Latest news with #Sixt

South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Automotive
- South Wales Argus
How to get the lowest prices for a holiday hire car
The good news is that it seems car hire prices are getting closer to pre-pandemic levels, according to a new 12-country study by The research reveals that the average cost of a week's car hire in summer 2025 is £369, 43% lower than the 2022 high of £652, but still 19% more than in 2019 (£310). Prices have fallen steadily since the 2022 peak, by 43% compared to 2022 (£652), 29% compared to 2023 (£520) and 3% since last summer (£380). 'There are some good deals to be had this summer when hiring a car if drivers take the time to shop around for the best prices, and don't waste money on extras from the rental desk which could have been brought from home such as sat navs and child car seats," says Ben Wooltorton, from "It's also worth considering buying excess reimbursement insurance before you travel from a specialist insurance provider.' And, there's still chance to shave more off your costs, say the experts. 1. Book early but look for last minute deals Book early and shop around to get the hire car you want at a good price. For example, for a week's summer hire in Barcelona, Sixt quoted £288, while Budget quoted £129. 2. Look for free cancellation, so you can cancel if a better deal becomes available Last summer, savvy travellers could have saved over £100 on car hire by booking closer to their departure. Prices for a week's hire fell by an average of £116 between January and July 2024 – with potential savings of up to £266 in Milan. 3. Shop around for excess protection – you could save around £190 If a hire car is damaged or stolen, the hirer is responsible for the excess amount, which can be as high as £2,000. A week's standalone excess reimbursement policy from costs from £33.15 and includes damage, theft, and tyre and windscreen cover. This is a sixth of the cost compared to buying excess protection from rental companies which costs, on average, £167 for a week's theft and collision damage excess waiver and £57 for tyre and windscreen waiver - a total of £224 according to a European survey of car rental prices. 4. Avoid buying extras from the rental desk – and save around £230 Only two in five (41%) check the price of extras when booking their hire car. Expect to pay, on average, £73 for an extra driver, £85 for a sat nav and £71 for a child's car seat – a total of £229. Bring car seats from home, use a smartphone for maps and think carefully about the need of adding a second driver. 5. Take photographic evidence of existing damage Almost two in five (39%) hire car drivers found damage on a hire car that was not highlighted on the checkout sheet. To avoid unfair damage charges, check the vehicle thoroughly at pick-up and return, and take dated photos or video proof. 6. Don't hire from the main airport or railway station Compare the cost of hiring from the main transport hubs, i.e., the airport or railway station with the same company a short distance away, as the savings might be worth the taxi fare. 7. Use a credit card for booking and to cover the excess Use a credit card to gain Section 75 protection under the Consumer Credit Act. This means the credit card provider will protect purchases over £100 (and less than £30,000) and you could get your money back if there is a problem. 8. Read the small print to avoid unpleasant surprises Always read the agreement document thoroughly to make sure you are not agreeing to an upgrade or paying for the rental company's excess protection cover if you don't want it. Recommended reading: 9. Check the fuel policy Know the fuel policy before you drive away. If you need to return the car with a full tank, make sure you do, as the penalties can be expensive. Keep the receipt from the petrol company as evidence. 10. Mileage restrictions Similarly, if you are planning a driving holiday check for mileage restrictions to avoid getting caught out. 11. Know how to complain Go to the rental company within 14 days with the complaint. If a satisfactory outcome is not reached, complaints can be directed to the BVRLA in the UK whose members, including AVIS, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, are expected to adhere to its mandatory Codes of Conduct. An alternative is to contact the European Car Rental Conciliation Service (ECRCS), which offers a free service to help with unresolved complaints, but the rental must be with a company that has signed up, i.e., Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Europcar, Firefly, Hertz, Maggiore, National, Sixt and Thrifty.


Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
How to get the lowest prices for a holiday hire car
The good news is that it seems car hire prices are getting closer to pre-pandemic levels, according to a new 12-country study by The research reveals that the average cost of a week's car hire in summer 2025 is £369, 43% lower than the 2022 high of £652, but still 19% more than in 2019 (£310). Prices have fallen steadily since the 2022 peak, by 43% compared to 2022 (£652), 29% compared to 2023 (£520) and 3% since last summer (£380). 'There are some good deals to be had this summer when hiring a car if drivers take the time to shop around for the best prices, and don't waste money on extras from the rental desk which could have been brought from home such as sat navs and child car seats," says Ben Wooltorton, from "It's also worth considering buying excess reimbursement insurance before you travel from a specialist insurance provider.' And, there's still chance to shave more off your costs, say the experts. 1. Book early but look for last minute deals Book early and shop around to get the hire car you want at a good price. For example, for a week's summer hire in Barcelona, Sixt quoted £288, while Budget quoted £129. 2. Look for free cancellation, so you can cancel if a better deal becomes available Last summer, savvy travellers could have saved over £100 on car hire by booking closer to their departure. Prices for a week's hire fell by an average of £116 between January and July 2024 – with potential savings of up to £266 in Milan. 3. Shop around for excess protection – you could save around £190 If a hire car is damaged or stolen, the hirer is responsible for the excess amount, which can be as high as £2,000. A week's standalone excess reimbursement policy from costs from £33.15 and includes damage, theft, and tyre and windscreen cover. This is a sixth of the cost compared to buying excess protection from rental companies which costs, on average, £167 for a week's theft and collision damage excess waiver and £57 for tyre and windscreen waiver - a total of £224 according to a European survey of car rental prices. 4. Avoid buying extras from the rental desk – and save around £230 Only two in five (41%) check the price of extras when booking their hire car. Expect to pay, on average, £73 for an extra driver, £85 for a sat nav and £71 for a child's car seat – a total of £229. Bring car seats from home, use a smartphone for maps and think carefully about the need of adding a second driver. 5. Take photographic evidence of existing damage Almost two in five (39%) hire car drivers found damage on a hire car that was not highlighted on the checkout sheet. To avoid unfair damage charges, check the vehicle thoroughly at pick-up and return, and take dated photos or video proof. 6. Don't hire from the main airport or railway station Compare the cost of hiring from the main transport hubs, i.e., the airport or railway station with the same company a short distance away, as the savings might be worth the taxi fare. 7. Use a credit card for booking and to cover the excess Use a credit card to gain Section 75 protection under the Consumer Credit Act. This means the credit card provider will protect purchases over £100 (and less than £30,000) and you could get your money back if there is a problem. 8. Read the small print to avoid unpleasant surprises Always read the agreement document thoroughly to make sure you are not agreeing to an upgrade or paying for the rental company's excess protection cover if you don't want it. Recommended reading: 9. Check the fuel policy Know the fuel policy before you drive away. If you need to return the car with a full tank, make sure you do, as the penalties can be expensive. Keep the receipt from the petrol company as evidence. 10. Mileage restrictions Similarly, if you are planning a driving holiday check for mileage restrictions to avoid getting caught out. 11. Know how to complain Go to the rental company within 14 days with the complaint. If a satisfactory outcome is not reached, complaints can be directed to the BVRLA in the UK whose members, including AVIS, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, are expected to adhere to its mandatory Codes of Conduct. An alternative is to contact the European Car Rental Conciliation Service (ECRCS), which offers a free service to help with unresolved complaints, but the rental must be with a company that has signed up, i.e., Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Europcar, Firefly, Hertz, Maggiore, National, Sixt and Thrifty.


The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Herald Scotland
How to get the lowest prices for a holiday hire car
The research reveals that the average cost of a week's car hire in summer 2025 is £369, 43% lower than the 2022 high of £652, but still 19% more than in 2019 (£310). Prices have fallen steadily since the 2022 peak, by 43% compared to 2022 (£652), 29% compared to 2023 (£520) and 3% since last summer (£380). 'There are some good deals to be had this summer when hiring a car if drivers take the time to shop around for the best prices, and don't waste money on extras from the rental desk which could have been brought from home such as sat navs and child car seats," says Ben Wooltorton, from "It's also worth considering buying excess reimbursement insurance before you travel from a specialist insurance provider.' And, there's still chance to shave more off your costs, say the experts. 1. Book early but look for last minute deals Book early and shop around to get the hire car you want at a good price. For example, for a week's summer hire in Barcelona, Sixt quoted £288, while Budget quoted £129. 2. Look for free cancellation, so you can cancel if a better deal becomes available Last summer, savvy travellers could have saved over £100 on car hire by booking closer to their departure. Prices for a week's hire fell by an average of £116 between January and July 2024 – with potential savings of up to £266 in Milan. 3. Shop around for excess protection – you could save around £190 If a hire car is damaged or stolen, the hirer is responsible for the excess amount, which can be as high as £2,000. A week's standalone excess reimbursement policy from costs from £33.15 and includes damage, theft, and tyre and windscreen cover. This is a sixth of the cost compared to buying excess protection from rental companies which costs, on average, £167 for a week's theft and collision damage excess waiver and £57 for tyre and windscreen waiver - a total of £224 according to a European survey of car rental prices. 4. Avoid buying extras from the rental desk – and save around £230 Only two in five (41%) check the price of extras when booking their hire car. Expect to pay, on average, £73 for an extra driver, £85 for a sat nav and £71 for a child's car seat – a total of £229. Bring car seats from home, use a smartphone for maps and think carefully about the need of adding a second driver. 5. Take photographic evidence of existing damage Almost two in five (39%) hire car drivers found damage on a hire car that was not highlighted on the checkout sheet. To avoid unfair damage charges, check the vehicle thoroughly at pick-up and return, and take dated photos or video proof. 6. Don't hire from the main airport or railway station Compare the cost of hiring from the main transport hubs, i.e., the airport or railway station with the same company a short distance away, as the savings might be worth the taxi fare. 7. Use a credit card for booking and to cover the excess Use a credit card to gain Section 75 protection under the Consumer Credit Act. This means the credit card provider will protect purchases over £100 (and less than £30,000) and you could get your money back if there is a problem. 8. Read the small print to avoid unpleasant surprises Always read the agreement document thoroughly to make sure you are not agreeing to an upgrade or paying for the rental company's excess protection cover if you don't want it. Recommended reading: 9. Check the fuel policy Know the fuel policy before you drive away. If you need to return the car with a full tank, make sure you do, as the penalties can be expensive. Keep the receipt from the petrol company as evidence. 10. Mileage restrictions Similarly, if you are planning a driving holiday check for mileage restrictions to avoid getting caught out. 11. Know how to complain Go to the rental company within 14 days with the complaint. If a satisfactory outcome is not reached, complaints can be directed to the BVRLA in the UK whose members, including AVIS, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, are expected to adhere to its mandatory Codes of Conduct. An alternative is to contact the European Car Rental Conciliation Service (ECRCS), which offers a free service to help with unresolved complaints, but the rental must be with a company that has signed up, i.e., Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Europcar, Firefly, Hertz, Maggiore, National, Sixt and Thrifty.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lilo & Stitch summer: Hawaiʻi to expect huge tourism numbers
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Have you seen the new Lilo & Stitch movie? Hawaiian Airlines and Sixt are expecting big numbers for tourism in Hawaiʻi this summer as the Lilo & Stitch live action film makes big waves in the entertainment world. Set in Hawaiʻi, the film is not disappointing audiences. Instead, it's piquing everyone's interest in experiencing what Hawaiʻi has to offer. Hawaiian Airlines is offering its travelers access to the movie as part of their inflight entertainment this summer. 'From our ohana to yours, get ready for an out-of-this-world adventure with Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch', said a spokesperson for Hawaiian Airlines. 'We're celebrating this wildly funny and heartfelt story just as it lands in theaters worldwide, and you're invited to join the fun on every flight. In particular, Oʻahu is quickly becoming a favorite place for families to visit. 'It's no surprise we're seeing such a sharp spike in interest around Oʻahu travel. The Lilo & Stitch remake has reignited a deep love for Hawaiʻi's North Shore, especially Haleiwa, where much of the film was set,' said a representative from Sixt. Sixt highlighted the island's 'stunning beaches, surf spots and small-town charm just 30 minutes from Honolulu Airport' as being the perfect mix of fun and beauty. 'With search demand for 'Lilo and Stitch vacation' soaring to more than 690% this week, it's clear families are eager to experience that blend of adventure, beauty and togetherness the movie captures,' added the Sixt town of Haleiwa, on Oʻahu's North Shore, offers a peaceful, cozy feel that many people are looking for. It's a great spot for surfing, relaxing and exploring with loved ones. This summer, more and more families are searching for trips that offer 'adventure, beauty, and togetherness'; and Oʻahu checks all the boxes. Kids can play in the waves, parents can enjoy the sunshine and everyone can make memories together. The area feels like a mix of excitement and calm, which is perfect for vacation. 'Oʻahu is shaping up to be the go-to summer destination—and SIXT is here to help travelers make the most of the journey,' said the Sixt representative. Whether you're there for the beaches, the friendly towns, or the island views, Oʻahu has something for everyone. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 Companies like SIXT and Hawaiian Airlines are even helping travelers make the most of the journey, making it easier than ever to plan the perfect trip. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Courier-Mail
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
7 things to know before road tripping across Spain
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Here's how to pull off the ultimate Spanish road trip. Car hire A road trip allows you to discover Spain at your own pace. You'll find the top car rental companies at transport hubs, airports and ferry terminals. They range from budget-friendly Go Mobility to Sixt, with luxury labels including Audi, BMW and Range Rover. If your itinerary is one-way, you'll need the unlimited kilometres package to allow for photo stops and scenic detours. Select the best insurance cover option, with motorway tolls included. Budget for the additional security deposit (around $1000) and remember it can take a few weeks for the company to release funds back to your credit card. Driving rules and distances The Nansa Valley in Cantabria is a driver's paradise. While Spaniards drive on the opposite side of the road to Australians, basic road rules (and common sense) apply. The motorways are fast, smooth and not-so-friendly. With a cruising speed limit of 120km per hour, locals don't tend to give way to merging traffic, so slow down and cross lanes from behind. Same advice for roundabouts. Give way to the left and stay in the outside lane. If you're not stopping, allow at least a full day to drive from east to west. If you're planning to explore the country's full perimeter, you'll need about two weeks to cover the approximately 3000km journey. Best pit stop Look for this sign and pull over immediately. Just north of Madrid on the E-90 highway is one of the best roadside restaurants in Spain, 103 Horno De Asar. This 140-year-old provedore, cheese bar and patisserie is open daily and the owner tells us the Terreznos el Alma pork dish is his best seller. 'It's traditional Rioja port crackling. We grill the meat gently, then fire up the skin so the crackling puffs right up.' Best camping San Sebastian is within easy reach from Camping Igara. Gran Camping Zarautz in Basque country tops our camping list for its views of the Bay of Biscay. The year-round campsite has safari tents, hostel accommodation and campervan sites. The onsite restaurant, balcony bar and barbecue get full points, as do the wellness retreat, sauna, laundry and playground. Another Basque gem is Camping Igara close to San Sebastian, home to glamping, cabins, a restaurant, social lounge, solarium and barbecues. During peak season the pool and bar are a lively community social hub and there's a shuttle bus into town. If winging it, download the Park4Night app which has an interactive map that pings camping locations as you cruise around. Best surf beaches Mundaka's famed left hand barrel. Some of Spain's best surfing is in Basque country. Start at Zarautz on the N-634 highway. It's a charming town with the longest beach (2.5km) in the region. An hour down the highway is Mundaka, known for its classic left-hand barrel. This charming town hosts an annual surfing circuit and surfing film festivals. Board rentals are available in town from $A24 per hour. Best food The Flysch cliffs near San Sebastian supply its restaurants with impeccable seafood. With the most Michelin-starred restaurants per capita in Spain, San Sebastian gets full marks from food lovers. For an unforgettable a la carte experience head to Arzak, Akelarre or Martin Berasategui's eponymous restaurant with its stunning views of the Gipuzkoa mountain range. For something more chilled, try La Cepa de Bernardo in the Old Quarter. This 100-year-old bar has some of the best pintxos (skewered bites) in town and plates of Iberian cured prosciutto, potato omelette and octopus caught off the spectacular local Flysch rock formations. Weekend drives Catalonia in northeastern Spain is home to the Costa Brava, a must-visit for its photogenic villages and gorgeous beaches. But for a weekend of art and culture take the 100km route known as the 'Dalí Triangle' for its connection to surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. Three towns make up the triangle and are home to off-beat museums dedicated to his life and works. Take the E-15 motorway from Barcelona to start the tour at the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. Then drive for about an hour through medieval towns to Portlligat for the Salvador Dalí House. The final stop is the Gala Dalí Castle in Pubol. The C-260 leg between Portlligat and Pubol gets overcrowded so avoid the coastline during peak season. Calella de Palafrugell on Catalonia's Costa Brava. For another short drive, head south to Málaga's 60km 'Raisin Route' linking whitewashed Moorish towns in an area known for its prosperous raisin production in the 19th century. Start at Moclinejo to learn more about the local wine, Muscatel, and complete the trip in the hills at Totalán. Originally published as 7 things to know before road tripping across Spain