Car Rental in Catania Sicily
 

we are four adults who will be renting a car at Catania Airport. and are concerned about luggage space. We need space for four airplane carry-on size suitcases. choices are a fiat punto hatchback, vw golf and renault magane. Any thoughts?

Get a mid or full size wagon. The cars you mention will not work---you need a larger wagon or SUV.

Thanks for your answer. Need all the help I can get. Much appreciated. None of the companies have a Picasso C4. That was perfect in France. Avis in Catania has an Audi A3. Do you think that would do it?

Go to kemwel.com or Autoeurope.com and input for a station wagon. If you need automatic it will increase the cost by about 30%. Remember, you are not contracting for any model, but a class of cars. The Audis and Mercedes are ski high in Italy.

Autoeurope shows 2 wagons available at Catania airport---the Opel Astra[ think Ford Focus] and the Ford Mondeo-[ think Ford midsized]. Both are manual--I would prefer the Mondeo, or at least that class of car. Kemwel may well be less[sister companies] and will include full coverage.

In June 2010 we rented an automatic Audi 6 for our family of four. It would have been ample for four carry-ons. We saved quite a bit by renting through Autoeurope UK rather than US.

Hello, everyone

Just few words about "Hollywood rent a car" in Catania. I've rented the car for three days with GPS navigator. After 20 minutes I switched it on and GPS didin't work. I decided not to come back and use my mobile to do the same work. After three days when I came back showed the problem and asked the guy to return the money for the broken GPS navigator he didn't do it. I know it was only 40 euros...By the way be careful with this company

This is to confirm what Daniel said. Actually, our experience was even worse:
- we had a scratch/dent at the rear of our car, the subsidiary of the car producer in Catania estimated the damage at 350€ (the whole backside would have been renewed) and Hollywood rent a car took our entire franchise of 700€.
- When we said that this is not correct since we have a proof of the real costs, the seller shouted at us and insulted us ("you were not allowed to go to the car producer to ask for a price offer..."; "you wanted to steal...".) She did want want to give her identity ("I do not need to give you anything").
- In addition, the gps did not work from the beginning and the insulting woman did not give us back the 40€ and accused us of having broken the old gps.
- The credit card company does unfortunately not help if you deal with unhonest car rental enterprises.
- lesson: Sicily is beautiful, the hotels and restaurant are great but hollywood rent a car is to be avoided under all circumstances.

Hollywood- Car rental warning

We rented a car at the Catania airport from Hollywood Enterprise. We hired a Fiat Panda for 6 days. We payed 180 Euros rental price and an additional 300 Euros caution money - both in advance.

On the 3rd day of our rental, at a speed of 100 Kms/hour on the highway, with 3 small kids on the back seat, the tyre burst. The tyre was torn off the road wheel. The road was flat, we drove very carefully - because of the children too. We changed the tyre on the highway. The spare tyre was flat, the warning triangle was broken.

We called Hollywood car rental immediately and they told us to go back next day so that they could give us another car.
We did so. But... they said that the tyre was perfect, we damaged it, so it would cost 300 Euros. After this, they told us that the roof rail was stolen, which, according to them was also our fault. And that we should be happy that they didn't charge us 400 Euros. They kept the rental fee for the remaining 2 days.

We could only have gotten another car by paying another 300 Euros caution fee. We didn't ask for another car. And would advise you not to do so either, if you don't want to go through what we went through.

While it wouldn't address the tire blow-out, ALWAYS take LOTS of photos of your car both upon picking it up (before driving it at all) and as soon as you reach your return destination (before going to the desk). That should provide the documentation needed to argue against false claims of incurred damage. And always check (and take pictures of) your safety equipment before leaving the rental car agency -- and for that matter, all the dials on the dash, too (mileage, gas levels, etc.)

@ Utazo88 -- Good to hear that you and your family made it through OK.