Well, I’ve discovered a really great secret about renting cars…

Firstly, where possible I only rent cars from Avis.  Their service is superb & on the rare occasion that I’ve had a problem with the car, they are able to sort it out quickly & efficiently.  They have rental offices at every airport & major city centres, & are able to do collections & drop-offs practically anywhere.  The Avis Car Rental offices are always the nearest to the terminal building, which means I don’t have to walk far to pickup or drop-off the vehicle – particularly helpful if you’re in a rush!

But now I’m able to get my hired vehicle much faster.

A few months ago, I saw that Avis has a ‘Preferred Bookings’ counter.  I made a few enquiries & was happy to find out that they have a super-dooper personal service!

1. Join the “Preferred Bookings” club by completing the application form (click to download the .pdf).
2. You’ll receive a “Preferred Bookings” club card & a unique “Wizzard” account number.
3. When you make a booking, provide your “Wizzard” account number.
4. Arrive at the airport & walk straight to the “Preferred Bookings” counter, bypassing the 50 people waiting in the queue (this is particularly true at “rush hour”).
5. Hand over your card, driver’s license & mobile ‘phone number.
6. Receive the key & drive off. NO SIGNATURES REQUIRED!

I now literally get my car in 5 minutes! That’s NOT an exaggeration.

The bonus is that you get much better rates that a ‘normal’ Avis rental – the “Preferred Bookings” rates are competitive even against the budget rental companies.

Plus you can link your rentals to either SAA Voyager Miles, BA Executive Club Miles, or even eBucks. In fact eBucks have recently launched an online booking facility on their website where you can spend your eBucks on Kulula air flights.

All charges are done straight to your nominated credit card, so you don’t have to take your company credit card with you.  Your signature is on their files so you don’t have to sign anything!

Without a doubt, this is the fastest & cheapest way to hire a rental car & it’s highly recommended, even if you don’t travel as regularly as I do.

So here’s a couple of things that I can suggest to prevent potential problems while on business travel in South Africa:

• For any travel outside of Cape Town, we use the reliable services of “African Chapter Tours“.  They book all my flights, car hire & accommodation on my behalf & then send me 1 invoice.  This means I receive all my required travel documents in one go, instead of trawling through 3 or 4 websites to make all my bookings.  Their service is fantastic – I almost always get all my bookings by the end of the business day – & very definitely worth the nominal service charge they add.
• Since most of South Africa’s airports are currently under construction for the 2010 Soccer World Cup,  you’ll need an addition 30 minutes – so arrive at the airport at least 90minutes before your flight.  Rather arrive too early & have a cup of coffee!
• Many South African airlines no longer accept your driver’s license as positive identification, so make sure you have your green ID book or your passport with you.
• Use a Luggage Glove. Not only does it make your luggage easier to see on the conveyor belt, it also puts an extra layer of security around the contents of your bag.
• Request a GPS when you book your car – you can’t “prepay” for it, you’ll be paying when you actually receive the unit.  Where possible, get a Garmin nuvi – the interface is the easiest to use.  Rates vary (Vodafone rentals is currently holding a special of R29,00 / day)
• Be aware that vehicle hire companies require a fuel deposit, so make sure there are enough funds available on  your credit card for the ‘hold’ amount.
• Join the relevant ‘frequent flyer’ club – they’re free & if your flight is overbooked, the airline upgrades you according to your mileage status.
• Be friendly with any staff you may encounter – charisma & a smile can go a long way.  I get much better service when I greet each person I meet & give them something to smile about!
• If you want to leave the aircraft quickly, try to get a seat as far forward as you can & along the aisle.  This makes it much easier not only to get off quicker but you won’t need to climb over everyone if you need to take your laptop out of the overhead compartment.
• Always carry a book: you never know when you’ll be delayed & will need to pass the time.
• Get a PowerMonkey – this amazing little charger will let you charge just about any mobile device, without needing to be plugged in.  I now only carry 1 charger for my cellphone, iPod & Palmtop. The PowerMonkey comes with a cable to allow you to charge it from the laptop’s USB port.
• If you’re staying in accommodation & want privacy, give the person who cleans your room a big tip before you leave & request that they leave your room – you can always ask the reception to deliver clean towels when you’re there.  Leave the TV on with the volume up & put the ‘Privacy’ sign on.  This helps to decrease the chances of anyone coming into your room (but use the safe if necessary).

These are just a few suggestions but I will be posting some more tips in the future.

If you have any other suggestions, please share them with everyone by adding them in a ‘comment’ below!

Update 18 June 2009: This article appears in the June/July 2009 edition of ‘BusinessBrief‘ magazine.