Cheap deals smooth path to hire success
FRANCE’S return to favour as a holiday destination for the British over the past two years has paid dividends for car-rental companies, which report strong growth in bookings this year.
Hertz said UK leisure bookings for France are about 20% up on last year, while Europcar saw an increase of 9% between January and July this year compared to the same period in 1998. Exact booking figures were not available.
The country is the fourth- biggest summer seller, behind the US, Spain and Portugal, for Holiday Autos, which reported bookings up 45%.
Suncars has doubled its French bookings on last year. General manager John Briggs said the reasons for the increase were the strength of sterling, which at almost FF10 to the pound has brought prices down,and Ryanair’s low-cost flights to the country.
The airline has services from Stansted to Dinard, Carcassonne (near Toulouse), Biarritz, and St Etienne (near Lyon). It also flies from Prestwick to Beauvais, 40mins by bus from the centre of Paris. All Ryanair flights are £25.99 one way including UK taxes. In addition, low-cost carrier Debonair flies from Luton to Nice and Cergy Pontoise Airport, 28 miles northwest of Paris.
“People are taking cheap flights and using the money they have saved to hire a car. The cost of rental is very competitive,” said Briggs.
Budget quotes £119 for a group A for one week, compared to £116 in Spain. Suncars and Holiday Autos lead in at £137 for France, compared to Madrid from £119. Renaults are the most widely available cars, but Fords also make up a large part of the fleets.
Hertz Europe vice-president leisure sales and marketing Bill Jones is not surprised by the popularity of car rental in France – identified by market analysis company Datamonitor as the largest leisure rental market in Europe, worth £490m this year.
“Hiring a car is the ideal way of seeing France at a pace that suits you and because it is large and the roads are well maintained and uncongested, driving is a real pleasure – and for any adrenaline junkies Le Peripherique in Paris is not to be missed,” said Jones.
Avis has partnerships with Eurostar and French railway SNCF – 195 of its 518 offices in France are at railway stations and more cars are rented at these points than at airport locations, a concept of raildrive Avis is keen to promote in the UK (see story below).
There are few up-to-date market figures, but Europcar estimates its 17.6% share and 421 offices put it third behind Avis and Hertz, with 456 locations. Budget claims fifth position, with 7% of the market and 300 locations.
Holiday Autos, meanwhile, has more than 800 locations.
1. Headlight beams must be adjusted on right-hand-drive cars. You can get converter kits from the RAC and AA.
2. If a driver flashes at you he expects you to pull to one side and let him pass.
3. Carry a spare set of front and rear lights, and brake and indicator lights.
4. You must not overtake a stationary tram while passengers are getting on and off the vehicle.
5. Do not use a horn unless in an emergency.
6. Know the speed limits – 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas; 90kph (56mph) on normal roads outside built-up areas; 110kph (68mph) on dual carriageways; 130kph (81mph) on motorways.
7. The speed limit changes in rain and bad weather. Trim your speed to 110kph (68mph) on motorways and 101kph (62mph) on dual carriageways.
8. Several motorways charge a toll, indicated by the sign, ‘peage’. Take a ticket as you get on and pay on exit.
9. French police can impose and collect on-the-spot fines up to about £250. Get an official receipt.
10. A flashing amber traffic light means proceed with caution.