Travelling by car – with the family
When travelling on holiday with the children you always have the dilemma of how to travel. For some families the added expense of car hire is not feasible, especially having just paid for the flights and the accommodation. However, does the freedom and convenience of car hire outweigh the cost?
Let’s face it, most of us are on a budget especially in the current financial climate, however the family holiday is the main holiday of the year. You have worked so hard for this time to arrive and you want to make the most of your holiday with the family but car hire isn’t within your budget. How do you plan on getting around?
Okay, so car hire is not your only transport option and you can manage quite fine without it. Most holiday destinations will have local buses and trains to get around. You might even be able to get discount on a family ticket, if not you will have to buy travel tickets for each member of your family. If you have a family of 5 then this expense can soon start eating away at your budget. Waiting for buses and trains can be tiresome, especially trying to keep children entertained and safe. You will also have to carry them and their luggage when they start getting tired and hungry, this will really leave you with your hands full. Moreover most people find buses and trains overcrowded with little ventilation.
You will also be able to get around and see the sights by using local tour providers. Again though these will mean you have to stick to their timetable and fork out tickets for each family member. Though they know the local area and will give you an insight into the sights and attractions you visit, kids are easily agitated and get bored too easily. This might mean they get crabby and restless wanting to return back to your hotel room.
For these reasons car hire doesn’t seem too bad after all. Granted the initial expense might be more than you want to swallow, but travel costs can soon start adding up if you have to pay for each family member. Moreover with car hire you can travel a time and pace that suits you, and can return anytime your children start being wrestles. You don’t have to worry about carrying extra items with you as you can leave these in the back of the car when sightseeing. Overall you should have more of a relaxing experience avoiding the overcrowded buses. You have waited all year for this family holiday and you really should make the most of it. This is why for some people the added benefits of convenience and freedom really do outweigh the cost of car hire.
Our advice is to do some research into the public transport system and find out how much your travel costs will be, also check out the cheap car hire deals you can find with various car hire companies. It might be you are able to pick up a cheap deal and make your holiday more worthwhile. Read more tips on car hire and travelling with the family to help make better informed decisions.