When picking up your hire car from the airport, we tend to worry about fitting our luggage in and which direction to head in, but rarely do we look at the driving laws.
Here are our top ten unusual driving laws to watch out for:
1. In Spain, when parking on a one way street, cars must be parked on the side of road where the houses bear odd numbers on odd days of the month. Conversely, on an even numbered day, cars must be parked on the side of even numbered houses.
2. When driving in Spain, you will be fined for not indicating before overtaking and again when you pull back into your lane after overtaking.
3. In Serbia vehicles entering a roundabout have right of way.
4. It is illegal to drive a dirty car in Romania.
5. In Bulgaria cars must be parked on the left on a one way street.
6. Dipped headlights must be used at all times from October to March in Croatia.
7. You must use dipped headlights during the day on motorways and major roads outside cities when driving in Italy.
8. In most US states, right turns are allowed at red traffic lights unless there is a sign stating otherwise. You must stop and proceed only if the road is clear.
9. Highways have a white line along the nearside in Greece which slower traffic is expected to pull across to allow overtaking.
10. When driving in Melbourne Australia, trams should only be overtaken on the left. You should obey road markings at right turns and avoid obstructing trams.
A little bit of research can go a long way helping you stay on the right side of the law, so you can relax and enjoy your holiday.
So, you’re always looking for the cheapest deal when booking a holiday? But should you be taking account of more than just the headline price of your annual break? When you add up the cost of flights, accommodation, car hire, and additional costs it can all seem too much!
Here are our top tips to help you make the most out of your holiday budget:
- Plan what you are going to pack. Make sure you take enough sun cream and other provisions to save you from having to buy these at the airport at a much higher cost.
- Look at your options for taking currency before you go, research which debit and credit cards are best to take abroad.
- If you’re not taking children of school age, consider the time of year you want to go. Peak times, such as Easter and the summer holidays are generally much more expensive.
- When searching for flights, try to be flexible with your dates. Flying on a weekday can cost less than weekend flights.
- Look at year round destinations such as the Canary Islands. You will be able to enjoy a sun packed holiday there in the autumn and winter months, and get a much cheaper deal.
- Be flexible when looking at accommodation options, have you considered staying in a hostel? They are clean and cheap and can be a good base for your stay.
- Try looking at all board options, there are some great deals for all inclusive or half board and this may be much cheaper than you think.
- If you opt for a self-catering holiday, pack picnics for day trips, this can be a great way to sample local food and save some money at the same time.
- Look at the activities and trips offered before you travel. You will be able to visit most sights with a hire car and avoid expensive day trip costs.
- If there are any excursions you want to do, compare the itineraries and prices offered and book when you are in the UK to get the most for your money.
- Consider countries such as the Greek Islands, South Africa, Cyprus, Turkey and Portugal for a good value break. The day to day living costs here are lower, making your money go further.
A bit of planning and preparation can help make the most out of your holiday budget!
Airport Passenger Duty (APD) is a tax applicable for every passenger who departs on an International or Domestic flight from the UK. This tax rose on 1st November 2010, but what impact does this have on your next family holiday?
The rate of APD varies depending on how far you fly and therefore, generally speaking, the further you fly, the higher the cost. Similarly, the class you choose also affects the APD. Economy class seats have seen a lower rise compared to business or first class seats. The APD costs are absorbed into the ticket cost so it would be paid at the time of booking. For this reason the rise may not be obvious, but it is estimated that the average UK family’s holiday cost could increase by up to 55%.
The general cost of living seems to rise continually, and everybody is trying to save money in as many ways as possible. To ensure that the annual family holiday tradition is maintained, a lot of you have been holidaying in the UK, which is often deemed as cheaper. Those of you who love to travel abroad will be pleased to know that there are ways and means to avoid the increase in APD without breaking the bank!
A straightforward solution in light of the above could quite simply be to holiday a bit closer to home. The APD is much less for flights to Europe when compared to long haul flights, for example America, Asia or Australasia. But even for longer flights, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Although it may not be ideal in terms of your total travel time, booking indirect flights can really help to save the pennies and pounds. Rather than flying direct, break the journey up by planning a stop-over in a European destination. A word of warning however; you would need to book completely independent flights via different airlines or carriers, as you would still be hit with the higher rate if not!
The announcement has many airlines worried that the number of tourists travelling to international destinations will rapidly decrease, posing a disastrous threat on the tourism industry in many countries. Rest assured however; if you do the required research before you travel, you can ensure you get the best price you can and curb any compromise on an international annual break!
(Source: economycarhire.com)
