This summer, “Stay-cation” is sure to be a popular choice among many Britons, for the simple reason that the UK has many summer festivals lined up. This Year the North is hosting some amazing entertainment, from folky, family friendly fun to huge headlining acts. So why not gather your friends, hire an Avis car and go road tripping on the stay-cation of a lifetime.

Car hire is one of the best transportation options as many festivals can be quite remote and difficult to get too. Don’t forget to hire a car with lots of boot space to fit your tents, supplies and not forgetting of course your festival costumes! With Avis Home Delivery we can even drop the car off at your door beforehand and collect it when you done.

The first Northern festival of the summer is in June, far up in the Highlands near Inverness. This year, Rockness (www.rockness.co.uk/) is welcoming some big headliners such as the Chemical Brothers, as well as Scottish acts such as Frightened Rabbit and the Scottish wonder boy Paolo Nutini to please the home crowd. Driving through the Highlands with its beautiful mountainous terrain will ensure a scenery and road trip to remember.

Moving all the way down to Yorkshire, the Beverly Folk Festival (www.beverleyfestival.com/) to be held on June 17th promises entertainment for all the family. Heading up to Scotland again, T in the Park (www.tinthepark2011.com/) on the 8th of July is being graced with the one and only Foo Fighters for a weekend where good music just keeps coming. Next on the list is a choice between Cockrock (www.cockermouthrockfestival.com/) and the Wickerman Festival (www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk/ ) both on 22nd July – spoilt for choice.
Cockrock in Cumbria is a small festival with a friendly atmosphere versus the Wickerman which boasts good music, good vibes and a great atmosphere. Located beside Kirkcubright Bay on the west coast of Scotland, an amazing backdrop for the festival is guaranteed as well as a scenic journey.

At the end of July Kendal Calling (http://www.kendalcalling.co.uk/) arrives. This was the winner of the best small festival 2010 and with headliners yet to be announced, the excitement is building. Following this is Tribfest (http://www.tribfest.co.uk/) held in East Yorkshire, a festival containing fun for all ages starring the best modern tribute bands.

What better way to round up a summer of fun than hitting Leeds Festival (www.leedsfestival.com/) on the August bank holiday weekend. Headliners such as Muse, The Strokes and My Chemical Romance , Leeds never fails to deliver a monster line up.
There are plenty of other UK festivals happening this summer so get in touch with Avis and book the ultimate festival car for the summer road trip of a lifetime.

Summer means only one thing to many people, Festival time! It’s that time of year where the UK plays host to some of the best musical talent on the planet, and Avis Car Hire has created the 2011 Festival guide, helping you get there.

At Avis we are here to make your festival season that little bit more special. Why sit on a train when you can make a proper road trip adventure out of it?

There are many potential trips to be made during the festival season and only the hardest of fans would attempt to visit all of them. Here is a selection of the most popular festivals and the best route to get you there in time to belting out your favourite.

If you are new to the festival scene then the South is a great place to start your adventures. Brighton has the Great Escape Festival on the 12th – 14th May where you can have a good few days exploring the town and the city wide festival. The festival showcases new acts from all over Brighton. After hiring your car for your next destination, you can either head along the coast towards the Isle of Wight Festival (www.isleofwightfestival.com) which takes place from June 10th – 12th or you can opt for the last event of the summer the Bestival (www.bestival.net) to be held from September 8th – 11th.

Arguably the biggest and most popular festival is Glastonbury (www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk) June 22nd – 26th which always attracts the biggest acts and audience. Further along the coast you can pop into the Eden project for its epic fortnight long festival “The Eden Sessions” (www.edenproject.com/sessions/index.php) which runs from the 24th June – 10th July.

Alternatively you can head inland away from the coast, which has a plethora of Festivals on offer, Blissfields (www.blissfields.co.uk) June 30th – 3rd July is a smaller more intimate festival offering indie and alternative acts. At the same time as the Blissfields Festival is the Wireless Festival (www.wirelessfestival.co.uk) July 1st – 3rd, located in the middle of London (Hyde Park) and features a wide range of music to suit all tastes. Might be tricky to park there but that’s one of the benefits of hiring an Avis car, you can just drop it off at an Avis office and then hire another car when you’re ready!

A festival you’ll definitely have to drive to is The Big Chill (www.bigchill.net/festival/home) August 4th-7th and offers a more chilled out atmosphere to your typical festival with its woodland based site.

Lastly the Reading Festival (www.readingfestival.com) August 26th – 28th, is another of the big festivals which attracts big acts and even bigger crowds. This is just a pick of the festivals happening in 2011 and there are plenty more to be discovered.

Thinking about going on a driving holiday this year but not sure where to go?
Avis have created a range of driving guides to help you out with inspiration!

The next of our Avis Great Drives is for Porto, the downloadable guide plans out a two day tour of this wonderful region in Portugal. So if you are looking for a little extra romance then book your driving holiday to Porto and discover the unspoiled beaches and hilltop hideaways that the north and west of Portugal has to offer.

Click here to download your Porto Avis Great Drives guide or to find out what other driving holidays in Europe that we recommend.

Need a car AND want it delivered the same day? Now you can with Avis Home Delivery. Home Delivery is available to book from as little as 4 hours notice (subject to branch opening hours).

What’s more, we have enhanced our website to offer additional products such as GPS (at certain locations), child seats and additional drivers so you can have your car delivered with everything you need. Perfect when you need to get a car but are looking after the kids!

Avis Home Delivery is available across the UK with no minimum rental length and still for only £10. Why not book Home Delivery for your next car rental need, sit back and let us deliver to you.

For more information or to book go to www.avis.co.uk/homedelivery or call our reservations team on 0844 581 8181.

With us Brits rushing to make the most of the added bank holiday this Easter why not take inspiration from the Royal Wedding and stay on home soil this April.

At Avis we know that Easter is always a very popular time of year to go away, but with the Royal Wedding happening this year, more people are planning to travel in the UK to rediscover the nation’s beauty spots and history rather than travelling abroad. The extra bank holidays mean that by booking three days off work, Britons can actually have a whole week’s break and at Avis we’re already seeing more demand as people rush to firm up their travel plans.

The UK has thousands of fantastic holiday destinations that are ideal for days out, weekends away and longer holidays, so we’re encouraging holidaymakers to make the most of their time off and explore more of the UK.

With Avis offering convenience and flexibility, car hire can be the most cost-effective way to explore the British Isles, both for those who don’t own a car, and for those looking to experience something a bit different. From hiring a Peugeot RCZ for the weekend, to choosing a larger people carrier for the whole family, Avis offers a wide selection of cars and services to make your time away as enjoyable as possible.

So to help you make the most of your time in the UK this Easter, we have put together these Royal recommendations:

1.Windsor Castle, Windsor
The oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, Windsor Castle in an official residence of The Queen. With Eton College just a short walk from the castle, Windsor provides many opportunities to learn about British history and tradition.

2.Kew Palace, Surrey
Located with Kew Gardens, Kew Palace is a 17th century palace in a beautiful setting. Kew Gardens is home to a whole host of attractions which will provide a full day out seeped in 250 years of history.

3.Sandringham House, Norfolk
Sandringham House is open to visitors, as is the museum, church and 60 acres of gardens on the Sandringham estate.

4.Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire
Balmoral Castle in Scotland is the private residence of The Queen during the summer months. During the spring, the grounds, gardens and exhibitions are open to the public on a daily basis.

5.Hampton Court Palace, Surrey
Best-known as the home of King Henry VIII, this 16th century palace contains a traditional Tudor kitchen and the gardens are also home to the world famous hedge maze.

For more recommendations on where to go in the UK, customers can visit the Avis Facebook page and share ideas with other holidaymakers at: www.facebook.com/avisuk.