Here’s the latest news release from Auto Europe:

As fuel costs and the credit crunch begin to impact heavily on the travel industry, and fears grow for the security of holiday bookings, Auto Europe can now ease the anxiety of planning a trip with its promise of no cancellation or amendment fees if you need to change or cancel your car hire reservation.

Unlike many of its competitors, some of which do not provide a refund of any kind against advance bookings, or charge up to 75% of total costs, Auto Europe will guarantee that any payment received will be returned in full if you need to cancel 48 hours or more before the time of collection.

Auto Europe’s Commercial Director for the UK and Ireland, Peter McAree, explains: “At a time when many airlines and travel operators are struggling to survive, it’s never been more important to protect your travel arrangements to avoid losing money in the event of a problem.Auto Europe can allow customers to book a vehicle, safe in the knowledge that they will be given every penny back if the car is no longer required.”

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It’s a pleasure to introduce another guest blogger to the Auto Europe site.  Catherine Goddard is a respected freelance writer and friend of AE.  Here’s her experience of holidaying in the UK.

With the demise of XL airways came frustration and anger for thousands of UK travellers. Whether they were marooned at a holiday spot or stuck at home instead of enjoying sun, surf and sangria, the impact was devastating. With a bleak outlook for the airlines in general, British holidays are more appealing than ever. And, with such a wealth of beautiful countryside, superb beaches and culturally-rich towns to explore, a British holiday doesn’t have to be a poor man’s alternative to a foreign break.

After honeymooning in North Norfolk and Bath 18 months ago, I was happy to become an ambassador of British holidaymaking. While we benefited from good fortune with the weather – crisp, cloudless blue skies and warm spring sunshine – the locations offered plenty to do even if rain had prevailed. And, if lazy days were in order, our cosy cottage and plush boutique hotel lodgings, were the ideal settings to totally wind down.

A break in Devon this summer proved again that Britain has it all. Having hired a car from Auto Europe, we were able to stay in a very secluded luxury cottage, perfectly positioned for day trips to countless sandy beaches and quaint villages. Set amongst farmland we opened our windows each morning and enjoyed views of sheep grazing just outside our garden area. It was idyllic. Highlights of our trip included a lunch at Damien Hirst’s restaurant, 11 The Quay in Ilfracombe, and horse riding through scrubland near Westward Ho! With no airports to battle with, no timetables to keep to, we enjoyed the freedom of our four wheels and a holiday without a plan. And the sun shone for us again – for a whole week in which the West Coast of Britain looked its glorious best in my eyes.

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When experts provide shocking statistics about the environmental impact of more cars on the road, and the extra pollution caused by large, gas-guzzling vehicles, some of us ignore the warnings and carry on enjoying the undeniable luxury, power and status of high spec motors.  Most of us shake our heads and say something needs to be done.  But only a small minority takes direct action to limit damage done by their own driving.

It’s not that we don’t care, it’s just we tend to spend a lot of time in our cars, and they need to accommodate our lifestyles.  A compact city model might be better for our carbon footprint, but how do we fit in the shopping, kids, etc.?  It’s a question of practicality. 

It’s interesting then (though not surprising) to see that where predictions of a doomed planet have failed, messages of a temporary economic slump have made a serious dent in car sales this year.

According to Whatcar.com, new car sales fell to their lowest level in the UK for 40 years in August 08.  63,225 were sold – 18.6% down on August 07. This summer also saw a downturn in used car sales profits. It was noted that smaller, more efficient cars are becoming much more popular, with top sellers including the Vauxhall Corsa. 

Rising food and fuel prices are squeezing consumer spending and seriously cutting demand for expensive items.  The instant effects of the credit crunch are far more effective at changing our behaviour than the possibility of a spoilt environment many years in the future.

Car manufacturers would argue that we should buy a new car if we want to be green.  After all, the latest designs are built to be more environmentally friendly, as well as being much safer for passengers.  There’s some truth in this, and it’s only natural that the industry is desperate to revive its flagging fortunes.

Perhaps one positive result of these tough financial times is that we’ll all consider our transport needs more carefully in future.  Do we really need to drive to the corner shop?  Is a bigger vehicle necessary, or could we hire one for long journeys?  It’s only human to opt for what we want, rather than need, but maybe a general change in opinion will make the smaller engine a bigger status symbol for the next image-conscious generation of drivers.       

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A study by the Transport Research Lab has found that motorists who are driving then use their mobiles to send a text message are at a very high risk of having an accident. It was found that their reaction time decreased by 35% which is much worse than those who drink and drive (12%) or those on drugs (21%).

These drivers were also far more likely to drift out of their lanes while trying to pay attention to two things at once. Their steering control was a striking 91% poorer than drivers fully paying attention to the roads.

It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving and the RAC foundation said that nearly half of people aged between 18 and 24 said they admitted to texting while behind the wheel, but only 144,000 people were prosecuted for using their mobiles while driving.

A text message while driving on average, took 63 seconds to compose while it only took 22 seconds to compose a text when sitting at your desk.

I personally am still seeing many drivers on the road using their mobile phones to talk and think it is so unfair on those of us who pay due care and attention while driving. Some motorists these days seem to forget about road courtesy altogether. So many stop on yellow boxes where you can get fined, stop over clearly marked ‘Keep Clear’ signs and block traffic flow so they don’t lose their space, not realising that some are actually for fire trucks and ambulances in an emergency. It’s a big shame that everyone is always in such a rush to get somewhere that they may feel like they have to use the mobile phones in the car as there are not enough hours in the day. Congestion on the roads causes people to lose time at work and personal time so they may feel like they have no choice.

It’s an on going debate, however it is vital that people concentrate 100% on the roads as within a split second things can change. Tell us your views and road experiences on using your phone while driving.

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Warning signs of a very tough time for the travel industry have been surfacing for a while now, but the collapse of XL last week was enough to shock most of us into sitting up and taking notice. The thought of losing the hard-earned cash we invest in an all important annual holiday is a frightening prospect, as is the possibility of being stranded in a foreign country with no flight home.

Traditionally, the only holiday insurance we’ve been encouraged to consider is that which covers illness, accident or theft abroad. Now the very real prospect of airline or tour operator insolvency means we need to take extra precautions to protect that week in the sun.

It’s not necessarily as complicated as you might think. All tour operators and travel firms selling holiday packages (including flights, transfers and accommodation) are legally bound to hold at ATOL licence, meaning you will be refunded, or returned home in the event of insolvency.

But package deals have suffered from a slightly naff reputation in recent years. The desire to experience more adventurous, less structured travel and the emergence of the internet has led many of us to cutting out the middle man to find our own bargains online. It’s certainly easier to tailor-make a holiday to your own specific requirements by not opting for a package tour, and an estimated 20 million of us did exactly that this year. But DIY holiday-makers are most at risk. There’s no legal requirement for airlines or accommodation sales companies to cover you if the worst should happen.

According to an article in the TravelMail, a survey conducted on behalf of First Choice and Thomson revealed that 53% of holidays booked during the first half of this year were package holidays, and the trend is set to increase – with more quality and variety promised for 2009. Perhaps the security they offer will lead to a renaissance for the package break and a return to the popularity they enjoyed in the 1970s.

Meanwhile, if you do decide to go it alone, shop around to find travel insurance that includes SAFI (scheduled airline failure insurance) or opt for an insolvency insurance package.

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The following statement is from Auto Europe’s Commercial Director for the UK and Ireland, Peter McAree:

We recently received a comment on the blog from a customer who had experienced lengthy delays at the Guerin car hire desk in Portugal.  I understand he was not alone in his frustration at wasting precious holiday hours queuing at the airport.

Guerin has since admitted that too many bookings were taken during the busy summer months, exceeding the number of vehicles available in its fleet.  Now that the cause of the problem has been identified, measures will be taken to prevent this from happening again in the future.

Guerin would like to apologise for this disruption to its service and has asked Auto Europe to pass on any complaints we receive, so that compensation can be offered. 

Here at Auto Europe we take this sort of complaint very seriously.  Our reputation is at stake if the companies we are associated with provide a less than excellent service, so when problems do arise, we’ll always deal with them quickly, and to the best of our ability.

If you would like us to pass on a complaint to Guerin, contact us via the blog, or call customer services on 0800 358 1229.

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When I got married, I intended to pick the perfect honeymoon destination. Lying on a beach would be boring and Paris was just too obvious. In the end we opted for Rome – home of the Trevi fountain, beautiful architecture, glamorous people and an endless supply of pasta – what could possibly be more romantic?

The reality was a little different. There is no doubt that Rome is worth a visit. It’s a breathtaking city with an amazing history. But with such an abundance of sights to see, there is little time for romance. Even in September the heat and crowds could make walking any distance exhausting. There was indeed no shortage of pasta or pizza, but many restaurants provided a very basic menu for some very high prices. A bit of research might have helped us to avoid those.

This year for our anniversary, we decided to opt for a romantic break closer to home. Bath may not be blessed with a Mediterranean climate (in fact it was one of the wettest weekends of the year) but it does have a rich history providing another insight into the fascinating lifestyle of ancient Romans.<

Our bed and breakfast – The Oldfields – came highly recommended by reviews on Trip Advisor, and it didn’t disappoint. We were welcomed on arrival with tea in the drawing room and some very useful advice on the best restaurants and places worth visiting in town (just a ten-minute walk away). Our room was superior to some five-star hotels I’ve stayed in and every member of staff was friendly and incredibly helpful.

After an excellent lunch at the Ring O Bells gastro pub, we opted for a two-hour session of complete relaxation at the famous Thermae Bath Spa before a thoroughly satisfying evening meal at the Firehouse Rotisserie. The next day we visited the Roman Baths. Even if you’re not a big fan of museums, this place is worth seeing. If you go after dark, flaming torches are lit to make your trip back in time that bit more authentic.

Apparently tourism minister Margaret Hodge has been complaining again about the price and quality of British attractions, claiming there’s a lot of improvement to be made before the 2012 Olympics. It’s true that UK leisure can be expensive, and we can’t often add a beautiful sunset to our list of things to see, but I’d argue that the UK can offer some brilliant romantic destinations that easily compete with the rest of Europe.

Just don’t forget your umbrella.

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Here at Auto Europe we like to keep things interesting with a variety of different authors, so we’re delighted to introduce new guest blogger Stephanie Rafanelli, a fantastic freelance travel writer, describing one of her most recent trips.

One of my favourite moments during my trip to Corfu last July was a midnight drive from the coast to the tiny hilltop village of the Rou Estate:

After a gargantuan bowl of spicy fish stew and a chilled glass of Retsina (Greek wine), it required the iron will of Hercules (with the strength of Zeus) to drag myself from pretty pebble beach of the bay of Kerasia, on the North West coast of Corfu, back into the car and up the dirt track that winds up through the olive groves to my villa. It was 28 degrees and humid – even after the giant sun had dropped into the turquoise waters of the Straights of Corfu – and the seat of my car was hot and sticky; but as I climbed the coastal road, I opened the driver’s window and let the salty sea breeze blow , cool, into my face.

In my wing mirror, I watched as the sea fell back into the distance. At the side of the road, locals sat chatting outside their whitewashed homes eating watermelon or plates of chargrilled octopus. They nodded to me as I drove past; ‘kalinichta’ (goodnight) I shouted as I followed the curves flagged by cottages that took me to the main road.

From here, another dirt track continues three kilometers inland to the restored shepherd’s village of Rou with its immaculate stone cottages and hilltop vistas. I locked into first gear and began to feed the steering wheel, navigating one hairpin bend after another, slowly ascending the hillside into the darkness. All was silent but the deafening noise of cicadas vibrating from all around; the silvery bark of gnarly olive trees shone in the moonlight. At the end of the dirt track, at the very top of the hillside – I climbed out of the car to sniff the mix of dust, red soil and cypress branches, before lying in the grass to watch the swirls of the solar system, bright over the Albanian headland in the distance.

This is the real Corfu – nature, stillness, landscape and stars. It took me just a short car journey inland to escape the crowds and find it.

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After another summer of shame for British tourists abroad, holiday makers planning to behave badly on a winter break in the UK might be interested in recent press reports about our police force.  With obesity becoming a bigger problem (excuse the pun) some police cars containing two officers are within 14 stone of the maximum weight, meaning they can only carry one extra passenger – tricky if there are two law-breakers to transport to the station.

Apparently, cars that exceed their Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) would not be insured in the event of an accident.  There could also be difficulties with the vehicle’s handling, and stopping distances may increase.  Drivers of overloaded cars could face a £60 fine and three points on their licence.  If it goes to court, the maximum fine is £2,500 and a possible driving ban.

It’s quite a nasty shock to hear that overfilling your car can lead to such severe penalties.  We’re all too aware of the kind of fines you can get for speeding or dangerous driving, but how many of us have a full understanding of all the different laws that could result in hefty punishment?

I suppose it’s a case of common sense.  More passengers than seat belts can’t be a good idea, and filling a vehicle with so much stuff that you can’t see out of the window is naturally going to cause problems.  The MAM for any vehicle (based on the capability of tyres, suspension etc) is normally shown on the VIN plate and/or the handbook.  The AA recommends distributing weight as safely as possible by putting heavier items low down in the car to keep the centre of gravity down and reduce the affect on stability.

This advice is all very useful, but what can you do if you suspect the total weight of your three passengers is enough to tip you over the limit? It’s no secret that our nation is getting heavier by the day.  A large family with a small amount of luggage could easily be too much for the average vehicle.

It’s certainly something that car manufacturers will need to address with increasing urgency in the future.  Until then, the only solution I can offer is to carry a set of scales in your boot – though be warned, this could result in the loss of friends.  Oh, and stay away from the doughnuts!

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Summer 2008 has been busy on the roads across the UK, Italy and Spain if our car hire figures are anything to go by. With the effects of the credit crunch starting to manifest in the so-called ‘Stay-cation’ phenomena, we were predicting a rise in UK business. However, the excellent car hire business in Italy and Spain has been a little more surprising. After all industry pundits had been suggesting holiday makers would move towards non-Euro destinations such as Turkey and Bulgaria. It seems the British love affair with Spanish beaches and Italian food is far from over!

Here at Auto Europe we have been working hard to provide more information for our car hire customers to help with driving abroad. Check our ‘Specials’ page to discover 17 new destination guides each featuring a breadth of traveller tips from driving rules to country descriptions and tourist information. Discover the speed limits, rules of the road, petrol availability, how and where to park, what insurance is required as well as visa requirements, time zone information, what language is spoken and electricity used as well as tourism and embassy contacts.

So far we have produced guides for: Bulgaria, Austria, Australia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, South Africa, Spain and Switzerland and there are many more to follow. Why not check out your next business or holiday destination, or alternatively, browse through to get some inspiration!

Last but not least, I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you all that we regularly promote special offers through our weekly newsletter. So, if you are thinking of hiring a car in the near future it could be worth signing up to see what’s on offer. Currently we have great bargains for late summer and early autumn bookings across many different destinations. Sign up here.

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