Planning the annual family holiday is an exciting prospect, but it can also be fairly stressful. After all, there is a lot to consider when travelling with children, from making sure you have everything you need, such as pushchairs and nappies, to simply keeping everyone happy.

So, it is well worth taking the time to find ways of making the trip a little easier. For many people, the process of getting from A to B – whether finding your way from the airport to your hotel or negotiating public transport between attractions – is one of the most stressful elements of their holiday. This is one of the reasons why hiring a car for your holiday can be such a benefit to families.

Read on to find out more about the advantages of hiring a car for family getaways.

Eradicate airport stress

Airports can be a significant cause of holiday stress thanks to all those queues, long waits and rushing around – all factors that can easily cause kids to have temper tantrums! After your flight, the last thing you want to do is haul heavy baggage all over the place trying to find a bus that goes to your hotel or haggle over taxis.

By hiring a car, you can sidestep all of this and simply pick up the keys to your very own vehicle for the duration of your break. Doing this means you can easily pack all your luggage into the boot and tuck the kids safety into the back of the car for a quiet nap while you make your way to your accommodation.

Get the right vehicle for your family

One of the main advantages of choosing a hire car over public transport is that you can pick a vehicle that's suitable for your whole family. For example, large families can select spacious people carriers, while parents with babies can ensure their vehicle can comfortably fit child car seats.

Days out made simple

The value of hire cars really stands out when you consider family day trips. Arguably, the best thing about having your own car while on holiday is that it makes any day out so much simpler than it would be otherwise. Imagine trying to find the right bus or train, failing to get a seat and having to cram onboard pushchairs, changes of clothes, nappies and more – and then picture the same journey taken in a car of your own instead.

The additional storage space you get when you hire a car means parents can pack everything they need to keep the kids happy, without having to spend time working out what can feasibly be left behind to lighten the load. Things like spare jumpers, favourite toys or extra snacks can also be left in the car for later in the day, so you don't even need to worry about carrying everything you take with you around all day.

Freedom and flexibility

Another bonus of hiring a car is that it gives you the ultimate freedom and flexibility to do exactly as you please during your holiday. Exploring off the beaten track becomes much easier when you have your own transport, while making fun little detours is equally effortless – you never know what hidden gems you might find!

What's more, should the children get too tired out or become bored at an attraction, it is simple to get back to the hotel or villa, or head somewhere else. So, you are not as rigidly tied to your plans as you would be otherwise.

Save money

Hiring a car can also be a cost-effective way to get around overseas, especially considering a lot of the most popular attractions will have complimentary parking. Plus, having your own vehicle allows you to do things like pack your own lunches, snacks and drinks, which makes it much easier to stay within budget.