Florida is the number one location for Brits travelling within the USA and hiring a rental car. It’s simple to do (hiring the car with easyCar), the roads are well sign posted and directions easy to navigate. There is also so much to do and see in Florida that with a hire car, you could be surfing at West Palm Beach on the Atlantic Ocean one day and bathing on the Gulf of Mexico in Clearwater the next – followed by a trip to the coral reefs of Key Largo and dolphin swimming in Orlando!

There are just a few points that will help you understand driving in Florida.
Drive on the right. If you are turning right and the traffic lights are red, provided there is no sign telling you to the contrary and of course, no traffic coming, you can turn right. Passengers in the front of cars in Florida must wear seat belts, and all passengers under 18 years old must wear a seat belt or child restraint device (front and back).

Do not drink and drive. The Florida drinking laws and limits are stricter than nearly every other USA state.

Like the UK, speed limits are in miles per hour (MPH). Around schools, the speed limit in Florida is 20 mph, residential and business areas 30 mph, with rural interstate and limited access highways a maximum of 70 mph; however, watch and adhere to all speed limits posted as they do vary often. In 2002, Florida passed a “Mover over Act” which means that when approaching emergency vehicles e.g. ambulance, police, fire service etc, that drivers move into the next lane or slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit.

If you approach a Stop sign, make sure you totally stop and don’t just slow down. You can be fined for not completing the stop manoeuvre. No one has the right of way, and the law states you must yield the right of way, so do everything possible to prevent a crash.

When driving on the Florida Turnpike and other toll roads, make sure you carry cash. You are able to purchase rolls of quatres which is the preferred tender although other coins are accepted, and these can be bought at the toll plaza with the green “Change Given” lane. If you have a SunPass, do not stop as you travel through the relevant automated lane at the toll plaza as other drivers behind you will not (white/yellow sign)! Between some of the rural locations, rather than a coin system, you will be given a ticket showing point of entry onto the toll and time of exit.

Montpellier is located in the south of France and is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region and Herault department. Situated close to the Provence boarder, Montpellier is the ideal location to either enjoy many days on the long sandy Mediterranean beaches of the Languedoc or exploring the glorious countryside of Provence.

Montpellier – Mediterranean Airport (MPL) is just six miles from the coast and five miles from the city, with excellent road links to Nimes which is 30 miles away and Marseilles, a further 125 miles.  Flights from the UK to Montpellier depart from London Gatwick and Stansted with a flight duration of just over two hours.

There are seven car rental companies based at Montpellier Airport with easyCar offering cheap car hire deals in just a few clicks.  When you fly into Montpellier Airport, having cleared customs and collected your baggage, make your way to Hall 4 on the ground floor which is where the car rental desks are located. Once your paperwork is completed having shown your full valid driving licence, passport and paid the usual car hire deposit by credit card, you will then be directed to your hire car in the rental car compound. Remember to drive on the right and make sure you are comfy and confident with the controls before leaving the airport.

Driving in France is very easy, and the roads easy to navigate.

If you’d prefer to rent a car from central Montpellier, there are also collection points at Montpellier rail stations and downtown Montpellier.

The Languedoc region of France is often forgotten by the Brits, but having holidayed here on numerous occasions with and without family, I can’t understand why!  The beaches are glorious, the countryside sensational, the local wine delicious and the towns and villages, simply fascinating.  Knowing a smattering of French helps outside of the main towns, but the local people are helpful and getting by without being fluent, is easy.

One of the nearest beaches to Montpellier is La Grande Motte seaside resort, with its busy yacht lined harbour and long soft sandy Mediterranean beach. The main town is modern but much consideration has gone into the development of La Grande Motte with its miles of footpaths and cycle tracks, extensive woodlands, three golf courses and streets lined with trees.

Montpellier is also on the edge of the Camargue which is the largest river delta in western Europe. A Parc Naturel, the Camargue is awash with fantastic flora and fauna, and is a habitat for the pink greater flamingo.

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.

The UK winter is the ideal time of year for Caribbean Cruises, as November marks the end of the hurricane season (although most hurricanes take place during September) and the warm weather is pleasant (not excessively hot).

Cruising is the perfect way to explore multiple locations in one holiday, is ideal for people who prefer not to fly (why not cruise from Southampton?) and are a great place to meet likeminded people. On a Caribbean cruise, you can choose to be as active as you like with scuba diving trips and on board sports, or to simply relax in the ships’ spa and sun bathe on deck.

Caribbean cruise ships are more than just floating hotels; they are more like fantastic resorts that allow you to discover one incredible location after another!

Cruise from Jamaica to Tortola, onto Antigua then Grenada, or sail from Barbados to St Kitts and St Maarten before the sight of the Pitons come into view on St Lucia and the beautiful beaches of Dominica. Relax on the soft sands of Tobago before horse riding along the shores of Isla Margarita or rainforest hiking in Grenada.  On a Caribbean cruise you could mountain bike through the rainforests of Costa Rica, explore the Mayan pyramids in Cozumel and climb Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica.

One thing all cruises have in common is that you will always be made to feel welcome and relaxed. Check out the dress code of your chosen Caribbean cruise before you start packing, although generally day wear is casual and part of the fun of cruising is that the evenings are for dressing up (although this is not always necessary).  Men should take a full suit and tie, and ladies, at least one cocktail dress.  Comfortable shoes are necessary for trips to the shore and a hat and suntan lotion are essential for protection from the sun.

From the UK you can fly directly to the many Caribbean cruises’ departure points, including Fort Lauderdale and Miami in Florida, USA, and the Caribbean islands of Barbados and Jamaica.

Facilities on board will vary, but you will find that some ships have surf parks, rock-climbing walls, WIFI (if you don’t want to lose touch with home), large swimming pools, whirlpools, a spa with treatments, miniature golf courses, ice skating rinks and a great choice of restaurants, cafes and bars, as well as shops and a cinema or theatre.