Corfu rewards the vacationer who can go on their personal schedule. The island seems small on a map however whenever you get off the main roads, distances feel longer, buses thin out, and taxis upload up at once. That is why so many travelers select up a motor vehicle the instant they land at Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias.
I even have rented automobiles at Corfu airport for work and holidays, in high season and in overdue October drizzle. The sample is always the comparable. The folks that did some homework are on the line in 20 mins. The ones who rushed the reserving stand in queues, argue over insurance coverage at the table and discover surprise premiums on their card a week later.
If you wish a clean Corfu airport vehicle apartment ride, the greatest lesson is to apprehend the place others move improper. The following ten blunders are the ones I see almost always at Corfu airport, in conjunction with what to do in its place.
1. Assuming “airport motor vehicle apartment” usually method on-site
Many traffic search for “Corfu airport automobile rental” or “appoint automobile Corfu airport” and anticipate each and every end result is in the terminal. It isn't that plain.
At Corfu, some manufacturers have desks inside the arrivals hall and their motors inside the airport parking simply across the road. Others function “meet and greet” or trip offerings. You go out arrivals, search for anyone holding a small signal, and experience a minibus to an off web page lot a few minutes away.
That is not essentially poor. Off web page carriers should be would becould very well be cheaper and greater flexible on issues equivalent to mileage or extra drivers. The crisis looks after you are expecting to walk in your car or truck in 5 minutes and instead lose forty mins tracking down a commute in 30 stage warm after a 3 hour flight from London.
If you favor a clearly on site Corfu airport appoint a vehicle option, assess carefully. Look for transparent wording comparable to “desk inside terminal” or “on airport”. If the affirmation mentions a trip, assembly level or “workplace 400 m from terminal”, build that into your timings. It matters on arrival, and it exceedingly issues in case you have an early morning departure and want to drop the car and nevertheless inspect in on time.
2. Booking only on cost and ignoring the coverage structure
I nonetheless see individuals brag that they stumbled on the “most effective auto condo Corfu airport” for 12 euros a day in August. That base payment is meaningless without figuring out the assurance.
In Greece, easy assurance many times carries 3rd get together legal responsibility and a few model of collision harm waiver (CDW) with a top excess. I have noticeable excesses from seven hundred to 1,800 euros for an financial system auto. If there's ruin, you pay up to that amount except you've got you have got additional disguise.
The conventional error are two. First, human beings pass any extra cover and pass their fingers, then spend their trip caring about slender streets in Corfu Town. Second, they purchase an “extra refund” coverage from a dealer web page and do no longer comprehend that the apartment brand will nevertheless block the whole excess on their card at series.
A smart method at Corfu airport auto rental counters is to opt prematurely the way you favor to address menace. cheap cars Corfu airport Some visitors are completely happy with a great deposit due to the fact that they have a mighty credit card and enjoy with condo claims. Others sleep superior with a “zero excess” kit that quotes extra according to day yet shrinks the protection block and economic publicity.
Read the insurance coverage part until now you click “Book”. Compare the value of including complete cowl from the apartment corporation with a standalone excess coverage from a credible insurer. There is not any single correct answer, yet going for walks as much as the desk with no a plan is the quickest direction to strain and pricey upsells.
3. Not checking fuel policy and mileage until now confirming
Corfu airport apartment automobiles nearly continuously use the same couple of gasoline policies. The worry is that they appear same at a look, yet expense very the several amounts over per week.
“Full to full” ability you choose up the automobile with a complete tank, go back it full, and most effective pay for what you operate. This is most commonly the fairest preference, surprisingly in the event you plan to power across the island.
“Pre acquire” or “full to empty” ability you pay for a tank of fuel at assortment and may return it on fumes. It sounds handy but not often works in your favour unless you may clearly use so much of the tank and the business enterprise expenditures gas at close to pump costs plus a small fee. Many do not.
Mileage is a further quiet capture. Most Corfu motor vehicle condominium companies present unlimited kilometres, which is perfect for exploring Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, the south coast and inland villages without considering distance. A few low worth can provide conceal a in step with kilometre can charge above a modest day-to-day decrease.
If your affirmation email is vague or makes use of terms you do now not comprehend, e-mail or message the enterprise and ask for clarity. You need written affirmation of each gasoline policy and mileage. Verbal explanations at a busy airport desk are uncomplicated to misconceive and plenty more difficult to dispute later.
4. Overlooking riding realities on Corfu whilst settling on motor vehicle size
Looking at glossy pictures, it's far tempting to improve to a bigger motor vehicle. More space for luggage, better air con, maybe even an automatic for relief. On Corfu, the bigger the auto, the extra you need to you have got in which you propose to drive.
The road from the airport into Corfu Town is vast satisfactory, but as quickly as you wander into older districts, roads slim to one lane with stone walls on either facets and tight corners round homes. Some coastal villages and hilltop settlements are even tighter, with parking that slightly matches a compact hatchback.
If you might be staying at a motel on the main east coast avenue, a bigger car won't be a quandary. If your villa is up a steep lane Corfu Airport Car Rentals in the north of the island, a small to medium motor vehicle with first rate energy and true turning circle is a much more suitable collection than a bulky SUV. I have watched other folks spend 15 minutes maneuvering a gigantic car out of a lane that changed into simply designed for scooters and donkeys.
For most viewers, the candy spot for Corfu airport auto apartment is a small or compact motor vehicle, guide or computerized based for your convenience. Enough boot house for baggage, but small enough to slide into tight parking areas and meet oncoming visitors with room to respire.
five. Ignoring studies of explicit Corfu airport branches
Many visitors do a instant determine of the brand identify and stop there. They see a tremendous overseas firm they know from residence, imagine a typical ride, and reserve. In prepare, branch satisfactory can differ broadly.
Search especially for the business enterprise title plus “Corfu airport” and read the up to date studies for that vicinity. Patterns count number more than unique proceedings. If one particular person mentions an extended wait time, which will just be a hectic Saturday in August. If 20 americans throughout three months record competitive hurt claims or unexplained prices, pay recognition.
This tips applies both to native services. Some small Corfu lease a automotive corporations close to the airport are important, with friendly carrier and flexible insurance policies. Others reduce corners or rely on technicalities to boost profit. Reviews always make the change transparent.
A 15 euro change on a week’s condominium isn't price a bad argument over “pre present” scratches you have been by no means allowed time to report.
6. Not preparing your files and card correctly
One of the dullest disorders, yet I still watch it unfold in line at the airport each and every summer time. The paperwork for hiring a automotive in Greece is easy, but there are about a relevant main points.
You more often than not need:
A legitimate riding licence that you have held for a minimum of three hundred and sixty five days, often two, depending at the visitors and automotive neighborhood. For non EU / EEA drivers from specific countries, an International Driving Permit alongside your property licence. Check this beforehand, considering you are not able to get hold of an IDP after you are already in Greece. A credit card inside the primary driver’s name with satisfactory conceivable reduce to disguise the deposit or excess block. Passport or national ID card for identity.Where workers get stuck is with the card. Many Corfu airport automotive rental desks do now not take delivery of debit cards for the security deposit, most effective for settlement. Others settle for them but simply with expensive added insurance coverage. Prepaid playing cards are quite often refused outright.
If your affirmation does now not simply country that debit playing cards are time-honored for the deposit, think you need a widely wide-spread credit score card with embossed name and numbers. Also ensure the cardboard decrease is excessive adequate. I watched a couple from Germany grew to become away considering that their modest limit could not accommodate a 1,500 euro block for the extra plus their hotel’s pre authorisation.
Print or keep your affirmation electronic mail as a PDF, together with the voucher while you booked using a dealer. Mobile information superhighway at Corfu airport is generally satisfactory, however a dead battery or roaming element have to not stand between you and your automotive.
7. Chasing “no deposit” presents devoid of reading the small print
The phrase “Corfu airport auto condominium no deposit” is sexy, extraordinarily should you dislike the notion of tons of of euros blocked on your card. Genuine low deposit or no deposit recommendations do exist, however the satan sits in the detail.
Usually, when a friends advertises no deposit, it manner one in all two things. Either they've got outfitted the threat right into a higher day after day rate with crucial full insurance coverage, or they can still grasp a smaller volume as a gasoline or traffic satisfactory assure. Sometimes each.
There is not anything flawed with paying a little bit greater for the peace of intellect that comes from now not having 1,000 euros frozen to your card. Just realize what you're deciding to buy. Check:
The properly quantity they can retain in your card, if any.
Whether the no deposit offer is tied to a particular insurance coverage bundle. How they maintain minor injury, which include small scratches or chips.Compare this to a elementary package from a further friends that uses a deposit however delivers curb quotes. Over per week’s holiday, the full charge can swing either way. The worst mistake is to publication on the electricity of “no deposit” on my own and then uncover a protracted list of exclusions and further bills if you succeed in the table.
eight. Skipping the inspection and snapshot pursuits at pickup
You are worn out, the queue has been sluggish, and the sea coast is looking. The agent features to the car, you signal the shape, throw your luggage within the boot and power off. That 5 minute shortcut can value dearly if there is present spoil that not at all made it onto the file.
At Corfu airport, the place dozens of cars rotate among renters every week in summer time, small bumps and scrapes are recurring. Most establishments are sincere about this and mark the entirety they understand. Some don't seem to be thorough, tremendously at top times.
Treat your inspection as section of the condo, no longer a nuisance. Walk round the car, examine each and every panel, the wheels, and the front and rear bumpers especially. Pay concentration to:
Small scratches and dents.
Alloy wheel scuffs and hubcap harm. Chips or cracks within the windscreen. Any injury on the roof once you are tall enough or can see from an angle.Photograph every little thing, even matters that are already marked. Capture the auto from each one corner, the odometer examining, and the fuel gauge. Time stamped snap shots to your mobile create a checklist that is difficult to argue with later.
Encourage the employees member so as to add any missing marks to the shape earlier than you signal. If they seem reluctant, reside polite however corporation. A little while here is price far more than an angry e mail exchange after you come dwelling.
nine. Forgetting to plot parking and access at your accommodation
Corfu airport auto condo is the straight forward piece. The tougher element, primarily in peak season, is living with the auto while you attain your lodging.
Many historic villages and a few ingredients of Corfu Town have very limited parking. Some beachfront inns have confidential an awful lot, others matter fullyyt on public spaces that stock up in a timely fashion in July and August. Steep deepest driveways are regular for villas, repeatedly with awkward angles and loose gravel.

Before you booklet, ask your accommodation approximately parking in precise, practical phrases. Do no longer settle for “parking attainable”. Ask even if it truly is inner most or public, what percentage spaces they have, how tight the access is, and even if large automobiles in shape simply.
This must have an impact on no longer best your possibility of condo auto size, as acknowledged previous, but also even if you even desire a auto to your entire continue to be. For illustration, in case you are spending 3 nights in Corfu Town and then a week in a north coast village, one could do higher to spend the first part strolling and taxis, then organize a Corfu airport car condo commencing on the day you leave metropolis.
Thinking in segments like this would retailer money, parking complications and the pressure of threading a car or truck with the aid of the the town’s one manner device in the event you are nonetheless jet lagged.
10. Returning the auto in a rush and neglecting the basics
I actually have lost be counted of what number of disputes jump at drop off considering that the renter is hurrying to trap a flight. When you're dashing, you forget about gas, you park where you don't seem to be alleged to, or you surrender keys with out checking the last forms.
Give your self a genuine buffer for go back. If your flight is at thirteen:00, do now not plan to roll into the automobile park at 11:45, principally for those who rented off website and desire a commute experience to come back to the terminal.
At return, aim to:
Refill the tank at a station as regards to the airport in case you are on a full to complete coverage. Keep the receipt. There are various petrol stations within a short drive, but a few may be busy. Remove all own pieces from the automobile, which include door wallet and beneath seats. Walk around the auto with the agent in which probable and ask them to be certain in writing that the automobile is again with no new harm and with a full tank if perfect. Take last footage, inclusive of the gasoline gauge and odometer.If that you have to use a key drop container on the grounds that you're returning outside workplace hours, pix and a instant video walkaround become even more excellent. Corfu airport lease a auto services usually take care of those returns notably, yet a transparent visible record protects you in case a new dent appears to be like on the inspection sheet later.
A immediate pre booking checklist
Used nicely, a vehicle turns Corfu right into a bendy, elementary island to explore. Used badly, it becomes a thread of tension going for walks through your trip. Before you decide to any airport car or truck lease Corfu deal, run simply by this quick checklist.
Verify if the business enterprise is on airport or off website online with a shuttle, and how that impacts your timings. Read recent opinions specifically for the Corfu airport branch, no longer simply the manufacturer. Compare whole charge, consisting of insurance coverage, gas coverage and any mileage limits, now not simply the base day-after-day price. Check parking and get entry to at your accommodation and decide car size as a result. Confirm what playing cards and information you need and no matter if any “no deposit” supply has restrictive situations.Handled with this point of consideration, Corfu airport condo automobiles suppose less like of venture and greater like a smartly controlled tool on your go back and forth.
Final mind from the queue at Corfu airport
If you spend half-hour within the arrivals hall on a busy afternoon, you can basically expect who will breeze by using and who will become pissed off. The ones with printed confirmations, clean judgements on insurance coverage and life like expectations about the car and the island generally tend to depart smiling. The ones who booked on cost by myself and did no longer read a note of the phrases are the ones arguing at the table.
Corfu automobile rental does no longer have got to be frustrating. It is purely a topic of matching the truth on the flooring together with your own tolerance for chance, funds and driving confidence. Look past headline fees, be aware how coverage and deposits work, favor the precise length of auto for Corfu’s roads, and supply your self time at each pickup and return.
Do that, and your rent a automotive at Corfu airport becomes what it must always be: an ordinary gateway to mountain villages, quiet shores and overdue dinners in small tavernas, to your possess clock instead of somebody else’s.