Your questions: My details were stolen from a car rental. Can I avoid this?

I have been caught up in a data breach with Avis, the car-hire company – they lost my name, date of birth, home address, phone number, credit card details and driver’s licence details, enough for someone to set up a new identity. How much personal information is too much when hiring a car? Do they really need all that personal information?
J. Knox, St Leonards, Vic

Car rental companies request a lot of information before they’ll loan you a vehicle, and there’s not much you can do about it. Credit: Bloomberg

This is an unfortunate outcome, but it’s not uncommon. Car-hire operators have a lot of data on their customers, and much of that information is a high-value target for cyber criminals. Airlines also have a treasury of customer data and even major, highly regarded carriers such as American Airlines and Singapore Airlines have suffered breaches.

Car-hire operators, like airlines, might hang onto customers’ information for several years after their hire. It might be a legal requirement, for example to satisfy tax authorities or to comply with other legislation, but also to cover the possibility that a customer might subsequently be involved in legal action, for example relating to an accident or a fine.

Unfortunately, the end user has no choice about the data you give to a car-hire operator. It’s essential for them to have that information when you make a booking. That makes us vulnerable, but it’s a price we pay if we want to take advantage of the convenience and the opportunities that the digital world brings to our lives.

After an Antarctic cruise finishing in Buenos Aires, we would also like to visit Iguazu Falls and Rio. We would ideally like to see both sides of the falls. Can you recommend the best way to do this or a tour group that offers such tours?
D. Vega, Melbourne, Vic

Iguazu Falls from the Argentinean side.Credit: iStock

Take a look at Isobel King’s story on Iguazu, at traveller.com.au Divide your time between the Argentinian and Brazilian sides of the falls. Brazil boasts panoramic, up-close views, but most of the falls area is located in the Misiones province of Argentina, with walking trails that give you a sense of the falls’ raw power and majesty.

You will need a visa for Argentina but not for Brazil, provided you enter before April 10, 2025, when the new eVisa requirement will apply. Adding Rio de Janeiro to this itinerary is not difficult, there are several non-stop flights daily from Foz do Iguacu International Airport to Rio. The flight takes just over two hours. If you want to take a tour, Melbourne-based South America Travel Centre would be a prime choice, and IguazuFalls.com and Buenos Aires Tours are other possibilities.

Together with two adult sons, I would like to explore Spain and Portugal next May for 10-14 days. We enjoy different things and small-group tours would be OK, as long as they cater across our generation span. We’re not seasoned travellers, might independent travel be too tough?
S. Creane, Glen Iris , Vic

If you’re at all uncertain about independent travel, a guided tour is the answer and a personalised tour will take account of your individual wants and needs. The operator I’d recommend in this case is Sam Lister of Tailormade Andalucia. The company is based in Seville and they’re well-equipped to take care of your touring needs in Portugal as well as in Spain.

A group tour would likely be less expensive and in that case you might look at tours in Spain and Portugal from Intrepid Travel and G Adventures. However, given that you’re a multi-generational family, a group tour would cater less to your individual needs and might be less satisfying than a personalised tour which gives greater opportunity to influence your own itinerary.

We have booked six nights in Portovenere as a base to visit Cinque Terre next May, but are we better off staying in one of the CT villages? Or perhaps three nights in Portovenere and three in one of the villages?
P. McGillion, Avondale, NSW

Located just to the south of the Cinque Terre villages, Portovenere is a handsome, fortified village at the northern headland of the Bay of La Spezia. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site on account of its cultural heritage which encapsulates the continuous history of human settlement in this region over the past millennium. There’s plenty to keep you occupied here for several days, including a hike up to majestic Doria Castle or even Campiglia, a small town north of Portovenere with amazing views. Strolling around the boats and cafes on Palmaria Island and enjoying aperitivi and seafood dishes overlooking the harbour are other highlights. Don’t miss the staircase that takes you down to the luminous green waters close to Byron’s Grotto, one of many sculpted sea caves along this part of the coast.

Although there are ferries from Portovenere to the Cinque Terre it’s not a particularly good base for exploring the five villages. You would be better off staying in one of the Cinque Terre villages and in May you’re ahead of the summer crowds. Opinions differ over which is the best town to base yourselves in the Cinque Terre, but my pick is Vernazza because it has two swimming beaches, it’s within easy walking distance of Monterosso and Corniglia, the views from the local lookouts are amazing and there are plenty of restaurants and bars.

Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances.