Corfu Airport Auto Rental: 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking

Corfu rewards the vacationer who can move on their own agenda. The island appears small on a map yet whenever you get off the main roads, distances believe longer, buses thin out, and taxis add up temporarily. That is why so many visitors pick up a car or truck the instant they land at Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias.

I have rented automobiles at Corfu airport for paintings and holidays, in excessive season and in late October drizzle. The sample is continually the equal. The those who did a few homework are on the road in 20 minutes. The ones who rushed the booking stand in queues, argue over insurance plan at the desk and identify marvel premiums on their card every week later.

If you desire a comfortable Corfu airport car rental event, the most appropriate lesson is to know wherein others cross incorrect. The following ten errors are those I see mainly at Corfu airport, together with what to do as an alternative.

1. Assuming “airport motor vehicle condominium” normally capability on-site

Many travellers seek for “Corfu airport auto condominium” or “employ motor vehicle Corfu airport” and count on every outcome is inside the terminal. It will not be that uncomplicated.

At Corfu, some brands have desks within the arrivals corridor and their vehicles within the airport parking simply across the street. Others operate “meet and greet” or go back and forth facilities. You exit arrivals, search for a person keeping a small sign, and trip a minibus to an off website online lot a couple of minutes away.

That is absolutely not necessarily terrible. Off website businesses will probably be inexpensive and greater versatile on things along with mileage or extra drivers. The limitation looks in the event you anticipate to stroll in your motor vehicle in five mins and in its place lose forty mins monitoring down a shuttle in 30 diploma warmth after a 3 hour flight from London.

If you need a in actuality on website online Corfu airport employ a motor vehicle option, determine carefully. Look for clean wording along with “table interior terminal” or “on airport”. If the affirmation mentions a trip, meeting aspect or “place of business 400 m from terminal”, construct that into your timings. It things on arrival, and it relatively things when you have an early morning departure and need to drop the auto and nevertheless determine in on time.

2. Booking simply on value and ignoring the insurance coverage structure

I nevertheless see people brag that they found out the “fine car or truck apartment Corfu airport” for 12 euros an afternoon in August. That base worth is incomprehensible with out knowing the coverage.

In Greece, straightforward insurance policy basically includes 3rd celebration liability and a few style of collision damage waiver (CDW) with a top excess. I even have visible excesses from 700 to one,800 euros for an economy auto. If there is harm, you pay as much as that quantity until you could have extra duvet.

The same old errors are two. First, folks bypass any further cover and cross their palms, then spend their trip anxious approximately slim streets in Corfu Town. Second, they buy an “excess refund” coverage from a broking service website online and do not recognise that the apartment corporate will nevertheless block the whole extra on their card at sequence.

A life like method at Corfu airport vehicle apartment counters is to pick beforehand the way you would like to address menace. Some travelers are tender with a tremendous deposit due to the fact they have a amazing credit card and knowledge with rental claims. Others sleep more beneficial with a “zero excess” package that charges extra according to day yet shrinks the safety block and fiscal publicity.

Read the coverage segment ahead of you click on “Book”. Compare the money of adding full quilt from the apartment friends with a standalone excess policy from a credible insurer. There isn't any unmarried desirable answer, however running as much as the table with out a plan is the quickest direction to strain and high priced upsells.

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

Corfu airport apartment automobiles just about consistently use the related couple of fuel guidelines. The bother is that they look identical at a glance, yet charge very specific amounts over every week.

“Full to full” means you opt for up the automobile with a full tank, go back it full, and merely pay for what you use. This is always the fairest preference, relatively if you happen to plan to pressure around the island.

“Pre purchase” or “full to drain” means you pay for a tank of fuel at choice and can go back it on fumes. It sounds easy but not often works on your favour unless you'll honestly use most of the tank and the business quotes gas at nearly pump prices plus a small expense. Many do now not.

Mileage is some other quiet capture. Most Corfu automotive condominium corporations be offering unlimited kilometres, which is right for exploring Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, the south coast and inland villages without taken with distance. A few low rate bargains conceal a per kilometre can charge above a modest every single day restriction.

If your affirmation e mail is indistinct or uses terms you do now not realise, e mail or message the employer and ask for readability. You desire written confirmation of the two gasoline coverage and mileage. Verbal reasons at a hectic airport desk are clean to misunderstand and plenty more difficult to dispute later.

four. Overlooking driving realities on Corfu whilst opting for car or truck size

Looking at smooth pictures, this is tempting to upgrade to a larger car or truck. More area for baggage, more desirable air-con, probably even an automated for relief. On Corfu, the bigger the automobile, the more you need to place confidence in the place you plan to force.

The street from the airport into Corfu Town is huge satisfactory, yet as quickly as you wander into older districts, roads slender to one lane with stone partitions on each sides and tight corners around constructions. Some coastal villages and hilltop settlements are even tighter, with parking that slightly fits a compact hatchback.

If you're staying at a resort on the most east coast avenue, a bigger car or truck might not be a issue. If your villa is up a steep lane within the north of the island, a small to medium car with good vitality and well turning circle is a much greater preference than a bulky SUV. I have watched laborers spend 15 minutes maneuvering a broad auto out of a lane that was clearly designed for scooters and donkeys.

For such a lot company, the sweet spot for Corfu airport motor vehicle rental is a small or compact motor vehicle, guide or automated depending to your remedy. Enough boot space for bags, yet small ample to slip into tight parking areas and meet oncoming visitors with room to breathe.

5. Ignoring stories of exact Corfu airport branches

Many travelers do a rapid look at various of the manufacturer name and discontinue there. They see a massive world friends they be aware of from home, imagine a regular knowledge, and reserve. In follow, department first-rate can range widely.

Search specially for the service provider call plus “Corfu airport” and examine the contemporary reports for that region. Patterns matter extra than exotic lawsuits. If one individual mentions an extended wait time, which could just be a busy Saturday in August. If 20 humans throughout 3 months file competitive break claims or unexplained expenses, pay interest.

This suggestions applies equally to local vendors. Some small Corfu rent a auto carriers near the airport are stunning, with pleasant service and versatile guidelines. Others cut corners or depend on technicalities to reinforce cash. Reviews repeatedly make the distinction clean.

A 15 euro change on every week’s apartment isn't always worthy an uncongenial argument over “pre current” scratches you were never allowed time to document.

6. Not getting ready your archives and card correctly

One of the dullest disorders, yet I still watch it unfold in line on the airport each summer time. The office work for hiring a automobile in Greece is straightforward, however there are some impressive small print.

You regularly desire:

1. A legitimate driving licence which you have held for no less than one year, typically two, relying on the service provider and car or truck team.
2. For non EU / EEA drivers from convinced countries, an International Driving Permit alongside your home licence. Check this ahead, due to the fact that you shouldn't acquire an IDP when you are already in Greece.
3. A credit card inside the fundamental motive force’s call with sufficient accessible prohibit to quilt the deposit or excess block.
4. Passport or national ID card for id.

Where of us get caught is with the cardboard. Many Corfu airport vehicle condo desks do not accept debit playing cards for the security deposit, simply for money. Others take delivery of them yet only with steeply-priced additional assurance. Prepaid playing cards are typically refused outright.

If your confirmation does now not in reality kingdom that debit playing cards are favourite for the deposit, count on you want a in style credit card with embossed title and numbers. Also verify the card limit is high satisfactory. I watched a couple from Germany turned away on account that their modest reduce could not accommodate a 1,500 euro block for the excess plus their motel’s pre authorisation.

Print or shop your affirmation e-mail as a PDF, adding the voucher in the event you booked because of a dealer. Mobile cyber web at Corfu airport is more commonly nice, yet a dead battery or roaming thing ought to not stand between you and your car.

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

The word “Corfu airport car rental no deposit” is eye-catching, incredibly should you dislike the concept of thousands of euros blocked on your card. Genuine low deposit or no deposit chances do exist, but the satan sits in the aspect.

Usually, whilst a business enterprise advertises no deposit, it means one among two matters. Either they have developed the hazard into a top day by day expense with essential complete insurance plan, or they're going to nevertheless carry a smaller volume as a gas or site visitors first-rate ensure. Sometimes either.

There is nothing mistaken with paying slightly extra for the peace of intellect that comes from now not having 1,000 euros frozen for your card. Just be aware of what you might be paying for. Check:

The true amount they may carry for your card, if any.

Whether the no deposit supply is tied to a specific coverage package. How they maintain minor hurt, consisting of small scratches or chips.

Compare this to a fundamental package deal from an alternate firm that makes use of rent a car Corfu airport a deposit yet promises cut down rates. Over per week’s holiday, the entire rate can swing either manner. The worst mistake is to e-book at the energy of “no deposit” alone and then identify a protracted record of exclusions and additional prices should you succeed in the desk.

eight. Skipping the inspection and image regimen at pickup

You are worn-out, the queue has been sluggish, and the seaside is looking. The agent factors to the auto, you signal the style, throw your bags within the boot and power off. That 5 minute shortcut can fee dearly if there is latest hurt that certainly not made it onto the record.

At Corfu airport, the place dozens of cars rotate between renters every week in summer time, small bumps and scrapes are regimen. Most carriers are truthful approximately this and mark everything they realize. Some don't seem to be thorough, principally at height times.

Treat your inspection as element of the rental, now not a nuisance. Walk round the auto, examine every panel, the wheels, and the entrance and rear bumpers mainly. Pay consideration to:

Small scratches and dents.

Alloy wheel scuffs and hubcap ruin. Chips or cracks in the windscreen. Any harm at the roof whenever you are tall enough or can see from an angle.

Photograph all the pieces, even worries which are already marked. Capture the automobile from each corner, the odometer analyzing, and the gas gauge. Time stamped photos to your cell create a file it's complicated to argue with later.

Encourage the crew member to feature any lacking marks to the type ahead of you sign. If they seem reluctant, continue to be well mannered but corporation. A jiffy here is worth a ways more than an angry e mail alternate after you return dwelling house.

9. Forgetting to plot parking and access at your accommodation

Corfu airport automobile apartment is the undemanding piece. The tougher facet, incredibly in top season, is residing with the auto once you achieve your accommodation.

Many ancient villages and a few portions of Corfu Town have very confined parking. Some beachfront lodges have inner most rather a lot, others remember fully on public areas that refill quick in July and August. Steep deepest driveways are basic for villas, every now and then with awkward angles and loose gravel.

Before you book, ask your accommodation approximately parking in genuine, simple terms. Do now not accept “parking achievable”. Ask whether or not it can be private or public, what percentage spaces they've, how tight the get right of entry to is, and whether better automobiles suit quite simply.

This could effect not most effective your resolution of apartment automotive size, as outlined prior, yet additionally even if you even need a car or truck in your entire keep. For illustration, when you are spending 3 nights in Corfu Town and then per week in a north coast village, one could do greater to spend the primary facet on foot and taxis, then organize a Corfu airport auto rental starting at the day you leave the town.

Thinking in segments like this could keep cash, parking complications and the strain of threading a auto with the aid of the town’s one means machine after you are nonetheless jet lagged.

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

I actually have lost rely of what number disputes beginning at drop off seeing that the renter is hurrying to trap a flight. When you're rushing, you forget about gasoline, you park where you will not be supposed to, or you quit keys devoid of checking the last forms.

Give yourself a actual buffer for return. If your flight is at thirteen:00, do no longer plan to roll into the auto park at 11:45, distinctly while you rented off website online and need a commute trip to come back to the terminal.

At go back, objective to:

1. Refill the tank at a station close to the airport once you are on a full to full coverage. Keep the receipt. There are countless petrol stations inside of a short drive, yet some is also busy.
2. Remove all exclusive objects from the car, inclusive of door wallet and less than seats.
3. Walk round the vehicle with the agent wherein plausible and ask them to make certain in writing that the automobile is returned and not using a new smash and with a complete tank if suitable.
4. Take last photographs, which include the gas gauge and odometer.

If you want to use a key drop box for the reason that you are returning outdoors administrative center hours, photographs and a swift video walkaround become even greater primary. Corfu airport employ a automotive suppliers quite often cope with these returns noticeably, however a clean visible rfile protects you in case a new dent seems at the inspection sheet later.

A brief pre booking checklist

Used smartly, a automotive turns Corfu into a flexible, easy island to discover. Used badly, it turns into a thread of anxiety working via your vacation. Before you decide to any airport car hire Corfu deal, run by means of this quick listing.

1. Verify if the manufacturer is on airport or off site with a travel, and the way that affects your timings.
2. Read contemporary reports principally for the Corfu airport branch, no longer simply the logo.
3. Compare whole value, consisting of insurance, gas policy and any mileage limits, now not simply the base everyday expense.
4. Check parking and entry at your accommodation and judge automotive measurement consequently.
5. Confirm what playing cards and files you want and regardless of whether any “no deposit” provide has restrictive conditions.

Handled with this point of interest, Corfu airport condo motors experience much less like a gamble and more like a effectively controlled device for your day trip.

Final suggestions from the queue at Corfu airport

If you spend half-hour inside the arrivals corridor on a hectic afternoon, you'll essentially are expecting who will breeze via and who will end up frustrated. The ones with published confirmations, clear selections on insurance plan and life like expectations approximately the auto and the island generally tend to depart smiling. The ones who booked on price on my own and did not examine a observe of the terms are those arguing at the table.

Corfu automobile apartment does now not need to be problematical. It is quite simply a topic of matching the truth on the ground along with your personal tolerance for threat, funds and riding trust. Look beyond headline expenditures, keep in mind how assurance and deposits work, pick the appropriate size of car for Corfu’s roads, and provide yourself time at equally pickup and go back.

Do that, and your hire a automotive at Corfu airport turns into what it deserve to be: an common gateway to mountain villages, quiet shores and past due dinners in small tavernas, to your possess clock in place of all people else’s.