Fresh Warnings Over Car Hire Shortages
Car hire industry experts have reaffirmed warnings that unless travellers book their vehicles early, they could face serious disappointment.
Holiday Autos managing director Stuart Nassos said that as families get ready for that well-earned summer holiday, they should make car hire a priority.
He advised customers to book as soon as their dates of travel were confirmed, along with their hotels and cheap flights which were also in high demand.
Mr Nassos said that it is important to book car hire as early as possible – not only to get the cheapest deals, but also to ensure that an appropriate vehicle will be available when it is needed.
He warned that in the past few years, car hire fleets have either contracted or stayed still. “Where availability has been tight, customers have either paid much more for their car hire or may have been unable to find a car at all,” he said.
Because of the global economic downturn, credit has been far less widely available for car hire companies to expand their fleets.
This led to a stagnation in the size of fleets last year and has caused popular tourist destinations such as Spain and Italy to issue warnings that their car hire fleets are under particular strain from the numbers of visitors wanting vehicles. Both countries have warned that future demands – particularly this summer season – will lead to extreme pressure on suppliers.
There have even been warning signals closer to the UK. Recently, Ireland’s travel sector revealed that the total car hire fleets across the country will only be able to cater for half the level of expected demand. Again, booking early is highly advised, as prices are likely to shoot up along with the demand.
Car Hire News posted by 
on 12 April 2010
car hire, cheap flights
http://www.journalism.co.uk/66/articles/538221.php
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