my boyfriend and i have a trip planned to dublin in march and are going to be renting a car. however, we are not sure the exact dates we will be needing it. we are playing it by ear on when we will be leaving dublin to explore the countryside. is it possible to rent a car at the airport once we get there and know exactly when we will need a car. or is it necessary to book a car from the u.s. before we get there? any info. would be helpul. thanks!

Emily... <BR>My husband and I are travelling to Ireland the end of May and I have already reserved a car through Expedia.Com. Most people that I have talked to thru chat talks like this one say it is best to book your car here in the States rather than when you arrive in Dublin. It was really easy but I need to tell you that it is expensive no matter where you rent the car. I have reserved our car for 7 days and the price quoted using Payless Car Rental was $126.00 with unlimited miles for the week but when you add the VAT Tax (Value Added Tax), and the car insurance they require in Ireland it really adds up. Our total for a 5 passgenger car, which is considered a compact car ended up being approximately $276.00 for the week. Hopes this helps. <BR>Have fun in Ireland... <BR>Phyllis

Hey folks <BR> <BR>You don't need to buy insurance in Ireland if you rent your car with a Platinum Mastercard. So all you have to pay over the rental price is 12.5% VAT. <BR> <BR>I would definitely arrange for the rental car before you get there -- otherwise you are at their mercy. <BR> <BR>Good luck!

Beware! Two years ago I rented a car in Dublin for one week through AutoEurope. I paid $211. When I showed up at the airport to pick up the car I was led to the Murrays auto rental desk. After standing in line for over one hour (the place was swamped) I was handed the keys to a car, and told to walk across the airport to pick up the car. I lugged all my bags to the lot and was horrified at the sight of the car! It must have been a Dent-a-Buddy. The car was scratched, dented, missing hubcaps, smelly, and dirty inside and out. I turned on my heel, walked all the way back to the desk attendant and after standing in line for another half-hour bitching it out, I got the keys for another car. The attendant was angered that I was being "picky". I made my way back to the lot a second time, and this time found a car in the same shape except it had all the hubcaps. I was sooo mad! I was behind schedule two and a half hours so I decided to stop wasting time and took off in the crummy car. I would deal with AutoEurope later I thought. <BR> <BR>Seven days later I returned the car on time and with a tank full of gas. At the lot I waited for over 45 minutes waiting for an attendant to check the car. As there was no one anywhere, and my plane was scheduled to leave in a half hour I gave up, and left the keys and a note on the desk. A month or so after my vacation was over I received my credit card bill. Murrays had charged the car rental plus an additional $35 charge and an $80 one! When I called AutoEurope they told me that the extra charges were for returning the car with the gas tank empty and that the spare tire was missing! I pitched a fit, argued, screamed, kicked and alas all to no avail. AutoEurope needed a receipt for the gas, and I of course had paid cash and didn't ask for one. As for the tire, it is stipulated on the contract (in the small print we never read) that we are responsible for tires. I hadn't checked to see if there was one in the first place, and if there was one it may have been stolen on the lot when I left the car there. Either way, I got screwed. I didn't get credit for either charge. When I complained to my credit card they said that Murrays had a contract that I had signed and there was nothing that they could do for the tire charge. As for the gas charge, they too wanted a receipt. GRRRRR. So remember - 1. Keep your gas receipts 2. Check for the spare! and 3. Don't use Murrays at the Dublin airport!

Beware! Two years ago I rented a car in Dublin for one week through AutoEurope. I paid $211. When I showed up at the airport to pick up the car I was led to the Murrays auto rental desk. After standing in line for over one hour (the place was swamped) I was handed the keys to a car, and told to walk across the airport to pick up the car. I lugged all my bags to the lot and was horrified at the sight of the car! It must have been a Dent-a-Buddy. The car was scratched, dented, missing hubcaps, smelly, and dirty inside and out. I turned on my heel, walked all the way back to the desk attendant and after standing in line for another half-hour bitching it out, I got the keys for another car. The attendant was angered that I was being "picky". I made my way back to the lot a second time, and this time found a car in the same shape except it had all the hubcaps. I was sooo mad! I was behind schedule two and a half hours so I decided to stop wasting time and took off in the crummy car. I would deal with AutoEurope later I thought. <BR> <BR>Seven days later I returned the car on time and with a tank full of gas. At the lot I waited for over 45 minutes waiting for an attendant to check the car. As there was no one anywhere, and my plane was scheduled to leave in a half hour I gave up, and left the keys and a note on the desk. A month or so after my vacation was over I received my credit card bill. Murrays had charged the car rental plus an additional $35 charge and an $80 one! When I called AutoEurope they told me that the extra charges were for returning the car with the gas tank empty and that the spare tire was missing! I pitched a fit, argued, screamed, kicked and alas all to no avail. AutoEurope needed a receipt for the gas, and I of course had paid cash and didn't ask for one. As for the tire, it is stipulated on the contract (in the small print we never read) that we are responsible for tires. I hadn't checked to see if there was one in the first place, and if there was one it may have been stolen on the lot when I left the car there. Either way, I got screwed. I didn't get credit for either charge. When I complained to my credit card they said that Murrays had a contract that I had signed and there was nothing that they could do for the tire charge. As for the gas charge, they too wanted a receipt. GRRRRR. So remember - 1. Keep your gas receipts 2. Check for the spare! and 3. Don't use Murrays at the Dublin airport!

Hi Emily: <BR>I had a positive experience renting a car in Dublin Airport. August 2000 leaving from Dublin to Galway. Had a reservation with Hertz (made here in the US) Written confirmation and Hertz could not find a reservation and refused to honor my written confirmation no matter how hard we tried to convince them that we had a reservation. Anyway, a walk from counter to counter gave us a choice. We ended up with a nice Hyundai from Budget. The price was 225 for the week. Platinum Mastercard for insurance. <BR>I have come to realize that cleanliness in rental cars in Europe is not really a priority. It is fairly clean, working and all the parts are attached, then we take it. That was August, height of the tourist season, March should be no problem.Good luck!