Exploring Buffalo by Hire Car
Buffalo is a city in the United States. It is located in the state of New York, near the border with Canada. With a population of about 250,000, it is also home to quite a bit of industry.
Historic buildings and impressive skyscrapers characterize the image of the second largest city in New York State.
You can visit interesting exhibitions, fill your shopping bag in pretty little shops and enjoy the best American cuisine in excellent restaurants.
And also the surrounding countryside attracts with excursion destinations, which can be reached perfectly by hire car. We have put together a few tips for rental and travel.
Taking over the hire car
You will find numerous hire car agencies at the Buffalo airport. Just follow the signs or inquire at the information desk. Before choosing a hire car company, just make sure that their station is also located at the airport.
If he only operates his office near the airport, you may have to wait a long time for a shuttle to take you to your hire car. At worst, you may even have to resort to a costly taxi to get to your hire car station.
Booking the right hire car
It is huge fun to cruise along the wide and well-developed highways of the USA. So it’s best to book a vehicle that is as large and comfortable as possible so that you can cover long distances in a relaxed manner.
Hire car prices
For the most part, it’s quite expensive to hire car in Buffalo. You can often get the best deals by booking well in advance of your trip and using our handy price comparison tool.
hire car price comparison Buffalo
Insuring the car properly
Even though the US-Americans are known as calm and level-headed drivers, an accident can still happen with an unfamiliar hire car. If you have booked a car with fully comprehensive insurance without excess, you are well insured in case of damage. With liability insurance, it is important to pay attention to the amount of coverage. It should be at least one million euros.
Because if people are injured in an accident, it quickly becomes really expensive. If the sum insured of your rental company seems to be too low, you have the possibility to take out a so-called traveller policy for further protection. Talk to your insurance company and make sure that your traveller policy is also valid in the USA.
age limit
You must be 21 years old and have held a valid driver’s license for one year to hire car at virtually all hire car agencies in Buffalo.
And most rental companies charge additional fees if the driver is under 25. Check with your hire car company’s terms and conditions before you book your hire car.
Accessories
If you need accessories such as a navigation device or child seats, you must always order the desired items separately from your rental company. Make your reservation in good time. This is the only way to guarantee that your desired equipment will be available on the day you pick up your vehicle.
Free kilometers
There are so many delightful destinations around Buffalo that you should definitely hire car with all the miles free. That way, you can explore the city’s surroundings to your heart’s content without having to constantly keep an eye on your mileage.
Tank control
In Buffalo, it is common for rental companies to hand over hire cars with a full tank of gas and for customers to then return you with a full tank. Since this is a fair and transparent solution, be sure to check that your rental company does the same.
Bail
If possible, book with a rental company that only blocks the amount for the deposit on your credit card. If the money is actually collected, many rental companies like to take a long time with the repayment. Before you start your trip, you should also clarify whether the credit line on your card is sufficient to pay the deposit.
Customer Satisfaction Hire Car
Most customers are quite satisfied with Buffalo car rentals. Still, before you take your first trip, inspect the car carefully and get written confirmation of any damage, such as dents or scratches, in a damage report.
Keep the document safe so that when you return the car, you can prove that you weren’t the one who caused the damage.
Safety Hire Car
For the most part, you can expect to get a roadworthy car in Buffalo. However, since there can always be exceptions, you should check that your car’s lights are working flawlessly before your first trip. Don’t forget your turn signals and brake lights, too.
And do a quick brake test while still in the rental company’s parking lot. Then, once you’ve checked that your tyres are properly inflated at the first petrol station, you’re ready to start your journey.
Sights in Buffalo
Convention & Visitors Bureau: Book City Tours
The Convention & Visitors Bureau is a good place to start your sightseeing. First, you can find out about several historic city tours of Buffalo at once – there may be an interesting venture for the days ahead.
City Hall: Mighty skyscraper with a view
Continue to Niagara Square, dominated by the 30-story City Hall. It’s hard to believe that this gigantic skyscraper by European standards was built back in 1931. You have the option to take the elevator to the 28th floor and enjoy the view of the city and surrounding area from the observation deck. The observation deck is open from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00.
Buffalo History Museum: Journey into History
Dive deep into the city’s history when you visit the Buffalo History Museum. For example, there are replicas of shops as they stood in Buffalo in the 19th century. Afterward, you’ll have the chance to marvel at two World War II ships at Naval & Military Park.
Allentown: Victorian Heritage
It’s more peaceful in Allentown. There are still some Victorian mansions standing there, which bring the “good old days” back to life. If you ever want to see the inside of such a home, you can stroll over to the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Society. The mansion, built in 1837, is where President Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office in 1901. Furnished with antiques, the mansion can be toured from 9:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and from 12:30 p.m. on weekends. The last tour is at 3:30 p.m.
Albright-Knox Art Gallery: Impressive Artworks
Contemporary art, as well as works by Renoir, Monet and Chagall, can be admired when you visit the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.
Buffalo Museum of Science: Experience Dinosaurs
If you’re traveling with kids, you might still feel like heading to the Buffalo Museum of Science. There you’ll find a science exhibit that also focuses on the time of the dinosaurs.
Find a good restaurant
Whether you want Italian, Mexican, Asian or North American food, you’ll find it in Buffalo. We recommend Left Bank Restaurant. You’ll get tasty barbecue and excellent pasta served in a casual atmosphere.
Find a good hotel
In Buffalo, you will also find a number of very good hotels. You might book your room at The Mansion. You’ll stay in a historic building, and all the rooms are individually decorated with antiques. Time flies by in the billiard parlor and the 24-hour butler service will fulfill almost any guest wish.
A worthwhile destination in the area
Niagara Falls: Impressive natural spectacle
With your hire car you need only half an hour and stand in front of one of the greatest natural spectacles of this earth, the Niagara Falls. The water masses rush up to 54 meters into the depth. No wonder that the term “Niagara”, which comes from the language of the indigenous people, translated means “thundering water”.
The scale of Niagara Falls is breathtaking and is only conveyed directly on site. The falls reach a total width of almost one kilometre. Be mesmerized by this unique natural spectacle and then consider what other destinations around Buffalo you want to explore next by hire car.
Suggestion for a trip by hire car
Erie: Cozy Harbor Town
A hire car trip could take you to Erie first. It will take you about an hour and a half to get there. A cozy harbor town awaits you, some of whose streets are lined with historic homes. Start your stroll at the Watson-Curtze Mansion. This stately home was built in 1889. Inside, you’ll see all the grandeur of times gone by.
Next stop on your sightseeing tour is the Maritime Museum, where you’ll learn about times when Erie residents fought off the British on Lake Erie in the 19th century. A visit to the Presque Isle peninsula could round off the city stroll. There, you’ll find Presque Isle State Park, a gorgeous nature preserve with long beaches where you can soak up the sun.
Cleveland: Pulsating metropolis
Continue your journey to Cleveland. You should allow a good hour and a half for the drive. In the second largest city in the state of Ohio, you should first direct your steps to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum. There you will find numerous exhibits of great stars of rock history, such as a pair of Ray Charles sunglasses, a show jacket by John Lennon or a guitar by Jimmy Hendrix.
After the rock museum, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium is worth the visit. Strolling past huge tanks, you can extensively learn about the underwater world there. Before you continue your journey, you have the opportunity to stock up on provisions at the lively West Side Market. There are numerous stalls selling food from the region.
Milan: In the footsteps of Thomas Edison
Before you return to Buffalo in your hire car, you can stop off in Milan, which you can reach in about an hour. In Thomas Edison’s birthplace, a small museum commemorates the time of the great inventor of the light bulb. A four-hour drive now separates you from Buffalo, where you can plan your next excursions by hire car.
conclusion
Buffalo is a great location for a trip by hire car. The place is easy to reach by plane, there is a lot to see in the city and there are numerous charming destinations around Buffalo, all of which can be easily reached by car. Our handy price comparison will help you find a suitable car at great rates.