Corfu Airport Auto Rental: 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking

Corfu rewards the visitor who can circulation on their very own schedule. The island appears small on a map but once you get off the key roads, distances feel longer, buses skinny out, and taxis upload up easily. That is why such a lot of traffic pick out up a vehicle the moment they land at Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias.

I actually have rented motors at Corfu airport for paintings and vacations, in excessive season and in late October drizzle. The trend is invariably the same. The people that did some homework are on the road in 20 minutes. The ones who rushed the reserving stand in queues, argue over insurance at the table and find wonder costs on their card every week later.

If you choose a glossy Corfu airport car rental experience, the handiest lesson is to appreciate the place others move unsuitable. The following ten errors are those I see as a rule at Corfu airport, consisting of what to do rather.

1. Assuming “airport automotive rental” all the time method on-site

Many company lookup “Corfu airport car rental” or “employ automotive Corfu airport” and assume each and every effect is inside the terminal. It is not that sensible.

At Corfu, some manufacturers have desks inside the arrivals corridor and their motors within the airport parking simply throughout the line. Others function “meet and greet” or travel capabilities. You exit arrivals, seek for anyone retaining a small signal, and trip a minibus to an off site lot a couple of minutes away.

That just isn't necessarily dangerous. Off website online vendors might be more affordable and greater versatile on things similar to mileage or additional drivers. The crisis looks in the event you predict to walk for your motor vehicle in five mins and as a substitute lose 40 minutes tracking down a shuttle in 30 diploma warm after a three hour flight from London.

If you desire a unquestionably on web page Corfu airport lease a vehicle alternative, inspect sparsely. Look for clean wording reminiscent of “desk Corfu rent a car services inner terminal” or “on airport”. If the affirmation mentions a trip, assembly element or “place of business four hundred m from terminal”, construct that into your timings. It topics on arrival, and it actually matters when you've got an early morning departure and desire to drop the automobile and nonetheless look at various in on time.

2. Booking purely on charge and ignoring the coverage structure

I nonetheless see of us brag that they discovered the “appropriate car or truck condominium Corfu airport” for 12 euros a day in August. That base fee is meaningless with out know-how the assurance.

In Greece, universal coverage frequently includes 1/3 celebration liability and a few kind of collision hurt waiver (CDW) with a excessive extra. I even have noticeable excesses from seven-hundred to 1,800 euros for an economic system automobile. If there's spoil, you pay as much as that amount except you have got additional hide.

The average error are two. First, workers bypass any excess cowl and go their fingers, then spend their trip worrying approximately narrow streets in Corfu Town. Second, they buy an “excess refund” policy from a broking website online and do not comprehend that the condominium employer will still block the complete excess on their card at collection.

A real looking procedure at Corfu airport car or truck condominium counters is to settle on upfront the way you favor to deal with threat. Some guests are cushy with a considerable deposit due to the fact they have got a amazing credits card and trip with condominium claims. Others sleep more suitable with a “0 extra” package deal that prices greater in step with day however shrinks the security block and economic exposure.

Read the insurance segment earlier than you click on “Book”. Compare the settlement of adding full cowl from the apartment business enterprise with a standalone excess policy from a good insurer. There is not any single proper answer, but taking walks up to the table without a plan is the fastest route to stress and expensive upsells.

three. Not checking fuel coverage and mileage earlier confirming

Corfu airport condo motors virtually always use the identical couple of gas policies. The bother is they seem to be equivalent at a look, yet rate very extraordinary amounts over every week.

“Full to complete” skill you opt for up the automobile with a complete tank, return it complete, and simply pay for what you operate. This is ordinarily the fairest possibility, quite once you plan to power across the island.

“Pre buy” or “full to empty” method you pay for a tank of fuel at choice and may go back it on fumes. It sounds handy however rarely works for your favour except you'll be able to actual use so much of the tank and the agency expenditures fuel at almost pump charges plus a small charge. Many do not.

Mileage is an additional quiet capture. Most Corfu auto rental organisations be offering unlimited kilometres, which is perfect for exploring Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, the south coast and inland villages with no fascinated with distance. A few low charge promises hide a consistent with kilometre rate above a modest every single day restriction.

If your affirmation electronic mail is imprecise or makes use of terms you do now not realize, e-mail or message the organisation and ask for readability. You would like written confirmation of either gas policy and mileage. Verbal motives at a hectic airport desk are light to misunderstand and plenty more difficult to dispute later.

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

Looking at shiny photographs, this is tempting to improve to a larger motor vehicle. More house for baggage, more suitable aircon, per chance even an automatic for relief. On Corfu, the bigger the car, the more you need to imagine in which you intend to drive.

The street from the airport into Corfu Town is huge enough, but as quickly as you wander into older districts, roads slim to at least one lane with stone partitions on the two aspects and tight corners around homes. Some coastal villages and hilltop settlements are even tighter, with parking that barely fits a compact hatchback.

If you're staying at a resort on the most important east coast highway, a larger vehicle would possibly not be a main issue. If your villa is up a steep lane in the north of the island, a small to medium vehicle with respectable energy and top turning circle is a much more beneficial determination than a cumbersome SUV. I even have watched americans spend 15 mins maneuvering a considerable car out of a lane that was once obviously designed for scooters and donkeys.

For most company, the candy spot for Corfu airport car rental is a small or compact automotive, handbook or computerized relying in your relief. Enough boot house for bags, however small enough to slide into tight parking areas and meet oncoming site visitors with room to respire.

five. Ignoring studies of definite Corfu airport branches

Many visitors do a speedy determine of the company identify and cease there. They see a gigantic worldwide provider they understand from home, count on a established feel, and reserve. In train, department fine can differ largely.

Search notably for the brand title plus “Corfu airport” and learn the latest stories for that position. Patterns remember greater than exclusive complaints. If one grownup mentions a longer wait time, which can simply be a hectic Saturday in August. If 20 humans across three months record aggressive damage claims or unexplained expenditures, pay recognition.

This advice applies both to nearby companies. Some small Corfu appoint a car or truck companies close the airport are dazzling, with friendly service and bendy guidelines. Others reduce corners or have faith in technicalities to lift sales. Reviews most of the time make the change clean.

A 15 euro difference on per week’s condominium isn't very worthy a nasty argument over “pre existing” scratches you have been by no means allowed time to document.

6. Not making ready your paperwork and card correctly

One of the dullest problems, but I still watch it spread in line at the airport each summer time. The documents for hiring a automobile in Greece is easy, however there are a couple of really good main points.

You most often desire:

1. A legitimate using licence that you simply have held for at least twelve months, mostly two, relying on the organisation and auto staff.
2. For non EU / EEA drivers from particular international locations, an International Driving Permit alongside your private home licence. Check this in advance, on the grounds that you are not able to get hold of an IDP when you are already in Greece.
3. A credit score card in the primary driver’s title with sufficient plausible restriction to cowl the deposit or excess block.
4. Passport or nationwide ID card for identity.

Where of us get caught is with the card. Many Corfu airport car apartment desks do now not receive debit playing cards for the protection deposit, solely for check. Others settle for them however in simple terms with costly excess coverage. Prepaid playing cards are commonly refused outright.

If your confirmation does not clearly kingdom that debit playing cards are frequent for the deposit, assume you want a common credit card with embossed name and numbers. Also verify the card minimize is high ample. I watched a pair from Germany turned away on account that their modest restriction could not accommodate a 1,500 euro block for the extra plus their motel’s pre authorisation.

Print or shop your affirmation e mail as a PDF, including the voucher if you happen to booked due to a broking service. Mobile internet at Corfu airport is on the whole high quality, but a lifeless battery or roaming thing must always now not stand between you and your motor vehicle.

7. Chasing “no deposit” grants with no examining the small print

The phrase “Corfu airport car condominium no deposit” is lovely, relatively once you dislike the idea of enormous quantities of euros blocked for your card. Genuine low deposit or no deposit strategies do exist, but the devil sits in the element.

Usually, whilst a business enterprise advertises no deposit, it capability considered one of two things. Either they have equipped the threat into a upper day-after-day cost with crucial full insurance plan, or they are going to nevertheless maintain a smaller amount as a fuel or traffic fine warrantly. Sometimes the two.

There is not anything improper with paying a touch extra for the peace of thoughts that comes from not having 1,000 euros frozen in your card. Just be mindful what you're acquiring. Check:

The designated volume they can hold to your card, if any.

Whether the no deposit supply is tied to a particular insurance coverage equipment. How they tackle minor wreck, together with small scratches or chips.

Compare this to a usual package from another service provider that makes use of a deposit however deals lower prices. Over a week’s break, the overall cost can swing either method. The worst mistake is to publication at the potential of “no deposit” on my own and then uncover an extended list of exclusions and extra bills once you succeed in the table.

eight. Skipping the inspection and photograph habitual at pickup

You are drained, the queue has been gradual, and the seaside is looking. The agent points to the car, you signal the shape, throw your baggage inside the boot and pressure off. That 5 minute shortcut can value dearly if there's existing wreck that not ever made it onto the report.

At Corfu airport, where dozens of automobiles rotate among renters each and every week in summer time, small bumps and scrapes are hobbies. Most carriers are sincere approximately this and mark the whole lot they be aware of. Some are usually not thorough, fantastically at peak instances.

Treat your inspection as component to the rental, now not a nuisance. Walk around the automobile, fee each panel, the wheels, and the front and rear bumpers notably. Pay concentration to:

Small scratches and dents.

Alloy wheel scuffs and hubcap injury.

Chips or cracks inside the windscreen. Any hurt on the roof should you are tall enough or can see from an attitude.

Photograph all the pieces, even worries which are already marked. Capture the auto from each and every corner, the odometer analyzing, and the gasoline gauge. Time stamped images to your phone create a rfile that may be complicated to argue with later.

Encourage the crew member to feature any lacking marks to the shape sooner than you signal. If they seem reluctant, remain polite but agency. A few minutes here is price a long way extra than an indignant email exchange after you return residence.

nine. Forgetting to plot parking and access at your accommodation

Corfu airport vehicle apartment is the basic piece. The tougher aspect, distinctly in top season, is living with the auto whenever you reach your lodging.

Many ancient villages and some materials of Corfu Town have very restricted parking. Some beachfront resorts have non-public much, others be counted solely on public spaces that top off without delay in July and August. Steep deepest driveways are simple for villas, once in a while with awkward angles and loose gravel.

Before you ebook, ask your accommodation about parking in explicit, practical terms. Do no longer accept “parking on hand”. Ask no matter if this is exclusive or public, what number of spaces they have, how tight the access is, and whether or not increased autos fit very easily.

This should still have an effect on no longer merely your option of condominium auto dimension, as discussed in the past, yet additionally regardless of whether you even want a auto on your entire dwell. For illustration, for those who are spending three nights in Corfu Town after which per week in a north coast village, possible do stronger to spend the primary aspect on foot and taxis, then arrange a Corfu airport automobile condominium establishing on the day you depart town.

Thinking in segments like this could store money, parking complications and the rigidity of threading a car through the metropolis’s one way technique once you are nonetheless jet lagged.

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

I actually have lost remember of what number of disputes jump at drop off given that the renter is hurrying to trap a flight. When you're speeding, you fail to remember fuel, you park wherein you should not alleged to, otherwise you surrender keys with out checking the last documents.

Give your self a proper buffer for return. If your flight is at 13:00, do not plan to roll into the car park at 11:45, above all while you rented off website and desire a travel ride returned to the terminal.

At go back, intention to:

1. Refill the tank at a station virtually the airport once you are on a complete to complete coverage. Keep the receipt. There are various petrol stations within a brief force, however some will probably be busy.
2. Remove all individual goods from the car, which include door wallet and less than seats.
3. Walk around the car or truck with the agent in which achieveable and ask them to confirm in writing that the car is returned and not using a new break and with a full tank if applicable.
4. Take final images, such as the fuel gauge and odometer.

If it's good to use a key drop field in view that you're returning outdoors place of work hours, footage and a immediate video walkaround develop into even extra vital. Corfu airport hire a car providers aas a rule control those returns exceedingly, however a clear visual report protects you in case a new dent seems on the inspection sheet later.

A brief pre reserving checklist

Used well, a vehicle turns Corfu right into a versatile, ordinary island to explore. Used badly, it becomes a thread of tension jogging using your vacation. Before you commit to any airport auto employ Corfu deal, run due to this short record.

1. Verify if the service provider is on airport or off site with a shuttle, and the way that influences your timings.
2. Read current evaluations namely for the Corfu airport department, no longer simply the brand.
3. Compare general price, which include insurance plan, gasoline policy and any mileage limits, not simply the bottom on daily basis fee.
4. Check parking and access at your lodging and choose motor vehicle measurement therefore.
5. Confirm what playing cards and information you want and whether any “no deposit” offer has restrictive prerequisites.

Handled with this point of consideration, Corfu airport rental autos experience much less like a big gamble and more like a properly controlled instrument to your travel.

Final recommendations from the queue at Corfu airport

If you spend half-hour in the arrivals corridor on a busy afternoon, you might close to predict who will breeze with the aid of and who will finally end up annoyed. The ones with printed confirmations, clear decisions on insurance plan and real looking expectancies approximately the auto and the island tend to depart smiling. The ones who booked on fee on my own and did no longer read a observe of the phrases are those arguing at the desk.

Corfu auto apartment does not have got to be complicated. It is simply a count of matching the reality at the ground with your personal tolerance for risk, finances and driving confidence. Look beyond headline expenses, have an understanding of how insurance plan and deposits work, make a selection the perfect dimension of auto for Corfu’s roads, and deliver yourself time at each pickup and return.

Do that, and your employ a auto at Corfu airport turns into what it should be: an straightforward gateway to mountain villages, quiet shores and past due dinners in small tavernas, for your possess clock rather than anyone else’s.