Portugal is an incredibly popular holiday destination with Brits, as its golden beaches and splendid golf resorts provide the idyllic relaxing getaway.
The Algarve region regularly features at the top of travel polls and for those fancying a shorter stay, both Porto and Lisbon provide appealing city break options.
But if you really want to get out and explore what the beautiful country has to offer, there’s no better way to do it than by car.
Not only do you have the flexibility to visit wherever you want, but if you book a hire vehicle in advance you shouldn’t have to overpay for the privilege either.
So what else do you need to know about the thriving holiday destination?
The rules of the road
Like most of Europe, cars drive on the right hand side of the road and you’ll need an EU driving licence to rent a car – nothing new there really.
You may get charged a fee for buying petrol with a credit card, while you’ll get an on-the-spot fine if pulled over for driving offences so check the speed limits.
When it comes to parking keep an eye out for blue road markings and be aware that while most spaces can be paid for using public machines, some cleared signed areas may require you to obtain a blue parking disc from a police station.
Your hire car
If you intend to explore the country roads and historical parts of the cities, it might be wise to opt for a smaller hire car.
While smaller economy type cars might lack the power for overtaking on motorways, it’s also beneficial when it comes to finding somewhere to park.
Lisbon and Porto meanwhile both have extensive public transport networks which means you may not even need a car at all when visiting.
Visiting these locations at the start or end of your trip could enable you to save by cutting down the number of days that you require a hire vehicle.
If you do intend to hire a vehicle you may also want to consider purchasing car hire excess insurance to cover against the excess you would need to pay should your car be damaged or stolen.
Get a quote today to discover just how little the added extra could cost.
Date Created: 20/04/2018
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