Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in the country. By renting one, you'll learn why most Eastern
Europeans stay loyal to the brand, even as cheap Japanese cars
inundate the market. (In an ironic twist, the word “Škoda”—which
is the family name of an early owner of the company—also means
“damage” in Czech.)
When renting, I usually get a Škoda Fabia; for more lug-
gage space and more oomph, step up to the Škoda Octavia. On
average, you should be able to get a Škoda with full insurance
and unlimited mileage for $40-50 per day. Škodas usually have
manual transmission and come with alarms; you might want to
supplement the alarm with a lock for the steering wheel or stick
shift.
If you want an automatic, reserve the car at least a month in
advance and specifically request an automatic. You'll pay about 40
percent more to rent a car with an automatic instead of a manual
transmission.
When you pick up the car, check it thoroughly and make sure
any damage is noted on your rental agreement. Find out how your
car's headlights, turn signals, wipers, and gas cap function.
