The Glove Box Blog from Argus Car Hire

950th Time Lucky for Korean Driver

Fiona Hilliard — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:39:09 +0000

Image by the hanner via Flickr It’s common enough for most drivers not to pass their test first time…but imagine having to go through the rigmarole 950 times! That’s how many attempts it took a South Korean woman to get her theory test right. Cha Sa-soom finally passed her written exam this week – Wednesday November 4th after [...]

Driving in Germany

Fiona Hilliard — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:43:13 +0000

Driving in a strange place can be a daunting experience, but even more so if you find yourself in a country where speed limits are non-existent and parochial quirks are ever present. Welcome to Germany. Some Advice: When renting a car in Germany you’ll need a driver’s license and passport. Before you leave the car rental lot, [...]

What Car Hire Agencies are in Alicante?

Fiona Hilliard — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:45:06 +0000

Image via Wikipedia Hi Fiona We’re doing a bit of forward planning for Christmas. We have a holiday home in Alicante and we want to book a car for a week’s holidays from December 21st to December 28th. We had some trouble booking a rental car this summer in Alicante. It was so expensive that we just [...]

Five Ways to Find Car Hire Bargains

Fiona Hilliard — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:29:09 +0000

Tired of paying over the odds for your rental car? Saving money on car rental is easy when you’re in the know. Follow these tips and you’ll never look back: Book in Advance Booking your rental car up to two months before your travel date will save you the stress of shopping around at the last minute. [...]

British Couple Issue Spanish Car Hire Warning

Fiona Hilliard — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:49:07 +0000

Image by Wayan Vota via Flickr Picture the scene. You’re going on a day trip to Benidorm in your shiny rental car. You’ve remembered your keys, your map and your sunblock…but have you packed enough cash? That’s what a British couple wished they’d asked last week when they found themselves stranded at the side of a Spanish [...]

APD and Other Environmental Mysteries

Fiona Hilliard — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:45:08 +0000

Image via Wikipedia The first of two rises to Air Passenger Duty (APD) came into effect at all UK airports yesterday. The new system means that passengers will have to add between £11 and £55 to the cost of each flight from the UK…but that’s not the end of it – further hikes are on the way [...]

Ten Reasons to Rent a Holiday Home

Fiona Hilliard — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:15:39 +0000

Image by HappyTellus via Flickr Over at Travel Rants, Darren Cronian is letting off steam about why he thinks you shouldn’t rent a holiday home abroad. Obviously struggling, he came up with just five reasons. Only five? Is that all he could scrape together? Well, I’ll see your 5 and raise you 10…reasons why it’s a good idea [...]

Man Violates 15 Driving Laws in 11 Minutes

Fiona Hilliard — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:26:04 +0000

Image via Wikipedia Authorities in Switzerland are still scratching their heads in wonder at how an Italian driver managed to chalk up 15 traffic violations during an 11 minute rampage through eastern Switzerland. Police were first alerted to the driver when his jeep raced past their unmarked car during a thunder storm on Sunday. After driving almost every [...]

Driving in Paris

Fiona Hilliard — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:54:50 +0000

Image via Wikipedia Hi Fiona We’re heading to Disneyland Paris over the mid-term with our three children. We’ve arranged to rent a car from Paris CDG airport to take us there. We also hope to get around the city in our rental car. Although we’ve visited and rented cars in France many times, we’ve never actually driven [...]

Mixed Day for London Airports

Fiona Hilliard — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:47:13 +0000

Image via Wikipedia Don’t know if you’ve heard but London’s Gatwick Airport has a big FOR SALE sign on it. BAA originally announced that it would sell Gatwick in September 2008, just before the end of the Competition Commission’s market investigation ended, but today it’s all official. Airport authorities say that it will lead to increased competition between [...]

Why You Should Always Keep Your Car Hire Keys Safe

Fiona Hilliard — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:16:58 +0000

Image by Tattooed JJ via Flickr I read with interest the story about how a panicked renter recently contacted the Daily Telegraph’s Travel Advice column with a serious problem. Last month, thieves broke into his holiday home in the south of France and not only did they steal the keys to his hire, but they also drove off [...]

Argus Car Hire Reviews Review Centre

Fiona Hilliard — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:54:44 +0000

In the latest instalment of our ‘Reviewer Reviewed’ series, this week we thought we’d turn our attentions to Review Centre. Review Centre is a site that does exactly what it says on the tin – you’ll find it’s a talking shop for just about anything you can think of rating or indeed, slating. So let’s start with [...]

Where Can I Rent A Car in Florence

Fiona Hilliard — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:54:17 +0000

We received the following query from a customer called Michael who was eager to know the best location to rent a car in Florence: Hi there, Where is the best location to hire a car in Florence, Italy? We are staying in the city centre and our accommodation is close to Piazza Bonsi. Which of your Florence car hire locations would [...]

Argus Car Hire Reviews TripAdvisor

Fiona Hilliard — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:54:13 +0000

Such is TripAdvisor’s popularity that for many holidaymakers, it’s their second port of call when booking a trip, (the travel site being the first). But you’ve got to wonder – who actually reviews TripAdvisor? How accurate are their reviews and how many are in fact written by hotels and travel companies themselves? Feeling compelled to investigate, [...]

How Shirtless Driving Can Get You Arrested

Fiona Hilliard — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:21:07 +0000

And you thought penalty points for puddles was weird…buoyed on by the UK’s bizarre rainy-day driving law, we thought we’d do some digging to uncover some more of the same. The following are 10 of the world’s strangest driving laws. Some are a little crazy, some a little unbelievable – all are completely TRUE: Watch for the [...]

Who Knew Puddles=Penalty Points?

Fiona Hilliard — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:12:06 +0000

Image via Wikipedia The next time you’re driving in the rain and you spot a big glassy puddle, you might just want to ignore that mischievous little devil on your shoulder that urges you to splash the nearest passers-by…it could cost you in penalty points. A female driver in the UK learned this the hard way and [...]

What to See in Barcelona

Fiona Hilliard — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:35:01 +0000

Image via Wikipedia Hi Fiona Two friends and myself are heading to Barcelona for five days at the end of this month. We’ll be renting a car at Barcelona airport and staying in the Gracia area of the city. Can you give us any recommendations about what to see in the city and some short day-trip ideas? Cheers Elaine Hi [...]

Ryanair Laughs Off Bad Press with Free Seat Sale

Fiona Hilliard — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:37:23 +0000

Ryanair is promising to give away 100,000 free seats with no taxes or charges “for every false claim” made in BBC One’s Panorama investigation “Why Hate Ryanair?” which was broadcast last night. Commenting ahead of the documentary, yesterday Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said: “ We know of one false claim already, they are going to accuse [...]

Argus Meets: Kevin May/Tnooz.com

Fiona Hilliard — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:23:04 +0000

Today we chat to Kevin May, editor of travel industry news provider Tnooz, about his new venture, as well as his opinions on current travel industry news and trends. Q. Last month you launched Tnooz. Can you tell us something about the site’s offerings? KM: We are a global B2B media brand for the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, focusing on travel [...]

Electric Cigarettes The New Must Have Accessory

Fiona Hilliard — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:38:50 +0000

Coming soon to a rental car near you – smokeless cigarettes. Just last month, we revealed how Budget Avis Rent A Car had banned smoking in all of their US and Canada rental cars. It now looks like there’s some light at the end of the tunnel for under- fire smokers. It has been revealed [...]

Let Me Google That For You

Fiona Hilliard — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:54:40 +0000

If like me you’re constantly being harassed for answers to questions that could easily be resolved by a quick Google search – simple questions like “Do I need insurance to rent a car?” or “Where can I rent a car in Alicante?” you might consider passing on this link to your nearest and dearest : http://lmgtfy.com/ Let Me Google That For [...]

Top Three Road Trip Pranks

Fiona Hilliard — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:41:53 +0000

Image via Wikipedia You don’t have to be a narcoleptic to find that the combination of monotonous scenery, cosy heating and gentle engine purring make for the perfect sleeping tonic when you’re a passenger on a long road trip… Next time you’re caught napping though, thank your lucky stars you’re not sharing your rental car with these people: [There is a video that [...]

The Argus Sale is Now On!

Fiona Hilliard — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:28:17 +0000

For the whole month of October, ArgusCarHire.com is offering an amazing 20% OFF all car rental booked between now and October 31st, for pick-up by November 30th 2009. Rates have been slashed across the board, cheap car hire bargains on offer include: Faro from £75 (€82) per week Orlando from £101 (€110) per week Nice from £150 (€164) per week Malaga from [...]

Is this the End for Michael O Leary and Ryanair

Fiona Hilliard — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:54:51 +0000

For 15 years he’s fed us a no-frills diet of gratuitous publicity stunts, tacky photo shoots and loud-mouthed quips, but his reign as Ryanair boss may soon be at an end. Yes, Michael O’ Leary, chief executive of Ryanair is currently preparing to stand down – that’s if a report by business website CityAM.com is to [...]

Driving in Spain

Fiona Hilliard — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:19:42 +0000

When renting a car in Spain it is very unlikely that you’ll come up against any language barriers, in fact, most agents’ command of the English language will put your own to shame. But just in case – you never know when the following Spanish phrases will come in handy – or get you out [...]

How to Find Cheap Car Hire in Verbier

Fiona Hilliard — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:32:15 +0000

Hi there There’s a group of us (four in total) heading to Verbier for a ski break on the last week of November. The resort itself is working out fairly pricey so we’re wondering if there is any way that we can save on our car rental. Any tips on how to get a cheap deal? Grace, [...]

Scenic Drives in the South of France

Fiona Hilliard — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:22:07 +0000

Provence is home to some of France’s most scenic drives and has long been the favourite destination for day-trippers looking to enjoy a leisurely jaunt in the French countryside. The following three are just a few of our favourite drives in the area: Mont Ventoux: Mont Ventoux is one of those stunningly picturesque destinations that you ‘d [...]

What is Portugal like in October and November?

Fiona Hilliard — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:59:29 +0000

Dear Editor, We’re taking the kids on a half-term trip to the Algarve at the end of this month. We got a cheap package deal so we’re planning to rent a car in Faro Airport. The thing is, we’re a bit worried about what the weather will be like as we’ve only ever been to Portugal [...]

Argus Wins Best Car Hire Website at Travolution Awards

Fiona Hilliard — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:04:49 +0000

You find us in high spirits today. Last night we scooped the Best Car Hire Website award at the Travolution awards which took place in the rather salubrious surroundings of London’s Dorchester hotel. Seeing off tough competition from the likes of holidayautos.com, auto-europe.co.uk, budget.co.uk and usrentacar.co.uk, judges say we won them over with our “quick-click search [...]

Ryanair Removes Check-in Desks

Fiona Hilliard — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:45:58 +0000

Image by Drewski2112 via Flickr A notice to all Argus Car Hire customers travelling with Ryanair. From Thursday all Ryanair passengers will be required to check in online at least four hours and no more than 15 days before their sheduled departure. They will also need to print their own boarding pass at a cost of [...]