RENTING a car for a skiing holiday might sound an unlikely combination, but growth in demand for a skidrive product has sent several car-rental companies back to the drawing board to come up with an appealing product for this market.
Holiday Autos was ahead of the pack last year when it launched the inclusive Ski Max rental package, adding a guarantee that snow chains or snow types and ski racks will be waiting for clients in resort.
Managing director UK and Ireland Tony Seaman said:”Clients could request ski racks and snow chains at the time of booking but with no guarantee that they would be available, which is a problem if you arrive in resort with skis and no ski rack.
“Skidrive is a big market among experienced skiers and Ski Max has sold well in its first winter but there is always a build-up for new products as people become aware they are available.”
Hertz has also been prompted into action, and in mid-February plans to promote a skidrive package for France, Switzerland and Italy that will include snow chains and ski racks, plus a couple of skiing-related products, such as a lift pass.
Hertz vice-president leisure sales and marketing said: “It is not something we have promoted aggressively in the UK before because it is hard to justify the cost against the likely return.
“We are not sure how big the market is, or even how to size it but it is another opportunity for agents to sell car rental.”
All the leading rental operators offer snow chains, snow tyres and ski racks in resort, usually at a cost.
Budget quotes £5 a day each for snow chains and a ski rack in France, payable on top of the usual rental rate – a group C car costs about £280 a week this winter.
In Switzerland a ski rack costs £2.30 per rental, while snow chains are just over £1 a day, on top of the £176 a week group C rate.
Europcar provides snow chains for free at its skidrive locations in Switzerland, France, Austria and Italy, while an Avis ski rack and snow chain package costs £11.50 a day in France, with a maximum charge of £58. Ski Max costs from £10 per week.
One of the main advantages of hiring a car while on a skiing holiday is the flexibility to move between resorts, either to chase the snow or to try new runs.
Connect Car Rental managing director Adrian Duthie said skidrive has grown up with low-cost airlines.
Clients can get to Zurich, Geneva, Nice and Barcelona cheaply, hire a car and be in resort in about 2hrs.
“It can work out cheaper than buying an operator package, there is no waiting for transfers and it gives skiers the option to go for a weekend or short break,” he added.
The downside to skidrive is having to drive on snow and ice, although all the rental operators say it should not be a problem if drivers are careful.
Connect is the recommended car-rental supplier to the Ski Club of Great Britain and said its members take an average two ski holidays a year.
“There are good opportunities for agents to sell into the skidrive market,”added Duthie.