KayF

Hi, has anyone hired a car from Bratislava airport? We are planning on flying there, getting a car and seeing some of neighboring Austria.

Any recommendations? Assume it's OK to take the car into another country?

Thanks, Kay

tomboy

It's OK with me, but you'd best see if the rental company has an opinion.

KayF

Anyone have a recommendation of who to hire a car with?

Kay

bob_brown

I always check with Auto Europe first and get its price.
Then I check with Sixt, Avis, Hertz, Europcar and other companies.

You might even check with places like Expedia to see what it has to say.

I find it very hard to beat the whole deal from Auto Europe. I don't look at just the price, but at the overall package including insurance.

In my dealings with AE I have gotten refunds for overcharging twice.

In general, I find that AE wields some clout with the agencies because it has a big client base and is free to pick and choose the agencies through which it rents.

lincasanova

check the ryanair website.

tedgale

What follows is conjecture on my part, as I have never rented in Slovakia:

AutoEurope always makes a big deal about taking a car from W Europe into C Europe. I guess there is a lot more auto theft there.

I deduce that rental rates are likely higher in Slovakia than Austria.

Why not take the bus from Bratislava airport -- it's about 25 miles -- to Vienna and get your car there?

Moreover: When you are so close to Vienna it seems a pity not to spend some time in that city -- which is about 20 times more interesting than anything in Slovakia.

Anyway, you might actually save money by renting from Austria.

bob_brown

If you rent from the West Bahnhof in Vienna train station through Auto Europe, the price for a CWMR class of vehicle, the base rate is $511.56 USD

If you rent from the airport in Bratislava the price for the same class car is $461 inclusive. You have no option on the insurance.

I would say that it is cheaper to rent in Slovakia.

There was no asking if I was driving to Western Europe! Asking the question the other way 'round is common.

Austria slaps so much tax on rental cars that renting in that country is almost prohibitive.

KayF

Thanks very much everyone. I will follow up on the suggestions. The trip is in the early planning stages, although we know we have to fly into Bratislava, as our flights are with SkyEurope. We may end up seeing some of Vienna but a driving holiday in Austria, with nature and walking is on the agenda. We've had a lot of big city holidays lately and want something different.

Kay