OK--just checked for a midsize automatic with insurance for 4 people and 4 small suitcases for 11 days pick up in Dublin city on 7/13 and drop off in Galway airport or city on July 24--Irishcarrentals.com was $925.63 in dollars, Argus.com was $882.54, Avis was $791 in Euros, Autoeurope was $1369 and that was a discounted price!!, Alamo wanted 709 euros--Anymore suggestions or what am I doing wrong to get such high prices...

I just checked in the Hertz website - but through the www.ryanair.com gate, and got a quote of EUR 558.58 for Ford Mondeo 2.0 Auto or similar, for the dates you quoted. I put the dropoff as Shannon as they did not give Galway as an option, but I would be surprised if hertz did not have an office in Galway.

Sorry, I see that you are actually flying out of Shannon, so theres a Hertz there. I checked on the regular Hertz portal and the price was about the same - or even a bit less - www.hertz.ie

I think the reason you are getting such high quotes is the automatic. It really does add a lot. And you want to get the SMALLEST car you possibly can fit into. The challenge of driving in Ireland is NOT the 'wrong' side of the road - it's the SIZE of the roads. Distances are pretty short, you probably won't be in the car all that many hours so I would most definitly opt for being a bit cramped in a smaller car. And usually that will mean a manual. You drive one in California, it won't be very hard at all to get used to the stick being where it is and everything else is the same. What will be very different is the size of the road and the lack of shoulder. Check out these photos: www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/24364779 and www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/24364781

But you'll have a great time.

I haven't used this website personally but a colleague mentioned it and it appears to have pretty good deals for Ireland as well as the rest of the world

http://www.carhire3000.com

Geordie

Looks like you have done a lot of research...the $800 not too bad, however, did you ask for the AAA rate? and do you qualify for senior/AARP (you only need to be 50), Perhaps you dont' qualify for any of these. Actually, Sam's Club, Costco etc also offer discounts with the major auto companies , I "THINK"???
You need to be comfortable in the car, and with four ladies I would think the Ford Mondeo would be good (or larger). My husband and I usually rent a Ford Mondeo for just the two of us. We only have 2 small 24" bags in the trunk, and each a carryon...but travelers DO ACCUMULATE things on a trip (even though we don't buy much).
Anyway...having the car is wonderful, you can see more of the countryside, you can park and walk the small villages, and go to out of the way places, stop when you like etc.
Have a great trip.
When IS your trip!?

Pay for the automatic. I have drived all over Europe and can drive a manual, and do on most other occassions, but last year was my first trip to Ireland, and I was quite grateful that I paid for an automatic.
It takes a lot of stress out of the driving and makes the trip a lot more enjoyable. And if you are like us, 4 laldies over 62, it really isn't that much extra when you divide it by 4.

bornintheusa
I think your decision for an automatic is a wise one. My husband has always owned a manual here in the states and has never had an accident. HOWEVER, in Ireland, we rented an automatic and he STILL dented three sides of that baby. those stone fences along the narrow roadways are unforgiving. :-) If we had a manual with learning to drive on the opposite side of the raod and all the "round abouts", navagation, etc. Well, you get the picture.....

Hi, bornin.

Have you tried calling Nova Rentacar and Autoeurope? It might be a bit early for these brokers to have posted their final prices for July 2006.

I did see that Nova's website quotes prices for the kind of car you want from Dublin to Galway through March, but nothing from April on.

Give them a call and see what they have to say:
Nova: 1-866-668-2227 (1-866-NOVACAR)
Autoeurope: 1-888-223-5555

I think the price is rather high because of the type of car you want, mainly the size. AT does make a big different in price in smaller size cars (compact) in Ireland, from what I've noticed, although not so much in some other countries, like France. However, if you were comparing the prices of intermediate-sized cars, the price difference between AT and manual isn't that big, even in Ireland.

For example, Avis shows only a $150 difference between AT and manual in a rate quote for an intermediate car in Ireland (over your nine days), which is only about $15 a day. However, in the compact size category, there is a $500 difference in pricing for AT vs. manual.

I just checked Dan Dooley's website (although when I called them I saved a little more by phone, be sure to mention Irelandexpert.com)

I believe they charged us a slightly higher 1 way fee for dropping off the car at Galway rather than the more popular Shannon Airport (since we did the same in October)

Anyway, just went on to their site, plugged in the dates, automatic with 1 extra driver (it's like 6-7Euro per extra driver per day from all the rentals and I wonder if this is where some of your higher fees are happening), also said yes to the CDW-assuming you are not using a mastercard platinum- also said yes to the "super" CDW for zero deductible and the totals came up as:

<u>Nissan Almera</u> (4ppl, 4 bags) $674.00 USD
or $547.00 USD no super CDW

<u>Ford Mondero Executive</u> (5ppl, 5 bags) $761.00 USD or $$665.00 USD with no super CDW

Good luck and let us know the outcome!
Dawn

I am cd,s husband and I drove the route you are contemplating. The experience was both enjoyable and terrifying at times. Whether driving a standard or automatic, shifting is not the problem, the very narrow roads, the lack of detail road signs and on-coming cars - trucks &amp; busses do cause concerns.

We are right hand oriented when we drive and judging distances from the &quot;passenger&quot; side on the narrow roads with stone fences at the road edge is an experience.

Whether standard or automatic, &quot;BUY THE EXTRA INSURANCE&quot;, the cost is minimal because any damage to the car without the extra insurance must be paid upon return of the car. Your credit card car rental insurance is not good in Ireland. Yes, I damaged the car, also, a stone struck and cracked the windshield and we had to pay for that too. The no-fault insurance is a good buy and a good security blanket.

Also, rent a small car, economy size. Driving a car beyond economy size will add to your problems given the narrow roads, some of which have 2 way traffic on a road the size of my driveway.

Would I do it again?..... Yes,in a heartbeat. Have a ball

By the way, Ireland does not drive on the &quot;wrong&quot; side of the road. To say that there is an offense to the Irish.

I hope you will all read my post (and the responses to it): &quot;Surprising Info/Read this BEFORE booking a rental car.&quot; I've learned that I am covered in Ireland and N. Ireland by my gold Citi Master Card -- but ONLY if I decline ALL coverage offered by the rental car agency.

I believe &quot;cd&quot; in incorrect in that your insurance IS covered IF you use a Mastercard. You must however get a letter from Mastercard stating this...NOT your bank, but the general Mastercard 800 number. This was true a few years ago and it worked fine for us. There are three or four countries who tell you that you must have the CDW insurance (Ireland being one), but this CAN be waivered. It does add to the price quite a bit,,,however if you would better having it then get it.