John

I will be going to the South of France in Sept. What is the best place to rent a car? I have heard about autoeurope has anyone gone through them? Also do I need to buy CDW insurance? I hear it is an additional $20 per day. <BR><BR>Thanks for your help!

ingrid

I rented with autoeurope and did not purchase the CDW as my credit card company assured me they would cover it. We got a Volvo 40 station wagon (Turbo Diesel) that made 50 miles/gallon and was great.

Sue

I've rented thru Autoeurope many times; never a problem. My credit card takes care of CDW, also, except in Italy, for whatever reason?

Rex

Autoeurope is excellent. You will find dozens, maybe even hundreds of messages here with positive experiences using them. I have a dozen or so personal experiences with them myself, all positive.<BR><BR>As for CDW, it depends on how you feel about declining CDW in your own country (assuming credit card coverage, for example). It can put a real damper on a trip to have a charge assessed to your credit card for thousands of dollars; it's then up to you to recover from your credit card company.<BR><BR>In Italy or Ireland it isn't an option to decline. In the south of France, I think it's a matter of what you want to pay for risk reduction. It's a very personal choice.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Capo

Hi John. I've used both Autoeurope and Kemwel, and have had good experiences with both of them. (All the times I've gone through both of these agencies, the actual car rentals have has been from Europcar.)<BR><BR>I'd highly recommend CDW insurance; the only question is how to pay for it. Many Visa Gold cards -- and perhaps some other credit cards -- will cover this if you use the card for the rental. You can also purchase CDW separately through TravelGuard (www.travelguard.com, I think) for about $5/day. Or, of course, you can purchase it through the rental agency, but that will likely be the most expensive option (however, it *may* also be the least hassle should something happen.)

Gregg

I used Europe by Car for my trip in June and it worked out quite well. They beat the price of autoeurope. They contracted with National/Citer and my Citroen Xsara 4 dr with hatch was excellent. It was a 5 speed deisel and we drove 1000km. 8 days for around $225 paid in the US. Check their web. My credit dard covered my CDW in France.<BR>Bon voyage,<BR>Gregg

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Paula

Whatever you do, DON'T rent from Hertz. We did and are still fighting with them about the bill. Luckily we put it on our American Express Card, so we have some recourse.

Rex

I continue to object to this excessive characterization of Hertz. People are too quick to mis-represent a company - - a world leader I might add - - based on one bad experience.<BR><BR>Not thta t I haven't ever had a beef with Hertz. I hae been frustrated with how their "Number One Gold" service operates virtually as a separate company - - with no help offered in some locations from the "regular" Hertz staff. It's a reason I have almost entorely switched to National and its Emerald Aisle service (plus it has helped me avoid getting stuck with an ugly white car I don't like).<BR><BR>But I have had good service from Hertz in Europe, and it seems silly to say that one bad experience is reason to slam the reputation of an entire company.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Anna Gerac

John..I have traveled to France for the last five years. I generally start off in Paris and then take the train to another smaller city destination to rent the car. Yes..autoeurope is very good...you can also arrange from the States to drop the car off in another location and not have to pay the very high rates you would pay to do that in the States. You do not need CDW insurance as long as you have a major credit card (I believe)...check with your credit card company to make sure.

J.Armando Castellanos Alor

I would like to have some information about cost for rented cars. I am planning a Trip to France for 15 days in October 2002<BR>Thanks

Paula

Rex, Bad service is one thing. Not honoring a contract is quite another. People need to know about such breaches in contracts and avoid using companies that make them, which as Hertz did on our last trip. Just trying to help people avoid making the same mistake we made.<BR>Paula

dick

auto europe is fine. we have often gotten a much better car than we reserved, at the original rate. once in dordogne we were brought a replacement car to our hotel over 50 miles away because the auto we were given on arrival..altho the make and model we reserved...was several years old and since our rental was for almost 3 weeks they wanted us to have a newer car with less likelihood of problems arising..THEIR idea, not mine!!! hard to beat attitude like that..

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StCirq

Just got back from my latest trip to France and with AutoEurope rental. In 10+ years, they've never done me wrong, but just wanted to relate the strange experience I had with their Europcar affiliate in P&eacute;rigueux this time. I was due to drop the car off on June 30, a Sunday. I'd been to the office in P&eacute;rigueux (even though I picked up the car at the train station in Avignon on the way over) and explained that I'd be dropping the keys and green insurance folder off in their box because I'd be taking a train that left at about 1 pm, when their office wouldn't be open. I was assured that that was all fine, and since I'd done that many times in the past, assumed there was no problem.<BR><BR>On June 30, when I arrived at the EuropCar office, the box to drop the keys in was covered in Scotch tape and there was a sign above saying "Don't leave keys here. If you do so, you do it at your own risk." Whew! I went to the nearby Cit&eacute; and Avis offices, which were also closed, but there were no drop boxes (I thought I'd drop my keys and stuff in them with a note to please take them across the street to the EuropCar office). I went to the Agence Voyage office at the train station, but they couldn't offer me any advice. So I kept the keys and green folder and proceeded to Paris, where I went to the Post Office and mailed them by Collipost back to the agency in P&eacute;rigueux. In the meantime, I called the agency in P&eacute;rigueux to tell them I was mailing the keys, and the woman there, whom I know well from several years of rentals, said "Why didn't you just leave them at the caf&eacute; or hotel across the street?" I told her I had contemplated that, but thought it was very risky, I mean, leave the keys to a practically brand new car that's in the parking lot next door with a waiter at a caf&eacute;? She seemed to think I had overlooked the obvious solution. I told her I thought it would have been far too risky and that sending them Collipost was a much safer solution. She was very perturbed that she would have to wait 3 days to get the keys to the car back (don't they keep an extra set?), but I reaffirmed that I would not have been comfortable leaving the keys with an unknown hotel or caf&eacute;. <BR>I'm waiting now to see if I am charged for extra days for renting the car, which I will dispute if I find them on my credit card bill.<BR>I doubt this is something that will happen to many renters, but just be aware that strange things can happen even to veteran travelers.

Rex

The post by St. Cirq made me remember a hare-brained episode from my past.<BR><BR>There's a palce in Los Angeles that rents only Saabs and Alfa Romeos. Regrettably, I don't remember the name. Anyhow, they're off the airport, and have limited hours.<BR><BR>Several years ago, I was scheduled to come home on a red-eye, and I hadn't thought it out adequately - - how and where would I leave the car. The time seemed to kinda sneak up on me, and I arrived late at the airport with no plan. Ultimately, I decided to put it in the main airport parking garage, and I found a parking attendant, and begged him to let me pay him $20 to take it back in the morning.<BR><BR>The next day I called the rental place. No car. It occurred to me. This Saab probably has a price tag higher than this guy makes in a whole year! I called the management of the parkikng facility. Yes, they knew him, though h had been on the job less than two weeks (probably why he was willing to honor such a weird request). They offered to give his home address to the polic if I wanted to call them. With some regret, but an element of panic underlying, I did call the police, and they paid him a visit.<BR><BR>He has gotten off his midnight shift, gone home and simply gone to bed. He was planning to take the car back as he went back to work the next night. It was his normal time to get up about the time the police arrived. Oh, oh, oh... my bad!<BR><BR>I guess that stories like this CAN be written up as the fault of the car rental place...<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR><BR>

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JOdy

Once again , I tried Autoeurope and once again I was quoted a higher price than the one I received from Avis for the same car..what's the deal you all manage to get. And Avis guaranteed an automatic and Autoeurope would not. <BR><BR>Am I doing something wrong???????

Maureen

Our family travelled to France in March. We rented a Vels Satis from Avis. Picked up at the airport and off we went. The newest model has a GPS with all the sites and coordinates in France. You can select any language and it will talk you thru to your destination. It was wonderful. Our children loved it and it made driving in the countryside + Paris very enjoyable. I would rent this car and from Avis on every trip. Very positive experience.

Tom

To Jody:<BR><BR>No, you're not doing something wrong. This can happen. Avis might have certain prices locked in with autoeurope, and then decide to run a sale. Be glad you got it.<BR>