bilboburgler

"
Bilboburgler, we are not public transport people, having a car seems more efficient."

wonderful

there is another thread running at the moment and, you know, you cannot make it up

helen, some years I hire a car and sometimes I don't. What I have found in Europe, that for me, the best forms of transport are, in order of efficiency and pleasure

1) Bicycle
2) foot
3) public transport
4) hire car

I'd only use a car if I wanted to get somewhere inaccessible by the other means or we are talking multiple changes of public transport, just because in large parts of Europe cars are just so in-efficient and will spend so much time parked by the side of the road

At the end of the day you will do what you want to. When I've travelled in the US the only public transport I've used have been commercial aircraft, airport buses and SF trams.

Have a great day.

StCirq

Our Morocco car rentals have all gone smoothly. It was Tunisia where we ended up with an ancient Jeep with no upholstery and no windshield, and it was 2 days late in getting to us.

scigirl

I rented from Sixt last July in KEF and had absolutely no problem with them at all. Car was ready on time, in good condition, no hassle with picking it up and returning it, etc. Be sure to get a GPS w/ your rental (a few extra dollars per day), and check your credit card and car insurance for what they will cover. (I chose to buy some coverage, but not all, as the gold credit card and my insurance covered a fair amount also).

I found it nice to have a car in Iceland. It is impossible to see the sights otherwise (or you are stuck with very expensive tours). Parking in Rey was easy and inexpensive (at least by Washington DC standards).

stokebailey

I agree with bilboburgler's hierarchy of transport pleasure, but to avoid what seems like an immense amount of late-night hassle getting to our Nafplio hotel I just reserved an Enterprise car for ATH with Auto Europe, got what seems like a good price.

When I searched Europcar website and stated correctly that I live in the US, my price for most mini economical car was ~$460 for 4 days. The same car when claiming to be Irish was ~ 92€. I checked it that way three different times. Subtle anti-Americanism? They think we're too rich and dumb to notice?

traveller1959

>>Subtle anti-Americanism? <<

No, just economic optimization. And algorithms.

Americans are wealthier than Irish and tend to accept higher rates. The algorithm knows it and works accordingly.

Here in Germany, we have just today started a political discussion to ban this kind of discrimination.

Until action is taken, you might take advantage of the algorithm.

Cowboy1968

<i> Subtle anti-Americanism? They think we're too rich and dumb to notice?</i>

Subtle - not so much. You can circumvent it pretty easily (unless you void the contract by giving an incorrect country of residence).
The difference in rental costs you stated is indeed steep.
It can be just that. Or Europcar had a promotional rate in Ireland for Irish customers during that time. Who knows.

Subtle is IP (address)-based pricing. Dynamic pricing is another word for it.
It's a pretty old hat, actually.
Your US online retailers also do it in the US.
When you live in an affluent ZIP code get higher prices for the same item on the same website than someone in the not-so-affluent ZIP code.

Not each and every online merchant does this. But it's not uncommon.

pjgodfrey

Recently rented from Hertz in Vienna. On return they said we had created damage to the car which could just be seen if looking very closely. We are certain this damage was there before we started but they would not listen to us and charged us €1200 excess. Even had we created this damage (which we ha not) the repair could hardly have cost more than about €200. Do not use this company I be.I've this is a scam and reading g other reviews it seems we are not alone.

Hobbert

I rented a car from Green Motion in Iceland for a trip last month and it went smoothly. Funnily enough, I'd reserved a small car (cheaper rates!) and wound up arriving at the same time as a guy who'd rented a larger vehicle and was worried about driving it. We traded and I got a Jeep Grand Cherokee for a Ford Fiesta rate. Everyone at Green Motion was polite and professional and I'd rent from them again. I've been to Iceland with and without my own car now and really preferred having a car. We stayed in Reykjavik and it would have been very expensive to get out to the places we wanted to see without a rental. Parking in Reykjavik is easy and inexpensive.

schnauzer

I've just rented from Avis in Amsterdam, I went to them directly as I hadn't got a credit card just my VISA debit card and was all in a twist that it wouldn't be accepted. It was and they gave me a better price than on line. I went to pick it up three days later, they waived the additional driver charge. (30 euro saving) We took a video of the car and went over every panel with the guy before we drove out of the depot. We returned it this morning and I signed for the "correct" amount. They had held a $300 deposit. They were happy with the car and I hope my card will only be billed for the 90 euros. So far, so good. Very happy with the service...

I have also rented before commencing my overseas journey through Autoeurope and have been very happy with them also.

Basker

I had a lousy experience renting a car from Hertz... Pls be careful of what they advertise online...I booked a Range Rover Evoque, Hertz stated online that it could take 2 large suitcase and 3 small suitcase.. Arrived at Munich Airport, collected car key, moved my luggages to the carpark lot...To my horror, it can't even fit in 2 medium size suitcase..Went back to Hertz... 'milking' process begins...
First charge u for upgrade cost...
Ask for super coverage on the "expensive" car, shown the counter staff i have travel insurance to cover the excess and i just need a simple coverage..he said it will be adjusted when i returned the car. Take his words and family waiting happily to start the vacation...took the car, return in good shape..However,
Hertz still charged me 3500 Euros for a 15 days rental (V70 Volvo).

Prior to my Germany road trip, i rented a car from Alamo in Switzerland..no issue at all..770 CHF for 12 days (Merc A class)..

Wrote to customer service - says they are investigating...2 weeks later no news.., wrote to Hertz VP for worldwide customer loyalty..1 week plus..NO news.. all in all more than a month and still no news from Hertz...i guess they are too big to care about customer grievance..
I don't think i will rent from Hertz ever again...

wesleymarsh

>>You can circumvent the difference in rental costs pretty easily (unless you void the contract by giving an incorrect country of residence).>>

Read the fine print carefully. Some companies have added the "void contract" stipulation if you rent online and give an incorrect country of residence. I'm not exactly sure how or at what point they discover you lied, but you lose your reservation confirmation when they do discover it. You could easily show up at the counter and be refused a car, and then you're stuck trying to rent one at full price.

alankarsberg1

I rented a car from Sixt at Bergen airport. When I returned the car to their car park, I took the 10 minutes or so walk to their desk in the terminal building. I handed over the keys and the man at the desk waved me away saying all was fine. Three days later when I had returned to London I received an email saying I had scratched the alloy wheel. When I disputed this the manager of the office simply said he was satisfied that I had and deducted charges of 2000 kronor (approx 200GBP) from my credit card. I have queried how he could do this when his employee told me all was fine, no joint inspection took place, I signed no check in report, and no evidence of the cost of "repairing" the scratches has been provided. The manager does not even respond to my emails. Any ideas for what else I might do would be appreciated. I did not cause the scratches.

joannyc

Dispute the charge with your credit card company.

Odin

There should be a damage report which shows the condition of the car when you picked it up & you should have seen this report before driving off. Does it show damage to the alloy wheel? If it is not marked on the report, can how the rental company be sure you did not do the damage?

When the man at the desk waved you away saying all was fine, he obviously did not mean the car itself was fine as he did not inspect while you were there.

lchin

We just returned from Iceland and rented from Go Car for a day then Go Camper for 2 weeks. They are in the same office. We were really pleased; customer service was great! Be sure to take the gravel insurance - we have a pebble hit the windshield and made a hole, a couple hours out of Reykjavik - so glad we had insurance!

janisj

>>Be sure to take the gravel insurance - <<

A litte late - the thread is nine months old and the OP traveled in July.