Europe & Beyond

The wave of airports in the US building centralised rental car centres continues to grow.  For the past decade airlines across the United States have merged car hire zones into a single facility. Instead of individual car hire USA companies are running seperate buses to and from the airport and each hire company having its own car parking areas. Busing is shared, car rental counters and cars are side-by-side and valuable space around airports is freed up.  Still to take up the schene is the worlds biggest car hire market – Orlando.

Commenters were quick to voice their opinion

This is more efficient; but each car hire company loses its competitive advantage. No more dropping you off at the actual rental car. Why not just have one agency then – or better yet, the airport have its own hire car system?

Cleveland and San Francisco both opened consolidated rental car facilities in 1998 and since then they have opened in many other  major airports in the USA .

More are planned, such as pooled car hire Orlando, rental firms in Miami, San Jose, Memphis and deeper south in New Orleans.

Though emissions from one car are nothing compared with those from even the best airplane, they add up. So instead of renting a car to get around the city you’re visiting, try researching public-transit options. Public transit is often cheaper and faster, offers a great way to sightsee, and is almost always more earth-friendly

Cherbourg

If you’re in search of a tranquil atmosphere for a break from your hectic schedule, Cherbourg is ideal for you.

Catching the cross channel ferry from Portsmouth Port at 8am can get you there before lunchtime and you can travel back in the evening the following day. As a passenger you will pay very little for the ferry trip and you then have the option to hire a car on arrival.  Before you venture further into France you might want to spen a day without a car in Cherbourg.  When you’ve taken a day or two to enjoy what Cherbourg has to offer tourists you can easily arrange to pick up car hire. France is blessed with well maintained open roads and you can reach almost any part from Cherbourg in a day’s driving

Cherbourg ferry port is right on the edge of the town centre, meaning your break can begin as soon as you step off the ferry. Its rich historical background makes this city the perfect place to relax with a loved one, soaking in some cultural heritage.

If gorgeous scenery gets you excited, visiting Cherbourg won’t leave you disappointed. After a light lunch in one of the city’s traditional cafés you could wander hand in hand to the Ravalet Chateau in Tourlaville where the views are staggering. The magnificent landscaped grounds surround a mediaeval manor house built during the 16th century.

Emmanuel Liais Gardens

Or why not take a stroll through one of France’s most beautiful gardens such as Emmanuel Liais Gardens,  definitely worth a visit with over 500 different types of rare plants that Liais himself shipped over to Cherbourg from South America and Asia.

Cherbourg also has a strong religious heritage, making a visit to the beautiful churches a must. The bell tower of Saint-Martin of Octeville and the sculptures of the Trinity Basilica are just two examples of the eye-catching religious buildings that hold fascinating history. The Abbey of the Vow is now listed as a Historical Monument for its stunning architecture and archaeological value.

Cherbourg Museums – Thomas Henry Art Museum

If your heart lies with art, then the Thomas Henry art museum is the next stop. The museum is home to many famous sculptures and paintings ranging from the 15th to the 19th century by foreign masters as well as French classical painters.

After a day of exploring and soaking in the magnificent culture, you could take a stroll down to the marina. Enjoy a romantic French meal in a traditional French restaurant and stay in one of the lovely B&Bs the town has to offer.

The following day you could take a look at one or two of the interesting museums located in Cherbourg; the Liberation museum is fascinating. With the theme “from the darkness to the light” it takes the visitor through the stages of history in the Second World War; from the fall of France to the liberation.

With the ease of the high speed ferry from Portsmouth Port your trip away will be stress free, allowing you to relax and take in the wonders of Cherbourg.

Image – CHHeuvet

Discount Car Hire Voucher Codes

Do you find that you spend hours searching for the best car hire deals online – convinced that somewhere on the web you can get a cheaper deal only to discover that your savings amount to very little.

At Europe & Beyond we offer the latest voucher codes for car hire in Europe and elsewhere around the world.

Latest car hire voucher codes Summer / Autumn 2009

September

September Car hire with 15% off by using this easyCar voucher code SCORCHIO
Expiry Date:01/10/2009

Go to easyCar website

August

By using easyCar discount voucher code HOTTER
Expiry Date:01/09/2009

get up to 10% discount on August Car Rental

expires 01/09/ – This voucher code is designed for easyCar. Simply copy and paste it into the Redeem Promotional Code box during checkout.

Book online to get the best discounts available – and remember this summer 2009 it is

expected that there will be a shortage of hire cars throughout Europe so book early. Car hire Spain, France, Italy and Cyprus are most likely to be affected by the shortage – those leaving their booking arrangements to the last minute may be very disappointed with the lack of choice of cars – if any are available at all.

You may be looking for holiday car hire when you arrive at the airport or to arrange local car rental when you reach your final destination either way you can save money using voucher codes when you book your car online.

This summer in the build up to the busiest time of year car hire companies are offering high value voucher codes that will get you upto 15% discount off the total cost of car rental – for a weeks hire of a family saloon car that can mean a saving of up to £50

Europe Car Hire > France > Driving from Paris to Rouen

Top Attractions to Visit in Rouen

If you’re planning a holiday in Paris, consider renting a car and visit the beautiful city of Rouen, the capital of the Normandy region. Here is a guide to some of the things that you can see and do during your visit to Rouen.

Getting to Rouen from Paris

It will take you about an hour and a half to drive from Paris to Rouen in your hire car. Simply head out of Paris on the A14 partial toll road, following the signs for Rouen. Take the exit for the A13 partial toll road, and follow this road for 88.9km. Take exit 22-Oissel and follow the signs for Rouen-Est in order to get onto the D18e. This will take you into Rouen.

Top Attractions in Rouen

Once you’ve arrived in Rouen, park your car and take some time to explore the old part of the city. You can take a walking tour or, if you’re visiting Rouen during the summer, enjoy a 45 minute guided tour of the medieval section of Rouen on the “Little Train” (Le Petit Train de Rouen), which departs from outside of the Cathedral.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame

The Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame dates back to the 12th Century, although it was constructed over a number of years and features examples of early Gothic, late Gothic and High Gothic architecture. The Cathedral’s crypt dates back further, having been part of the Romanesque cathedral which originally stood on the site, and houses a tomb containing the heart of Richard the Lionheart and the tomb of Duke Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy, as well as the tombs of the cardinals d’Amboise.

photo – saitor

The cathedral’s magnificent 250 ft high steeple was constructed between the 15th and 17th centuries, and is known as the Butter Tower (Tour de Beurre) because it was built thanks to money donated by wealthy Rouen residents in return for being able to continue to eat butter during Lent. The cathedral also has a 500ft high bell tower, known as the Lantern Tower (Tour Lanterne), which contains 56 bells.

Maclou Church and St. Ouen Abbey

Other historic religious buildings in Rouen include the 15th Century St. Maclou Church and St. Ouen Abbey, which dates back to the 14th Century. You can also visit the more contemporary St. Joan of Arc Church, which was constructed near to the spot in the Old Market Square (Place du Vieux Marché) on which St. Joan was burned at the stake.

Rouen’s secular historical attractions include its Great Clock (Gros-Horloge) and the Renaissance-style House of the Exchequer (Bureau des Finances). The city also has a number of museums, including the Rouen Natural History Museum, the Museum of Antiquities, Joan of Arc Tower (where Joan of Arc was tried), the Joan of Arc Wax Museum and the Flaubert Pavilion (part of the building in which Gustave Flaubert, author of “Madame Bovary”, lived).

Rouen also has excellent restaurants, markets, shops and bars, making it a great place to visit for a day or two during your holiday.

Italy Car Hire > Rome to Tivoli

Following the great feed back our feature about driving from Milan to Turin earlier this month we are delighted to focus on another Italian journey in our car hire Italy series.

You can book a car in advance and take advantage of online offers and have your vehicle ready when you arrive in Rome. Car hire collection can be at the airport or from various city centre locations.

To get to Tivoli from Rome by car, head out of Rome on the A24 partial toll road and take the exit signposted for Tivoli in order to get onto the SP51ab/Strada Provinciale Maremmana Inferiore partial toll road. Continue straight on along the SS5. This will take you into Tivoli.

You can stop off along the way to visit the Villa Adriana (Hadrian’s Villa), just outside of the town. The ruined villa and its gardens are so large that it could take you a full day to thoroughly explore them, so it’s best to visit it and then stay in Tivoli for a few days before returning to Rome, so you don’t feel like your visit is rushed.

Villa Adriana was constructed in the 2nd Century A.D. and Emperor Hadrian is recorded as having been personally involved in the design of the building. Work began on the building, which was constructed around an existing villa on the site, soon after Hadrian took office and it was completed within ten years. The villa is said to have been considered one of the greatest architectural achievements of the Roman Empire and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

You can see the remains of Villa Adriana’s many buildings, which included bath complexes, libraries, temples, a Greek Theatre and the Piazza d’Oro (Golden Court), which was used for formal events, before continuing on your journey to Tivoli in your Rome hire car.

Tivoli Attractions – Villa d’Este

One of Tivoli’s most popular attractions is the Villa D’Este which, like Villa Adriana, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The villa was constructed for Cardinal Ippolito d’Este II of Ferrera and was completed in 1550. You can take a tour of the villa to see its frescoed rooms and antique furniture, but Villa D’Este’s main draw is its gardens, which include some beautiful and unusual fountains.

The Organ Fountain, for example, plays music, whilst the Rometta Fountain incorporates miniature versions of some of the most famous of Rome’s landmarks. You can also stroll along the path of the Hundred Fountains or admire the Fountain of the Owl, where singing birds are silenced by the appearance of an owl.

Tivoli Attractions – Parco di Villa Gregoriana

Parco di Villa Gregoriana is the perfect place to go for a walk if you fancy a break from your hire car. The park, which is located in a gorge, dates back to the 19th century and includes a number of caves, such as the Grotto of Neptune, together with the 100ft Grande Cascade waterfall. You can also see one of the town’s landmarks, the Temple of Vesta, which is situated at the top of the gorge.

Italy Car Hire – Other Tivoli Attractions

Other things to see in Tivoli include: Rocca Pia fort, which was built during the 15th century; the Ponte Gregoranio Bridge; the remains of the Roman Ampitheatre of Bleso; and the Temple of Vesta and the Temple of the Sybil.

Car Rental > Italy Car Hire > Hiring a Car in Rome

Europe > Car Hire France > Paris to Reims

Paris is a great destination for a holiday, but if you hire a car while you are in Paris, you can explore more of France. In this article, we look at some of the things that you can see and do in the city of Reims, in the country’s Champagne region.

Hire a car in Paris

Visit Reims – Notre-Dame Cathedral and Champagne Region

It will only take you about an hour and a half to drive to Reims in your Paris rental car, but there is so much to see and do there that it’s worth spending several days there and turning your trip into a two-destination holiday.

To get to Reims from Paris by car, simply head out of Paris on L’Autoroute de L’Est partial toll road and continue straight on along the A4 partial toll road. Leave the A4 at exit 23 and follow the signs into the centre of Reims.

Reims Attractions – Historic Buildings & Monuments

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Reims is full of beautiful historic buildings, with one of its most significant being Notre-Dame Cathedral, which is one of four sites in the city to have UNESCO World Heritage status. It took more than 200 years to complete the Cathedral, which was constructed on the site of the cit

y’s old cathedral, which burned to the ground in 1210.

24 French monarchs have been crowned in Notre-Dame Cathedral, which is adorned with more than 2,300 sculptures, including the famous “Smiling Angel”, which has now become the city’s emblem.

The other UNESCO World Heritage sites in Reims are: the Saint-Remi Abbey Museum; the Romanesque-style Saint-Remi Basilica, which houses Saint-Remi’s tomb; and Tau Palace, the palace of the former Reims’ archbishops.

Reims also has a number of important monuments, including the Porte Mars (a Roman arch dating from the 3rd Century), the Statue of Joan of Arc (which was sculpted by Paul Dubois) and the Fontaine Subé (which is situated in Erlon Square).

Reims Attractions – Other Attractions

Reims’ museums include the Reims-Champagne Automobile Museum, which houses a collection of more than 200 vehicles, together with other items, such as pedal cars, toy cars and signs. You can also visit Le Musée-Hôtel Le Vergeur, where you can see a number of works of art including engravings by Albrecht Dürer, and the Museum of Surrender (Musée de la Reddition) to see the Signing Room where the Third Reich signed the document which ended World War II.

Other attractions in Reims include the Planetarium, the Grand Theatre and the Carnegie Library. There are also a number of parks and gardens in the city, including Le Parc de Champagne, the Pierre Schneiter Horticultural Garden and The Colbert Square which holds an amazing array of flowers and shrubs all year round.

You can also use your hire car in Paris to visit some of the attractions that lie just outside of the city of Reims, such as the Pompelle Fort Museum (Musée du Fort de la Pompelle) or follow the Champagne tourist route to see the region’s famous vineyards and Champagne houses.

Car Hire in France – Hiring a Car in Paris

You can book a hire car in advance and get a good deal online with low-cost, specialist car rental firms. Find airport car hire in locations around the world, including Paris, and you can choose from a range of vehicles.