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Exploring Columbia by Hire Car

Columbia has a population of 130,000 and is the capital of the US state of South Carolina. Columbia is located right in the geographic center of South Carolina, near the Congaree River.

Over 700,000 residents live in the immediate area surrounding the state’s capital on the East Coast.

Straight and wide streets characterize the cityscape of South Carolina’s capital. Here you can visit the largest museum in the southeastern United States, stroll through a handsomely landscaped zoo, and enjoy water views or water sports at Lake Murray.

And there are places worth seeing in the surrounding countryside, too, which are easy to discover by hire car. For rental and travel we have compiled a few tips.

Taking over the hire car

At the Columbia airport, you will find numerous hire car agencies right in the arrivals area. Just follow the signs. Before booking, however, be sure to check that your rental company is located in the airport. If they only have an office near the airport, it can take a long time for a shuttle to take you there.

Booking the right hire car

The best way to enjoy the well-maintained highways around Columbia is to book a large and comfortable car.

Hire car prices

It’s not cheap to hire car in Columbia. You can usually get the best deals by booking well in advance of your trip and using our handy price comparison tool.

hire car price comparison Columbia

Insuring the car properly

Even though road traffic in Columbia usually flows at a leisurely pace, an accident can still happen quickly with an unfamiliar hire car. If you’ve booked a car with fully comprehensive coverage with no deductible, you’ll be well covered in the event of a claim. With liability, the amount of coverage is crucial.

It should be at least one million euros. Because in an accident with personal injury often high costs come to you. If you find that the coverage amount of your lender is too low, you can provide further protection with a so-called traveller policy. Consult your insurance company and make sure that the policy also covers you in the USA.

age limit

With virtually all rental companies in Columbia, you must be at least 21 years old to hire car. Some categories of vehicles are reserved for drivers 25 and older. And drivers younger than 25 usually pay an additional fee. Check the rental terms and conditions for your rental company.

Accessories

Whether it’s a child seat or a navigation system, you must always order any accessories separately from your rental company. Make your reservation well in advance to ensure that the equipment you want is available on the day you pick up your vehicle in Columbia.

Free kilometers

The best way to explore the many delightful destinations around Columbia is to book a car with all the miles free.

Tank control

Make sure to book with a rental company where you pick up the car with a full tank of gas and return it with a full tank. This option has proven to be the fairest and most transparent.

Bail

If you do not want to wait any longer for the return of the deposit after returning the car, you should book with a rental company that only blocks the amount. This is because if the money is debited, you will have to be patient until your rental company decides to transfer the amount back.

And that can sometimes take time. Before you go on your trip, be sure to check that your card’s credit line is sufficient to cover deposits and other holiday expenses.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Most customers are extremely satisfied with their hire car service in Columbia and the car they received. However, before you start your hire car journey, you should still take a good look at the vehicle.

Let defects such as scratches or dents be noted in writing in a defect report and keep the document safe. In this way, you avoid being held liable for damage that you did not cause when you return the car.

Safety rental vehicles

Although hire cars in Columbia are almost always perfectly roadworthy, you should test all of the car’s lights for your own safety. Don’t forget turn signals and brake lights, too. And give your vehicle a quick brake test while still in the rental company’s parking lot.

Sights in Columbia

South Carolina State Museum: Impressive Collection
The South Carolina State Museum is a good place to start a city break. In 1988, the huge museum was opened. Exhibits include art, cultural history, natural history, and science and technology. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. On Sunday, you can visit the exhibit from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. A ticket costs seven dollars.

State House: commemorating the Civil War
The State House commemorates the American Civil War. Bronze stars set into the west facade mark the impacts of cannonballs fired at the building by Northern troops.

Riverbank Zoo: diverse wildlife
Afterwards, you may feel like paying a visit to the handsomely landscaped Riverbank Zoo. There you can marvel at a diverse animal world from African elephants to zebras. The attached botanical garden with its collection of old roses is also well worth a visit. A ticket costs $11.75. The zoo and botanical garden are open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Finley Park: Enchanting Nature
The picturesque Finley Park is also worth the visit. It was opened in 1991 and offers a special nature experience. Especially the man-made waterfall inspires visitors.

South Carolinas Gamecocks: Football at its best
Maybe you have the opportunity to get tickets for a football game of the South Carolinas Gamecocks. The stadium is huge and seats over 80,000. American families spend whole afternoons at this game. Food and drink play at least as big a role as the action on the field.

Lake Murray: Swimming fun
A visit to Lake Murray could be the end of your sightseeing. Here you can swim, take a boat out or put your fishing line in the water. The lake has a circumference of 800 kilometres. Lake Murray is located approximately 34 kilometers from Columbia and can be reached in half an hour by hire car.

Find a good restaurant

Many of Columbia’s undergraduate students are interested in culinary arts, while also making sure there are some good but inexpensive restaurants. We recommend Solstice churches. This place serves imaginative cuisine based on the passing of the seasons. If the Blackened Shrimp & Grits are on the menu, go for it.

Find a good hotel

Stay comfortable and central at the Sheraton Columbia Downtown Hotel. This stylish property offers nicely appointed rooms with amenities like whirlpool tubs and flat-screen TVs.

A worthwhile destination in the area

For a relaxing day at the beach, we recommend steering your hire car to Hilton Head Island. The 255 kilometres will take you just under three hours. The sophisticated resort attracts with long beaches and beautiful golf courses.

Visit the public Folly Field Beach, lie down in the warm sand and listen to the sound of the waves. Deeply relaxed, you can now consider which destination around Columbia you want to head to next in your hire car.

Suggestion for a trip by hire car

Savannah: Southern Pearl
A trip with the hire car could take you first to Savannah. In two and a half hours you will be there. A typical Southern city awaits you, with streets often lined with historic homes. You might start your stroll at the Owens-Thomas House. It was built from 1816 to 1819 and shows not only the wealth of a bygone era, but also the conditions under which slaves lived at that time. If you want to learn more about the segregation era, you can then visit the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum.

There you will learn that segregation was even an issue at the fast food joint. You can admire modern art if you now direct your steps to the Jepson Center for the Arts. Works of art from the 20th and 21st centuries are on display there. Before heading to your next destination, it’s worth paying a visit to the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Rebuilt in 1899 after a fire, it boasts Gothic architecture and a magnificent nave.

Brunswick: harmonious town
Continue your journey to Brunswick, which you can reach in just over an hour by hire car. The quiet town named after the German city Branschweig, with not even 20,000 inhabitants convinces less by spectacular sights than by the harmonious overall picture. Worth a visit, however, is the City Hall, built in 1889 and reminiscent of a French chateau that could also stand on the Loire.

St. Simons Island: Vacation Paradise
Before you steer the hire car back to Columbia, you can stop off at St. Simons Island. The drive will take you less than fifteen minutes. On St. Simons Island, you can swing a golf club on beautifully landscaped courses, or soak up the sun and sea on one of the enchanting sandy beaches. For the return trip to Columbia you should plan another three and a half hours. There you can park the hire car and plan your next excursions.

conclusion

Columbia offers an unbeatable mix for hire car travelers. There is plenty to see in the city and the surrounding countryside also beckons with delightful destinations, all of which can be easily reached by car. Our handy price comparison will help you find a suitable car at great rates.

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