Source If you’re one of those types that think that dogs and their owners start to look like each other after a while, then you might buy into our latest theory… We here at Carrentals reckon that cars and people are pretty similar too. We think that the type of motor you choose to drive can reflect your personality. With that in mind, we think we can determine which celebrity you’re most similar to based on the kind of car you drive. Don’t believe us? Try it out – find your car in the list below and see which famous person you’re matched up with…   4×4 Source Big, brash, confident, dominating, you annoy a lot of people but you don’t let that stop you, do you? You’re Chris Moyles (sorry).   Mini Source Much-loved, instantly recognisable, legendary. Small. You’re Barbara Windsor.   Smart car Source Much-loved, instantly recognisable, legendary. Small. Even smaller than a Read more…

Remember, remember the 5th of November… Partly because of all that Guy Fawkes-y/Gunpowder-y Plot stuff, but mostly because there’s probably a fantastic fireworks display near you to enjoy!   If there’s one night of the year we don’t all mind standing out in the cold for hours on end until our toes go numb and we lose all feeling in our faces, it’s Bonfire Night. There’s nothing more evocative of this time of year than the local community crowded around a massive fire watching a spectacular fireworks display, waving sparklers about, eating jacket potatoes and slurping on mulled wine (or Bovril if you’re driving). They’ll be thousands of displays taking place up and down the country this week. If you want to find your nearest, we’re sure Google will lend a hand. But if you’re prepared to travel a bit – or are lucky enough to live nearby – we’ve drawn together a list of Read more…

Source It’s Halloween again. So you needn’t worry that you’ve gone mad, what with seeing everyone running around in vampire and witch outfits and whatnot. There hasn’t been a zombie outbreak either – it’s just trick or treating and fancy dress parties (and The Walking Dead isn’t a documentary series). Although if you think about it, the best time for zombies to attack would be around this time of year. We’d never suspect a thing…   Anyway, we digress. As it’s Halloween, it’s time to crack out the scary films again and freak yourselves out. We’ve all got our favourite horror movies, haven’t we? With mad killers, petrifying monsters and of course, plenty of blood. But we want to talk about four-wheeled cinematic terrors here – the scariest cars from movie history. So strap yourselves in and let’s go for a ride…   The Car (1977) Source While this James Brolin-starrer might not have been Read more…

If, like Mick Hucknall, money’s too tight to mention for you at the moment (though you’d have thought the man was a millionaire, wouldn’t you…?), then you’re probably always on the look-out for ways to cut costs. And wherever you go, whatever you do – there are always ways to shave the odd pound off here or there. Whether it’s car costs, the weekly grocery shop or, as we’re about to explain, travelling. So get your calculators, wallets and purses out, listen up and get ready to save a few quid…   Research as much as possible No matter what you’re doing, research is almost always the first step to success. Knowledge is power after all and if you want to flex your penny-pinching muscles, you’ll need to buff up. Hit Google, surf around. Pick up tips from people that have been there before, locals, friends, experts… It could pay off. Literally.   Ask about Read more…

It’s not an overly nice thing to think about, but it’s something we need to… What are we talking about? Crime abroad. Now unless you’re heading overseas to a particularly crime-heavy area, you stand no more real chance of being a victim of crime as when you’re at home. But in certain areas, as a tourist, you will be something of a target for those more unscrupulous types out there. And in this blog, we want to focus particularly on pickpocketing. And just what you can do to avoid being caught out by one of these light-fingered crims…   Be Aware Around Large Groups The easiest way for a pickpocket or group of pickpockets to rob someone is to crowd around their target and confuse and disorientate them. Usually this is done in a non-violent or scary way. For example, if four or five people get on a bus you’re standing up on, be careful Read more…

  Do you remember that ’60s movie The Incredible Journey? Or its ’90s remake Homeward Bound? About the cat and dog traipsing across hundreds of miles to get home? Well, we’ve got a fascinating real-life Homeward Bound tale to tell you about…   Welly is a two year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier…   And a cute one at that – just look at his little face… But even though his breed suggests he’s from the Midlands, he’s actually American. Well, he will be, anyway (he was actually born in London). He’s heading over to the USA – Alaska, specifically – to set up a brand new life for himself. Why? Well, because he was abandoned here in the UK and left. And with the rather horrible dog laws the way they are here, he needed to be rescued and homed before he was put down. And that perfect, if slightly chilly, home just happens to be Read more…

Every few hundred or thousand years an invention is made that revolutionises humanity. There’s been the wheel, the combustion engine, television, the internet – massive life-changing ideas. And now it’s time for another one. Introducing… Hop! The Following Suitcase. That’s right – a suitcase that you don’t need to carry. One that follows you around like an obedient little lapdog. Amazing, no? Check out this radical game-changing invention in this video:     Hands-free! Source Genius, eh? Well, okay – we may have overstated it a little bit. And to be fair, that video doesn’t exactly convince with its juddery movement, but the general idea (and we’re sure the actual Hops will be slightly better than the prototype in the vid) is pretty cool. Sauntering around the airport with no need to lug your luggage about yourself? Leaving you spare hands to browse Duty Free and check that your passport’s in your jacket pocket for Read more…

Everyone loves a trip abroad, don’t they? Be it a weekend away with a loved one, a couple of weeks in the sun with the whole clan or six months spent travelling around Asia on your own. Holidays are the only time of the year where we’re fully ‘off the clock’ and get some breathing space. Space we can use to chill out and fully relax. We should enjoy them. After all, we’ve earned them, haven’t we? But while we should be allowed to kick off our flip-flops and enjoy ourselves on holiday, it’s important to be aware of the some of the more dangerous aspects of travelling abroad. Now, we’re not scare-mongering here – we recognise that 99% of vacations will go off without a hitch. And we hope your next one does. But if there’s always that 1%… Bad luck is bad luck and there’s not much you can do about it (well, Read more…