Car Hire Information

Buying, hiring or renting a car:

In developed countries and especially in New Zealand, Australia, USA, South Africa (Namibia & Botswana) and Western Europe this is the best thing you can do and will give you rewards you will never expect. Be sure to shop around with local firms, not national ones (apart from Southern Africa). In New Zealand in the peak season the cheapest rentals go very fast - surf the net and book ahead. I will mention it here on the subject of NZ, hitchhiking is possible in developed countries, especially NZ, Chile, USA, Europe and Israel, but is a pain in the arse, something I have never mastered. Hitchhiking in less developed countries, aside from the safety risk you will probably be expected to pay for your ride. Hire car relocations are also something worth considering. They don't give you much time, but if the times are right they are a very cost effective way of getting around in Oz, NZ and the USA.Car Hire Europe Car Hire Geneva Car Hire Cyprus Car Hire Germany Car Hire Crete

Shared taxis and bush taxis:

A shared taxi is generally used for short legs where there is no or limited public transport, but the route is fairly standard, for example from a border town to the border. These taxis generally leave from a set point and do in many cases make longer trips. For longer trips they are perhaps the fastest and more comfortable of all four wheeled transport options if not too crowded. There are many routes world-wide where onward transport is both harsh and impractical. In these cases taxi drivers or car owners (sometimes guides) can be approached for a price (they normally offer). This price is going to be high so you really need to split it between three/four. A bush taxi or taxi brousse is a West African phenomenon (particularly French West Africa) and in no way comfortable. Bush taxis are always private, but rarely does the driver own the vehicle, and are effectively a small bus. Almost without exception a bush taxi will leave when full (or when all seats are sold) not by a timetable. Depending on the popularity of the route this can take half an hour or even several days. If you are early you can choose where you sit, late comers have no choice - sitting in the front is the best and worst is the back (the side with no shade is also pretty bad). If a bush/private taxi looks like it is going to get uncomfortable full or take ages to fill you can buy extra seats at the same price of one or even charter the whole thing. In some cases you are going to be asked for more money for a big bag. On some occasions when the taxi is taking ages to fill up some passengers will club together to buy remaining seats and get going. If this happens or you personally buy an extra seat, don't expect a discount - time is not money in West Africa. Best get a bush taxi early in the morning or on a market day. There are a few different types of bush taxi in West Africa, most a moving form of torture. To find out more see the West African country summaries.Car Hire Spain Car Hire Alicante Car Hire Ibiza Airport Car Hire Lanzarote Car Hire Corfu

Flying:

Internal flights are often very good value for money, with discounts normally offered for under 30s or students. They, of course cost more than a bus or train, but you save a hell of a lot of time and more importantly sanity, especially when crossing difficult terrain such as mountains. For example Varanasi to Kathmandu will take you two days overland, or about $70 by Air India; Santiago to Chilean Patagonia will take you about 50 hours by bus via Argentina or about $100 return (not with LAN Chile); Bangkok to Cambodia or La Paz/Cusco to the jungle, is a hell of a trip overland (you won't do it twice); Bangkok to Yangon will cost you about $100 return and just cannot be done overland. The list goes on. Budget travellers think they cannot afford flights. Budget for them and you will feel a lot happier especially if doing a big trip over long distances.Car Hire Malaga Car Hire Malaga Airport Car Hire Menorca Car Hire Mallorca Airport Car Hire Ireland

On buses, other public transport and bus stations:

at night, keep any small bags you have at very close quarters. Over-head bins nor under your seat can be guaranteed 100% safe in many places - especially if you are sleeping. A strap around your leg or a simple and quick wire-lock will give you peace of mind and possibly save your trip from being seriously tarnished. Liken this to putting a seat belt on. If you have never been in an accident, it seems pretty pointless. However, with hindsight it seems more than sensible even when you don't feel like it or feel the situation fits. In regions like Latin America and Africa, it is more than good sense. The same goes with walking at night with your bag if it can be at all avoided.Car Hire Tenerife Car Hire France Car Hire France Car Hire Nice Car Hire Paris Charles De Gaulle



México

Miss at your peril: (stay away from the crowds) - 'Highlight of Independent Travel'

Intro: Viva México! It's huge, has tons to offer! Right across the spectrum, from the nadir of Cancún to the zenith's of Palenque, Oaxaca (Wa-ha-ka) and Porto Escondido to mention a few. México's size has two major effects on travellers. One good, one not so. Firstly [the good] the sheer size of the country and it's variety means that with some effort you can find many gems and have them completely to yourself, in addition to the fact that there are many great things to see and do without even venturing off the beaten track. The downside from the country's size (and terrain which is far from flat in many places) is the necessity to spend many hours on buses of which the cost of can seriously mount up - even more so if you take advantage of the better services. For example the six hour journey from México City (N.B. referred to as México City here, but really just México or México DF) to Oaxaca on a premier bus will blow the daily budget of any budget traveller and then some. It is common to hear backpackers throughout the Americas moan at just how expensive México is and wonder how locals can afford to live. It is not that México is expensive, I mean far from it when compared to the super power to the north, but in relation to the rest of Central America it is more pricey in the same way as Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina use to be to South America, and just like these countries it is transport and tourist hot spots that get you. Lets take the Yucatan for example, Cancún is nearer to Miami than México City and has many daily direct charter flights from Europe. Such an influx of tourists, many who have considerable (by Mexican and backpacker standards), money to spread about is bound to push prices up. In addition the rapid development in México fuelled by the NAFTA agreement has brought in standards of services (such as buses of which many are excellent) that you just don't find in most other Latin American countries. For increased quality comes increased prices. Lets go back to that seemingly expensive bus journey from México City to Oaxaca. The bus will have AC, movies and the road is excellent. Much cheaper alternatives exist, of course you don't get AC and a movie, but you don't even get the same road since the good one is a toll road that the cost of using is the main contributor of the cost of the ticket. So take the cheaper bus if you want it to take twice as long. Let's be fair in the big scale of things the extra money is probably worth it. The analogy works with most things such as seemingly expensive food and accommodation. Enjoy México for the right reasons (take touristy attractions especially the Yucatan) with a pinch of salt), learn some Spanish, get off the beaten track and enjoy for along with Guatemala it is a real highlight of this region and one of the world's most underrated country's.Car Hire Leeds Car Hire Gatwick Airport Car Hire London Car Hire Stansted Airport Car Hire Luton Car Hire Manchester Car Hire OxfordCar Hire Scotland Car Hire Prestwick Airport
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Highlights: México City (inc. surrounding areas such as Teotihuacán), Palenque, Oaxaca and Porto Escondido. Plus finding some places to yourself.

Lowlights: If you are 18 or under have limited taste, possibly American, you will love Cancún. For most it is one of the most loathsome places this side of Ibiza Town. Playa de Carmen and Cozumel Island are not far behind. The rate of change in these places on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan is unbelievable. See them to believe them. Large parts of the Yucatan are not so bad as to avoid. The fact that, contrary to popular belief, México is not a shoestring budget country in many parts as Guatemala is - this can prove to be a lowlight for many as are the crowds in tourist hot-spots. On a more critical side not everyone is smitten by the highly and definitely over rated San Cristóbal de las Casas, where due to the history of up-risings and military presence in the area many of the 'cooler' travellers head to hang out and do little. San Cristóbal de las Casas is to backpackers what Cancún is to package tourists - a Mecca in México. For that reason if you don't have time to 'hang-out' or wind your way there on the bus you could happily give it a miss and spend your time elsewhere. Car Hire Bristol


Visa strategy: Tourist cards are issued free for 90 days at entry points for most nationalities.

Typical tourist trail: The majority of tourists disregard the north of the country (above México City) which is mainly dry and harsh and not particularly rich in highlights. Unless they are making trips from America into the spectacular scenery of Baja California or to the Copper Canyon (which are both highlights). Car Hire Heathrow
The vast majority of tourists fly into the Yucatan and spend there time there. Those with a bit more time may start in México City which is brimming with things to see and do. From there a typical path may head either directly to Oaxaca or to the coast at Acapulco (or further north) and then down along the coast to Porto Escondido and then up to Oaxaca. From Oaxaca the trail heads to Palenque, either via Villahermosa or Cristóbal de las Casas. For here on either Guatemala or the many amazing temple sites of the Yucatan will call you.

Costs: Costs vary hugely for México pending on where you are and what you are doing. On the two ends of scale lets use Cristóbal de las Casas and Cancún for example, the latter and around US$30 won't get you too far especially if you want a drink or two. In the former lazing around in a hammock you would be hard pressed to spend half the Yucatan amount living pretty good. There is a definite tourist economy, with high prices and sometimes, unhelpful service. To avoid this as much as possible and find places used by locals a good understanding of Spanish really makes a difference.Car Hire UK


Money: ATMs are plentiful through-out much of the country and are a far more convenient way to carry money than travellers cheques. Any funds you take with you should be in USD. Credit cards can be used in some circumstances and are worth having.

Getting around: México has a highly developed bus system with many different options and of course considering it's size a large network of internal flights. Taking into consideration how developed the bus system is most will favour this rather than taking internal flights. For flying the most popular and recommended option is México City to Cancún (Car Hire Portugal or vice versa as this is a hell of a long way to backtrack if you have a flight out of say Cancún.

With regards to buses the subject could fill a web site alone. The system is both complicated and confusing and trying to understand it is impossible. Luckily you don't have to and in reality most Mexicans don't. At the end of the day anywhere you want to go there will be a bus going, you just have to find the station it goes from. Most cities have numerous stations (México DF has four). These may be split further by one for first class, one for second.. and so on. Just take it easy it is not too hard to get anywhere and buses are generally organised, clean and prompt - but no bargain.Car Hire Rome Airport for info click here


There now exists three superior classes of bus plus second class buses. These are usually called Primera Plus, Futura and Ejecutiva. All these first class buses (not always all available), are excellent, but have prices about 40% higher than regular services making them really quite expensive for long journeys where you can do with the extra comfort. For most regular first class is the way to go, you still get AC, TV and a WC (for what they are worth). Car Hire Sicily for info click here


Be aware that AC buses can get quite cool in the day and very cool at night. Have a sweater handy. Cheaper buses without AC and all the windows open are pleasant for shorter journeys. Films shown on buses are 50% of the time in English with Spanish sub-titles. When travelling over night front seats will keep you away for smelly toilets. On popular routes booking advance is often necessary and at busy times of the year (Christmas, August) very necessary, practically in the Yucatan or in and out of México City. Due to the size of México it is more than likely you will have to do at least a few overnight trips.

Second class buses normally operate from a different terminal from 1st class buses and look a lot more antiquated. They call at towns and villages and use side roads that 1st class buses would never touch. For longer journeys 1st class buses are better, but on a second class bus with the windows wide open, music playing, local colour you have a great Mexican experience.

More info can be found in any guidebook and most major companies such as ADO Car Hire Rome Airport for info click here have websites for more info, timetables and prices.

People vibe:

Locals: The friendliness of locals does vary dramatically especially in an out of tourist hot spots. There is a definite anti-gringo attitude around Cristóbal de las Casas and in other areas. However, on the whole if you speak Spanish Mexicans are wonderful people.
Car Hire Italy for info click here Other travellers: Various. Mainly European backpackers apart from on the Yucatan where the large numbers of tourists are mainly North American.

Tourist factor: From 10/10 to 5/10

Accommodation: There is a wide range of accommodation in most places from very cheap dives to more expensive very nice rooms.

Hot water: In hotter areas and at the cheaper end, hot water may not always be available. Car Hire Birmingham


Average cost: From US$7 to US$30 (normally about in the middle). Found many cheap places that were very dirty and noisy so took a more expensive option. Prices are higher on the Yucatan and lower in backpacker hubs.

Communications: Internet plentiful and good value. Car Hire Australia Car Hire Canada Car Hire Toronto Airport

Media:

Books: American newspapers and magazines on the Yucatan. Elsewhere books and newspapers/magazines are in Spanish.

TV: Due to its proximity to American, cable TV is wide spread and always available in better hotels and in bars in tourist hot spots on the Yucatan, where sporting events are often shown. Cinemas in major cities are good quality. Car Hire Shannonfor info click here

Food: México is all about food which outside of Asia has the best street food in the world. Don't be afraid just dive in. Smarter restaurants aimed at tourists can be quite expensive by comparison. The best value is always small family run places. The meal of the day or set menu (comida corrida - make sure they give you the menu with this on) as in the rest of Latin America is always the easiest and cheapest way to eat.(Car Hire Sardinia )There are many fast food restaurants, both Mexican and America and numerous supermarkets (with excellent bakeries) so eating cheap on the move is easy.

Vegetarians: Fine, although eating on street stalls and taking advantage of the cheap set meals of the day will be complicated and often not possible especially if you don't eat chicken.

Hassle and annoyance factor: Limited, this is not Asia. Women alone: Fine on the whole. Care is required same as everywhere. Car Hire Dublin Drugs, cigarettes and alcohol: Fantastic Tequila and Mezcal bars, especially in Oaxaca. Great beer everywhere, but open air drinking places are not very common. Pot is plenty available in most places in particular along the pacific coast and any backpacker 'hubs'. Car Hire USA Car Hire Florida Car Hire Los Angeles Airport