I've been trying to get an email reply from this UK based car rental company, who rents cars in Thailand.

We're renting in Khao Lak & MUST have an SUV, so it's either Budget or Thaivisa.com

They offer to charge the car in US$ IF you prepay. The car is supposedly through Hertz (but cheaper than Hertz offers).

But, I've been trying to get an emailed reply for over 2--3 weeks, with no response. I've emailed direct & via their website. New reservations go through, but no email reply.

Has ANYONE used Thaivisa.com ?

I have a back up reservation with Budget, but it would save us quite a bit as Thaivisa.com offers SUPER CDW insurance for the same price as Budget does w/ basic coverage.

I'm concerned about it being 'too good to be true'.

We can't use other companies as they are only available at HKT airport...

Urgent advice needed.

I have no experience with this company, but I have lots of experience with emails from Thailand ending up in my spam filter. Check your spam filter and see if you have messages there. Some email providers don't automatically give you access to your spam filter and you'll have to contact them to be able to access your spam files.

I would just stick with Budget, they have the best coverage and good service. Note that Budget / Avis etc give almost everyone some form of discount based on Airline club membership cards, hotel group awards, even using a particular credit card.

Many car rental companies also offer overseas deals, so why not also contact Budget in your home country and see what deals/promotions they offer, most places they would have a free-call number.

At Phuket Airport there are some others, I haven't used for a while but Airport Car rental and David car rental some I have used in the past when flying in. We had a rental over New year and I got a good discount from Budget and with Thai Airways card. Note you can also gain airline/hotel award points usinmg Budget/Avis etc. Hertz does not have such good coverage.

Thaivisa I'm pretty sure is a bunch of whoremongers trying to make a buck to support their lifestyle. Better go with something legit! Good Luck

555 Mango7. You wouldn't be another disgruntled TV member by any chance? Some of the most ridiculous and draconian moderation you will find on any internet forum I agree, detracts from what could otherwise be a great forum.

TV have a few sidelines going, mostly farmed out to various providers who supply the services. Hard to know if they are any good or not because from what I've seen if anyone complains on the forum about a sponsor or partner, the complaint doesn't last for very long, have to look after their own I guess. The car rental could be good but I think I'd be sticking with Budget as it's a worldwide brand and more accountable if anything was to go wrong.

i doubt they will charge you in dollars, but rather will quote you in dollars and then charge you in B but your credit card co. will convert it back to dollars at the going rate on the day it is presented for payment...

i can't believe that budget thailand is not the best deal all around...

Thanks all. Actually if you go to
http://compare.carrentals.co.uk/
and make a reservation for a car rental in Thailand, you end up dealing with ThaiVisa.com

They just don't respond to emails (8 ) nor do messages I've left on their website or to messages I've left in their message box on my reservation.

They claimed a Toyota Vigo 2+2 was an 'SUV' when according to both Budget (whom they told me to check with to verify it was an SUV) & to Toyota in Thailand, the Vigo 2+2 is a PICKUP TRUCK.

So, I canceled the res., made a new one for a Honda CRV (which ThaiVisa said would be with Hertz) only to see on Hertz's website that they do not have a Honda CRV in Khao Lak or Phuket & AAA called Hertz international & they were told the same thing.

When I was unable to get ThaiVisa to transfer our deposit from the canceled Vigo res. to the new Honda res., after a week of no response, I gave up & canceled it all with ThaiVisa.

I reserved with Budget International's 800 line which has the exact same rates at their website, as Thai Budget's website & the same rates as when AAA called Budget... no discounts.

Then I had our wonderful hotel concierge in KL call the Budget office in Khao Lak to confirm the model/make... and I got a lovely email from Budget KL confirming it all... in one day.

There are no emails from ThaiVisa in my SPAM folder (I look at least once a day) or my message box on their website.

Avoid ThaiVisa... unless you want to be like a chicken with no head.

That is why many of us suggest Budget. If I fly somewhere and need a car I stick with Budget ( except for Phuket Airport where David car Rental and Airport Car rental are ok - but if unavailable Budget ! ) They have a very good service. They do offer discounts for members of certain airline award programs/ car holders etc, so worth checking, you can also get points/mileage awards depending on what cards you have.
Relax and look forward to your trip and have a nice stay.

Do let us know how you enjoy Khao Lak

Oksana,

If you haven't already, you should post your experience on Thai Visa without mentioning you have posted here.

Be interesting to see the response your story gets

Dealing with many Thai companies via e-mail is a waste of time I've found. Someone designs a website, puts an e-mail contact link and I think that's as far as it goes. I'm sure a lot of times either no one at the e-mail address reads English or if they do, then they never bother to read any e-mail they receive. I know that happens for a fact with a couple of places I've dealt with.