Florida Guide > Miscellaneous
Car Hire - Tips
Well you have booked the villa (or if you have not why not!), got all the park tickets and now the only thing you need to do is get the car hire sorted. Seems a real easy thing to do, but it is suprising how many people could save a few hard earned pounds by choosing the right vehicle. Get the wrong size car and you will end up paying more to rent it and even more on fuel.
As we all know back home the cars are a lot smaller than in the US, but how many times do we see the Brits driving around in a car that is far too big and impractical for what they are going to use it for. Hopefully this quick guide will help those who are unsure find the perfect car for their trip.
Couples (2 people)
By US standards most couples visiting Florida would be better off with a small 4 door or 2 door car. Most are the same size as an Astra in the UK. Typically these can cost around £140 ($250) for the 4 door saloon and £220 ($380) for the 2 door convertible per week. If you have never hired a convertible in Florida this is a true must.
Small Family (3-4 People)
Normally a large 4 door saloon is the best and cheapest option here. It has a large enough boot to fit everyones suitcases in (they are very big in the US), and enough room to sit everyone in comfort. At this price range you would be looking at full climate control instead of the standard Air conditioning. Typically these cars cost around £160 ($280) per week.
Large Family (5-6 People)
At this point I would advise to go for a small people carrier (crysler Voyager or similar). This type of vehicle has plenty of space to stretch out in and enough baggage room for everyone. It is an ideal car for the kids as they have plenty of space and not on top of each other as they would be with 5 in a large car. These type of people carriers come with seperate climate control (for the front and back) and normally have dark screen windows to stop the heat. These are generally the most popular hire car in Florida and need booking well in advance. Typical cost to hire one of these is £200 ($350) per week.
2 Families (8-12 people)
Some hire companies have large 10-14 seater vans that can be hired for two families that want to holiday together. These are similar to the small hotel transfer buses back in the UK, with around 12 seats in. They have plenty of room for luggage and can work out a very economical way to hire a vehicle if you are on holiday with friends and family. It is debatable whether it is better to get 2 large family cars, as this gives more freedom and alows you to go different places at the same time. These vans normally cost around £300 ($525) per week.
In my view it is always best to look at the picture of the car (or similar car) you will be getting for your trip. Why pay more money to hire a car that is large when there is only 2 of you!
Now you have booked your car hire it is time to sit back and relax and enjoy your hard earned holiday.
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