Book Essex car rentals from $261

Essex is the perfect place to take to the highways and back streets in your own rental vehicle. Turn up your favorite playlist and enjoy the flexibility of checking out all the hidden gems scattered between each of its most appealing travel destinations. Try to tick off as many of this place's most renowned destinations as possible:

• Southend-on-Sea (population of 295,300)
• Colchester (population of 121,900)
• Basildon (population of 101,400)
• Harlow (population of 94,400)

We've rounded up our best tips and tricks to help you save on a car rental:

• Research as many different bargain car rental deals as possible (we make that chore completely painless!);
• By submitting your email address into our Price Drop Alert, you'll be notified of all of the best discounts for your selected location;
• Include both airport and non-airport pickup locations to ensure you're bagging the absolute best offer in town;
• You can often save a bundle if your plans are flexible. Compare different days and dates and find out how much you can save;
• To avoid paying for an extra day or a late fee, try to keep your pickup and drop-off times as similar as possible;
• Keep more hard-earned dollars in your bank account. You'll score some of the best deals when you pay in advance for your rental car;
• The early bird catches the worm, along with the best deals! Book as soon as possible to secure some excellent savings.