The location of the hotel is vital
If the hotels near the airport are not appealing, try to stay in or close to the city center. This will mean spending less on a car rental as most of the city’s attractions will be within the city and therefore accessible by foot or metro. Usually, everything will be within walking distance.
So, do an intensive search for downtown hotels and see if there is one that suits your budget. The time spent on searching will be the time saved upon arrival when there won’t be a need to visit the car rental agency. Instead, enjoy the city’s tours and attractions. The hotel location is therefore crucial.