Cheaper Holidays without compromising on Car Rentals

Posted on August 13, 2017March 18, 2018 by Tanya Smith

They are plenty of tips to save on car rentals. However saving on each item in your itinerary will not make your holidays better, it will only make it cheaper. The best way to save on holidays is to not be caught in stereotyping.

Obviously the best time to visit Sydney is in summer. It comes with Christmas on the Beach, Santa Clauses in shorts and plenty of Boat Parties and Dinner cruises in the Harbour. This also comes with the price.

Guess what, the Sydney icons such Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Anzac Bridge will not run away as the temperature drops. Did you know that you can save up to 44% on your hotel rentals and up to 61% on the flights by simply visiting Sydney in the less busy time?

Sydney’s beautiful beaches remain just as popular as ever, for coastal walks, whale watching, dining and even swimming — with many outdoor pools heated through the winter months.

And of course, there are boundless activities to be found indoors too, in pubs, wineries and cultural institutions.

Here’s our top 5 best activities to enjoy in Sydney this winter holidays.

1. Climb to the top of the world

A quintessential Sydney experience for tourists and locals alike, the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb is open for winter ascents on Sundays. The air may be crisp but it’s also particularly clear, making those sunsets spectacular. BridgeClimb provides winter woollies to warm those muscles as you climb to one of the best views in the world.

Harbour Bridge view from Botanical Gardens

Botanical Gardens in Winter

2. Swim outdoors

There’s no need to avoid Sydney’s crystal blue waters and stunning coastal views just because it’s winter. Some of the best swimming pools in Sydney heat their lanes throughout the colder months. Enjoy that stunning view of the Harbour Bridge while swimming laps at North Sydney Pool, next door to the iconic Luna Park. The pool at Prince Alfred Park, next to Central Station, is also heated and has water temperatures set to a comfortable 26C.

3. Take a coastal walk

Get those legs moving and heat back in the body doing the Manly to Spit walk or the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. Whether you’re a history buff, beach lover, or simply love nature, there’s something for everyone along the way. From Manly Wharf, the coastal trail winds past Dobroyd Head, one of the walk’s most scenic locations, and onto the military barracks at Bradleys Head.

Manly Beach in Winter

4. Watch some whales

May to November is whale-watching season when thousands of humpback whales migrate along the coast of NSW to give birth in the warm waters off Queensland. The best places to spot them are from North Head Lookout at Manly and Cape Solander in the Kurnell section of Kamay Botany Bay National Park. For a view from the water, plenty of cruise companies offer whale watching tours. So grab your binoculars, sit back, relax and enjoy nature’s best show.

Whale watching in Sydney Waters

5. Warm up with winter reds

When it’s very cold outside, sometimes there’s nothing better to do than sit indoors with a warming glass of wine. Take a tour with a winemaker to Hunter Valley or Mudgee, sample a cheese plate at the cellar door, or impress your friends after taking a food and wine pairing class.

What is next?

If you saved too much on your holidays and had enough of relaxing Sydney, may be it is time to go skiing or snowboarding in the busy Sydney areas. Kosciuszko National Park is only 500 km drive from Sydney. You will be transferred from low +20 Celsius to minus something in Perisher or Thredbo. A day of the winter fun can cost as little as $80 pp.

The list of things to do goes on. It is perfect season for hiking. It is not too cold to go camping. Have I mentioned the amount of food and drink festivals? Here it goes and it is not complete:

Parramatta Winterlight.
Bondi Winter Magic.
Bathurst Winter Festival.
Snow Time in the Garden, Hunter Valley.
Winter Magic Festival, Blue Mountains.
Skating At Cathedral Square.
Winterfest Sydney Medieval Fair.

The Grounds in Alexandria

Be aware, you might fell in love with Winter Sydney and will want to visit it again… in winter 🙂

To get the best Car Rentals Deal while you are in Sydney please call Low Cost Car Rentals.

What type of car to hire? Do i need a 4WD?

Posted on May 21, 2017March 18, 2018 by Tanya Smith

Often we receive calls from our customers asking for 4WD cars to rent because they are going to snow.

If you hire a rear- or a front- wheel drive car, you will also need to rent the snow chains. Therefore it is a common perception that a 4WD will save you a lot of money on your car rental.

Low Cost Car Rentals staff believes the choice of the car to rent depends on the circumstances.

Multiple adults traveling

If you have more than 5 adults in the car, we would recommend you to hire a people mover.

You can easily find a 4WD which is a 7- or an 8- seater. However, the last row in most 4WDs have a height limit. Depends on how tall your friends and/or family are, it might be just too tight for all of you.

Storage space required

You will probably think the 4WDs have better storage space? You are wrong. People movers like Kia Carnival or Toyota Tarago offer a larger boot space than most 4WDs.

Driving to snow

Our branch manager once said “4WD is only good in snow if you know how to drive a 4WD in the snow!”.

Four-wheel drive systems are helpful options, but they aren’t cure-all for winter driving problems. It is important to become familiar with a few 4×4 driving basics before you tackle snowy roads.

The advices for driving any type of vehicles are the same: slow down on windy roads, keep extra distance from the cars in front of you and take a lot of rest as snowy roads reflect the sun and tire your eyes quicker than usually.

It is also recommended to switch your 4WD into 2WD mode when driving downhill.

Nevertheless, If you have neither a lot of people, nor a lot of baggage, you should be just fine with a sedan or a hatch.

If you planning to drive to the snowfields and not to drive up the snow mountains, then any car will do the job.

Don’t forget there is also a choice of AWD cars to rent too.

Moving house on a budget

Renting a 4WD is a good option when you are moving house on a budget. Vans, trucks and utes can be very costly.

Additional tip is to ask for a car that has a tow-bar and/or roof racks fitted. Some of our 4WDs and people movers do. That will save you on another trip between homes.

Going camping

We will easily find a winner in the selection of the four-wheel drive cars. It is also important to tell the rental company that you are planning on such a trip.

When driving off-road, not all 4WD are the same. It is important to have high ground clearance so if you drive over a stone, you would not damage the bottom of the car.

Off-road is often not sealed. Even straight roads would have some mud pools and cause the car to skid. Rent a 4-wheel drive to do the job, unless you are planning to spend most of your time waiting for road side assistance or towing truck.

Snow season – Winter car rentals

Posted on May 12, 2017March 18, 2018 by Tanya Smith

With the winter holidays knocking at the door, many people would be busy planning their road trips with friends and family. Driving during winter, especially through snow-clad roads can be fun but dangerous as well. If you have any such plans make sure an experienced driver drives you through. You may have heard people talking about the safety measures people should take while driving on snow-clad roads; but not all of them are right. Some are true, while some are people’s own perceptions.

People often say a four-wheel drive is the best when driving during the winter, but it is only true if the roads are heavily snow-clad; however, investing in a four-wheel drive would be a good option keeping the safety aspect in mind. So what are the other things you need to consider if you are planning to go on a long drive this winter? Here are some factors that you should consider:

The Right Kind of Tires

In some countries, it is a must to have snow tires; while in Australia you can do with an all-weather treads. However it is mandatory to have the snow chains on when driving a non-AWD vehicle. You need to choose depending upon your destination. If you choose a smaller car and you plan to go Snowy Mountains, we would highly recommend you to rent some snow chains as well. You can rent the snow chains at the Snow Mountains too, thus will incur some delays in your trip while you could of been already enjoying the trip without interruptions. It is also getting slightly more expensive as you approach the snow areas. So it is recommended that you have a talk with the car rental agency about the rates for all the extras you need, in case you need to hire a car with snow chains.

Hiring a 4WD makes things easier. A 4×4 cars are not required to fit the chains in Australian conditions.

Check the Car Condition Thoroughly

This is very important, since a breakdown in the middle of a snow-clad road can give you a tough time. Moreover, driving on snow is very dangerous, so a car that is not in its best condition can lead to severe or fatal accidents. Therefore before hiring a care, here are the things you must check:

Whether the head and back lights work properly
Whether the wipers are in good working condition
The tire conditions
The weather conditions of the destination you are heading towards
The 24×7 road side assistance across all the areas you are travelling to

Low Cost Car Rentals offers NRMA services included in each car hire. Check some information from them too: Safer driving in snow.

It is also recommended that you start with a full tank to ensure the car does not stop in the middle of the road.

The Right Kind of Car

Choosing the right kind of car is very important to ensure the safety of your co-passengers. For instance, a car with manual transmission is best for snow covered roads. Again a four-wheel drive is best for mountainous terrain, while if you are driving on a plain road then choosing a car with anti-lock braking system would be the best.

Check more tips in here Snow driving.

Don’t Forget the Extras

Even though travellers are recommended to bring their own extras, they might require hiring some from the car rental agency during the winter. These include ice scrapers, warm driving gloves, snow chains, roof racks, etc. You can bring them along if you already have them.

We also recommend you to check the tips and tricks posted on different forums by other travellers who are more familiar with the area you are traveling to. For those who are planning to go to Kosciuszko National Park in NSW we recommend to check this link Safety tips in Kosciuszko National Park.

Driving during winter can be exciting and fun but only if you have taken the necessary safety measures. Talk to your car rental agency and get going. Here at Low Cost Car Rentals we will have all the arrangements to make your journey safe and enjoyable.