US car hire doesn’t come much more recommended than in Florida. Pick up a hire car at the airport and you can immediately put some tarmac between you and the big city. Here’s our tip for a five day driving tour of Southern Florida. Car hire is the perfect way to see the best of the Sunshine State.

Within two hours, you can be in the town of Marathon in the heart of the Florida Keys, 800 islands that hang off the southern coast. Kick off your shoes and hit the sands…you can even hop on fishing charters at Sombrero Beach or Little Duck Key Beach, and be grilling your catch as you sip a glass of wine that evening!

After a day’s diving, snorkelling or checking out the birdlife at Crane Point, day three should be a straight shot back to Miami, and specifically South Beach, where you can cruise down Ocean Drive amid the low-rise Art Deco chic. After topping up your tan, drive up to Collins Avenue and hit the boutiques for designer labels and chi-chi shoes.

Day four is just a 45 minute hop to Fort Lauderdale, known as the Venice of America thanks to its scenic canal system. Pick up souvenirs at any of the local flea markets, or brave the retail mania of Sawgrass Mills, the world’s largest shopping mall.

It’s a leisurely start to day five, taking in the 23 miles of golden Fort Lauderdale beaches. Head for Hollywood beach if you have family in tow, or try the villagey atmosphere of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Your final stop en route back to Miami should be at one of the local swamp safaris. You shouldn’t visit Florida without a spot of gator-spotting in a high-speed boat, after all.

Traffic in New York City.

America is still the most driver-friendly nation in the world, so it’s no wonder that many UK tourists choose car hire as the preferred way to get around. The only city that may stretch this statement is New York. Car Hire in the five boroughs, and Manhattan especially, brings with it a driving culture that can be intimidating to the first timer – the density of traffic alone on Manhattan is quite astonishing.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t drive or think about car hire in New York – it’s still a great way to get around. Here are some handy tips for anyone contemplating  driving the Big Apple:

First of all, forget the ‘turn right on red’ rule for the most part. It may be legal in every other US city, but here in New York it’s only alright if there is a sign specifically authorising it.

Enter grids at your peril! You don’t want to be the cause of gridlock, so make sure that you enter intersections only if you’re clear to get through to the other side. You may get honked at, but keep cool and observe the law – getting stuck in the middle is far worse!

Parking laws are as strict as any other city. Best to find an official parking lot, but if you do park on the streets, observe any street cleaning signs – be ready to move your car early the next day to make way, or face the consequences. Info is available on the DOT website.

Finally, a few DONT’S: It may be tempting, but don’t honk your horn unnecessarily – in some places, it is even forbidden, with a $100 fine for violators. It’s obvious, but don’t open your windows to strangers – you may encounter beggars at stoplights, but keep your wits about you, and keep your windows up.

As the economy struggles to shift out of first gear it makes sense to keep an eye on motoring expenses. Make a few changes to your driving habits and keep your motor in proper condition and you could make serious savings – and do your bit for the environment too.

Keep your car up to scratch
Few people check their tyre pressure regularly. But underinflated tyres are not only dangerous, they increase fuel consumption by around 3% according to the Energy Saving Trust. Tyres also wear out quicker if they aren’t properly inflated. Have your car serviced regularly too. According to the Institute of Advanced Motorists a poorly serviced engine uses 10% more fuel.

Drive green
According to What Car magazine, the average car consumes 38% more fuel at 70mph than at 50mph – that is a huge difference! You can make serious savings by driving more efficiently. The Energy Saving Trust has a handy list of tips for smarter driving. These include watching your speed – the most fuel efficient cruising speed depends on the car but typically it’s around 45mph. Try to change up the gears sooner too. Ideally the engine shouldn’t be revving at over 2500 revs. And think about unnecessary weight and drag. Are you carrying loads of junk around in the boot? Have you left the roof rack on the roof? Savings from smarter driving can be significant. The Energy Saving Trust reckons you could save up to £220 a year.

Share the road
If you drive the same route every day – taking the kids to school or driving to work – why not share car space with people doing the same journeys? There’s an increasing number of car-sharing schemes on offer. Try www.nationalcarshare.co.uk, www.liftshare.org, www.shareacar.com, to look for someone doing a similar commute in your area.

Shop around
Fuel prices can vary considerably from one petrol station to another. A few pence difference per litre soon adds up when you fill up regularly. Supermarkets typically offer the best value petrol and diesel, whilst petrol stations on main roads and motorways often work out pricier. You can also use price comparison websites to help you find cheaper fuel in your area. And shop around for car insurance too. Many people stick with the same insurer year after year, but it’s always worth getting a few additional quotes when you come to renew.

Ditch the car
Do you need to drive at all? Journeys of less than two miles cause the most pollution and are really inefficient in terms of fuel consumption. So for short journeys walk or cycle – and you’ll keep in better shape too. Or else don’t own a car at all. Particularly if you live in a city centre this option could be completely feasible. When you do occasionally need a vehicle, get a hire car. UK car hire companies have outlets in all major towns and cities and hiring a car a few times a year works out far, far cheaper than owning one. There are also car clubs cropping up all over the UK. You simply pay to use a car as and when you need one.

For great deals on cheap car hire: UK and worldwide, visit dollar.co.uk

Scenic view of Monterey, California.

DOLLAR wants to be your resource for friendly, first-person travel information on the destinations you want to visit.  That’s why we’re kicking off a brand-new blog featuring some of the web’s hottest travel writers.  When you visit www.dollar.co.uk, you’ll get honest, authentic feedback from U.K. writers who are visiting driving destinations in the U.S. and other fun vacation spots.  They’ll share tips on driving outside of one’s own country, plus make recommendations for siteseeing adventures, driving trips and idyllic stops along the way.

Meet our bloggers . . .

Jeremy Head writes and commissions destination guides, travel features and blog content for some of the UK’s largest airlines and tour operators.  His goal is to create user-friendly, well-researched content that will carry you through your travels worry-free.  He also runs www.travelblather.com an influential blog about online travel content.

Paul Oswell is a freelance travel writer who is regularly published in national newspapers and magazines in the UK, including the Daily Mail, The Guardian and the Sunday Times Travel Magazine. More of his published work can be found at www.pauloswell.com

Happy travels!