With car hire shortages anticipated from 19th December for the Christmas and New Year holiday period 2009/2010, easyCar are warning their customers to book car hire NOW to avoid disappointment. 

The demand for rental cars has been historically high in the UK and Ireland during the Christmas season, but shortages are expected this winter in the popular cities and resorts of France, Portugal and Spain too.

easyCar reported in June 2009 that many areas of the UK, France and Spain had actually run out of hire cars during Easter, with the credit crunch leading car hire fleet operators to use their current stock of cars for longer periods, and not replace all of the older vehicles. A number of sources throughout the summer also stated that holidaymakers were more likely to book the small cars as they presumed they were cheaper, although this wasn’t always the case, which then led to the smaller cars being in very short supply.

Again the message regarding Christmas car hire availability with the shortage of cars and increasing prices being a problem, is that if you want to be sure that you will get the hire car of your choice, do not leave your rental booking until the last minute – BOOK NOW!

If you are looking for a December City Break holiday to buy that special Christmas present or simply to escape the crowds at home, then here are a few pre Christmas city break suggestions for you!

We have blog entries on Christmas Markets in the UK and European Christmas Markets, as well as Christmas Holidays and New Year Breaks, and of course, December holidays.

But, you want to be at home for Christmas, and you have plans for New Year – so what can we find for you?

If you don’t want to travel too far, how about Lille in Northern France close to the Belgium border? This beautiful city is linked directly to London by Eurostar train and is actually where many Parisians come to do their designer shopping.  But historic Lille isn’t just exclusive boutiques (although they are fabulous) it also offers a wealth of budget shopping in its massive shopping centre and quaint one off stores along the delightful cobbled streets.

In the central east side of Poland is the capital of Warsaw, divided by the Vistula River into the left and right side (like Paris).  One of the fasted growing cities in Europe, romantic Warsaw is a beautiful combination of contemporary and historic architecture and life styles. In Warsaw’s Old Town is the Royal Castle on the Plac Zamkowy (square) and in the New Town, Stalin’s Empire State.  

How about Las Vegas, Nevada in the USA?  This magnificent desert city never sleeps and is the perfect location for non-stop partying, family holidays, gambling weekends and adventure holidays.  Jump in a helicopter for a tour of the Grand Canyon or stay overnight on a ranch. Watch a spectacular Cirque du Soleil performance in Las Vegas or retrace America’s Indian routes. Stay in a fantastic sprawling five star European recreation hotel resort or a smaller basic self catering apartment. Las Vegas has something to suite everyone – and a rental car is definitely recommended!

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.

Flight only holidays become very popular in the autumn and spring, as these “periods” are predominately known as “off peak”, so tickets are easier to purchase, prices are lower, and availability of car hire and hotel or self catering accommodation, more readily available.

This is also the time for airline “seat sales” where if you book by a certain period, prices can start from as little as £6.00 per person each way (watch out for taxes and additional fees though)!

To keep your flight only price down, also look at departing from a regional airport like Bristol, Liverpool and East Midlands, or Plymouth and Southampton, as opposed to Gatwick or Heathrow. Also look at the arrival airports, and maybe Reus is cheaper than Barcelona or Beauvais cheaper than Paris Charles de Gaulle! The more flexible you are with your travel dates, the more chance you have of bagging a bargain!

So where might you like a cheap flight with almost certain accommodation available?

The south of Spain would be ideal! Buy a cheap flight to Malaga, with any number of self catering studios or low cost hotels available on the Costa del Sol coast, so that you could stay in Mijas, Nerja, Marbella or Estepona.

Dublin, capital of Eire is great for an autumn break; not far but full of life! Do have a quick look at availability in general around your selected dates though, just in case there are any trade shows on…

How about budget flights to Funchal in Madeira? Well known for its high number of beds, there is an excellent choice of accommodation from budget 3 star to glorious and luxurious five star hotels.
Riga, the capital of Latvia is still not well known in the UK, but there are apartments, hostels and hotel accommodation readily available; the historical centre has been declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You could fly to Shannon in Ireland, Toulon in southern France, Alicante on the east coast of Spain, or Turin or Rimini in northern Italy! There are cheap flights to Tenerife in the Canaries, Marrakesh in Morocco and Porto in northern Portugal – to name but a few!

Older than the Alps, the Pyrenees Mountain range divides southern France from northern Spain, with Andorra nestled in the middle, and stretches for 450 km from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.

Why not fly by low cost airline to Pau in southern France, just north of the Pyrenees Mountains? You could explore the south west coast of France around stylish Biarritz or the famous beach resort St Jean de Luz (Basque Coast) and cross over to Spain? The pilgrimage market town of Lourdes is very close, although my personal favourite has to the Parc National des Pyrenees via Bagneres de Bigorre a bustling spa town, the gateway to some of the most beautiful mountainside villages, fascinating legends and a spectacular array of sports including pony trekking, canyoning, parachuting, mountain biking (miles of trails) and any number of lake based water sports. The area is also part of the Tour de France.

To explore the eastern Pyrenees in France you could fly into Perpignan or Beziers, hire a car and drive into the mountains. For discovering the west, Biarritz is the closest airport to the range.

Hiring a car is a must when on holiday in the Pyrenees; discover the French town of Tarbes in the Hautes Pyrenees, Mount Ventoux, the Aure Valley, Saint Girons and Saint Lizier, or enjoy the beautiful surroundings from one of the relaxing health spas. Golf is very popular in the Pyrenees although cycling has been especially catered for, with converted disused railway lines called Vias Verdes (Greenways) providing routes for both novice and experienced riders.