Car rental return after hours (Arles)
 

Just wanted to see what the consensus is on returning a rental car after hours in Arles.

I am planning on renting a car in the Arles area, but I want to take an early morning (7AM) train to Nice, and I wanted to make sure it's okay to drop the car off even if the office is closed.

Thanks,

Kipp

I wouldn't risk dropping off the car when the office is closed. If you do you won't be able to get a receipt for the return of the car in good condition (undamaged), which is a must. what if you just leave the car and someone hits it, or, worse, steals it and leaves you liable? Best not to take a chance.

We had a similar situation renting from Avis at the Nimes station. They had an after hours key drop box which we used without any problems.

JoeG

Maybe I'll just return the car the evening before and take a cab from the Station back to Arles center and then back to the station in the morning (Less than a mile from Le Calendal (my hotel) to the TGV, so a cab can't be THAT pricey. Also, I assume there are shuttle buses from the TGV to Arles center.

Alternatively, what is the setup with these "drop boxes"? Is the car parked in a secure area? I guess I'm not too well versed with all this, being a youngster (23, and I'm renting my first car this summer before my October trip to France. I've rented with family before, just not myself).

kipp,
I'm not sure what the situation is at the Arles station - in Nimes there is an underground parking structure and we were told to bring the car back to the area where we picked it up. We had to leave at 7:00AM and they told us to drop the keys in the lock box which was right by the ticket counter in the station. People do this all the time. I'm sure they have a similar sitation in Arles.
You have made a good choice with Le Calendal. It is a very comfy, cozy place with a very friendly staff most of which are fluent in English. I can recommend Chambre #4 which has a large terrace overlooking the amphitheatre. I don't recall seeing any shuttle busses - the streets in the old town are very narrow. The walk to the station isn't real far. If you have alot of luggage it may be a chore shlepping there in the morning. You may try emailing the staff at Le Calendal with your questions.
kipp - you seem wise beyond your years. You are crafting a well conceived trip.

JoeG

I'm not sure I understand where in Arles you are planning to drop off the car, but if it's by any chance the EuropCar office on the big street - Avenue de la République, I think - they don't HAVE a dropbox, or at least they didn't in April when I was there.

And although I've done it with no conequences, I do think it's risky not to interface with the car rental people upon leaving the car off.

Thanks everyone. I'll e-mail Le Calendal and see if they know whether or not there are drop boxes for rental cars over at the train station.

I'm getting so excited about the trip.

It also looks as though the morning train will be a win-win if I am able to drop the car off early in the morning before my train at 7AM. The train rates are cheaper, and I'll be in Nice by 11AM to have a pretty full day of sightseeing. We have decided to do the same on our way from Paris to Arles.

Even though the SNCF website only releases fares/schedules 2 months in advance, every single 7AM train from Paris to Arles in August and September(no switching trains at all) is only 25EUR (Prems)!!!

THAT is a good deal, IMHO, and the rate is pretty much the same from Arles to Nice.

Here's a rundown of my main itinerary and transportation costs, in case anyone cares, or wants to get an idea for future use:

Airfare: $528
New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG)(via Madrid) and then Nice (NCE) to New York (JFK) (via Madrid)

Paris Hotel: 3 nights at 128 EUR/night at Hotel de la Place du Louvre (looks like a pretty good hotel, if you ask me) I did all the research I could, and the chain looks reputable and a reasonable value, and well located.

Train from Paris to Arles: 25 EUR

Car rental for 3 days in Arles: 46 GBP (around $85)

Arles Hotel: 3 nights at 69 EUR/night at Le Calendal for a Double room.

Train from Arles to Nice: 25 EUR

Nice Hotel: should be around $53 US/ night after tax at the Mercure Grimaldi (I'm going to attempt to get this through priceline).

Trains around Nice: Haven't figured these out yet, but they're all very cheap (i.e. Nice to Cannes or Monaco is only 3 EUR).

So that's my basic rundown so far.

Thanks for everyone's help.

kipp,
You will need to request overnight parking from Le Calendal in the municipal parking structure which is a few blocks from the hotel - outside old walled section of Arles. I think the charge is @7E/day - well worth it.
Joe

Hi Kipp,

Which rental agency did you use to get 3 days in Arles for 46 GBP (around $85)? That's a great deal! Is it priceline?

Don't know whether this would work for you, but when we were in Toulouse and been told to drop the car at the rental office located at the train station, we couldn't locate the office. Since we didn't need the car the last day in Toulouse we returned to the hotel with the car, and handed to keys to the concierge and asked that they deliver the car to the rental office.

Though we were charged for a night's parking at the hotel, the car was returned by the hotel the following day and we never heard further from AutoEurope.

Check with your hotel to see if they can return the car for you. You can offer 5 Euro so whomever returns the car can take a taxi back to the hotel.

An alternative is to call the car rental office and request that they pick the car up from your hotel, advising them that you have an early train to make which is scheduled prior their opening hours. We did this in Australia, and it was no problem.

Kipp:
The only car rental office at the Arles train station is Avis. All the other rental offices are in town and don't have secured parking lots (well...at the edge of town).

I suggest you drop the car the evening before your train. The distances are short enough that a cab isn't going to cost you much at all.

Patricia

kipp,

The simple answer to your question is to ask the car company you plan to rent from! You might also make sure that age 23 qualifies for a rental. If it does, I'm sure you will pay a hefty "extra" fee for being under 25.

The rental company will provide the accurate answer to your questions. Everyone else, will trying to be helpful, are guessing.

Curious