A HOLIDAY comparison website has warned that families could be paying up to nineteen times more for car hire on holiday than they need to.
New research from TravelSupermarket reveals the staggering difference in cost between vehicles purchased at the airport on arrival versus booking the same car type in advance online.
Looking across the top 10 most popular destinations for a getaway during the February weekend school holidays, the website found holidaymakers could save an average of 72 per cent by booking ahead online.
However, savings of as much as 95 per cent were available if you booked ahead online to pick up a car in Alicante, Spain, 92 per cent in Faro, Portugal and 83 per cent in Tenerife, Lanzarote and Barcelona.
For example, a compact car in Alicante over was available at just £8.83 (or £1.11 per day) if booked in advance online, comparing prices via TravelSupermarket.
However, the same car type would cost £169.82 (£21.22 per day) if purchased at the airport on arrival. A huge potential saving of £160.99.
A compact car for pick up at Faro airport is available via TravelSupermarket for just £15.15 (£1.90 per day) when booked in advance. The walk-up price for the same car type, when purchased on arrival at the airport, is £187.22 (£23.40 per day) – so, there is a significant saving of £172.07 from booking online before going on holiday
However, it is the Canary Islands of Tenerife and Lanzarote where holidaymakers could save the biggest amount, with those booking their car hire online in advance for either destination pocketing over £500 vs the airport walk up price.
TravelSupermarket’s car hire booking tips:
- Book early to secure the car type you want.
- Buying ahead is always cheaper than walking up. Plus, by comparing prices online in advance, you may find you can afford a larger vehicle than you originally had in mind.
- Economy cars can be sometimes cheaper than mini economy. So, search all car types, not just the smallest, in order to get the best price.
- And don’t forget to maximise your saving by buying car hire excess insurance in advance to save even more money. You will also get better protection than policy reductions offered when you pick your car up. https://www.travelsupermarket.com/en-gb/car-hire/excess-insurance/
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