dropping off a car in a different country can add substantially to costs though, with drop-off fees adding between USD100-300 to the cost.

Also, consider whether your trip will include a ferry crossing as it is quite expensive to take your car and it may be worthwhile renting another car in the country in which you disembark.

Although renting a car in Europe is generally more expensive than renting a similar car in the U.S., it is most economic when you rent by the week with unlimited mileage. In comparison, daily rates are higher and the longer you rent, the lower the daily rate.

Photo by Michael Gray

Depending on where you pick up your car may affect the cost of rental. For example, it is occasionally cheaper to pick up the rental car from a downtown office than at the airport. It is also worth obtaining an International Driving Permit. Even though an International Driving Permit may not be required in all countries, it is recognized in all countries.

Debit cards and cash are almost never accepted in Europe, so make sure you have a credit card with a sufficiently high limit. Make sure that you keep all receipts and vouchers from your reservation. They will be required when picking up the car together with your credit card, driver’s license, and ID. Before taking the car, make sure you check the car carefully to ensure it complies with the condition described on the rental agreement and make sure all data entered is correct upon return the car.

Following the above steps should ensure that at least the car rental aspect of your European trip should be hassle free.

Author bio: The article was written by Hertz, offering short and long term car rental in Israel

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Photo by admin

Book outside of school holidays

The best tip of them all has to be avoiding school holidays as the price of your holiday is likely to rise significantly. To get an idea of how much more it would cost to travel inside term time, when you are choosing a date for a flight scroll back to show earlier dates and see how much more you would have to pay. Travel companies are fully aware how much higher demand is in school holidays which is why they adjust their prices accordingly. However being retired you should normally have more weeks available when you are free to travel. Times to avoid are Easter, half terms and the summer holidays which run from the last week in July until the start if September. Granted this is peak time but if you are going somewhere where it is hot from April to October then it can make financial sense to avoid the school holidays.

Book in advance OR last minute

OK ill explain this one. With some holidays it benefits you to book as far in advance as possible for example if booking cheap flights to a popular European destination. If you know your holiday dates in advance (as most retired people will do) then it obviously makes sense to book early and save. However some holidays are best bought at the last minute as airlines and hotels will have seats and rooms that they need to fill. If you are flexible over your destination and dates then wait to see what last minute holiday deals become available. This used to be done using teletext but most now use the internet to find the latest offers. Of course there is no harm going into a good old fashioned travel agent and doing the same thing!

Use a credit card, not a debt card

The reason for this is that an increasing amount of card fraud is being committed against travellers abroad. If you use a debt card and someone clones your details they can potentially empty your bank account in one go, leaving your with no money whatsoever. However if you only use a credit card, although they can make fraudulent transactions you will see these when you receive your monthly bill which when allows you to inform your card company. In other words you wont have to pay for them and then try and recoupe the money. Some credit cards also provide insurance cover for purchases so that if you buy something abroad that either turns out to be faulty or is not delivered, you can reclaim the purchase amount through the card company’s insurance cover.

This article was produced by Simon who runs pension website Annuity City. Visit them for the top annuity rates on the market.

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Obviously, you have limited time to plan your vacations if you are allowed to take only a few leaves from work. But it is always better to ask for some more leaves to enjoy with your family or friends. Once you have decided to enjoy your last-minute vacations, it is time to plan how to do it in the most enjoyable manner. Have a look at the following tips to plan for your last minute vacations when planning for a long vacation.

Choose Your Destination

The first and foremost thing to realize is that you have made a spontaneous decision to spend your vacations. This means that you cannot choose to be picky while planning a destination for a long vacation. There might be a lot of destinations which are your favorite. But do not limit your decision to those destinations. You can visit other destinations too, which require less planning and are within your budget.

Search for a destination that gives you a unique experience, which may be even better than your dream destinations. Since last-minute plans always end up being more exciting, you can enjoy more this way.

Manage Your Time

When it comes to balancing personal life and work life, managing time properly becomes the most crucial task. However, it is important to know the significance of time management in terms of planning your long vacation. Therefore, you need to find time when you plan to pack things up for your vacation.

If you can avoid work longer, it is obviously a plus for you and your family. But remember that your goal right now is to make your last-minute plans so effective that you all can enjoy and cherish those memories. In this situation, an ideal way to have fun during your last-minute vacations is to avail more leaves, i.e. your sick leaves.

If you do not have sick leaves, then simply ask your boss for some more leaves. Convince him by telling him that you can bring back more energy within you and that is how you can excel in your work afterwards.

Get the Cheapest Flight

In case your boss does not allow you additional leaves, there is nothing to worry about. When it comes to spending great time with your family, you can afford to get salary deductions. In this case, you can plan to get the cheapest flight to the chosen destination. This is how you will be able to compensate well with your deducted salary.

You can easily get cheap flights online. Search for different deals on the internet. When you have conducted research and searched various websites, it is time to compare the deals of all of them. Be flexible while choosing the flight. After that, choose the one that is the cheapest and suitable for you and your family.

Find the Staying Place and Decide Things to Do

After choosing a destination, the most exciting thing is to find a place where you and your family will love to stay. You can either find a reliable hotel in that destination or go for an apartment. Obviously, it depends on your family members’ choice too. When looking for a staying place, do not forget to ask the price. It is possible that a single hotel room can charge you beyond your budget. In this case, renting an apartment for a long vacation can be a better idea.

Now, decide what things you can do there. For example, you can have a lot of fun while shopping there. Also, search for different tourist attractions in that place. You can visit to all those places to have a memorable experience.

Explore the Fun of Last-Minute Cruises

Traveling by last-minute cruises is another great idea for a perfect long vacation. You can book a cruise at the last minute easily. You will enjoy the experience more because you will not need to wait for its departure. You can chose your destination by visiting http://www.eclipseleisure.co.uk/stag-weekend/.

The above article is written by Roxanne Peterson from eclipse leisure

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Fort of Paphos / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by simon.hedge

Many of us are looking for ways to tighten our belts and make sure not a penny is wasted, without sacrificing our annual holiday. Choosing a destination that has lots of low-cost attractions is therefore a good choice, and holidays to Paphos certainly fall into this category.

Indeed, while there are plenty of luxurious hotels in the city – which you should be able to find some great deals for online – this does not mean it is lacking in affordable activities. From awe-inspiring historical sites to glorious beaches, some of the destination’s best attractions can be enjoyed without breaking the bank.

Seek out the best harbour views at the Fort of Paphos

One of the simplest ways to make the most of your break is to take a walk and soak up the excellent views. Among Paphos’s most scenic spots is its harbour; to see it at its best, head to the Fort of Paphos.

Kids will especially love going here, because to reach it you have to cross a stone bridge perched over a moat. Once you’re at the fort itself, which is home to cannons pointing out in several directions, you’ll enjoy the finest views of the harbour to be had in the city.

Hit Municipal Beach

Another easy way to get the most out of your Paphos break for less is to hit the beach. Indeed, many of us visit destinations such as Cyprus purely for the warm weather, so heading to the coast is bound to feature on your to-do list.

Many of the local stretches of sand have Blue Flag status, making them great for family holidays. The Municipal Beach, which is perfect for swimming, is a particular favourite.

Paphos hotels, Cyprus / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Verity Cridland

Explore the Tombs of the Kings and other archaeological sites

The city’s most famous attractions are its archaeological sites and, fortunately, they do not cost a lot to visit. So, even if you are on a tight budget, you should be able to explore them fully.

Among the best places to see are the Tombs of the Kings, which are spread out over a fairly large area. This series of chambers and tombs was used to bury residents belonging to the higher classes – but not, as its name suggests, kings – between the 3rd century BC and the 3rd century AD.

What draws many visitors is their impressive interiors, the Doric pillars of which earned the Tombs of the Kings its regal name, as well as their peristyle court structure inspired by Egyptian architecture. While the tombs are certainly impressive, you should not expect to see many treasures and artifacts inside, simply because over the years they were stolen by grave robbers.

If you’re keen to explore the local history a little further, head to the House of Dionysus, where you can see a splendid, well-preserved mosaic laid out on the floor. There are several old houses which have this kind of mosaic flooring – often depicting myths – but the House of Dionysus is the most famous.

By choosing to visit low-cost – yet still very exciting – attractions such as these, you can really make the most of your getaway without blowing your budget.

Author Bio: As a fan of Greek history and architecture, Matt has travelled much of the region. This summer he’s looking to escape the chaos in London and has arranged his Sani holidays

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Amanda Slater

The royal family had subsequently rebuilt it into their rural retreat with the area of an impressive 800 hectares. The seat is surrounded by vast plots of land with extensive gardens, parks, forests, but also reserves with animals. Today, there are various social events and tours for the public to fully excite the whole family. Children can play in one of many play-grounds, while parents certainly enjoy a beautiful pass through the interior and exterior of the luxury palace.

Osborne House is a good example of traditional British relations, which may seem a little too formal, but on the other hand, for many can be nice and slick.

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In addition to the large art collection, the castle is interesting also for the world-famous collection of rhododendrons. It is just at the sea and includes wonderful gardens with a great view of surrounding hills and majestic mountain of Goatfell.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Saskia Heijltjes

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