PLMN

Well, I'm almost done with making the plans for this crazy trip. Here is my next question:

One of the airlines I booked with connected me with a couple of agencies. The best price from these agencies is from Hertz.

9AM pick-up downtown Venice on Oct 9. 12 NOON drop-off at Rome airport on Oct 17.

Compact class A Mercedes or equivelant (sp?)with AUTOMATIC transmission.

All inclusive rate, (No deductibles, etc.) is $703.46

Forget Avis and Alamo, they could not touch the rate.

Then I went to AutoEurope and input data. Results show Fiat Punto with all inclusive rate of $815.29.

Besides the price difference is there any reason why I would not want to go with the Hertz quote? Does anyone have any experience with either of these particular cars? (There will be 3 people. My father is a bit portly and has bad knees, so getting in and out of the car should not be too difficult, especially from the back seat.)

I have not given up on finding a lower rate, I just want to know if I am in the ballpark and such.

Also, I don't know where we will be staying in Venice yet. I just chose a downtown location on AutoEurope to get me started.

Looking forward to your as always great help.

Patrick

You need to realize that if you are picking up and returning a car via AutoEurope from any city that has more than one location, the price may vary dramatically with which location you check. Each location represents a different supplier and the rates may vary. You need to call their 800 number and let them compare the prices for you (easier than resubmitting your info for each of their locations on their website).
And do make sure that the Hertz rate includes the VAT. I haven't checked for a while, but some quoted rates did not include that -- about 20% or so additional.
Also make sure you are always comparing dollar quotes to dollar quotes or euro quotes to euro quotes. That sounds obvious, but a lot of people miss the fact that different sites quote in different currencies.

PLMN

Thank you. I was just about to append to my message that I see another thread about similar concerns. One of the posts suggest calling AutoEurope and see if they can come closer to price.

I'm off to do so and will let you know.

Betsy

Check this out. Evidently renting thru AutoEurope UK is less expensive:
http://slowtalk.com/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&...&m=26010105511

I'm following the other thread too.

PLMN

Howdy Betsy.

Well I just rented through AutoEurope. I was so excited that they could match the price that I didn't realize that their price is actually $4.00 more. Big deal, I'm not changing for a silly $4.00 difference, besides unless I am advised differently I feel more comfortable dealing with AutoEurope than Avis directly.

But I am going to check on the AutoEurope UK. Oh, I did ask if VAT is included and was told yes.

Also, I can change, modify, cancel, reservation without penalty. The only thing is it will take 5-7 days for any money adjustments to the credit card.

Betsy

PLMN, it seems that every time we rent with AutoEurope we end up changing something. Just watch your credit card statement (online if you can) to make sure the refund goes through.

Check out AutoEurope UK and if it's less expensive, AE US may meet it.

rex

See also www.its-cars-hotels.com

They use Budget/Maggiore last time I went with them.

Best wishes,

Rex

PLMN

Appreciate it rex. I checked it out. The cars they showed were manual. Gotta have automatic.

Checked AutoEurope UK, no go for me there.

Ah, well. I think I got a pretty good rate. When I briefly checked rates a million years ago for this adventure it looked like the price was going to be closer to $900 which is what AutoEurope said the rate usually is. But they had a "special" and were willing to "meet" my other price.

rex

Umm... no... they have that Volvo wagon, automatic. for $554 per week. Ought to be a lot roomier than your Mercedes A.

PLMN

ooh. Ok rex let me check on that again. That is a BIG price difference. Thank you very much.

PLMN

Rex, am I doing something wrong? I saw your Volvo but the rate is $111 per day and $554 per week. As I mentioned in my original post I need the car from the 9th to the 17th. That would be about $1,000, yes?

rex

9th to the 16th is one week, 17th adds one day. What am I missing?

Makes $665, right?

I see now that your pickup/return times are not very logical. Pick up at 10 or 10:30; return at 11 or 11:30 (25th hour is included in one day)

But even two addditional days would not make $1000.

ira

Hi Plmn,

If you rent for 8 days, you shouldn't have to pay the daily rate for all 8. The 1st 7 should be the weekly rate.

Does your quote inculde CDW?

Have you checked http://www.novarentacar.com/?

PLMN

hmm.

Oy vey, I do believe you are correct. I seem to be on trip plan overload. Not to mention I had to be up at 4:00AM to get ready for a business meeting.

Ok. let me try this again. Thanks

PLMN

Well the following sort of puts the kiebash on my renting from them:

Restrictions:

Once prepaid, charge apply: Changes (USD 10), Early return/Cancels/No Shows (USD 35).

***Additional charges (quoted in EUR, subject to Airport/Rail tax): Road Tax (2/day), Extra Driver (4/day), Age Surcharge (Under Age 23, 13/day), Extra Equipment (31/rental), Drop Charge (47-62/rental), PAI (11/day), 0 Deductible CDW (14/day), 0 Deductible TP (10/day), Refueling (if not returned full, 13/rental plus fuel), After Hours Service (26/rental), Lost Keys (155), Delivery (on request), VAT (20%), Airport Tax (14%), Rail Tax (8%).

If this were my a trip that did not involve people changing their minds all the time that might be a different story.

The difference between $665 and $707 is not enough to warrant me changing companies.

I really appreciate your interest though.

cf5657

Why don't you try Sicily by car. I rented an automatic C class mercedes (big 4 door sedan) last September for a week and it was around $500-$600. Also, try trifty.it I've found sometimes if you book through the Italian sites vs the american ones its cheaper.

cf5657

I just checked thrifty.it and as long as you pick up the car and return it at the same time (otherwise they are going to charge you an extra day for the 9am pick up and 12pm drop off just pick the car up at 12pm or vice versa) it was
M - Fiat Punto Automatic 1 week x € 330,00 + days 1 x € 41,00 € 371,00
T - Alfa Romeo 147 Aut. 1 week x € 330,00 + days 1 x € 47,00 € 377,00 . That was pick up at Marco Polo in Venice and drop off at Fiumicino.

PLMN

cf,

At the 337 euro price that would be quite a savings. I will check it out.

I have two questions before I do though. 1)Types of cars. I can't remember the name of a site I visited some time back in which you could look at the cars side by side and there would be a good description of the features and equivalancy to American cars. Does anyone remember the site I mean?

2)I am not comfortable with not going through a US site. Is that silly? What about if I have to call them, what about English speaking reps? What about if there is a problem with the charges? Is recourse if there is a problem any more difficult if you don't go through US avenues?

PLMN

Italybycar says that the Alfa Romeo 147 is a manual, not automatic. (I'm pretty sure I'm reading that right.)

The other car looks SOOO small. I need to find a picture of the Mercedes. I know it is small also but I just need to see it. I'm going to google it.

cf, I thank you for the help.

PLMN

Found this very informative thread on Slowtrav site:

http://slowtalk.com/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&...&m=41110626511

Why you might want to stick with the US site vs. the UK site.