Corfu Airport Auto Rental: 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking

Corfu rewards the visitor who can transfer on their very own agenda. The island seems small on a map however once you get off the foremost roads, distances really feel longer, buses skinny out, and taxis add up briefly. That is why so many visitors pick out up a car or truck the instant they land at Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias.

I have rented cars at Corfu airport for work and holidays, in top season and in late October drizzle. The pattern is necessarily the equal. The folks that did some homework are on the line in 20 minutes. The ones who rushed the reserving stand in queues, argue over insurance coverage at the table and discover marvel fees on their card a week later.

If you want a smooth Corfu airport auto condo ride, the most popular lesson is to fully grasp the place others move fallacious. The following ten blunders are those I see pretty much at Corfu airport, including what to do in its place.

1. Assuming “airport vehicle rental” continually potential on-site

Many friends search for “Corfu airport car or truck apartment” or “employ motor vehicle Corfu airport” and suppose every influence is inside the terminal. It isn't very that easy.

At Corfu, a few brands have desks in the arrivals corridor and their motors inside the airport parking simply throughout the road. Others operate “meet and greet” or go back and forth services and products. You go out arrivals, search for an individual preserving a small sign, and experience a minibus to an off website online lot a couple of minutes away.

That seriously isn't essentially awful. Off website online carriers may also be less expensive and extra bendy on issues consisting of mileage or added drivers. The challenge appears in case you anticipate to stroll in your car in 5 minutes and alternatively lose forty minutes monitoring down a travel in 30 level warm after a 3 hour flight from London.

If you would like a truely on site Corfu airport rent a car or truck choice, fee fastidiously. Look for clean wording comparable to “table internal terminal” or “on airport”. If the confirmation mentions a travel, meeting level or “place of business four hundred m from terminal”, construct that into your timings. It matters on arrival, and it actually issues if in case you have an early morning departure and desire to drop the automobile and nonetheless fee in on time.

2. Booking in basic terms on price and ignoring the insurance plan structure

I nonetheless see other folks brag that they chanced on the “optimal automobile condo Corfu airport” for 12 euros an afternoon in August. That base worth is meaningless devoid of working out the assurance.

In Greece, typical protection often includes 3rd birthday celebration legal responsibility and some form of collision ruin waiver (CDW) with a prime extra. I actually have considered excesses from seven-hundred to 1,800 euros for an economic system car or truck. If there's spoil, you pay as much as that quantity except you may have added quilt.

The everyday blunders are two. First, employees bypass any greater conceal and cross their fingers, then spend their break being concerned about slim streets in Corfu Town. Second, they purchase an “extra refund” policy from a dealer website online and do no longer have an understanding of that the rental firm will nonetheless block the whole excess on their card at sequence.

A simple mindset at Corfu airport vehicle condominium counters is to choose in advance how you would like to address probability. Some travelers are completely satisfied with a big deposit due to the fact that they have a solid credit card and journey with condominium claims. Others sleep higher with a “zero extra” equipment that expenses greater in keeping with day yet shrinks the protection block and monetary exposure.

Read the insurance section ahead of you click on “Book”. Compare the cost of including full duvet from the rental guests with a standalone extra coverage from a reputable insurer. There isn't any single good solution, yet jogging up to the table without a plan is the fastest direction to rigidity and high-priced upsells.

three. Not checking gas policy and mileage earlier confirming

Corfu airport condominium automobiles essentially normally use the equal couple of gas regulations. The issues is they glance related at a look, but settlement very unique amounts over per week.

“Full to complete” capacity you prefer up the auto with a complete tank, return it complete, and simply pay for what you utilize. This is by and large the fairest possibility, pretty while you plan to power round the island.

“Pre acquire” or “full to empty” skill you pay for a tank of gas at choice and can go back it on fumes. It sounds effortless but rarely works on your favour except you can still easily use so much of the tank and the firm quotes gasoline at on the brink of pump charges plus a small commission. Many do no longer.

Mileage is yet one more quiet lure. Most Corfu vehicle condominium companies present unlimited kilometres, which is ideal for exploring Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, the south coast and inland villages devoid of wondering distance. A few low value provides cover a in line with kilometre can charge above a modest day to day restrict.

If your affirmation email is imprecise or uses phrases you do not know, email or message the enterprise and ask for clarity. You favor written affirmation of equally gasoline coverage and mileage. Verbal causes at a hectic airport table are easy to misunderstand and plenty tougher to dispute later.

4. Overlooking using realities on Corfu while determining automobile size

Looking at glossy graphics, it is tempting to improve to a bigger automotive. More house for bags, more effective air-con, probably even an automatic for alleviation. On Corfu, the bigger the car, the greater you desire to think of wherein you intend to pressure.

The highway from the airport into Corfu Town is extensive enough, but as quickly as you wander into older districts, roads slender to one lane with stone partitions on both aspects and tight corners around buildings. Some coastal villages and hilltop settlements are even tighter, with parking that slightly matches a compact hatchback.

If you are staying at a lodge on the primary east coast road, a larger car may not be a trouble. If your villa is up a steep lane inside the north of the island, a small to medium automotive with respectable electricity and fabulous turning circle is a much more effective possibility than a cumbersome SUV. I actually have watched people spend 15 minutes maneuvering a larger car or truck out of a lane that was basically designed for scooters and donkeys.

For maximum viewers, the candy spot for Corfu airport motor vehicle condo is a small or compact auto, guide or automated relying for your convenience. Enough boot space for baggage, yet small ample to slip into tight parking areas and meet oncoming visitors with room to breathe.

five. Ignoring stories of exceptional Corfu airport branches

Many guests do a brief examine of the logo title and forestall there. They see a mammoth global provider they recognise from house, imagine a generic journey, and reserve. In perform, department pleasant can fluctuate largely.

Search notably for the service provider name plus “Corfu airport” and study the contemporary comments for that vicinity. Patterns be counted more than amazing lawsuits. If one man or woman mentions a longer wait time, that can simply be a busy Saturday in August. If 20 individuals throughout 3 months document aggressive injury claims or unexplained charges, pay attention.

This suggestion applies similarly to neighborhood prone. Some small Corfu appoint a vehicle organizations close the airport are magnificent, with friendly carrier and versatile guidelines. Others minimize corners or depend on technicalities to lift income. Reviews broadly speaking make the change clean.

A 15 euro change on per week’s apartment will not be really worth a bad argument over “pre current” scratches you have been never allowed time to record.

6. Not preparing your documents and card correctly

One of the dullest complications, yet I nevertheless watch it unfold in line on the airport each summer. The paperwork for hiring a automotive in Greece is straightforward, however there are a couple of most important info.

You most of the time want:

1. A valid driving licence that you have held for at the least 365 days, often times two, based at the firm and car or truck crew.
2. For non EU / EEA drivers from distinctive international locations, an International Driving Permit alongside your place licence. Check this beforehand, for the reason that you can not achieve an IDP once you are already in Greece.
3. A credit score card within the most important driver’s name with ample available restriction to cover the deposit or extra block.
4. Passport or nationwide ID card for identity.

Where human beings get caught is with the card. Many Corfu airport car condominium desks do no longer be given debit playing cards for the safety deposit, most effective for check. Others settle for them but merely with dear more assurance. Prepaid cards are probably refused outright.

If your confirmation does now not obviously country that debit cards are widespread for the deposit, anticipate you want a time-honored credit card with embossed identify and numbers. Also confirm the card restriction https://kalikantzaros.gr/corfu-car-rental-right-car-price-pickup/ is prime ample. I watched a couple from Germany turned away because their modest restrict couldn't accommodate a 1,500 euro block for the excess plus their lodge’s pre authorisation.

Print corfu airport car rental deals or shop your confirmation electronic mail as a PDF, adding the voucher for those who booked using a broking service. Mobile cyber web at Corfu airport is assuredly exceptional, yet a useless battery or roaming obstacle should still now not stand between you and your auto.

7. Chasing “no deposit” supplies devoid of reading the small print

The word “Corfu airport motor vehicle rental no deposit” is horny, exceedingly when you dislike the suggestion of thousands of euros blocked to your card. Genuine low deposit or no deposit options do exist, but the devil sits within the element.

Usually, whilst a visitors advertises no deposit, it capacity one of two issues. Either they've got equipped the danger into a upper each day price with essential complete insurance coverage, or they are going to still maintain a smaller amount as a fuel or visitors best assurance. Sometimes the two.

There is not anything improper with paying just a little extra for the peace of intellect that comes from no longer having 1,000 euros frozen to your card. Just have in mind what you are procuring. Check:

The top volume they'll keep on your card, if any.

Whether the no deposit provide is tied to a particular insurance equipment. How they tackle minor break, resembling small scratches or chips.

Compare this to a regular kit from an additional provider that makes use of a deposit but provides cut back fees. Over a week’s holiday, the overall charge can swing both manner. The worst mistake is to booklet on the electricity of “no deposit” on my own after which explore a protracted listing of exclusions and further charges in the event you succeed in the desk.

8. Skipping the inspection and graphic habitual at pickup

You are worn-out, the queue has been sluggish, and the coastline is calling. The agent elements to the car, you sign the style, throw your luggage inside the boot and drive off. That five minute shortcut can cost dearly if there is present break that certainly not made it onto the document.

At Corfu airport, in which dozens of cars rotate among renters each week in summer, small bumps and scrapes are pursuits. Most groups are sincere approximately this and mark the whole lot they be aware of. Some aren't thorough, primarily at height instances.

Treat your inspection as component of the apartment, now not a nuisance. Walk round the car, check each and every panel, the wheels, and the entrance and rear bumpers in particular. Pay consideration to:

Small scratches and dents.

Alloy wheel scuffs and hubcap wreck. Chips or cracks inside the windscreen. Any damage on the roof while you are tall sufficient or can see from an perspective.

Photograph everything, even subject matters that are already marked. Capture the auto from every single nook, the odometer reading, and the fuel gauge. Time stamped graphics for your mobilephone create a document it is demanding to argue with later.

Encourage the staff member so as to add any lacking marks to the form ahead of you sign. If they seem to be reluctant, stay well mannered yet organization. A jiffy the following is well worth a ways greater than an irritated e mail substitute after you return dwelling.

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

Corfu airport car condominium is the hassle-free piece. The more durable facet, specially in height season, is residing with the automobile if you succeed in your lodging.

Many vintage villages and some components of Corfu Town have very confined parking. Some beachfront lodges have individual hundreds, others count number fully on public areas that top off directly in July and August. Steep inner most driveways are easy for villas, sometimes with awkward angles and loose gravel.

Before you publication, ask your accommodation approximately parking in explicit, real looking phrases. Do not settle for “parking obtainable”. Ask no matter if it can be exclusive or public, what number spaces they've got, how tight the get admission to is, and no matter if bigger automobiles match without difficulty.

This need to have an effect on not simplest your desire of condo vehicle measurement, as talked about in advance, yet also no matter if you even want a motor vehicle on your comprehensive stay. For illustration, when you are spending 3 nights in Corfu Town and then per week in a north coast village, you might do more advantageous to spend the 1st half walking and taxis, then manage a Corfu airport motor vehicle apartment commencing at the day you leave city.

Thinking in segments like this will likely shop cash, parking complications and the pressure of threading a automotive because of the the town’s one means equipment whilst you are nevertheless jet lagged.

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

I actually have lost count of what percentage disputes begin at drop off since the renter is hurrying to trap a flight. When you are speeding, you disregard gasoline, you park in which you will not be supposed to, or you surrender keys with no checking the remaining office work.

Give yourself a acceptable buffer for return. If your flight is at thirteen:00, do not plan to roll into the auto park at 11:45, certainly once you rented off website online and need a commute journey again to the terminal.

At go back, objective to:

1. Refill the tank at a station near the airport for those who are on a complete to complete policy. Keep the receipt. There are a few petrol stations within a brief pressure, yet some might be busy.
2. Remove all own goods from the automobile, along with door pockets and underneath seats.
3. Walk across the auto with the agent the place practicable and ask them to ascertain in writing that the car is returned without a new harm and with a complete tank if appropriate.
4. Take remaining snap shots, adding the gas gauge and odometer.

If you will need to use a key drop field when you consider that you are returning exterior place of business hours, pics and a fast video walkaround turned into even more helpful. Corfu airport rent a automotive prone most of the time deal with these returns extraordinarily, but a transparent visual record protects you in case a new dent looks on the inspection sheet later.

A short pre reserving checklist

Used neatly, a vehicle turns Corfu right into a flexible, mild island to explore. Used badly, it turns into a thread of hysteria operating by way of your break. Before you commit to any airport automotive lease Corfu deal, run via this brief listing.

1. Verify if the issuer is on airport or off web page with a trip, and the way that impacts your timings.
2. Read up to date studies namely for the Corfu airport branch, now not just the model.
3. Compare total can charge, including insurance coverage, gas coverage and any mileage limits, now not just the bottom day-by-day fee.
4. Check parking and get admission to at your accommodation and decide motor vehicle dimension as a consequence.
5. Confirm what cards and data you desire and regardless of whether any “no deposit” provide has restrictive stipulations.

Handled with this point of concentration, Corfu airport rental vehicles suppose less like of venture and greater like a neatly controlled instrument in your day trip.

Final ideas from the queue at Corfu airport

If you spend 30 minutes in the arrivals corridor on a busy afternoon, you can actually close to expect who will breeze as a result of and who will grow to be pissed off. The ones with printed confirmations, transparent decisions on insurance and reasonable expectancies approximately the auto and the island generally tend to go away smiling. The ones who booked on value by myself and did not learn a word of the phrases are those arguing at the table.

Corfu automobile condo does no longer have to be puzzling. It is easily a count number of matching the truth on the floor together with your very own tolerance for danger, budget and using self belief. Look beyond headline fees, have an understanding of how assurance and deposits paintings, judge the proper measurement of motor vehicle for Corfu’s roads, and provide yourself time at both pickup and return.

Do that, and your employ a car at Corfu airport becomes what it will have to be: an clean gateway to mountain villages, quiet shores and late dinners in small tavernas, in your personal clock rather than any individual else’s.