Car rental in Ireland (NOT an insurance question!)
Mar 4th, 2009, 10:35 AM
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Car rental in Ireland (NOT an insurance question!)
As many of you know, we're going to be in Ireland for 9 days in June for our daughter's wedding. We'll need to rent a vehicle.
It'll be used mostly to ferry people to and from the airport and to run wedding related errands. But, because this is my MIL's and her brother's first trip abroad, we want to be sure to find time to show them a bit of Ireland. Mostly short jaunts to Newgrange, Tara and other places near my daughter's in-laws'. But we're hoping to squeeze in a full day to head down through the Wicklow Mountains to Glendalough and then to Powerscourt. So we need a vehicle that will seat 5 fairly comfortably (six would be even better but that's probably pushing it).
We're well aware of the narrow roads in Ireland. And, in fact, most of the wedding errands will probably be run on those kind of roads. Though my husband has driven a stick in Ireland, he'd prefer to rent an automatic this time.
I know that some people here (Bob?) have traveled in Ireland with extended family. Do you have any advice for the best vehicle to aim for to suit our needs?
We'll probably go with Dan Dooley as we used them the last time (renting from Shannon) and were happy with them.
Thanks for any advice or suggestions!
It'll be used mostly to ferry people to and from the airport and to run wedding related errands. But, because this is my MIL's and her brother's first trip abroad, we want to be sure to find time to show them a bit of Ireland. Mostly short jaunts to Newgrange, Tara and other places near my daughter's in-laws'. But we're hoping to squeeze in a full day to head down through the Wicklow Mountains to Glendalough and then to Powerscourt. So we need a vehicle that will seat 5 fairly comfortably (six would be even better but that's probably pushing it).
We're well aware of the narrow roads in Ireland. And, in fact, most of the wedding errands will probably be run on those kind of roads. Though my husband has driven a stick in Ireland, he'd prefer to rent an automatic this time.
I know that some people here (Bob?) have traveled in Ireland with extended family. Do you have any advice for the best vehicle to aim for to suit our needs?
We'll probably go with Dan Dooley as we used them the last time (renting from Shannon) and were happy with them.
Thanks for any advice or suggestions!
Mar 4th, 2009, 06:44 PM
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It probably was me. We've had parties of 6, on two occassions, but that was in April of'99 and Feb of '02. Both times, we rented 9 passenger People Movers which were just barely adequate for six adults and luggage.
Both, however, were stick shift.
Dooley's choices, in automatic, are the Renault Laguna or Megane - both five passenger sedans, or a Ford Galaxy mini-van type People Mover, which I believe to be a five passenger, even though it has 6 seat belts. Both have two front bucket seats and one rear bench and I don't think four would COMFORTABLE sit abreast, in either rear seat.
If you go to: http://www.irelandexpert.com/ (Pat Preston's site), she has a link that is supposed to give you a 10% discount at Dooley.
http://www.IrelandYes.com (Michele Erdvig's site) has a similar deal with Kemwell (a sister company of AutoEurope).
I've also had decent results with:
http://www.atlascarhire.com/
An automatic is going to be pricey. An automatic People Mover will doubtless be pricier still. Dooley's Dublin airport depot is actually not AT the airport, but an exit or two SOUTH, but they have a shuttle. AutoEurope IS at the airport, but I had problems with that location, in June of '07 over the Credit Card insurance...
Atlas is affiliated with Thrifty Car Rental Co.
Good luck --
Bob
Both, however, were stick shift.
Dooley's choices, in automatic, are the Renault Laguna or Megane - both five passenger sedans, or a Ford Galaxy mini-van type People Mover, which I believe to be a five passenger, even though it has 6 seat belts. Both have two front bucket seats and one rear bench and I don't think four would COMFORTABLE sit abreast, in either rear seat.
If you go to: http://www.irelandexpert.com/ (Pat Preston's site), she has a link that is supposed to give you a 10% discount at Dooley.
http://www.IrelandYes.com (Michele Erdvig's site) has a similar deal with Kemwell (a sister company of AutoEurope).
I've also had decent results with:
http://www.atlascarhire.com/
An automatic is going to be pricey. An automatic People Mover will doubtless be pricier still. Dooley's Dublin airport depot is actually not AT the airport, but an exit or two SOUTH, but they have a shuttle. AutoEurope IS at the airport, but I had problems with that location, in June of '07 over the Credit Card insurance...
Atlas is affiliated with Thrifty Car Rental Co.
Good luck --
Bob
Mar 4th, 2009, 07:47 PM
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We rented from www.enterprise.ie, the Ireland site, not the usa one, and were very pleased with the transaction and the vehicle. (We were upgraded to a huge station wagon.)
I browsed in a rental of a people mover with automatic and they show 65 euro per day plus airport access of 25 euro, plus VAT. The rate includes CDW, but if you can insure on a World Master Card, they will quote a lower rate without the CDW. (That's what we did and there was no hassle).
They have a counter in Dublin airport and a shuttle which takes you to the nearby rental pickup point. The personnel were friendly and efficient. At the time of our rental, their rates were somewhat lower than Dan Dooley.
I browsed in a rental of a people mover with automatic and they show 65 euro per day plus airport access of 25 euro, plus VAT. The rate includes CDW, but if you can insure on a World Master Card, they will quote a lower rate without the CDW. (That's what we did and there was no hassle).
They have a counter in Dublin airport and a shuttle which takes you to the nearby rental pickup point. The personnel were friendly and efficient. At the time of our rental, their rates were somewhat lower than Dan Dooley.
Mar 5th, 2009, 06:17 AM
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Thanks very much to you both!
I really appreciate those links for discounts, Bob!
Maybe my husband is going to have to reconsider getting an automatic. I suppose one way to look at it is that, since we're not paying for lodging, we can afford to pay a little more for a vehicle. But there's still the matter of having more choices if we go with a stick...
Other than the initial drive from the airport (MIL and her brother will be on the flight with DH, DS and me), luggage shouldn't be too much of an issue. We're pretty much all flying out at different times.
But trying to seat four of us on one seat <i>would</i> be an issue, I'm afraid!
Bob, when you had the 9 person People Movers, did you have much of a problem on narrow roads? I'm thinking that it must not have been <i>too</i> bad if you did it a second time.
I really appreciate those links for discounts, Bob!
Maybe my husband is going to have to reconsider getting an automatic. I suppose one way to look at it is that, since we're not paying for lodging, we can afford to pay a little more for a vehicle. But there's still the matter of having more choices if we go with a stick...
Other than the initial drive from the airport (MIL and her brother will be on the flight with DH, DS and me), luggage shouldn't be too much of an issue. We're pretty much all flying out at different times.
But trying to seat four of us on one seat <i>would</i> be an issue, I'm afraid!
Bob, when you had the 9 person People Movers, did you have much of a problem on narrow roads? I'm thinking that it must not have been <i>too</i> bad if you did it a second time.
Mar 5th, 2009, 10:16 AM
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On our '03 trip we had 5 women, 4 of us somewhat zaftig, and luggage for 5 women for 2 weeks. Initially Hertz Shannon gave us a Land Rover, totally wrong, and finally Hertz Killarney found us a Ford Tourneo. Seated 7 and plenty of room for luggage. As the driver I loved it because the engine was underneath and I was sitting in the very front of the vehicle and high up off the ground (think bus driver). I didn't feel uncomfortable anywhere because of the size except that we couldn't get under the gate header at Croagh Patrick. Because we were good sized, other drivers gave us plenty of room. It was a diesel, and manual transmission.
Mar 5th, 2009, 10:18 AM
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I drove the VW Carravelle around the ROK (though it WAS April)and up, into the Mellaugh Valley that had one of the cousins snickering by his anticipation of my terror.
I also PARKED the VW van on the UPPER level of the Parking Garage beside the Jury's Inn in Galway -- after which, the desk clerk told my brother-in-law that I was owed SEVERAL drinks, as the desk clerk was un-nerved negotiating his small Mazda sedan within it.
That same brother-in-law LOST his bet that I would lose the passenger side mirror before the trip was done.
Dunno if I am sem-fearless, thatb GOOD a driver, or just stupid and lucky ---
There WERE some "Close Calls", though ...
Bob
I also PARKED the VW van on the UPPER level of the Parking Garage beside the Jury's Inn in Galway -- after which, the desk clerk told my brother-in-law that I was owed SEVERAL drinks, as the desk clerk was un-nerved negotiating his small Mazda sedan within it.
That same brother-in-law LOST his bet that I would lose the passenger side mirror before the trip was done.
Dunno if I am sem-fearless, thatb GOOD a driver, or just stupid and lucky ---
There WERE some "Close Calls", though ...
Bob
Mar 5th, 2009, 12:12 PM
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jaja and Bob, very good information from both of you. Thank you!
And thanks for the good chuckles from you, Bob! You've given me more reason to think about this as my husband sometimes gives us a scare or two just driving the expressways around Chicago. But don't tell him I said so!
I suspect, jaja, that he would really like the sitting up high thing. While our daughter was in school out east, we rented vans several times to haul her stuff back and forth. He loved driving them! My daughter and I were just joking about the fact that, while most people buy a van when they first have kids, now that ours are grown, he's decided that our next vehicle should be a van!
And thanks for the good chuckles from you, Bob! You've given me more reason to think about this as my husband sometimes gives us a scare or two just driving the expressways around Chicago. But don't tell him I said so!
I suspect, jaja, that he would really like the sitting up high thing. While our daughter was in school out east, we rented vans several times to haul her stuff back and forth. He loved driving them! My daughter and I were just joking about the fact that, while most people buy a van when they first have kids, now that ours are grown, he's decided that our next vehicle should be a van!
Mar 5th, 2009, 03:40 PM
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Ahem. I have never lost a mirror from either side in 8 weeks total driving in Ireland. We were not quite sure about the roof of the Tourneo in the parking garage in Galway City (belongs to a department store, close to the pedestrian mall), but we must have had just under an inch of clearance.
I am fearless, and lucky.
I am fearless, and lucky.
Mar 5th, 2009, 04:26 PM
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I have never lost a mirror either, over the last 10 years, though I DID lose a rear tire to a pothole on a 7 passenger Renault Scenic, trying to doge an Irish lorry (semi) that apparrently didn't understand the concept of two-way traffic ...
In Feb of '02, in that same parking garage in Galway, I parked a Mercedes Vito. I had to perform 3 point turns to fit each up-ramp, and the roof DID 'flip up' the hanging, "Low Clearance" signs.
Fortunately, when we turned the vehicle in, they didn't inspect the roof, for scratches, else I would now have First-Hand info on how well MasterRental insurance waiver pays ...
Bob
In Feb of '02, in that same parking garage in Galway, I parked a Mercedes Vito. I had to perform 3 point turns to fit each up-ramp, and the roof DID 'flip up' the hanging, "Low Clearance" signs.
Fortunately, when we turned the vehicle in, they didn't inspect the roof, for scratches, else I would now have First-Hand info on how well MasterRental insurance waiver pays ...
Bob
Mar 6th, 2009, 05:13 AM
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jaja: Yes, the Tourneo gave you away ...
CAPH52: The wedding chores probably won't cause too much difficulty, but the touring stuff (if any) might. Don't think there will be much time for too much of that, though. There ARE many more choices of vehicles with manual trans, rather than auto. I would think that (other than the initial, luggage burdened trip, a 7 passenger People Mover would suffice. How about TWO smaller vehicles -- one for you and one for your husband? Might be cheaper, overall than one BIG one ...
Plus, you could turn the second one in early.
Bob
CAPH52: The wedding chores probably won't cause too much difficulty, but the touring stuff (if any) might. Don't think there will be much time for too much of that, though. There ARE many more choices of vehicles with manual trans, rather than auto. I would think that (other than the initial, luggage burdened trip, a 7 passenger People Mover would suffice. How about TWO smaller vehicles -- one for you and one for your husband? Might be cheaper, overall than one BIG one ...
Plus, you could turn the second one in early.
Bob
Mar 6th, 2009, 05:33 AM
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If you change your home country on the autoeurope site, they not only give you different prices, but an entirely different choice of cars. I would spend half an hour giving it a go with the different English speaking sites. Click the little flag at the very top by the words autoeurope. Try United Kingdom, US, Canada, Ireland, Australia, etc.
I see that they do offer automatic minivans.
If you want to book one of the cars from a different national site, they give you an area to enter your actual US address. If they issue you a voucher, then you are all set.
I see that they do offer automatic minivans.
If you want to book one of the cars from a different national site, they give you an area to enter your actual US address. If they issue you a voucher, then you are all set.
Mar 6th, 2009, 05:37 AM
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And I know you weren't asking about insurance, but many credit card companies exclude Ireland from their coverage list, so going with the included insurance with Autoeurope is a good idea. You should have seen some of the smashed in cars when we returned ours. Some people just have spatial problems. That is why I didn't let anyone else but me drive a single mile in Ireland. If I'd left it to the others, we'd have crashed at the first roundabout a mile from the airport. They were all screaming I was going the wrong way.
Mar 6th, 2009, 06:56 AM
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Thnaks again, Bob. The two smaller cars isn't a bad idea. But I really don't want to drive there! I'm not an adventurous driver as it is, don't like driving in unfamiliar places. And the whole other side of the road thing...!
I think you're right about the 7 person People Mover. My son-in-law will already be there by the time we arrive. So, if it looks like we might run into a problem with all of the luggage, we can have him meet us at the airport with another vehicle. Which, now that I think about it, might not be a bad idea anyway as it would save my MIL having to wait through the car rental process, take the shuttle, etc. She had hip replacement surgery this past October and the brother who's going with her broke his hip sometime in the past year. So the easier we can make it for them, the better.
The only other real problem is the day of going to Glendalough. If we don't get to it the week before the wedding (we arrive the Monday morning before the Saturday wedding), we've got the Monday after. But we won't have luggage for that.
Thanks so much for sharing your advice and experience!
And thank you, Kellie. We have a World Mastercard which does cover CDW. Last time we opted to take the insurance anyway because we'd heard stories of problems with settlement. Haven't yet decided what we'll do this time.
I think you're right about the 7 person People Mover. My son-in-law will already be there by the time we arrive. So, if it looks like we might run into a problem with all of the luggage, we can have him meet us at the airport with another vehicle. Which, now that I think about it, might not be a bad idea anyway as it would save my MIL having to wait through the car rental process, take the shuttle, etc. She had hip replacement surgery this past October and the brother who's going with her broke his hip sometime in the past year. So the easier we can make it for them, the better.
The only other real problem is the day of going to Glendalough. If we don't get to it the week before the wedding (we arrive the Monday morning before the Saturday wedding), we've got the Monday after. But we won't have luggage for that.
Thanks so much for sharing your advice and experience!
And thank you, Kellie. We have a World Mastercard which does cover CDW. Last time we opted to take the insurance anyway because we'd heard stories of problems with settlement. Haven't yet decided what we'll do this time.
Mar 6th, 2009, 03:47 PM
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My advice - hire a driver...we found a great guy named Tim Morrissey - took us everywhere we needed and we enjoyed the day out -- we had horrible issues with Dooley - had a minor (???) accident and they wanted another 2000 dollars and an additional 30 a day - we got out of the contract with them and went with Irish Rental Car - they were awesome.
You have to have a NO FEAR attitude and the roads are so small - if you have a big car ....you could have issues!
LeAnna
You have to have a NO FEAR attitude and the roads are so small - if you have a big car ....you could have issues!
LeAnna
