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!

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!

If you’ve never cruised before or you’re a cruise connoisseur, where can you cruise in October?

Should you wish to stay close to home and don’t fancy a holiday stuck permanently on one beach, then how about cruising the Mediterranean?

Costa Cruises still have availability during October embarking in Venice then cruising to Greece and Croatia for their “Adriatic & Aegean” cruise. A double inside cabin for seven nights, based on two people sharing, starts from £469 per person. If you’d rather Italy, Tunisia, Spain and Provence in France, then prices start from £569.00 per person. Flights are extra (see their website for details).

For a cruise holiday in October travelling further afield, consider Virgin Holidays Cruises who are offering a nine night “Mexican Riviera Cruise” on Princess Cruises’, Sapphire Princess; including Virgin flights from Heathrow Airport to Los Angeles, with one night at the Hyatt Long Beach and 7 nights in an inside cabin prices start from £849 per person. There is no reason to stay on the ship when you could enjoy cliff diving at La Quebrada, partying in Cabo San Lucas, any number of water sports and fishing along the Mexican coast, exploring the island of Catalina or strolling through Acapulco!

Want to travel in style, then how about a Royal Caribbean Cruise around the Canary Islands departing on 10th October 2009 from Southampton on the “Independence Of The Seas” staying in a stateroom for £8,606.00 per person? Wait a few weeks until later in the month however and the price is currently showing at £2,432.00 per person leaving on the 21st October.

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.

If you don’t want to travel far for winter sun, then the Spanish archipelago of Canary Islands is an ideal choice. Situated off the west coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean there are ten islands, although just six are well know; Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma and La Gomera.

The average winter temperature in the Canaries is 20 degrees centigrade, with the south coastal areas being particularly warm during the winter especially in the south of each island. There are usually lots of cheap package holidays to the Canary Islands flying from the length and breadth of the UK (Gatwick to Glasgow). Charter flights are run by the numerous package companies, and there are also great bargains to be had with low cost carriers.

In little over four hours you can be in Tenerife, flying into either Tenerife South (Reina Sofia) airport or Los Rodeos Tenerife North. Enjoy the freedom to explore the island with a hire car allowing you the flexibility to travel where you want, when you want to! Tenerife’s Mount Teide or El Teide is Spain’s highest peak; a currently dormant volcano with staggering views on a clear day. Visit the island’s capital of Santa Cruz in the north with its endless tapas bars, cafes and restaurants, and during the winter, stay in Playa de las Americas in the south, a party hot spot during the summer but still a great place for dining and having fun, during the winter.

Closest to the African coast is Lanzarote, with a climate that is drier and hotter than the other Canary Islands due to its location and the fact that it is relatively flat. Lanzarote is also ideal for a whole host of watersports including kitesurfing and windsurfing.

Stay in the south of Gran Canaria for the best winter weather on the island as winter weather in the north can be wetter. Some of the best beaches are located here with the extensive dunes of Maspalomas being a “must visit”.

Fuerteventura’s weather is quite similar to Lanzarote although the winter weather does not vary as much throughout the island (north or south etc). Another great location for wind surfing based water sport activities!