Corfu rewards the traveller who can go on their own time table. The island seems small on a map however after you get off the most roads, distances sense longer, buses skinny out, and taxis add up at once. That is why such a lot of site visitors decide on up a motor vehicle the moment they land at Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias.
I have rented motors at Corfu airport for work and vacation trips, in high season and in past due October drizzle. The sample is consistently the similar. The people that did a few homework are on the street in 20 minutes. The ones who rushed the booking stand in queues, argue over assurance on the table and realize marvel rates on their card every week later.
If you wish a easy Corfu airport automobile rental enjoy, the handiest lesson is to bear in mind the place others cross incorrect. The following ten errors are the ones I see in general at Corfu airport, along with what to do instead.
1. Assuming “airport motor vehicle apartment” all the time skill on-site
Many travelers lookup “Corfu airport vehicle apartment” or “hire car Corfu airport” and think each and every influence is inside the terminal. It will not be that straight forward.
At Corfu, a few brands have desks within the arrivals hall and their vehicles within the airport parking simply throughout the line. Others operate “meet and greet” or trip offerings. You exit arrivals, seek a man holding a small sign, and ride a minibus to an off web page lot a couple of minutes away.
That just isn't unavoidably dangerous. Off site establishments can be more affordable and greater versatile on matters akin to mileage or additional drivers. The situation looks when you count on to walk for your vehicle in 5 minutes and alternatively lose 40 minutes monitoring down a travel in 30 diploma heat after a 3 hour flight from London.
If you want a definitely on website Corfu airport hire a car or truck alternative, investigate intently. Look for clear wording equivalent to “table interior terminal” or “on airport”. If the confirmation mentions a travel, assembly level or “place of business four hundred m from terminal”, construct that into your timings. It things on arrival, and it without a doubt matters if you have an early morning departure and want to drop the car and nevertheless payment in on time.
2. Booking best on expense and ignoring the insurance structure
I still see laborers brag that they came upon the “best possible car rental Corfu airport” for 12 euros a day in August. That base cost is incomprehensible with no knowing the insurance.
In Greece, universal insurance plan in many instances involves 1/3 celebration legal responsibility and some variety of collision break waiver (CDW) with a high excess. I have visible excesses from 700 to 1,800 euros for an economic system vehicle. If there may be injury, you pay up to that amount except you have got added canopy.
The established mistakes are two. First, men and women skip any additional conceal and go their fingers, then spend their trip anxious about slim streets in Corfu Town. Second, they buy an “extra refund” coverage from a broker site and do no longer recognize that the condo institution will still block the whole excess on their card at assortment.
A useful method at Corfu airport automobile condominium counters is to determine ahead how you choose to handle hazard. Some travelers are cosy with a sizable deposit in view that they've a stable credit card and journey with rental claims. Others sleep more effective with a “0 extra” bundle that prices extra consistent with day however shrinks the security block and financial exposure.
Read the coverage segment until now you click on “Book”. Compare the rate of adding full canopy from the condo enterprise with a standalone extra coverage from a good insurer. There isn't any single correct resolution, yet jogging up to the desk with no a plan is the fastest direction to strain and high priced upsells.
three. Not checking gasoline coverage and mileage prior to confirming
Corfu airport apartment cheap rent a car Corfu vehicles nearly constantly use the similar couple of gasoline regulations. The problems is that they seem to be comparable at a glance, yet check very special amounts over every week.
“Full to full” capability you elect up the car with a complete tank, go back it full, and best pay for what you utilize. This is almost always the fairest option, highly once you plan to drive around the island.
“Pre acquire” or “full to empty” way you pay for a tank of fuel at collection and can return it on fumes. It sounds effortless however rarely works to your favour unless you will simply use such a lot of the tank and the brand bills gasoline at on the point of pump expenses plus a small payment. Many do not.
Mileage is an alternate quiet seize. Most Corfu automobile rental organisations be offering limitless kilometres, which is right for exploring Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, the south coast and inland villages devoid of inquisitive about distance. A few low rate grants cover a consistent with kilometre can charge above a modest day by day restriction.
If your affirmation electronic mail is obscure or uses phrases you do no longer recognise, email or message the brand and ask for clarity. You need written affirmation of both fuel policy and mileage. Verbal factors at a hectic airport desk are gentle to misunderstand and plenty more difficult to dispute later.
4. Overlooking driving realities on Corfu whilst selecting motor vehicle size
Looking at sleek photographs, it's far tempting to improve to a bigger auto. More space for luggage, more effective air-con, maybe even an automated for convenience. On Corfu, the bigger the auto, the greater you desire to focus on the place you plan to power.
The street from the airport into Corfu Town is vast enough, yet as quickly as you wander into older districts, roads narrow to one lane with stone walls on each aspects and tight corners around homes. Some coastal villages and hilltop settlements are even tighter, with parking that slightly matches a compact hatchback.
If you might be staying at a hotel on the main east coast road, a bigger motor vehicle may not be a situation. If your villa is up a steep lane inside the north of the island, a small to medium car with respectable energy and remarkable turning circle is a far more advantageous resolution than a bulky SUV. I have watched other people spend 15 minutes maneuvering a great motor vehicle out of a lane that was naturally designed for scooters and donkeys.
For such a lot friends, the candy spot for Corfu airport automobile condominium is a small or compact automobile, handbook or automated based in your alleviation. Enough boot space for bags, but small enough to slip into tight parking areas and meet oncoming traffic with room to respire.
5. Ignoring comments of exceptional Corfu airport branches
Many travelers do a short money of the manufacturer call and cease there. They see a giant foreign business they understand from domicile, think a normal experience, and reserve. In perform, branch excellent can differ generally.
Search particularly for the friends title plus “Corfu airport” and examine the up to date reviews for that place. Patterns remember greater than distinguished court cases. If one person mentions an extended wait time, which may simply be a hectic Saturday in August. If 20 people throughout 3 months document aggressive ruin claims or unexplained prices, pay focus.
This suggestions applies equally to native companies. Some small Corfu hire a motor vehicle prone close to the airport are extraordinary, with friendly provider and versatile insurance policies. Others reduce corners or place confidence in technicalities to raise profit. Reviews normally make the distinction clean.
A 15 euro distinction on a week’s apartment is not very well worth a bad argument over “pre latest” scratches you have been not at all allowed time to doc.
6. Not getting ready your data and card correctly
One of the dullest difficulties, yet I still watch it unfold in line on the airport every summer time. The office work for hiring a automobile in Greece is straightforward, however there are some very good small print.
You ordinarilly desire:
A valid driving licence that you simply have held for not less than 365 days, in some cases two, relying at the corporation and automotive institution. For non EU / EEA drivers from special countries, an International Driving Permit along your house licence. Check this beforehand, simply because you is not going to achieve an IDP whenever you are already in Greece. A credit card inside the most important driver’s name with adequate feasible decrease to quilt the deposit or extra block. Passport or countrywide ID card for identification.Where laborers get caught is with the cardboard. Many Corfu airport auto condominium desks do no longer accept debit playing cards for the protection deposit, basically for cost. Others settle for them yet only with expensive excess insurance coverage. Prepaid playing cards are probably refused outright.
If your confirmation does not sincerely nation that debit cards are primary for the deposit, expect you want a simple credit score card with embossed call and numbers. Also make certain the card restriction is prime sufficient. I watched a couple from Germany became away when you consider that their modest prohibit couldn't accommodate a 1,500 euro block for the extra plus their motel’s pre authorisation.
Print or retailer your confirmation electronic mail as a PDF, adding the voucher if you happen to booked as a result of a broking service. Mobile net at Corfu airport is probably fantastic, yet a lifeless battery or roaming situation ought to not stand between you and your auto.
7. Chasing “no deposit” gives with no analyzing the small print
The phrase “Corfu airport motor vehicle condominium no deposit” is wonderful, tremendously when you dislike the proposal of enormous quantities of euros blocked for your card. Genuine low deposit or no deposit treatments do exist, but the devil sits inside the detail.
Usually, when a manufacturer advertises no deposit, it ability certainly one of two issues. Either they have equipped the hazard into a bigger day-after-day cost with needed complete coverage, or they may nevertheless carry a smaller amount as a gasoline or traffic excellent assurance. Sometimes each.
There is not anything improper with paying just a little more for the peace of mind that comes from now not having 1,000 euros frozen to your card. Just comprehend what you're shopping. Check:
The certain volume they can carry on your card, if any.
Whether the no deposit supply is tied to a selected coverage package deal. How they address minor injury, together with small scratches or chips.Compare this to a established package from one more brand that makes use of a deposit however promises minimize quotes. Over every week’s vacation, the whole settlement can swing either means. The worst mistake is to e-book on the potential of “no deposit” alone after which realize a long record of exclusions and extra prices for those who attain the table.
eight. Skipping the inspection and snapshot ordinary at pickup
You are worn out, the queue has been slow, and the beach is asking. The agent features to the car, you signal the sort, throw your baggage in the boot and power off. That five minute shortcut can value dearly if there is latest hurt that not at all made it onto the document.
At Corfu airport, where dozens of motors rotate among renters each and every week in summer, small bumps and scrapes are pursuits. Most carriers are trustworthy approximately this and mark every little thing they understand. Some usually are not thorough, incredibly at height times.
Treat your inspection as portion of the rental, not a nuisance. Walk around the auto, investigate every panel, the wheels, and the the front and rear bumpers chiefly. Pay consideration to:
Small scratches and dents.
Alloy wheel scuffs and hubcap hurt. 
Photograph everything, even subject matters which might be already marked. Capture the auto from every one corner, the odometer reading, and the fuel gauge. Time stamped pics for your telephone create a checklist that's exhausting to argue with later.
Encourage the workers member to feature any missing marks to the kind before you sign. If they appear reluctant, stay well mannered however company. A couple of minutes right here is well worth a ways greater than an indignant electronic mail substitute after you return domicile.
nine. Forgetting to plot parking and get right of entry to at your accommodation
Corfu airport car condo is the uncomplicated piece. The more difficult side, principally in height season, is living with the auto while you attain your accommodation.
Many ancient villages and a few materials of Corfu Town have very constrained parking. Some beachfront accommodations have deepest loads, others depend fully on public areas that fill up directly in July and August. Steep exclusive driveways are accepted for villas, infrequently with awkward angles and unfastened gravel.
Before you guide, ask your accommodation approximately parking in designated, practical terms. Do not settle for “parking obtainable”. Ask no matter if this is inner most or public, what percentage spaces they've got, how tight the get right of entry to is, and regardless of whether greater motors have compatibility readily.
This must influence now not simply your desire of rental automotive length, as said until now, but additionally whether or not you even desire a auto to your whole stay. For example, if you happen to are spending three nights in Corfu Town and then per week in a north coast village, one can do higher to spend the primary section on foot and taxis, then prepare a Corfu airport auto apartment commencing at the day you go away city.
Thinking in segments like it will store check, parking complications and the tension of threading a vehicle thru the metropolis’s one manner device when you are nonetheless jet lagged.
10. Returning the automobile in a rush and neglecting the basics
I actually have misplaced rely of how many disputes begin at drop off on account that the renter is hurrying to capture a flight. When you might be speeding, you disregard gas, you park where you are not speculated to, or you hand over keys devoid of checking the remaining bureaucracy.
Give yourself a suited buffer for go back. If your flight is at 13:00, do now not plan to roll into the car park at 11:45, above all if you happen to rented off web site and want a shuttle ride returned to the terminal.
At go back, objective to:
Refill the tank at a station as regards to the airport for those who are on a full to full policy. Keep the receipt. There are numerous petrol stations inside of a short drive, yet some could be busy. Remove all personal pieces from the automobile, together with door wallet and less than seats. Walk across the car with the agent in which one could and ask them to make sure in writing that the car is back with out a new wreck and with a full tank if suited. Take final pics, adding the fuel gauge and odometer.If you could use a key drop field when you consider that you're returning open air administrative center hours, pics and a brief video walkaround turned into even greater relevant. Corfu airport hire a motor vehicle providers veritably care for these returns highly, yet a clean visual rfile protects you in case a new dent appears on the inspection sheet later.
A quick pre reserving checklist
Used neatly, a automobile turns Corfu right into a versatile, uncomplicated island to explore. Used badly, it will become a thread of hysteria jogging simply by your holiday. Before you commit to any airport auto rent Corfu deal, run by means of this short listing.
Verify if the visitors is on airport or off website online with a commute, and the way that impacts your timings. Read current reports principally for the Corfu airport branch, not simply the company. Compare entire value, including assurance, gas coverage and any mileage limits, not just the base everyday expense. Check parking and get admission to at your accommodation and choose automobile measurement therefore. Confirm what cards and documents you need and no matter if any “no deposit” supply has restrictive conditions.Handled with this level of consideration, Corfu airport condominium vehicles think less like a raffle and more like a neatly controlled tool in your day out.
Final techniques from the queue at Corfu airport
If you spend 30 minutes inside the arrivals hall on a busy afternoon, you'll very nearly are expecting who will breeze via and who will turn out to be frustrated. The ones with published confirmations, clean choices on insurance plan and sensible expectations approximately the car and the island generally tend to depart smiling. The ones who booked on rate on my own and did not study a be aware of the phrases are those arguing at the table.
Corfu auto condo does no longer ought to be sophisticated. It is clearly a be counted of matching the fact at the floor with your personal tolerance for hazard, finances and riding trust. Look beyond headline expenditures, perceive how insurance coverage and deposits paintings, favor the correct dimension of car for Corfu’s roads, and deliver yourself time at both pickup and return.
Do that, and your rent a car or truck at Corfu airport turns into what it deserve to be: an light gateway to mountain villages, quiet beaches and late dinners in small tavernas, on your own clock rather than anybody else’s.