If you consider yourself a weathered traveler with a long history of domestic and international flights you surely know how it has become hard to find really cheap air tickets. What we considered as "ok" options only ten years ago are now the cheapest fares we can get, and the ongoing trends aren't very optimistic in that sense. Air ticket prices have increased considerably and finding cheap air tickets has become very hard. There's a number of reasons for this situation and you have to understand them very well in order to be realistic about your cheap air ticket expectations these days. So, let's take a closer look at the current state of affairs in the airline industry and learn why cheap air tickets have become such a rare beast.

Falling competition

Some 15 years ago the airline market was a really crowded scene. There were dozens of major, average and small airlines offering a very broad range of flights and ticket prices. But what do we have now? Only three major airlines in the USA, two in Canada and several serving the entire Europe. The industry has changed a lot since 9/11 and especially since the 2008 crisis. Many companies went bankrupt, others merged with larger players, and as a result there are now fewer airlines servicing an ever increasing number of both business and leisure travelers. Needless to say, with less intense competition on the market it's much simpler for the large players to set their own prices - you just have no other choice.

Raising oil prices

It's actually surprising that cheap air tickets are still possible to get in general assuming the tremendous increase in fuel prices over the last two decades. In the late 1990's a gallon of fuel was only $0.50 whereas now it costs at least five times more! And the fuel prices don't show any signs of decline in the future. The airlines have tried taking much of the increased fuel cost upon themselves, but this was actually one of the reasons for the large number of bankruptcies in the industry over the last several years. Eventually, part of the increased fuel cost is now transferred over the customers, so finding cheap air tickets has become more problematic.

Numerous fees

The authorities aren't helping the travelers as well, introducing a wide range of fees that sometimes can make up half of the price you pay for the ticket. All those 9/11, immigration, airport and security fees can make a regular domestic flight really pricey. And the rest of the world seems to catch up with the trend, introducing new fees and taxes that make it harder and harder to get cheap air tickets every year.

Profit-oriented companies

The airline industry has suffered a major blow after the 2008 economic crisis. On the one hand, the collapse of the credit and banking system has shattered the financial stability for many companies. And on the other hand, the declining economy resulted in lower economic activity, fewer travelers and more demand for cheap air tickets. In order to survive in such harsh conditions the companies that have managed to live through the hardest period were forced to reduce the number of flights, thus making sure that all their flights are full, and prefer business travellers, who are traditionally very flexible in terms of ticket price, to leisure travelers, who are rather price-sensitive. And since the overall picture hasn't changed much over the last several years, it's very likely that such a state of affairs will persist for a very long time. Read More......

Italian drivers are certainly infamous for being very aggressive and compulsive on the road - a fact that may scare off a lot of travels who are thinking about getting a rental car on their trip to Italy. But don't let the unexpected creativity of Italian drivers become such a big factor for you, since it's only common to see such behavior in large cities with heavy traffic. And there are several good reasons to stay out of cities while driving a car in Italy. So it's definitely worth addressing car rental companies if you want to make your Italian vacation as comfortable and exciting as possible. Still, you may want to consider certain recommendations when working with local car rental companies.

Avoid big cities

It's hard to stress enough the advice to avoid driving in large Italian cities. First of all, the traffic there may be very heavy and crazy, so you will simply crash the joy of driving in Italy by getting stressed out on the narrow and crowded streets of large places. Typically, the major metropolitan tourist destinations such as Rome, Milano, Naples, Verona or Venice have good public transportation networks and therefore you don't really need a car of your own to get around most large cities. Besides, some Italian cities are gradually introducing the tax system, which makes it rather expensive to drive in the car in the city center. So if you're looking forward to staying only in large places and don't plan going off the beaten path, there's no need to address the local car rental companies altogether.

Drive with the help of GPS

It makes sense to rent a car only if you want to go to the Italian countryside, which is a great idea if you're looking for the real local flavor. Most of the smaller villages are off the national train grid, so you will actually benefit from renting a car. However, you should definitely get a GPS navigator if there's so an option, because getting around the small curvy roads, some of which can even be uncharted, is definitely a great idea. And you should also get a road map as a backup in case the GPS is not accurate enough or you're going to a really remote place.

Don't ignore the local laws

You must carry the International Driver's License when renting a car in Italy. The laws and regulations regarding the necessary car contents such as reflective vests and signs tend to vary from one region to another, so you should definitely ask car rental companies about the local regulations in order to avoid possible complications with the police. And always make sure that your car corresponds to these regulations - it's the rental company's duty to make it all work.

Drive the car of your dream!

Italy is where the famous sport car brands are produced and many travelers sure feel inclined to drive a super car along the picturesque Italian countryside. Fortunately for you, there is a number of car rental companies that will make your dream come true. Of course, it won't come as cheap as renting a regular car. But if you've been dreaming about driving a Lamborghini, Ferrari or Alfa Romeo through the narrow country roads and the magnificent mountainous landscapes, this is definitely the best option to make your dream come true!
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When you first think of it, it's rather strange to see any risks in addressing car rental companies around the globe as it's a type of business that doesn't involve large amounts of money or too much access to personal data. But when you hear various stories about travelers being literally ripped by car rental companies for services they didn't even know of or becoming victims of fraud schemes involving car rental companies, it's easy to become overly-cautious about all types of rental services, especially when going overseas. To be adequate in your expectations and avoid any risks regarding car rental companies you don't have to become a car rental expert. There are simple rules you must follow, which will help you avoid unpleasant situations and get the best service no matter where you wish to go to. Here are some simple tips on how to stay on the safe side when dealing with car rental companies:

Make sure they are licensed

First thing you must do when dealing with car rental companies is checking if they are licensed. Of course, it seems obvious that a large rental business is a licensed legal entity. But in some countries that might be a different case. And of course, when dealing with a legal entity it's much easier to settle any disputes compared to working with an individual. So always make sure that the company you are looking forward to renting a vehicle from is an actual legal entity to begin with. It's easy to do when checking their site online. And if they don't have one, well, this should certainly raise doubts about using their services.

Learn the local peculiarities and legislation

Local legislation can be a pain in the neck, especially when traveling abroad. Don't expect the local rules to be identical to those of the US - this is a mistake that causes too many problems to international travelers. Check the local legislation, especially when it comes to gas fees, contracts, extra services, airport and station taxes and so on. This will save you a lot of money and nerve when you get to your destination and will also give you some firm base for settling any kind of disputes with the rental company if such arise.

Check out the competition

No matter how small the country of your destination is there should be at least a couple of car rental companies to choose from. And you always have to check the competition not only for better prices but also to learn the average rates for different types of cars in the country. Even if there are two or three car rental companies, the competition will force them to keep the rates at a similar level and it will be easier for you to pick a car according to the local fees and circumstances.

Inquire about all the extras

Extra fees and services can sometimes add up hundreds of dollars to your original receipt at a car rental company. And these extras tend to vary a lot from country to country. For example, a child seat can go free of charge in Finland but it may cost you additional 15 Euro per day in Italy. The same goes for return fees and other widespread extra services. That's why you always have to check the price-list for extras and inquire about the conditions when these extras apply. This can save you a lot of money and free you from unnecessary stress.

Check the feedback

The common practice of providing feedback on different types of services such as accommodation, transportation, housing, catering and so on involves car rental companies as well. There are many travel forums that feature separate threads for discussing car rental companies and there are even separate review sites to check the feedback. So make sure to address these resources any time you want to rent a car, especially abroad, since it can prepare you for all types of situations that other travelers already went through.
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