Hire car Tortoli tips, experiences & comparison

Exploring Tortoli by Hire Car

Tortoli – Sardinian Tortuelie – is a small, touristically well developed town of about 10,000 inhabitants on the east coast of the island of Sardinia.

It is connected to the Italian mainland and the continent by its port of Arbatax as well as an airfield.

It is especially the picturesque beaches that attract tourists to Tortoli in droves.

But a baroque church and a 16th-century defence tower are also among the sights of this Sardinian town. And in the surrounding countryside there are many charming places that can be easily reached by hire car.

Taking over the hire car

Most travellers reach Tortoli via the airport in Cagliari. From there it is another 142 kilometres to the destination. In Cagliari, you will find the hire car office just outside the terminal. Before you book a hire car, just make sure that your hire car agency is also located directly at the terminal. If your rental company only operates its station near the airport, it can sometimes take a long time for a shuttle to take you there.

Booking the right hire car

Sardinia’s narrow and sometimes quite winding country roads make it advisable to book a car that is as small and manoeuvrable as possible. This is the best way to get around and will make it easier to find a parking space in the island’s towns and cities. Just make sure that the boot of your hire car is big enough to hold your holiday luggage.

Hire car prices

The hire car prices in Tortoli are mostly in the middle range. It often gets significantly cheaper if you rent the car directly at the airport in Cagliari. You can often get the best deal by booking well in advance of your trip and using our handy price comparison tool.

hire car price comparison Tortoli

Insuring the car properly

The roads are narrow, the driving style of the locals is often adventurous. An accident can happen quickly from Sardinia. Secure yourself and book a hire car with fully comprehensive insurance without deductible. With the liability, it is important to check how high the coverage amount is. It should be at least one million euros. Because if people are injured in an accident, such a sum is quickly reached. If the sum insured of your rental company seems to be too low, you have the possibility to take out a so-called Majorca policy for further protection. Your insurance company will be happy to advise you.

age limit

You must be 21 years old and have held a valid driver’s license for at least one year to hire car from almost all rental agencies in Cagliari and Tortoli. And drivers younger than 25 often pay an additional fee. Check your rental company’s terms and conditions before renting a car.

Accessories

A navigation device can make finding your hotel much easier. Accessories such as sat nav or child seats must always be ordered separately from your rental company. Make your reservation well in advance so that the equipment you want is available on the day of your rental.

Language barrier

Don’t count on all the staff at the Tortoli and Cagliari hire car agencies speaking fluent English. Instead, make a note of the phone number of your rental company’s Italian head office so you can ask for translation help if necessary.

Tank control

Some rental companies in Tortoli and Cagliari have found a trick to earn extra. The customer has to buy the first tank of fuel for an expensive service fee and is then “allowed” to return the car with an empty tank. However, most customers do not manage to drive the car empty to the last drop. The remaining fuel and the service fee can be booked as profit by the rental company. You can avoid this kind of rip-off by booking with a hire car company where you pick up the car with a full tank and return it with a full tank.

Bail

When it comes to the deposit for the hire car, it is important to make sure you book with a rental company that only blocks the amount on your credit card. In fact, if the money is actually charged, some rental companies take a long time before transferring the amount back after the hire car is returned. Before you travel, check that your card’s credit limit is sufficient to cover the deposit.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Although most customers are quite satisfied with Hire Car in Cagliari and Tortoli, some complain that they were tried to sell you more insurances on the spot. If you have already ensured that the car is adequately insured when booking the car, you should refuse to take out any additional policies at the hire car station.

Complaints also arise about the exterior condition of some vehicles. Before you drive off, inspect the hire car carefully and get written confirmation of any damage, such as dents or scratches, in a defect report. Keep the document well to be able to prove when returning the vehicle that you are not responsible for the damage to the hire car.

Safety Hire Car

Most hire cars in Tortoli and Cagliari are in roadworthy condition. However, for your own safety, you should still test all of the car’s lights before your first trip. Make sure that you have first aid kits, safety vests for all passengers and a warning triangle on board. In addition, do a short brake test in the parking lot of the rental company.

Sights in Tortoli

Chiesa Sant Andrea: Baroque beauty
The Chiesa Sant Andrea is where the city stroll could begin. It was built in the 17th century. From the outside it looks simple, but the interior is exceedingly magnificent and decorated with many holy figures.
San Gemiliano: fortified tower with a view
The fortified tower of San Gemiliano is also worth a detour, especially as it offers a wonderful view over

Coast and sea.
Whoever strolls with time and calm through the streets of Tortoli will discover countless small shops, which are completely geared to tourism. Here you are sure to find all sorts of original souvenirs. Suitable as “souvenirs” for friends back home. And in the pretty street cafés of the village you can relax and enjoy the sun.

Arbatax: Enchanting boat tour
Four kilometers away from Tortoli is the port of the neighboring community of Arbatax. There you can book a boat tour that runs along the picturesque coast. Between 40 and 50 euros costs such an excursion per person. Back in town, it’s time to explore the picturesque beaches in the area. Especially the fine sandy Spiaggio di Orri is worthwhile. In the mostly crystal clear water

Find a good restaurant

You should avoid restaurants serving international cuisine. Their aim is often to feed the tourist crowds with uncharitably prepared dishes. Instead, reserve a table at Ristorante Lucitta. Here you will be served tasty Sardinian cuisine in an elegant setting. From the terrace you have a beautiful view of the sea.

Find a good hotel

As most tourists prefer to spend their holidays in a beach hotel, the choice of accommodation in Tortoli is limited. We recommend the La Povencella guesthouse. The friendly owner lovingly takes care of the guests’ well-being. The rooms are simply but stylishly furnished. Numerous works of art decorate the walls.

A worthwhile destination in the area

Drive to Ulassai by hire car. It will take you just under an hour to drive the 33 kilometres. Ulassai itself doesn’t have much to offer, but the spectacular surrounding countryside is ideal for taking long hikes. Visit the Bruncu Pranedda.

Here you’ll hike through a gorge with sheer rock walls. Or hike to the spectacular Cascata Lequarci waterfall, about seven kilometres southwest of town. On the way, you can also already think about which destination around Tortoli you would like to head for next with the hire car.

Suggestion for a trip by hire car

San Teodoro: Picturesque seaside resort

A trip by hire car could take you first to San Teodoro. In about two hours you will be there. A picturesque seaside resort awaits you, which can shine with a three-kilometre-long sandy beach. But not only sun worshippers, also sports enthusiasts will be happy in San Teodoro. Here you will find a surf rental, a diving school, a riding school and even golf courses in the area.

Orosei: picture-book village

Continue the journey in about an hour to Orosei. If you stroll through the village centre there, you will feel transported far back in time. Weathered cottages line the winding streets and small churches make the picture book village complete.

Santa Maria Navarrese: Spoilt for choice

Before you drive back to Tortoli in your hire car, you can still stop off in Santa Maria Navarrese. In an hour and a half you will be there. In this seaside resort, you have the choice of soaking up the sun in one of the numerous bays or preferring to plunge into the waters of the Mediterranean on the long sandy beach. A drive of only 15 minutes now separates you from Tortoli. There you can park the hire car and, over a glass of Sardinian wine, consider which places you would like to explore next.

conclusion

Tortoli, with its numerous sights, is well suited as a base for a hire car trip. Many destinations in the surrounding area can be reached relatively quickly by car. And our handy price comparison will help you find the right hire car for you at good rates.