We are driving Melbourne to Gold Coast and flying back. I have found one place, rentnewcars.com.au (europcar), which I guess is like a consolidator as the best price so far for 12 days and they don't charge a drop charge for a different location but of course for that long the price is still high.<BR><BR>Just wondering if anyone out there knows of any other consolidators or cheaper companies, of course I have tried the normal ones straight out and have found this one to be cheaper but still wanted to throw the question out before booking. <BR><BR>Thanks for any info anyone might have.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR>Jen

Wouldn't my luck be that I go to rentnewcars.com and they changed their website this weekend and now they don't allow to drop at the Gold Coast!! I cannot believe it, this is turning into a nightmare with this car rental. &lt;sigh&gt; Just wanted to add that. Guess we'll end up paying a real fortune now since we have to fly back.<BR><BR>Jen

Be careful. Sometimes the &quot;cheapest&quot; rental firms are the ones that add last minute surpise charges that boosts your bill.

Oops....soryy was away over the weekend..the last post was from me ..not from Jenn...sorry

Hi, Jen!<BR>Don't let it be a nightmare, Jen, as it is reallly a very straightforward procedure that you can organise when you arrive. Get yourself settled into a hotel somewhere and then spend twenty minutes ringing around the major rental companies in the Yellow Pages. There are any number of companies that are national, not just local, and can organise a drop-off for you at their branch of your destination. Of course, I can't comment on a drop-off charge... I am sure they will &quot;hit&quot; you somehow! The poster who warned you against so-called discount companies is spot-on; check those extra charges!<BR>You know, I think I would even wait until you arrive to organise your flight back from the Gold Coast to Melbourne. There are so many of these between these two popular destinations (and two carriers eager to score ppoints on the competition)that last-minute specials are advertised regularly, and you might save yourself a lot of money.... in addition, you won't be &quot;tied down&quot; to a particular time which can't easily be cancelled. My advice is to scrub all prior arrangements for this leg of the journey, relax, and just come over! It will be far easier than you think! (The very worst-case scenario is that you have to end up going by coach via Sydney -- there are several schedules per day -- which surely isn't such a terrible option, anyway!)