Jenny62

We will be flying into Prague for a quick visit and then intend spending the next week traveling into Poland - to Krakow and then back to Boleslawiec before returning to Prague for a flight back to the UK.

Where is the best place to hire a car (expense wise) at the airport or in the city? It would be easier to simply to go from the airport back to the airport.

We were wondering about traveling from Czech Republic into Poland - how does that sit with hire companies? Would there suddenly be a difference in the cost of car hire and a hike in insurance because we are traveling out of the country.

Any suggestions about car hire companies worth looking at?

Alec

I would hire and return at the airport, as there is a big selection of models including automatics when required and parking isn't usually a problem - they have dedicated spaces for rental fleet. I find in Czech Republic extra fee for airport pick-up in zero or small.
There shouldn't be any problems taking your car into other EU countries, of which Poland is one. Just tell them in advance of your intention, and they will give you a cross-border card for ID and insurance purposes. There shouldn't be any extra cost, or a small one (like 10 euro).
You can go with reputable brokers like Auto Europe (they have good rates for Czech Republic, which is one of the cheapest countries in former Eastern bloc for car hire). Or try a local company http://www.vecar.cz/CarRentalPrague.html

Jenny62

Hi Alec.

We will definitely inform them of our travel arrangements of course make some general enquiries when we pick up the car like - road conditions (we are doing a straight run to Krakow and stopping at Wraclaw on the way back), type of fuel and cost of petrol in Poland. I think our AU$ is close to 3 zloty which will be a big help all round.

I believe they have been busy in the last couple of years upgrading the road to Krakow and my son (lives in London, Polish fiance) informed us about two weeks ago that they have made a ruling that all trucks (I assume long distance ones) must now travel at night which will help with road safety during the day.

Many thanks, Jenny

StuDudley

Last Sept we picked up a car at a downtown hotel/office. We got exactly the car we reserved - an automatic. The day before we picked up the car, we walked to the office to make sure that the car we reserved was there - and it was. We reserved through AutoEurope/Kemwel and got a Budget car. Driving out of town was quite easy. We drove the car in Austria, Germany, and Hungary.

Stu Dudley

Jenny62

Hi StuDudley.
While getting the car at the airport and returning it there is a good idea parking it while in Prague for two days may prove difficult - we will be staying in the Old Town where parking can be difficult. It might be a better option to hire in the city and on our return just catch a taxi to the airport.

Thanks for the information - will certainly consider it.

StuDudley

We picked up the car at the Budget office in the Hotel Intercontinantal - which is in Old Town with easy car access.

Stu Dudley