Thursday, 4 February 2016

How to Get Better Deals with the Car Rental Services in Chania

Chania is a historic city that has been inhabited since the Stone Age. It has had a dynamic history that has seen it as a part of the Byzantine Empire, then sold to Venice in the middle Ages, and later being a part of the Ottoman Empire. Starting in the late 19th century and the early part of the 20th, Crete broke free of Ottoman control and joined Greece. The city was briefly under Axis occupation during the Second World War. Today, Chania stands as a living testament of a city that has lasted for eons, a modern city that still preserves its rich heritage.

Chania is a major draw for tourists around the world, who come here not just for its culture, but also to take in the beautiful views of the country and bask under its warm sunny skies. The tourist attractions are spread out across the island and many of them are located several miles from major cities or towns. An extensive road network connects the various towns and villages on the island, but there is no train network. This makes driving the best way to visit all the places of interest, and a rental car is the smartest solution.

The following tips will help you find the best deals at a car rental service in Chania:

Book Early, but Be Ready to Switch: Car rental bookings made online or over the phone in advance do not cost any money, nor are there any cancellation charges. This means that you can do your research and book one in advance weeks before you get there. Once you land in Chania, see if you can get a better deal at a kiosk. Quite often, the walk in rates will be lower. Booking early gives you a safe fallback option in case you do not find a satisfactory alternative, or are just too tired to wait in queue. Walk in rates are almost always negotiable, and rental companies will be able to accommodate most requests, particularly during the off-season (mid-October – early April).

Look for Promotions: Promotional rates are common when booking online, and if you find a particularly attractive rate, you can always lock it in. Some special rates that are available in limited quantities online may be better than the rates you get at the kiosk.

Additional Amenities: Reputed car rental services in Chania will give you several amenities and services for free. These include infant and child seats, tourist guide maps, GPS navigation systems, discount vouchers for hotels and restaurants, etc.


Check for Hidden Costs: Look out for any optional service that is being included in the rental rate. The car rental services in Greece are quite forthright, but there may be costs that you would not normally expect in your own country or in other countries you have visited. There may also be some service charges that may not be immediately apparent. Do not buy insurance that you already have. Check and ask all relevant questions before you drive away.

Ways to Choose a Reliable Car Rental Service in Crete

The beautiful Mediterranean island of Crete is the perfect destination for tourists who wish to enjoy the warm sunny weather, scenic beauty and a rich cultural heritage and historical legacy. A holiday in Crete is best enjoyed with your own vehicle. A rental car can provide you with the freedom to make your own plans. Driving in Crete is a reward in itself. Roads and even highways in Crete are narrow and have a lot of bends as they make their way past the mountainous countryside. The views are absolutely stunning, especially from the roads that run parallel to the coast. A large number of tourist attractions have options for camping nearby, and with a rental car, you can easily fit a camping trip into your itinerary.

The benefits of a rental car in Crete are obvious, but it is also important to choose a reliable car rental service. The following tips should help you find one that suits your needs perfectly:

Online Research: This is an obvious first step, but the idea is to get information that is as specific as possible. Visit the websites of numerous car rental companies and find out everything you can. Local companies offer better service and facilities, so you will have to learn about unfamiliar names. The quality of the website will give you some idea about the company, but you will need to dig deeper. Check their fleet of cars in the booking options, and see if their vehicles are new. You will rarely get a brand new vehicle in Crete, but it should not be too old either. Read reviews about them on popular travel websites, and pay attention to both the good and bad ones. Responses from the management to bad reviews will give you a very good indication of the quality of service

References and Recommendations: If you know someone who has visited Crete, then their first-hand account of their experience with car rental companies can be a big help in understanding how the companies operate. You can learn about the various rules and regulations that are different from your country, and prepare accordingly.

Additional Services: The best car rental services will offer a wide range of free amenities and services with the car. These include infant and child seats, navigation systems, road maps, etc. They will also give you contact information that you can rely upon in an emergency. It is easy to dismiss such services as they are often considered mandatory, but it is becoming increasingly rare to obtain such information and services for free elsewhere in the world.