We are hoping to rent a car for 2 days when we will be staying in Amboise. We would like to be able to pick up our car there as well as return it. Can someone give us an idea of where to get the best deal on a rental right in the city of Amboise? How much do you think it will be? We may drive up to 75 miles per day, so is extra mileage a big factor? Thanks for any thoughts you might have.

You best bet would be to check out AutoEurope, which has generally good rates and offices all over.

AutoEurope is definitely an excellent choice, but you may find that there are no rentals for periods of fewer than three days. You will get unlimited mileage in most cases. I usually rent a small compact and pay about $25 a day.

We have twice rented a car from a local car place in Amboise. We got the name from Rick Steves. It was not expensive and worked out just fine. I can look it up if you need me to.

Yes, Sally, would you please post that information? I'm interested also, for an October visit. Thank you!

Sally,
I seem to remember reading about the place in R.Steves, too. Was it Jourdain or something like that? What was the daily rate, number of free miles, when you rented? Did they speak English so I could call them? Thank you so much for a great idea.

From Rick Steves' France 2003, under Amboise - helpful hints - Car Rental: "Garage Jourdain... approx. €40/day with 100 kilometers/60 miles free, downriver from TI at 105 route de Tours, tel. 02 47 57 17 92, fax 02 47 57 77 50... close Monday through Friday from 12:00 to 14:00 and at 18:00 weekdays, 17:00 on Saturdays, and all day Sunday."

Hope that is helpful.

That's considerably more than I usually pay AutoEurope - and I get unlimited mileage.

Yes, it was Garage Jourdain as Betty1 wrote. Auto Europe would be cheaper for a three day period, but this is cheaper for one or two days. It was very easy to get to. We took a short taxi ride to pick up the car, and when we returned the car, someone who worked at the garage took us back to the train station. It was a very easy and pleasant experience. I don't remember exactly what we paid, but it seemed reasonable. The Loire Valley is very easy to drive in, flat land, uncrowded and straight roads, and the distances are not great. Yes, they do speak English, so you can call them to check on the rates.

Sorry not to answer more quickly, but I live in Louisiana, and we are having our own festival right now- Mardi Gras! Not New Orleans but Cajun style!

Thanks, Sally. I'll do some checking. We hope to rent for just 2 days. New Orleans is one of our favorite haunts...usually go there every year. I could use a Camellia Grill pecan waffle about now!(with a side of grits.)

http://www.garage-jourdain.fr/Contact.asp

This is the contact page of the Garage Jourdain website. I think you could send them an email with your questions. The website is in French, but they do speak English, so you can write your email in English in their email form.

Thank you very much Sally. I will do it.

I'm looking for a car rental in Amboise as well. I've done searches on the major car rental companies (auto europe, europecar, hertz, avis ect) and have come up empty. So perhaps Garage Jourdain is the only game in town. Plenty to choose from in Blois or Tours. Anybody find a "major" car rental company in Amboise?