Rhodes was an important economic centre in the ancient world, now it attracts thousands of international visitors to its beaches every year. Located where the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean and famous for its 300 days of sunshine per year, the island is the ideal place for vacations.

The economy of the whole island is geared toward tourism. A trip to the Greek island of Rhodes conjures images of whitewashed walls, deep blue sky, olive groves, fig trees and azure Aegean waters but the popularity of its bustling party beaches Faliraki and Rhodes Town mean that the island’s interior, some of the sandy beaches in the South and rocky beaches in the North are almost forgotten.

It is possible to explore the unknown island independently but Rhodes is not a small island so some destinations will require you to drive an hour or more. The road network follows 220 km of coastline along the spearhead shaped east and west coasts. Roads are in good condition but many of them are narrow in points so car hire in Rhodes is preferable to hiring a scooter.

The City of Rhodes, built in 408 B.C. at the far end of the island, is the main starting point for anyone visiting Rhodes. It is ringed by sea on the east and west with ancient and modern commercial harbours. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Colossus of Rhodes, once stood in the ancient harbour until the large statue of Helios the sun god was destroyed by an earthquake in antiquity. The medieval city is now a World Heritage Site.

Most tourists head for Lindos which was once the capital of the island. Today it is a holiday resort centred on a small medieval village, topped with a fortified ancient Acropolis. The village contains many buildings dating from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries with cobbled streets and white-stuccoed houses sloping down to the sea.

Some of the most beautiful sites on the island can be seen by driving in Rhodes. Mountain villages such as Embonas, Monolithos, Agios Isidoros, Mesanagros, and Psinthos are hidden from the coastal settlements. There they have old castles, churches and beautiful buildings and you can taste traditional dishes in small tavernas.

Other not to be missed sights include: the Valley of Butterflies where tiger moths gather in summer; Mount Attavyros the island’s highest point of elevation; the Seven springs oasis of streams; and Rodini Park where you can still see parts of the ancient aqueduct system of Rhodes.

Rhodes may be renowned for its beautiful beaches but the island really does offer more for the independent traveller than sunbathing and moussaka.

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Auto insurance rates are composed of dozens of different variables and while that may add to your confusion, it also allows many chances to find lower rates. By following the tips below you will be able to better tailor your policy to your needs while also saving as much on your premiums as possible.

Increase your deductibles: You can choose to increase your comprehensive and collision deductibles. Many policies are issued with a standard $250 or $500 deductible on these physical damage components. Calculate the savings you will have if you raise these deductibles to $1000. If raising your deductible saves you $125 every 6 months, it would take you two years for you to break even in the event of a claim. Determine if this is an acceptable risk to you.

Get older or get married: Most car insurance policies offer lower rates to older drivers. It’s simply a matter of time before your reach 18, 21, or 25 years old and become eligible for these discounts. You can also get married. Married customers can combine their 2 policies into one to save money and married couples are usually offered a lower rate due to their decreased risk of accidents.

Take defensive driving classes: AARP, AAA and other agencies offer defensive driving classes. Check with your insurance company and see if they offer an additional discount for completing a defensive driving class. Even if they do not, the knowledge you gain from attending the class can be an invaluable asset to your driving ability.

Make sure your distance to work is accurate: If you change your job, work from home, or retire, make sure you notify your insurance company. Your rate is calculated partly on the number of miles you drive to work each day and if you are improperly classified you may be paying more money than necessary.

Shop online for your insurance: Online insurance companies offer some of the most competitive rates available today. Shopping online is easy and allows you access to a large number of companies competing for your business. By spending 10 minutes online you may be able to save $100 - $500 a year or more on your car insurance. You can find out how much you can save online by clicking the link below and getting your free quote today.

Please note that this description/explanation is intended only as a guideline. Contact your licensed agent for more information.

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Travelling from the UK, you can’t get much further away than Australia, a diverse land of wildly different natural history and wildlife. A trip to Australia really does confirm that this land is on the other side of the world. Despite a strong connection with the UK and British culture through a sustained period of colonisation, Australia is definitively New World and has proved to be a major tourist draw for European holiday makers.

A gruelling flight time of up to 20 hours is well rewarded as travellers are greeted with an abundance of attractions from the sophistication of Sydney Harbour, resplendent with its’ famous bridge and opera house to the wilderness of the bush typified in the Northern Territory and ‘far north’ of Queensland. The first thing that strikes you about Australia is the sheer size of the country. It is, in reality, more of a continent than a country and traversing the length and breadth of the place can be a daunting, challenging, but ultimately vastly rewarding experience. The diversity of culture and landscapes - from rainforest to metropolis to desert offers so much to the visitor.

Australia has long been established as a major destination on the backpacker route with flights to Australia usually available on their round the world tickets. It is perfect for long stay holidays due to the scale of the place and volume of attractions on offer. Many backpackers skip to the ‘major’ attractions and cities using the abundant internal flights, but to see the real Australia, a visit down under has ‘road trip’ written all over it. Although the distances involved are huge, the rewards for hiring a car and traversing the highways - coastal roads, rainforest tracks and desert routes - are that it allows the visitor to grasp the true identity of Australia. Car hire in Australia is fairly simple, aided by the fact that they too drive on the left, with most of the major car rental firms offering car rental in Australia with depots in the major towns and cities.

Even for the more short term holiday maker - typically visiting Sydney and the East Coast - car hire in Australia allows you to explore the coast stretching from New South Wales up to tropical Queensland, trading cosmopolitan Sydney and fabulous beaches for adventure treks and scuba diving somewhere along the way.

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