Visiting family?  Visiting friends? Hosting a quiet dinner for two?  However you plan on spending Christmas Day and Boxing Day, you’ll find that most people will spend at least some time travelling up and down the UK highways and motorways.

Why not consider hiring a car with easyCar for the festive season? 

Not only would booking car rental in the UK give you the flexibility to be where you want to be, when you want to be there if you don’t already have a car, but it would mean that you would save the mileage of your own car, therefore helping to retain its value.

Have you bought so many presents that on your Christmas trip there won’t be room in your own car?  Then hire a car larger than your own.  Does mum and dad live in the country and you want to make sure you also see all your friends, but can’t because you don’t have a car?

With easyCar the low cost car hire specialists, rental prices start for 3 full days, from just £80.01 (2 days, £76, 6 days, £133.76) hiring a super mini 5 door air conditioned car such as a Chevrolet Matiz, from £232.27 for a full size automatic air conditioned estate such as a Volvo V70 – and many other styles and prices of cars in between.  How about requesting a Landrover Discovery 2.7 or similar from £604.08 or a luxury Mercedes CLS for another £53? All prices based on pick up/drop off from Gatwick airport on 24th December for 3 x 24 hours, as quoted 5th November (except where stated otherwise).

So Merry Christmas and have a very happy and healthy New Year!  Watch the roads, leave plenty of time for your Christmas journeys and drive carefully.

A USA Fly Drive holiday is the perfect way to explore the States, either by staying in one location and discovering the surrounding area, or by booking hotels and motels in multiple towns and venturing through the American countryside and exploring the many sights and attractions.

If driving in the USA for the first time, it is important to understand that the country’s states are vast in size and may take many hours or even days just to drive from one side to the other. To drive from New York on the east coast (Atlantic) to Los Angeles on the west coast (Pacific) will take a minimum of five days with stops.  Drive on the right and be aware that in many US states, you can turn right at a red traffic light, unless otherwise stated.  Also be aware that road laws can differ from state to state.

Fly into your chosen US airport and make your way to the car hire desks where you will be asked for your car rental booking details, full valid driving licence and a credit card for a deposit.

The most popular USA fly drive location for Brits travelling abroad is Florida which is one of the smaller states. Fly drive into Orlando and you are only 85 miles from Tampa but fly drive Miami, and Tampa is about 250 miles away.

A very scenic journey is fly drive California between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Travel for speed along the I-5 (green route) or for a slightly more interesting route travel for 430 mile on the US101 or black route.  However, by far the most beautiful of routes is driving your hire car down the blue Coastal Route along the Pacific which can take about 10 hours and can only really be enjoyed by stopping off over night on the way.

When on a USA Fly Drive holiday do consider how far you are travelling when choosing which model of hire car to book. If you are travelling for hours at a time along straight empty roads, look at hiring a car with cruise control so that you can set the speed and take your foot off the accelerator (do check you know how to turn it off!). Otherwise, choose a car with enough baggage space.  For shorter journeys, for example if collecting a hire car at Orlando airport and driving to your accommodation and then onto the theme parks, then you just have to consider space for the passengers and baggage between to and from the airport.

You wouldn’t be wrong if you thought that the historic inland city of Murcia was set in the Costa Dorada on the east coast of Spain, although you may also be correct in saying it is in Costa Calida (Warm Coast)! Whichever, now is the time to visit Murcia before the tourist crowds envelope the city and claim it as their own!

Murcia San Javier Airport is frequented by bmibaby and flybmi from Birmingham and Cardiff, by Monarch Airlines from Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester, and by a number of summer charter companies too. The airport is on the coast 45 km from Murcia city, south of Mar Menor. If the low cost airlines and charter flights do not suit your timetable then Alicante offers a selection of low cost and scheduled flights too. Public transport from Murcia Airport is very limited so car hire really is advised, but how better to discover this beautiful area of over 200 beaches and stunning country towns, villages and of course, Murcia City?

From an Arabic mosque, the impressive 15th century Murcia Cathedral was built, a stunning landmark representing different styles developed over many centuries with a 96 metre tower where 25 bells toll. There are many other delightful and historic sites to visit when on holiday in Murcia, and next to the Cathedral on Cardenal Belluga Square is the Episcopal Palace whilst not far away is the Casino, originally built in the 1850s although added to during the last 150 years so that the architecture epitomizes many different styles and eras.

The city still retains many Arabic influences and is a fantastic weekend break location or visit whilst staying in the nearby resorts of La Manga or Mar Menor.

There are many car hire rental locations in Belgium’s capital of Brussels; the airport, the city centre and at the railway stations.

At Brussels Airport the car rental desks are in the Arrivals Hall where all your documents will be checked and your car allocated. When you return the hire car to the airport follow the signs to the car rental entrance which is located on the left of the access road to the airport near Front Park 1. Remember that you’ll need at least 10 minutes for administrative procedures before you can make your way to the Departure Hall.

Car hire is also quick and easy to pick up from Brussels Gare du Midi where the direct Eurostar trains arrive from London St Pancras International Station and Ashford in Kent, arrive. Other popular pick up points include Chaussee de Waterloo (Centre Ixelles), Rue Saint Denis (Centre Forest) in the city and Schepdaal (west of Brussels).

Travelling to Brussels on business and have some free time? Having spent some time in the city, why not hire a car and visit stunning Bruges with its winding canals, beautiful architecture and artistic treasures.

In Brussels on holiday or for a weekend break? Then you have chosen a vibrant and cosmopolitan destination where you will enjoy picturesque medieval architecture, pretty streets, spacious parks and a buzzing cultural life. There are so many museums, theatres and educational places to visit, so how about the Trammuseum on Ninoofsesteenweg, the Planetarium on avenue de Bouchout, the Theatre Royal de Tonne, the Museum of Modern Art (Musee d’art Moderne) and the Children’s Museum (Musee des Enfants). There are a great collection of boutique stores as well as large shopping centres, and the number of restaurants and cafes is endless.

So fly to Brussels or travel by train, and Brussels car hire will allow you the freedom to discover the fascinating country of Belgium.

Nice Cote d’Azur Airport is the gateway to the French Riviera or Cote d’Azur located on France’s south coast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and the second largest airport in France.

Only 3 miles from central Nice, the journey into the city takes about 15-20 minutes.

Nice Airport has two terminals: One and Two. Airlines flying in and out of Terminal Two including Air France, easyJet and Air Corsica (CCM), whilst airlines using Terminal Two include BMI, flybe, flyglobespan and Ryanair.

There are Nice Airport car hire desks at both terminals which are represented by the major car hire companies (booked by easyCar) and the desks are generally open until 10pm (alternative arrangements can be made for those arriving out of hours).  The car hire desk at Terminal 1 is to the right of the Information Desk near Gates A1 and A2, with the Terminal 2 car hire desks between gates A2 and A3.  Having completed the necessary documentation, the vehicles may then be collected from a separate zone, “Zone Loueurs”, at Nice Terminal 2 behind P5 car park, accessed either by foot from Terminal 2 Arrivals or by free airport shuttle bus from Terminal 1 bus stop 1 to bus stop 8.

When collecting your hire car remember to take both parts of your International driving licence; the photo card and printed sheet.  You will also need to leave a credit card deposit even if you have “paid” for your car hire in advance, so ensure that you have enough credit to cover this as it can be many hundreds of pounds depending on the car type.  The amount isn’t physically deducted from your card (do check terms and conditions) but authorisation will be processed.

Remember to drive on the right, and if possible to arrive with Euros to pay for any tolls.  Should you be considering driving from France to Italy or Spain, check that the car hire company is happy with you doing so.  Do not drink and drive. The blood alcohol limit is 50mg, which for many is a very small glass of wine.  The French police are strict if this rule is broken, so it is best just not to drink at all when you know you will be driving.

The French roads are a dream to drive on, especially the toll roads, but do watch the speed limits which on the motorways varies depending on the weather.

The drive time between Nice Airport and Cannes is about 30 minutes, with Antibes just 20 minutes from the airport. A little further afield is the bustling seaside towns of Frejus and St Raphael which are around 45 minutes from Nice, although should you choose to drive along the coast (and do make sure you have plenty of space on your camera’s memory stick), the journey can take considerably longer.