Wednesday 18 September 2013

UK Autumn Mornings - Take Care When Driving

As the Autumn takes its hold in the UK, it brings with it additional perils of driving, namely strong bright early morning sun and swirling mist. The blinding sunlight coincides with the early morning rush hour, therefore creating a considerable risk to drivers.The drivers have two options:-
1. Reduce speed and flip down the sun visor
2. Slap on the shades -and look cool!
BestCarHire.com has trawled the web to bring you some options when it comes to looking cool while driving.

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So whether you just want to hire a car or a people carrier, just make sure that you are comfortable and capable before you turn that ignition.


Tuesday 17 September 2013

Grand Theft Auto V - Day One Review

With the launch today of the long awaited Grand Theft Auto V by Rockstar North, BestCarHire.com brought together a panel of judges to review the game. Well actually it was Calum and Greig, maxed out on pizza and beer, giving it their best.

"What do you think of the graphics?" "Amazing man!, much better than before!" and I have to agree. They are stunning, so life-like that you truly believe that you are part of the whole scenario being acted out in front of you.
The on-screen radar provides much more detail than before and one thing I noticed was the amount of detail in the roads and pavements. With loose paving stones and rough untreated side roads.
Smash into a fire hydrant and watch the jet of water reach for the sky or why not go for a haircut or a shave at the Herr Kutz barber shop. Choose from many different styles and you can even grow a beard. Whilst the haircut is being administered the mirror reflects every movement.
The game itself has all the usual Grand Theft Auto trimmings, dangerous missions, car chases, excellent background radio stations with cool tunes, oh yes and the occasional bout of violent behaviour - but enough said about that.
Grand Theft Auto V wouldn't be GTA without the cars. Excellent detail, and obviously based upon existing famous car manufacturer's models, I spotted an Olympic Fury, an Albany Emperor Sedan and the Vapid Bullet.
Unfortunately you cannot hire any of these vehicles from BestCarHire.com but please don't let that put you off!
Also try our new Motorhome rental site HolidayCampervan.com.

Wednesday 28 August 2013

The People Carrier - Comfort and Joy!

BestCarHire.com | Economy Car Rental | People Carrier Hire

How to make the kids think you are the best parent in the world - 

Get Yourself a People Carrier!


When I bought my first people carrier back in 1998 the Ford Galaxy was one of the new wave of vehicles built with the family in mind. This created a demand for similar people carriers from different manufacturers like the Volkswagen Sharan. All had one thing in common - the kids loved them!

Room for an average family, and their friends. Individual seats spaced apart to avoid sweaty bodies niggling each other. The ability to remove seats easily, allowing the people carrier to be turned into a good sized van. Another safety feature was the driver had good all-round vision, and the modern-day equivalents still boast this advantage.

Today's people carriers are classy. Known as the MiniVan in the United States, the types of vehicles available in the U.S. include the Chrysler Voyager suitable for 7 people, the Chevrolet Traverse again suitable for more the 6 people, the Ford Ecoline 8 seater and the monster 15 seater Ford Club Wagon.


Typically the people carrier and minivan come with the standard set of features. Take for example the Ecoline - With room for 8 passengers and 10 pieces of luggage, this air-conditioned, automatic passenger van is perfect for large groups looking to arrive at their destination in comfort. In the United Kingdom, the most popular people carriers are the Ford Galaxy and the Volkswagen Touran. Both the Galaxy and the Touran has room for 7 passengers and convenient luggage space, this air-conditioned, automatic passenger van is perfect for larger groups or families.

To make things easier, Click here to download the handy BestCarHire.com app for your iPad or iPhone, to allow you to choose the best people carrier or minivan to fit your needs.Please remember when searching for people carrier hire please tick the minivan selection box.

About the Author:

Malcolm McNeill is CEO of www.BestCarHire.com giving clients the ability to search for the best economy car rental - anytime and anywhere.

Follow BestCarHire on TwitterFaceBook and Google+
Download the latest car rental iPad app here.

Also try our new Motorhome rental site HolidayCampervan.com.

Wednesday 7 August 2013

How Best to Hire a Car at Orlando Airport


If you are looking to hire a car at Orlando International Airport, Florida in the USA, let BestCarHire.com tell you how.

About Florida 


Florida is by far, one of the most entertaining and family friendly holiday locations in the world. It has a bit of everything for every member of the family. For the kids you have the most amazing theme parks, with new adventures and thrill seeking roller coaster rides. For mum you have the luxurious and air conditioned shopping malls bring you all the famous brand names. For Dad you have sea fishing or a trip to Cape Canaveral to see the Kennedy Space Center. All in all you will be very tired every evening so make sure that you hire a comfortable car or van to get you around in style.

The currency in the USA is the dollar. To assist you please make use of the currency converter which comes free with our car rental app which you can be downloaded here

About Orlando International Airport


Orlando International Airport is the second biggest airport in Florida, first position held by Miami airport.
Many carriers operate from the airport including British Airways, Air Canada, Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Delta, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic.

Orlando International Airport is located 9 miles southeast of downtown Orlando, at the junction of State Road 436 (SR 436 - Semoran Boulevard) and State Road 528 (SR 528/Beach Line Expressway - Toll Road)
The attached map gives details of Orlando International airport access and facilities.

Further details can be found at the Orlando Airport website.
Telephone details +1 407-825-2001


Car Rental at Orlando International Airport


The major car rental companies AVIS, Dollar, National, Alamo, Hertz, Enterprise, Thrifty and Budget have a presence within the airport terminal, and cars can be hired there or by advance booking.
Please remember to drive on the right-hand side of the road, and prepare for this before your journey as some overseas drivers find this very confusing at first.

Orlando is the largest rental car market in the world, with most of the major car rental companies located on-airport, without the need for a shuttle bus to pick up your rental car. The rental car companies are located in Terminal A and Terminal B on the Ground Transportation Level (Level 1).

To make things easier, Click here to download the handy BestCarHire.com app for your iPad or iPhone, to allow you to choose the best car and book in advance before your arrival in Orlando International airport.

Florida Driving Tips



Always turn on headlights when driving in rain.
Do not drink and drive, you can be arrested for having an open alcohol container in the car.
If stopped by the police you must remain in the vehicle
You may be required to pay before filling up in a service station.
You must stop, when a school bus stops, even I'd you are on the other side of the road.
Always stop at a stop sign.
You must not leave the scene of an accident and you will require a copy of the accident report for you car rental company.
For more information on driving in Florida please click here



About the Author


Malcolm McNeill is CEO of www.BestCarHire.com offering clients the ability to search and rent a vehicle of their choice - anytime and anywhere
Follow BestCarHire on Twitter, FaceBook and Google+
Download the latest car rental iPad app here.



Thursday 1 August 2013

How Best to Hire a Car at London Heathrow Airport


Car Hire at London Heathrow Airport


If you are thinking "How best to hire a car at Heathrow Airport?", let BestCarHire.com tell you how.

About London 


London is the capital city of the England and the United Kingdom. With a population of over 8 million residents, comprising of many different nationalities, London's main sources of business are finance, retail, art media and tourism. Home to the Royal Family, the capital city attracts up to 15 million tourists every year. The capital boasts many visitor attractions including Madame Tussaud's waxworks museum, the Victoria and Albert museum, Buckingham Palace, the Albert Hall and the many theatres presenting the very latest performances in the West End, the Strand and Leicester Square.
If it's retail therapy you are after then you can do a lot worse than Harrods store in Knightsbridge or the many famous department stores in Regent Street and Oxford Street.

The currency in the UK is the pound or sterling. To assist you please make use of the currency converter which comes free with our car rental app which you can be downloaded here

About London Heathrow Airport


Heathrow is the busiest airport in the UK, and the third busiest in the world.
Around 90 carriers operate from the airport including British Airways, easyJet, Emirates, Monarch, Thomas Cook, Thomson and Virgin.

The airport lies about 12 miles from London city centre, and is connected to the main M25 motorway.
A good rail (Heathrow Express), metro and bus service also give fast access to London city centre, along with the famous London "cabbies" providing an excellent black cab taxi service (be prepared for an interesting conversation!)
The attached map gives details of London Heathrow Airport access and facilities.

Further details can be found at the London Heathrow Airport website.
Telephone details +44 (0) 0844 355 1801


Car Rental at London Heathrow Airport


The major UK car rental companies AVIS, Europcar, National, Alamo, Hertz, Enterprise, Sixt and Budget have a presence within the airport terminal, and cars can hired there or by advance booking.
Please remember to drive on the left and side of the road, and prepare for this before your journey as some overseas drivers find this very confusing at first.
The UK has an extensive motorway system connecting England, Wales and Scotland, and are marked blue and prefixed by the letter "M" on all road maps and satellite navigational systems.


To make things easier with your car hire at London Heathrow airport, click here to download the handy BestCarHire app for your iPad or iPhone, to allow you to choose the best cars available and book in advance before your arrival in London Heathrow.

We would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to help you with your car hire at London Heathrow airport.




UK Foreign Exchange Rates



About the Author


Malcolm McNeill is CEO of www.BestCarHire.com offering clients the ability to search and rent a vehicle of their choice - anytime and anywhere
Follow BestCarHire on Twitter, FaceBook and Google+
Download the latest car rental iPad app here.
Also try our new Motorhome rental site HolidayCampervan.com.


Wednesday 31 July 2013

How Best to Hire a Car at Faro Airport


If you are thinking how best to hire a car at Faro Airport in Portugal, let BestCarHire.com tell you how.

About the Algarve in Portugal 

The Algarve is located in the most southern part of mainland Portugal. It is packed with popular holiday resorts along with traditional Portuguese fishing villages. The most popular holiday resorts include Quarteira, Albufeira and Vilamoura.
The Algarve can boast a very warm climate throughout most of the year. In the summer the temperature can reach the low thirties, with the winter hovering around the mid-teens centigrade. Although the beaches are very clean and inviting, great car must be taken when swimming in the sea, which is known to have strong under currents.
The Portuguese currency is the Euro (currency converter included in the free BestCarHire iPad and iPhone app).
The native language is Portuguese, although many younger people and workers in the holiday resorts speak English fluently.

Driving in Portugal

Remember that the Portuguese drive on the right hand side if the road, so think about this before planning your travel, as some people get confused driving a left-hand drive vehicle for the first time. A valid driving licence is required when driving - both the photo and paper parts (UK). If you don't have a photo card licence, you'll need an International Driving Permit. Always carry a valid passport, when driving, as the Portuguese police often stop foreign drivers to check their paperwork is in order.



About Faro Airport

Faro airport is located approximately 1.5 miles outside the town of Faro. in the summer period it can be extremely busy, due to the increasing popularity of the Algarve as a holiday destination. It is therefore important to plan your trip in advance and book your car rental before you travel. The attached map gives details of access and facilities.

Further details can be found at the Faro Airport website.
Telephone details +351 800 201 201


Car Rental at Faro Airport

The major car rental companies AVIS, Europcar, Goldcar, Hertz, Guerin, and Budget have a presence within the airport terminal, and cars can hired there or by advance booking

To make things easier, Click here to download the handy BestCarHire.com app for your iPad or iPhone, to allow you to choose the best car or van and book in advance before your arrival in Faro.


About the Author

Malcolm McNeill is CEO of www.BestCarHire.com offering clients the ability to search and rent a vehicle of their choice - anytime and anywhere
Follow BestCarHire on Twitter, FaceBook and Google+
Download the latest car rental iPad app here.
Also try our new Motorhome rental site HolidayCampervan.com.





Monday 29 July 2013

How Best to Hire a Car at London Gatwick Airport


If you are thinking how best to hire a car at Gatwick Airport? let BestCarHire.com tell you how.

About London


London is the capital city of the England and the United Kingdom. With a population of over 8 million residents, comprising of many different nationalities, London's main sources of business are finance, retail, art media and tourism. Home to the Royal Family, the capital city attracts up to 15 million tourists every year. The capital boasts many visitor attractions including Madame Tussaud's waxworks museum, the Victoria and Albert museum, Buckingham Palace, the Albert Hall and the many theatres presenting the very latest performances in the West End, the Strand and Leicester Square.

About London Gatwick Airport


Gatwick is the world’s busiest single runway airport and the second largest airport in the UK. Around 90 carriers operate from the airport including British Airways, easyJet, Emirates, Monarch, Thomas Cook, Thomson and Virgin.

The airport lies about 30 miles from London city centre, and is connected to the main M23 motorway (junction 9a).
A good rail and bus service also give fast access to London city centre.
The attached map gives details of access and facilities.

Further details can be found at the London Gatwick Airport website.
Telephone details +44 (0) 0844 892 0322


Car Rental at London Gatwick Airport


The major car rental companies AVIS, Europcar, National, Alamo, Hertz, Enterprise, Sixt and Budget have a presence within the airport terminal, and cars can hired there or by advance booking

To make things easier, Click here to download the handy BestCarHire.com app for your iPad or iPhone, to allow you to choose the best car and book in advance before your arrival in London Gatwick.





UK Foreign Exchange Rates



About the Author


Malcolm McNeill is CEO of www.BestCarHire.com offering clients the ability to search and rent a vehicle of their choice - anytime and anywhere
Follow BestCarHire on Twitter, FaceBook and Google+
Download the latest car rental iPad app here.
Also try our new Motorhome rental site HolidayCampervan.com.





Saturday 27 July 2013

How Best to Hire a Car at Edinburgh Airport

Car Hire at Edinburgh Airport


If you are thinking how best to hire a car at Edinburgh Airport in Scotland, let BestCarHire.com tell you how.

About Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, UK. Based in east central Scotland, with a population of just less than 0.5 million people, it earns its living mainly from technology, finance, the arts and tourism. Home to the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh is also proud of its castle, its 2 giant pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang, on loan from the People's Republic of China.
Edinburgh plays host to many annual festivals including the Edinburgh Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and not forgetting the  annual Hogmanay celebration. In 2014 Glasgow played host to the Commonwealth Games with Edinburgh involved also.

About Edinburgh Airport

The airport lies about 5 miles from Edinburgh city centre, and is connected to the main M8 and M9 motorways.
The attached map gives details of access and facilities.
Further details can be found at the Edinburgh Airport website.
Telephone details 0844 20448 208833.

Car Rental at Edinburgh Airport

The major car rental companies AVIS, Europcar, National, Alamo, Hertz, Enterprise, Dollar, Budget and Dollar/Thrifty have a presence within the airport terminal, and cars can hired there or by advance booking


As part of Edinburgh’s £100million investment programme, over the next few years, a new sustainable car rental building has been built with:
  • Convenient location with direct access to the terminal.
  • All cars in one place.
  • Contemporary surroundings
Many of our clients hire a people carrier at Edinburgh Airport and enjoy a comfortable ride around the Scottish countryside.



Click here to download the handy Best Car Hire.com app for your iPad or iPhone, to allow you to choose the best car and book in advance before your arrival in Edinburgh.



About the Author

Malcolm McNeill is CEO of www.BestCarHire.com offering clients the ability to search and rent a vehicle of their choice - anytime and anywhere
Follow BestCarHire on TwitterFaceBook and Google+
Download the latest car rental iPad app here

Also try our new Motorhome rental site HolidayCampervan.com.






UK Foreign Exchange Rates




Monday 22 July 2013

The Truckers View - Bad Driving Habits




We all think that we are perfect drivers, and on the whole we are - NOT!,
An article published in Readers Digest, detailed some of the most bizarre observations made by US lorry drivers - some of them amusing, some of them blood curdling!

BestCarHire takes a look at some of these, with the presumption that the truckers are male and that the observations were made while driving.

Changing Lanes
“One time on the 405 in L.A., I saw a woman switch from a very nice business outfit into a leotard. At one point, she was just sitting there in her undergarments.
(BestCarHire opinion - why did this guy spend so long taking in so much detail - he should have been keeping his beady eyes on the road ahead!)

Dishonourable Discharge
“A woman had her baby in the front seat next to her and was changing the baby’s diaper (nappy).

Shoot the Piano Player
“I saw a gentleman one time-in a Suburban-and he had a full-size piano keyboard sitting between the two seats. He was using his right hand to play it while he was going down the road.”
(BestCarHire opinion: Can't see anything wrong here at least it wasn't his organ he was playing with!)

Wooly Fools
“I’ve seen a lot of people sewing or knitting while they’re driving. And, you know, that takes two hands.”
(BestCarHire opinion: a traffic light jumper maybe?)

Bitch of a Driver
“Last week, I had a lady pass me at 70 miles an hour, and I looked down, and her dog-a little Jack Russell terrier-was standing on his back legs and resting his paws on the steering wheel.”

Hard to Swallow
“I was in Indiana or Ohio, and a woman was driving down the road, steering with her elbows, eating a bowl of soup. Now how in the world do you pull that off without spilling?”

You Couldn't Make it Up!
“What I see all the time is women steering with their knee, with the makeup mirror in one hand and a brush in the other, putting on eye shadow and blush and going 65 or 70 miles an hour. Usually they’re going back and forth across the line, running over and hitting the rumble strips. I blow the horn at them.”
hands.”
(BestCarHire opinion: by blowing your horn you've probably made this lady smudge her makeup and completely ruin her day. How bad do you feel now!)

Reading Between the Lines
“One guy actually had a paperback book taped to his steering wheel. It would move when he turned the wheel.”

Cruising for a Bruising
“What I see a lot of times, more with ladies, is they’ll be sitting cross-legged, driving with cruise control. All I can think is, How long is it going to take to get their legs uncrossed and get their foot down to the brake if they need to stop suddenly?”

'Armless Fun
“I’ve seen a lady with a cigarette in one hand, a cup of coffee in that same hand, driving with her elbows and talking on a cell phone at the same time.”
hands.”
(BestCarHire opinion: she is probably on the phone reporting the fact that she is being harassed by a lorry driver, driving right up her rear end!)

Cyber Driver
“The other day, I saw a guy with a cup of coffee between his legs, typing on his laptop computer and trying to drive. We hit a curve, and he wasn’t going with the curve. I had to tap my horn to alert him.”

From the small sample above it shows that women were more culpable than men. Now that could be for 2 reasons:

1. The observations were made by male chauvinist American lorry drivers, with nothing better to do when driving long-haul journeys.
2. That woman drivers pay more attention to what's going on elsewhere than what's heading towards them - we'll leave you to make your mind up on that one!




With thanks to Michelle Crouch from Reader's Digest

About the Author
Malcolm McNeill is CEO of www.BestCarHire.com offering clients the ability to search and rent a vehicle of their choice - anytime and anywhere

Follow BestCarHire on Twitter, FaceBook and Google+
Download the latest car rental iPad app here.
Also try our new Motorhome rental site HolidayCampervan.com.




Thursday 18 July 2013

The Car Rental Funny Side - BestCarHire.com Meets Dilbert









When you want to hire a car, you want a company who can provide the best choice of vehicles, with the best car hire packages. Whether you want a hire car for business or to rent a vehicle for pleasure, the BestCarHire.com can provide a choice of 550 vehicle suppliers in 30,000 locations around the world.


Many thanks to www.Dilbert.com

About the Author
Malcolm McNeill is CEO of www.BestCarHire.com offering clients the ability to search and rent a vehicle of their choice - anytime and anywhere

Follow BestCarHire on Twitter, FaceBook and Google+
Download the latest car rental iPad app here.
Also try our new Motorhome rental site HolidayCampervan.com.




Tuesday 16 July 2013

Faro Car Rental Deals from BestCarHire.com

If you are going on holiday to Portugal, BestCarHire.com can save you money by offering you low rates for longer term car hires in September.

Please see sample of prices below.Please visit our website for more bargains and further details.






About the Author
Malcolm McNeill is CEO of www.BestCarHire.com offering clients the ability to search and rent a vehicle of their choice - anytime and anywhere
Follow BestCarHire on Twitter, FaceBook and Google+
Download the latest car rental iPad app here.
Also try our new Motorhome rental site HolidayCampervan.com.




Thursday 11 July 2013

How Best to Hire a Car at Glasgow Airport

If you are looking to hire a car at Glasgow Airport in Scotland, let BestCarHire.com tell you how.

About Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, UK. Based in west central Scotland, with a population of around one million people, it was traditionally a heavy industry city, focused on shipbuilding, engineering an car manufacturing. Nowadays Glasgow earns its living mainly from technology, finance, the arts and tourism. In 2014 Glasgow will play host to the Commonwealth Games.

About Glasgow Airport

The airport lies about 8 miles from Glasgow city centre. Junction 28 On the M8 motorway.
Access to the airport has been redesigned following the terrorist attack in 2007.
The attached map gives details of access and facilities.
Further details can be found at the Glasgow Airport website.

Car Rental at Glasgow Airport

The major car rental companies AVIS, Europcar, National, Alamo, Hertz, Enterprise, Budget and Dollar/Thrifty have a presence within the airport terminal, and cars can hired there or by advance booking.
Many of our clients have asked for people carrier hire at Glasgow Airport and enjoy a leisurely tour around the Scottish countryside.

Click here to download the handy BestCarHire.com app for your iPad or iPhone, to allow you to choose the best car and book in advance before your arrival in Glasgow.


About the Author

Malcolm McNeill is CEO of www.BestCarHire.com offering clients the ability to search and rent a vehicle of their choice - anytime and anywhere
Follow BestCarHire on Twitter, FaceBook and Google+
Download the latest car rental iPad app here

Also try our new Motorhome rental site HolidayCampervan.com.



Thursday 27 June 2013

UK Road Deaths Down

Road death numbers are down in the UK to the lowest figure since data recording started in 1926. 1754 deaths were recorded, 8% down on the previous year, however the number of cyclists killed has increased from 107 to 118. These figures are probably representative of the increased number of cyclists on UK roads.



Wednesday 26 June 2013

The BestCarHire.com Guide - What To Do If You Knock Down an Animal

God forbid it should happen, but how would you react if you ran over an animal?
Would you just keep driving, would you claim your road-kill trophy or would you try to resuscitate it?

In the UK, a dog (as well as a goat, horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep and pig) does come within the remit of the Road Traffic Act and is a reportable accident so you are required by law to report it to the police.

The UK Highway Code Rule 286 says:

If you are involved in a collision which causes damage or injury to any other person, vehicle, animal or property, you MUST

stop
give your own and the vehicle owner’s name and address, and the registration number of the vehicle, to anyone having reasonable grounds for requiring them
if you do not give your name and address at the time of the collision, report it to the police as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 24 hours.


For those other creatures, how you react is up to yourself. Lately in the UK there has been an increase in the number of road traffic accidents involving the expanding deer population. This type of accident can cause considerable damage to your vehicle, as well as the poor deer.
From the deer's perspective you have a moral duty to try and save the animal if possible, by contacting the police or a vet. You will need to get the police involved anyway if you are submitting a car insurance claim.

In the Scottish Highlands, Kate Macpherson has another view on the subject. She collects dead badgers, foxes and stoats from the sides of roads and, using her taxidermy skills, incorporates their heads into striking finished products.

The 46-year-old has faced criticism from animal rights campaigners because of her decision to leave the animals' faces on the sporrans.

But the mother-of-three has defended her one-woman business. "If I didn't pick up these animals they would be rotting in a ditch," she said. "I'm creating something useful from them rather than allowing their beauty to be wasted.


About the Author
Malcolm McNeill is CEO of Best Car Hire offering clients the ability to search and rent a vehicle of their choice - anytime and anywhere. Many of our clients visiting Scotland for the first time ask for people carrier hire at Glasgow Airport or people carrier hire at Edinburgh Airport to enjoy a comfortable view of the Scottish countryside.

Follow BestCarHire on Twitter, FaceBook and Google+

Download the latest car rental iPad app here
Also try our new Motorhome rental site HolidayCampervan.com.

Monday 24 June 2013

Edinburgh And The Tracks of My Tears


Edinburgh in Scotland has been building a new tram system for the past 10 years. It has been fraught with scandal and disappointment, but at long last there is light at the end of the Haymarket tunnel - bear with me commuters! 



Currently the traffic is abysmal, and has been for many years. The trams were brought in to save an ailing road and transport infrastructure but in doing so have created more jams and road rage than you would ever think possible.

So what happens when the trams finally start running, how will the car drivers cope?

From evidence gleaned from around the WWWinternet, well it would appear that most tram accidents occur without cars being involved. The types of accidents we can look forward to are:

Bikes getting their wheels stuck in the ruts and discarding the unlucky cyclist
Blind people falling from the platform
Sighted people falling
Trams failing to stop and hitting the tram in front
Suicide
Drunk people falling under trams
Cars hitting pedestrians risking life and limb to catch the tram (literally)
And so on....

I myself was a young boy when Glasgow discarded its tram and trolley bus network. A daft move in most people's opinion. The trams in Glasgow produced many a character in the shape of the tram conductors or clippies, notorious for their ambiguous cry at ticketless louts - " Come oan - Get aff!"

LATEST UPDATE - The trams finally opened in Scotland's capital 
at the end of May 2014 after years of delay, spiraling costs and a lengthy dispute between the city council and its contractor.
The project was due to cost £375 million when announced in 2003 but that figure has risen to around £776 million to date.
Organisers also backtracked on plans to create a number of different tram lines, instead launching a single track running from Edinburgh's New Town to the airport.








Edinburgh Trams

Technology Throws Down the Gauntlet




Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet

In the news this week is the production of experimental Bluetooth-enabled gloves by the designer Sean Miles of Designworks. This will allow the wearer to use the glove as a mobile phone. At this stage it is not clear how the wearer can make calls, but the demonstrations prove that calls can be received.

This leads to an interesting debate as to what if a driver wearing these gloves(hey! what's wrong with driving gloves?) speaks to the hand while driving. 
Is he or she subject to the same UK penalty for using a handheld device or will the law need to be changed to cover this?

The gloves are off!

Also try our new Motorhome rental site HolidayCampervan.com

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Avoid the Holiday Nightmares

As the time approaches when you disappear on your annual vacation we decided to put together a list of 5 must-do activities ahead of the game.

1. Arrange a Decent Holiday Location - ok it sounds cheesey!, but just remember most people only get a few days vacation every year so it's go to count. If you don't have much time, go somewhere that has either been recommended to you or can be pre-determined using holiday destination information sites, like Tripadvisor.com.
2. Beware of Trouble - make sure before you travel there there are no wars or civil unrest where you are going. Apart from difficulties with travel insurance, you don't know what you are getting yourself into. A couple of years ago we flew to Bangkok 1 week after the military clampdown on the "yellow shirts". Whilst Thailand is a beautiful place, we were literally the only Western tourists there, and it seemed a mighty depressing place!
3. Stay Healthy! - make sure you get the proper vaccinations for the area you are travelling to. Don't leave it to chance as you never know what's lurking in the undergrowth.
4. Keep Your Cash! - try and avoid carrying loads of dosh around in your money belt a little bit is ok but large wads of wonga is just asking to be extracted from you. The majority of countries in the world have global bank ATMs ( sometimes in the weirdest of places!).
5. Hire a Decent Car! - you don't drive a wreck back home, so why leave it to chance until you arrive at your destination. By booking well in advance you will get the best value deals going. Make sure you hire something which is comfortable, affordable and not too far away from what you drive back home.

Malcolm McNeill is CEO of car rental website BestCarHire.com.
Download the latest car rental iPad app here.
Also try our new Motorhome rental site HolidayCampervan.com


Tuesday 30 April 2013

Travelling in Ireland - A Thirty Second Tour

As the summer approaches it is time to think about how we can ideally spend our treasured leisure time.
One of the most rewarding and romantic locations is Ireland, be it the rugged Northern Ireland coastline at Antrim to Skibbereen, the most southerly town in Ireland.
Wherever you go in Ireland, you will be guaranteed a warm and hospitable welcome.
For the gastronomic travellers amongst us, there are no tastier oysters than those tasted at the Galway Oyster Festival (27th to 29th September 2013). If you've never tasted Irish Stew swallowed down with a couple of pints of Guinness, then you've a lot to learn.
Talking of "the Black Stuff", you will need to find time to fit into your busy schedule, a visit to a local Irish pub. My favourites are just off Temple Bar in the centre of Dublin, where apart from the vast range of beers and whiskers, you have entertainment thrown in free from the young ladies doing traditional Irish dancing, to the impromptu guitar, fiddle and bodhran entertainers crooning away in a corner.
The best way to get to Ireland is by air to Dublin or Belfast, or by ferry to Larne or Dublin. There is a good road network throughout Ireland, the best being focussed around the major towns and cities on the east coast. If arriving by air, there are various major car hire companies available.

The currency is the Euro in the south (Eire) and the UK pound in Northern Ireland.
Please use Currency Converter on our site at www.BestCarHire.com for your local currency equivalent.

Visit our website at www.BestCarHire.com for more details or download the iPhone and iPad apps from Download.com- http://tinyurl.com/brfcphs


Malcolm McNeill
www.BestCarHire.com

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Also try our new Motorhome rental site HolidayCampervan.com

About the author
Malcolm McNeill is a well established IT consultant based in Glasgow, Scotland. His brainchild website www.BestCarHire.com was only launched in late 2012 but can now boast of many satisfied customers worldwide

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Monday 15 April 2013

Dont Let the Bombers Win the Marathon

Today's Boston Marathon bombing is disgusting - an easy target.

To see the pictures of the aftermath, the once finely tuned bodies, broken and bloodstained breaks my heart.

Having run 2 marathons in the past I know the thoughts that will be running round the heads of all those taking part - euphoria mixed with agony - why here and why now?

The USA authorities will use all it's powers to get the terrorists, and deliver the appropriate punishment.

The fear is now the impact that this outrage will have on other fund-raising events, in particular the London Marathon next weekend.

Let's not also forget that the UK is staging a massive public event on Wednesday, namely ex-Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher's funeral.

For today our thoughts are with those in Boston.

Malcolm McNeill
CEO www.BestCarHire.com

Wednesday 27 March 2013

Don't Look Back - Look Ahead to Holiday Deals

With the spring and summer holidays approaching its time to put the dreary winter weather behind us an jet off to warmer climates.
BestCarHire.com can help you find the best deals going when it comes to car and van rental worldwide.
Here's an example of some of the deals currently on offer in Euros.


  • Faro Airport, Portugal from €11 per day
  • Orlando Airport, USA from €21 per day
  • Alicante Airport, Spain from €13 per day
  • Mallorca Airport, Spain from €14 per day
  • Nice Airport, France from €19 per day
  • Milan Airport, Italy from €24 per day
  • Malaga Airport, Spain from €10 per day
  • Lisbon Airport, Portugal from €11 per day
  • Las Vegas Airport, USA from €11 per day
  • London Heathrow Airport, UK from €16 per day


Please use Currency Converter on our site at www.BestCarHire.com for your local currency equivalent.

Please Visit our website at www.BestCarHire.com for more details or download the iPhone and iPad apps from Download.com- http://tinyurl.com/brfcphs

Malcolm McNeill
www.BestCarHire.com

Follow us on Twitter, FaceBook and Google+

About the author
Malcolm McNeill is a well established IT consultant based in Glasgow, Scotland. His brainchild website www.BestCarHire.com was only launched in late 2012 but can now boast of many satisfied customers worldwide



Wednesday 13 March 2013

Get A Grip - The Dangers of Part Worn Tyres




In this age of austerity one type of business which appears to be on the up are the outlets that trade on part-worn tyres.

In the past these tended to be restricted to seedy locations, underneath railway arches, but nowadays they seem to be rolling out in more obvious areas sporting colours and bunting which would be the envy of the more famous, high street favourite like Kwik-Fit, ATS, Tyrewise and the rest.

Whilst we can understand, in these challenging times, that the pennies are tight and we sometimes have to shop around for bargains, what price is safety?

In 2012  a study was carried out by  Tyresafe, one of the UK’s leading tyre safety organisations, dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers associated with defective or illegal tyres. The study, which involved the purchase of 50 random part-worn tyres from retailers across the UK, found that 98% were being sold illegally as they did not meet current requirements.
Of the tyres examined it was discovered that 33% contained faults which could prove to be fatal.
In 2012 there were more than 1200 road casualties where illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres were a contributory factor.

In another study compiled by Birmingham City Council, among the failures were tyres which had nails embedded, illegal tread depth, exposed cords, inadequate markings and one tyre which was 17 years old.

In the USA according to Safety Research & Strategies,
This as you can imagine means for lots of surplus tyres as a whole country changes tyres at least once a year. Tyre fitters usually buy these by the container load and sell them on as part worns at a cheaper price”.


“A tyre that can appear new on the outside can be compromised internally as the material and chemical properties of the tyre have changed significantly, increasing the risk of catastrophic tread / belt separation.  Think of those old rubber bands in your desk—when new and fresh they are very elastic, as they age the rubber properties change.  Stretching will result in cracking and they break much easier and more quickly then when they were new.  Yet, age does not automatically disqualify a tyre from the used tire market. Often—but not always—used tyres are older than new tires and stored, before sale, in conditions that may contribute to rapid deterioration”.

So where do the part-worn tyres originate?

According to one source on the web – “Certain countries (namely Germany) require by law for drivers to use winter tyres.  
Other areas include tyres removed from car wrecks or have had a puncture too close to the tyre wall for a reputable tyre trader to fix the puncture.

Why risk your own life along with fellow passengers and not forgetting other possible road travellers
.
So you have to ask yourself – is it worth it?

At BestCarHire.com we deal with 550 vehicle suppliers in 30,000 locations worldwide.

Please Visit our website at www.BestCarHire.com for more details or download the iPhone and iPad apps from   Download.com- http://tinyurl.com/brfcphs

Malcolm McNeill
www.BestCarHire.com

Follow us on TwitterFaceBook and Google+

About the author
Malcolm McNeill is a well established IT consultant based in Glasgow, Scotland. His brainchild website www.BestCarHire.com was only launched in late 2012 but can now boast of many satisfied customers worldwide