Karen then noticed the man had a copy of a small town newspaper under his arm – with a picture of him, grinning, as emergency services attempt to tow the unfortunate Camry out of a torrent of mud – the headline: “Joyriding leaves hoon up the proverbial creek!”

Seems the customer made a bet with a friend that a Toyota Camry would make it across a muddy river in the middle of a flood – turns out the mate won!

So, here’s Vroom Vroom Vroom’s tribute to all the cars that – “were like that when we hired it!”

Detroit River Grave Yard

Just one of the 15 cars recently found in the “Detroit River Graveyard” – police are investigating how 15 cars could be sunk without anyone noticing!

Oh, I have an idea, lets take her off road

Here’s a tip when choosing your rental – if you want to travel in style and comfort, choose a Mercedes, Audi or BMW.  If you want to go cross country,  through everglades, creeks and rivers – don’t!

The fast food junkie

You thought the take-out wrappers and empty water bottles in your car were bad?  Police in West Yarmouth are investigating a crash caused by pieces of fetid trash falling onto the pedals in this Ford Focus.

The Caterpillar Breeding Center

The pic to make you itch….yep, they’re caterpillars, tens of thousands of them, building their home in every nook and cranny of this little car.

Dude, where’s my car

Isn’t it wonderful to find a park right under a nice, shady tree?

Poached or Scrambled?

There’s nothing like a warm, comfy home to raise a family.  Where better for a family of mice than a warm, comfy engine?  The worst part is, it’s more common than you think!  Rats, mice, creepy crawlies and even snakes love a nice warm, sheltered engine to set up home.  Be careful next time you investigate that “rattle” under the hood!

Not dirty, but, Um… Hope you’re not in a hurry.

Lake Geneva, Switzerland, where the weather is cool in winter…..

Insurance ain’t covering this one

Sometimes you just can’t win.  Tourists took this 4×4 on their trip to Somerset but didn’t count on the soft, silty mud of the mudflats.  They watched in horror as the car sunk, up to it’s roof and then all but disappeared.  When the tide went out, all that was left was this muddy wreck and a very expensive rescue bill.

Golden shower of black gold

Slick, shiny paint job?  Look closer – it’s “slick” alright!  Just one of the victims of a recent mishap in Vancouver when workmen accidently punctured an oil pipeline, showering nearby homes, streets and parked cars in black gold.

Dusty Art

If it’s going to come back dirty, it may as well look incredible

Remember, if you are going to return your rental car covered in filth and muck, at least be a little more clever than the old excuse “It was like that when I rented it?”

Whats the moral of this story? Make sure you rent the right car with right insurance. Vroom Vroom Vroom can help you rent a car for just about any sticky situation.

Dana Flannery

There’s so much to think about: child-friendly accommodation, attractions and theme parks, what to pack, food, nappies, spending money…the list goes on and on. While the revolution of the internet has made it a lot easier to search for the perfect family holiday, it can mean hours of trawling hundreds of different sites until you find the place, the hotel, and the attractions that all fit within the tight family budget.

Well now you need look no further than bestkidfriendlytravel.com, a site that has brought everything for the family holiday into one easy online space. This is much more than an online travel tips site – you can do everything from reading tips from other travellers, through to buying travel supplies, and even booking your holiday right there and then. The reviews are all compiled by parents who have actually been there, so you know you’re getting the real deal. They share their experiences on everything from finding an hotel with baby-friendly facilities to getting the best value for your money at Walt Disney World.

Basically, the whole site is built on the experiences of the families who have travelled, and those who are local and want to share their wisdom, so that you know you’re getting genuine advice from those who understand the logistical nightmare that is the family vacation.

There’s literally hundreds of vacation ideas to choose from and loads of suggestions from experienced parents. Some of the suggestions include visiting Hershey in Pennsylvania, home to the famous chocolate, or checking out Philadelphia, where one savvy parent has sourced the best family-friendly hotels. If it’s sand, sun, and surf you’re after, browse the ‘kid-friendly beaches’ list, or peruse the ‘theme park’ section for insider tips on how to survive the crowds, the rides, and the costs.

When you’ve decided on your ‘final destination’, you can easily book it through the site. And while you’re there, check out the online shop where you’ll find some nifty ideas, such as portable DVD players for those long road trips, strollers and accessories, and much more, and all at very competitive prices.

Bestkidfriendlytravel.com is truly a one-stop-shop for all your family vacation needs, designed by parents for parents. So save yourself hours of trawling the internet for every element of your vacation experience, and visit the site to get all the advice, and all the bookings, in one hit.

It may end up being the easiest part of your long-awaited ‘vacation’!