Get a chauffeur, says Europcar's COO

"Those in the know have already adopted chauffeur services as a regular part of their transport menu because it offers the 3Cs: convenience, cost and comfort," he said. "It's a very flexible customer service that lives up to our 'Moving your way' pledge."

Booking your Europcar chauffeur service to and from the airport, for example, is time efficient. Simply book online at the same time as you're booking your flight and car rental - and the extra chore of booking or finding taxis for outward and return journeys also disappears from the to-do list.

"This makes chauffeur services a great option for families going on holiday, too," said Lydall. "You can rest assured airport transfers are sorted and needn't worry about leaving your car at the airport."

You can forget about the high costs of airport parking, of course, with chauffeur service, he noted. Europcar's chauffeur service is competitively priced against taxi-cab prices - beating rand-for-rand fares in some areas. Chauffeur set rates paid upfront also make it easier to handle budgets.

This has also made it a popular option for groups travelling to conferences and savvy business people away from their home town.

A cost- and time-effective alternative

"Many find chauffeur services a cost- and time-effective alternative to traditional self-drive," said Lydall. "As well as not having to find their own way around especially when possibly encountering challenging road diversions, customers don't worry about parking. And while travelling, they can safely attend to calls and messages or go through the next meeting's papers."

Chauffeur services have also become popular for attending social functions, going to concerts and sporting events. Advantages include not needing to choose a designated driver who won't drink, not having to search for a cab at the evening's end, and being able to choose from economic to luxury options, depending on the impact you wish to make, said Lydall. Instead of traditional, higher after-hours prices, chauffeur services offer cost-saving off-peak rates, he noted.

Finally, for those concerned about driving home alone late at night, chauffeur services offer peace of mind.

"Customers find our young, well-maintained vehicle fleet more than comfortable," said Lydall. "It reassures them they're in safe hands."