Reader travel tips: Car hire in Ireland is an absolute rip-off

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Reader travel tips: Car hire in Ireland is an absolute rip-off

Updated
Exploring Ireland by car is a good way to see the sights.

Exploring Ireland by car is a good way to see the sights.Credit: Shuttershock

LOW RENT

Yes Colin Bramson, (Traveller, September 16) car hire in the UK is an absolute rip-off, however if your experience in England brought tears to your eyes, head across to Dublin Airport for something really special in the car-hiring stakes.

The only real way to explore Ireland is by car as reader Siobhan Walsh would know, as she enjoyed the wonderful city of Cork, however the experience at the many car-hire franchises (yes, I've tried most of them across many visits to Ireland) will drain the blood from your face.

The invoice/contract showing "zero to pay" is a meaningless document. I'm told every time that the "comprehensive" insurance covering collision damage, et al, has been paid to the insurance underwriter and not to the respective car-hiring organisation (blah, blah, blah).

The car hire outlets at Dublin Airport tend to be staffed by spivs and charlatans and we are just putty in their hands. Their approach is akin to "if you don't like the offering, go jump."

This most dreadful experience is always, sadly, a great introduction to Ireland and one which takes my system some days to recover from. It has often spoilt the whole trip.

I have raised this issue with Tourism Ireland, on more than one occasion, but my correspondence has been ignored.

Next time I visit Ireland, I'll hire a cycle and follow Eric Newby's trail as he explored this wonderful country on two wheels.

John Carroll, Caves Beach, NSW

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TIP OF THE WEEK: SALT INTAKE

Sometimes it is not necessary to travel overseas, instead go and visit what is in our own backyard.

After recently reading an article about Lake Tyrrell, the largest inland salt lake in Victoria and located in the state's Wimmera region, we decided to see it ourselves and booked a sunrise tour with Sea Lake Tyrrell Tours and were impressed.

The lake is very shallow and it is easy to walk through the water (gumboot hire included) in order to reach the best photo opportunities.

The colours and reflections are so beautiful. A visit is highly recommended.

Lois Ziebell , Wantirna, VIC

YULE KNOW

We (three adults) arrive in Bergen, Norway, late in the afternoon on December 24 this year and will remain in the city on Christmas Day, leaving late on December 26.

Our difficulty is finding any restaurants/cafes/bars which will be open on these dates and the times they are open, particularly as we'd like to enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner (either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day).

We anticipate that such a meal would be booked out shortly. Inquiries of our hotel (Raddison Blu) have gone unanswered and I wondered if your readers had any recommendations

Carolyn Booth, Morisset, NSW

EMPTY FEELING

I picked up a pre-booked Hertz car at Heathrow and was surprised to see the credit card amount they put through was about £240 more than expected.

When I queried this, I was told that was in case I returned the car empty and represented the cost of filling it up at around £4 a litre.

I am assured this will be refunded if I return the car full, but in the past I have never seen such a charge.

Dave Torr, Werribee, VIC

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

We've had seven magical Christmas trips to Europe via Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and Qatar where we've enjoyed many free experiences.

These have included city walking tours with locals, the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, and browsing, people-watching and soaking up the atmosphere in markets, souks and churches.

Rhoda Silber, Manly, NSW

BRING YOUR OWN

I always take my own teabags on a flight and also miso soup in sachets as airline food in economy isn't that crash hot.

I've even taken my own mug, as I can't stand those little plastic things airlines call cups and which hardly hold a mouthful.

Angela Williams, Mona Vale, NSW

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