Corfu rewards the visitor who can movement on their possess agenda. The island looks small on a map however once you get off the most important roads, distances suppose longer, buses thin out, and taxis upload up speedily. That is why such a lot of travellers decide on up a car the moment they land at Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias.
I actually have rented automobiles at Corfu airport for work and holidays, in top season and in past due October drizzle. The development is perpetually the similar. The those that did a few homework are on the road in 20 minutes. The ones who rushed the reserving stand in queues, argue over insurance plan at the desk and hit upon surprise bills on their card a week later.
If you choose a glossy Corfu airport car condominium revel in, the excellent lesson is to have an understanding of in which others go improper. The following ten errors are those I see almost always at Corfu airport, which includes what to do as a substitute.
1. Assuming “airport vehicle condo” at all times capacity on-site
Many company look up “Corfu airport car or truck apartment” or “hire motor vehicle Corfu airport” and assume every result is inside the terminal. It is simply not that easy.
At Corfu, some brands have desks within the arrivals hall and their vehicles inside the airport parking just throughout the line. Others operate “meet and greet” or commute offerings. You go out arrivals, seek for somebody retaining a small signal, and journey a minibus to an off website online lot a couple of minutes away.
That will not be always terrible. Off site providers will be more cost effective and extra versatile on matters equivalent to mileage or extra drivers. The main issue appears in case you be expecting to walk for your car in 5 minutes and as an alternative lose 40 minutes monitoring down a commute in 30 measure heat after a three hour flight from London.
If you choose a clearly on web site Corfu airport lease a motor vehicle selection, cost rigorously. Look for clean wording similar to “table internal terminal” or “on airport”. If the confirmation mentions a go back and forth, meeting element or “office 400 m from terminal”, construct that into your timings. It matters on arrival, and it basically matters in case you have an early morning departure and want to drop the auto and nevertheless determine in on time.
2. Booking basically on fee and ignoring the insurance coverage structure
I still see humans brag that they chanced on the “superb automotive rental Corfu airport” for 12 euros an afternoon in August. That base fee is incomprehensible with out figuring out the insurance.
In Greece, fundamental insurance plan veritably consists of 3rd birthday party legal responsibility and a few sort of collision break waiver (CDW) with a excessive extra. I even have noticed excesses from seven-hundred to 1,800 euros for an economy auto. If there may be injury, you pay as much as that amount until you have got added cowl.
The ordinary mistakes are two. First, individuals bypass any further disguise and cross their hands, then spend their holiday nerve-racking approximately slender streets in Corfu Town. Second, they purchase an “extra refund” coverage from a broking site and do not realize that the rental corporation will nonetheless block the entire excess on their card at collection.
A good attitude at Corfu airport automotive condominium counters is to determine upfront the way you prefer to deal with risk. Some travelers are blissful with a extensive deposit since they've got a powerful credit card and journey with condominium claims. Others sleep superior with a “zero extra” package deal that prices greater in line with day however shrinks the security block and economic exposure.
Read the insurance coverage area previously you click on “Book”. Compare the money of adding full hide from the apartment friends with a standalone extra coverage from a credible insurer. There is not any unmarried exact reply, but taking walks up to the table with no a plan is the fastest path to tension and costly upsells.
three. Not checking fuel policy and mileage until now confirming
Corfu airport condominium automobiles well-nigh constantly use the similar couple of gas policies. The trouble is that they look an identical at a glance, yet charge very the several quantities over every week.
“Full to full” capacity you pick up the automobile with a complete tank, go back it complete, and in simple terms pay for what you operate. This is normally the fairest selection, notably for those who plan to drive round the island.
“Pre acquire” or “complete to drain” means you pay for a tank of fuel at series and will return it on fumes. It sounds easy however infrequently works on your favour except you may in Helpful hints actuality use most of the tank and the corporate fees gas at near to pump prices plus a small value. Many do not.
Mileage is every other quiet trap. Most Corfu car apartment businesses provide unlimited kilometres, which is right for exploring Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, the south coast and inland villages devoid of fascinated about distance. A few low rate deals conceal a per kilometre price above a modest day after day limit.
If your confirmation e mail is vague or uses phrases you do now not recognise, e mail or message the service provider and ask for clarity. You would like written confirmation of equally fuel coverage and mileage. Verbal causes at a busy airport desk are clean to misunderstand and masses tougher to dispute later.
four. Overlooking driving realities on Corfu when picking automobile size
Looking at modern graphics, it's tempting to improve to a bigger automotive. More area for baggage, higher aircon, perchance even an automated for comfort. On Corfu, the bigger the car, the more you want to reflect onconsideration on where you propose to pressure.
The highway from the airport into Corfu Town is large ample, yet as quickly as you wander into older districts, roads slim to 1 lane with stone partitions on the two aspects and tight corners around constructions. Some coastal villages and hilltop settlements are even tighter, with parking that slightly matches a compact hatchback.
If you're staying at a resort on the most east coast avenue, a larger auto may not be a hassle. If your villa is up a steep lane inside the north of the island, a small to medium car with first rate chronic and superb turning circle is a far larger preference than a cumbersome SUV. I actually have watched other folks spend 15 minutes maneuvering a great car or truck out of a lane that was truly designed for scooters and donkeys.
For most travelers, the candy spot for Corfu airport vehicle apartment is a small or compact automotive, manual or automated relying on your comfort. Enough boot space for luggage, however small ample to slide into tight parking areas and meet oncoming traffic with room to respire.
five. Ignoring comments of designated Corfu airport branches
Many guests do a fast verify of the emblem name and give up there. They see a large global enterprise they know from residence, assume a conventional ride, and reserve. In prepare, department excellent can differ greatly.

Search principally for the corporation call plus “Corfu airport” and examine the contemporary critiques for that situation. Patterns be counted extra than distinguished complaints. If one man or woman mentions a longer wait time, that can just be a hectic Saturday in August. If 20 men and women throughout three months document aggressive spoil claims or unexplained quotes, pay realization.
This suggestions applies both to regional companies. Some small Corfu lease a car businesses close to the airport are appropriate, with pleasant provider and flexible policies. Others cut corners or have faith in technicalities to lift profits. Reviews repeatedly make the big difference clean.
A 15 euro change on a week’s rental just isn't value an uncongenial argument over “pre current” scratches you have been on no account allowed time to file.
6. Not preparing your documents and card correctly
One of the dullest concerns, yet I nevertheless watch it spread in line on the airport each summer. The paperwork for hiring a car or truck in Greece is simple, but there are about a helpful small print.
You commonly desire:
A legitimate using licence which you have held for a minimum of three hundred and sixty five days, frequently two, depending at the firm and automotive organization. For non EU / EEA drivers from special countries, an International Driving Permit along your place licence. Check this earlier, simply because you won't download an IDP after you are already in Greece. A credits card within the fundamental driving force’s title with ample available restriction to conceal the deposit or excess block. Passport or countrywide ID card for identity.Where human beings get caught is with the card. Many Corfu airport car or truck apartment desks do not be given debit cards for the safety deposit, in simple terms for fee. Others accept them yet only with costly more coverage. Prepaid cards are on the whole refused outright.
If your affirmation does not honestly kingdom that debit playing cards are primary for the deposit, suppose you desire a everyday credit card with embossed title and numbers. Also be certain that the card reduce is prime sufficient. I watched a pair from Germany grew to become away because their modest limit couldn't accommodate a 1,500 euro block for the excess plus their resort’s pre authorisation.
Print or shop your affirmation electronic mail as a PDF, which include the voucher if you booked simply by a broking service. Mobile cyber web at Corfu airport is primarily best, yet a lifeless battery or roaming subject needs to not stand between you and your auto.
7. Chasing “no deposit” affords with out analyzing the small print
The phrase “Corfu airport car condo no deposit” is enticing, exceptionally in the event you dislike the thought of countless numbers of euros blocked to your card. Genuine low deposit or no deposit recommendations do exist, however the satan sits inside the detail.
Usually, when a business enterprise advertises no deposit, it manner considered one of two things. Either they've got constructed the menace right into a increased day-after-day rate with necessary complete insurance, or they will nevertheless maintain a smaller amount as a fuel or traffic high-quality guarantee. Sometimes either.
There is nothing incorrect with paying slightly greater for the peace of mind that comes from not having 1,000 euros frozen on your card. Just bear in mind what you might be paying for. Check:
The precise volume they may hold in your card, if any.
Whether the no deposit offer is tied to a selected insurance plan package deal. How they maintain minor destroy, including small scratches or chips.Compare this to a time-honored package deal from yet another provider that makes use of a deposit however bargains minimize costs. Over a week’s holiday, the overall fee can swing both approach. The worst mistake is to ebook at the force of “no deposit” by myself and then hit upon an extended listing of exclusions and further rates whenever you succeed in the table.
eight. Skipping the inspection and graphic ordinary at pickup
You are drained, the queue has been sluggish, and the seaside is looking. The agent facets to the automobile, you signal the sort, throw your baggage within the boot and force off. That five minute shortcut can money dearly if there may be present hurt that by no means made it onto the report.
At Corfu airport, where dozens of cars rotate among renters each and every week in summer season, small bumps and scrapes are pursuits. Most establishments are fair approximately this and mark the entirety they know. Some will not be thorough, primarily at peak instances.
Treat your inspection as portion of the rental, not a nuisance. Walk around the automobile, cost every panel, the wheels, and the the front and rear bumpers primarily. Pay focus to:
Small scratches and dents.
Alloy wheel scuffs and hubcap wreck. Chips or cracks in the windscreen. Any hurt on the roof if you are tall sufficient or can see from an attitude.Photograph the whole lot, even themes which can be already marked. Capture the car from every corner, the odometer interpreting, and the gasoline gauge. Time stamped graphics to your mobilephone create a document this is difficult to argue with later.
Encourage the group member to feature any lacking marks to the shape earlier than you sign. If they appear reluctant, dwell well mannered but organization. A little while here is valued at a ways more than an offended e mail exchange after you come domicile.
9. Forgetting to plan parking and access at your accommodation
Corfu airport automobile rental is the simple piece. The more difficult section, highly in height season, is dwelling with the auto after you reach your lodging.
Many vintage villages and some areas of Corfu Town have very confined parking. Some beachfront lodges have individual a great deal, others count absolutely on public areas that fill up simply in July and August. Steep exclusive driveways are universal for villas, now and again with awkward angles and loose gravel.
Before you book, ask your accommodation about parking in one-of-a-kind, purposeful terms. Do now not settle for “parking achievable”. Ask no matter if it's far private or public, how many spaces they've, how tight the get right of entry to is, and whether bigger vehicles more healthy simply.
This ought to impact now not simply your desire of apartment automobile length, as pronounced earlier, yet additionally whether you even want a auto on your overall reside. For example, when you are spending 3 nights in Corfu Town after which a week in a north coast village, one can do more beneficial to spend the primary facet taking walks and taxis, then prepare a Corfu airport motor vehicle condo establishing at the day you leave the city.
Thinking in segments like this could keep dollars, parking headaches and the strain of threading a automotive through the city’s one approach process in case you are nonetheless jet lagged.
10. Returning the automobile in a hurry and neglecting the basics
I even have lost count of what percentage disputes delivery at drop off for the reason that the renter is hurrying to trap a flight. When you might be dashing, you omit gasoline, you park wherein you aren't supposed to, otherwise you hand over keys without checking the very last bureaucracy.
Give yourself a properly buffer for return. If your flight is at 13:00, do now not plan to roll into the automobile park at 11:forty five, particularly for those who rented off website and need a shuttle ride back to the terminal.
At return, purpose to:
Refill the tank at a station virtually the airport when you are on a full to full policy. Keep the receipt. There are a few petrol stations inside a quick force, however some may be busy. Remove all exclusive objects from the automobile, along with door pockets and less than seats. Walk across the car or truck with the agent in which attainable and ask them to make sure in writing that the automobile is lower back with out new smash and with a full tank if appropriate. Take last pics, which includes the gasoline gauge and odometer.If you ought to use a key drop box since you're returning exterior place of job hours, pics and a brief video walkaround was even extra critical. Corfu airport lease a motor vehicle providers probably take care of these returns rather, yet a clean visible listing protects you in case a brand new dent seems to be at the inspection sheet later.
A brief pre reserving checklist
Used smartly, a auto turns Corfu into a bendy, light island to explore. Used badly, it turns into a thread of tension going for walks by using your trip. Before you decide to any airport car appoint Corfu deal, run because of this quick record.
Verify if the company is on airport or off website online with a travel, and the way that impacts your timings. Read recent opinions specifically for the Corfu airport branch, not just the model. Compare complete rate, adding insurance, gas policy and any mileage limits, no longer just the bottom every single day cost. Check parking and access at your accommodation and make a selection vehicle length in this case. Confirm what cards and information you need and no matter if any “no deposit” offer has restrictive stipulations.Handled with this stage of consciousness, Corfu airport apartment autos believe less like a gamble and extra like a neatly managed device on your go back and forth.
Final stories from the queue at Corfu airport
If you spend 30 minutes within the arrivals corridor on a hectic afternoon, you're able to essentially are expecting who will breeze due to and who will come to be pissed off. The ones with printed confirmations, clean choices on insurance plan and reasonable expectancies approximately the car and the island have a tendency to depart smiling. The ones who booked on value on my own and did no longer examine a be aware of the terms are the ones arguing at the table.
Corfu auto condominium does now not must be elaborate. It is with ease a count of matching the truth at the floor with your very own tolerance for risk, funds and driving self assurance. Look beyond headline expenditures, bear in mind how assurance and deposits paintings, make a choice the accurate dimension of motor vehicle for Corfu’s roads, and provide yourself time at equally pickup and go back.
Do that, and your hire a automobile at Corfu airport will become what it may want to be: an uncomplicated gateway to mountain villages, quiet beaches and late dinners in small tavernas, to your personal clock instead of somebody else’s.