Orvieto Car Drop Off..we hope.
Jul 24th, 2012, 05:03 PM
#21
Unless you are planning to sightsee on your way to Siena, I would take the bus and pick up the car there (if you are spending nights in town).
When trying to search on AutoEurope, you must match locations (Hertz address in Florence with Hertz drop-off address in Orvieto)or it will say not available. AutoEurope just lists all possible pick-ups which can be either Hertz/Avis/EuropCar. Not only are most locations closed outside of big cities between 1-4, they are also closed after 1 on Saturday and all day Sunday.
When trying to search on AutoEurope, you must match locations (Hertz address in Florence with Hertz drop-off address in Orvieto)or it will say not available. AutoEurope just lists all possible pick-ups which can be either Hertz/Avis/EuropCar. Not only are most locations closed outside of big cities between 1-4, they are also closed after 1 on Saturday and all day Sunday.
Jul 24th, 2012, 05:28 PM
#22
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We almost always use Hertz - since we have a special corporate rate with them - and have never h ad a problem getting an automatic. But - we usually get a mid size or larger (which have larger percentage of automatics) and always pick up at a major office (Preferably large airport - which has a much larger selection of cars.)
Jul 24th, 2012, 05:31 PM
#23
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Would the bus be OK with two large suitcases? Does anyone else recommend waiting till Siena to pick up the car? Kybourbon, why do you recommend doing that? I would guess the car rentals in Florence would have a larger Selection of cars on hand.
Jul 25th, 2012, 06:26 PM
#27
"<i>We are looking for May of next year. If they cannot guarantee an automatic given 9 months advance, I am assuming they will not have one closer to our travel date.</i>"
It seems you are beyond that discussion now . . . But honestly, your reasoning makes no sense. No rental agency can 'guarantee' an automatic months and months ahead. Heck -- the cars in their fleet now and 9 months from now will be entirely different. How could it be easier to guarantee any specific car nearly a year from now? After all, they aren't going to hold a car for you from now til then.
But in any case, there are NO 100% guarantees re automatics. <i>Unless</i> they only have automatics in the fleet. What if they have 2 automatics on inventory on your date, and one has mechanical issues and the other is returned late? If so, you ain't goin' to get an automatic.
It seems you are beyond that discussion now . . . But honestly, your reasoning makes no sense. No rental agency can 'guarantee' an automatic months and months ahead. Heck -- the cars in their fleet now and 9 months from now will be entirely different. How could it be easier to guarantee any specific car nearly a year from now? After all, they aren't going to hold a car for you from now til then.
But in any case, there are NO 100% guarantees re automatics. <i>Unless</i> they only have automatics in the fleet. What if they have 2 automatics on inventory on your date, and one has mechanical issues and the other is returned late? If so, you ain't goin' to get an automatic.
Jul 25th, 2012, 07:46 PM
#29
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I took the advice of the Board some years ago, and took the bus from Florence. The luggage went down below in the cargo hold of the bus. I did this because I did not want to drive the car in/out of any complicated area. In fact, I did not want a car until after I left Siena. When I left Siena, I took a taxi to the car rental place.
I used Autoeurope and I was able to get an automatic transmission at Siena ultimately dropping off at the Florence airport. Calling Autoeurope is easier because of the frustration you are finding with the website when you picking up and dropping off in different locations.
I just called them yesterday, for the trip I am currently planning, because it was so frustrating using the website with the different address options. A real live person answers the phone - and no phone trees! Then they e-mail you the quote. This will be my third time using them.
If only I could learn to drive a manual transmission here in the states, I would save a bundle in Europe over the next few years. In fact, I was going to look for a driving school that might teach me - I did drive a manual transmission once in my early 20's.
Good luck deciding and planning!
I used Autoeurope and I was able to get an automatic transmission at Siena ultimately dropping off at the Florence airport. Calling Autoeurope is easier because of the frustration you are finding with the website when you picking up and dropping off in different locations.
I just called them yesterday, for the trip I am currently planning, because it was so frustrating using the website with the different address options. A real live person answers the phone - and no phone trees! Then they e-mail you the quote. This will be my third time using them.
If only I could learn to drive a manual transmission here in the states, I would save a bundle in Europe over the next few years. In fact, I was going to look for a driving school that might teach me - I did drive a manual transmission once in my early 20's.
Good luck deciding and planning!
Jul 25th, 2012, 07:59 PM
#31
>>>If only I could learn to drive a manual transmission here in the states,<<<
I'm sure there are videos on youtube. It's really not hard and most people learn the basics in a few minutes from a friend (pre-youtube days). I will admit hill towns will be tricky if you have to stop on one when you aren't used to it.
As for the bus(7€), your luggage goes under (your job to put it there, not the bus driver). If you have two large suitcases and rent a small car, your luggage won't fit. Most small cars won't hold two large cases.
I'm sure there are videos on youtube. It's really not hard and most people learn the basics in a few minutes from a friend (pre-youtube days). I will admit hill towns will be tricky if you have to stop on one when you aren't used to it.
As for the bus(7€), your luggage goes under (your job to put it there, not the bus driver). If you have two large suitcases and rent a small car, your luggage won't fit. Most small cars won't hold two large cases.
Jul 25th, 2012, 08:45 PM
#32
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Kybourbon - the first time was Tuscany and I didn't want to do it then. The second time was Ireland and no way could I try it then! For my upcoming Rome/Umbria trip my husband has agreed to drive - in prior trips he preferred not to drive. He can drive manual somewhat and he did it a little bit in a huge van in Portugal last year. I explained the price difference and the difficulty of getting automatic transmissions in smaller towns and he agreed. YAY! But, seriously it is so worth learning - the cost differential is huge.
Jul 26th, 2012, 03:31 AM
#33
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Thanks everyone for your replies
Janis: they offer a car OR ONE SIMILAR. I am guessing they could figure out a way to guarentee an automatic 9 months from now. It would not be the exact car but one similar as their disclaimer suggests.
By that logiv I should just forget about driving in general as you are suggesting there is no guarentee regardless of when I book. If a company cannot guarentee a car per your contract with them then they have a terrible business model. If they cannot guarentee a suitable car they should mot accept my payment. If this is a possibility then I will have to rethink our trip.
I was planning on using Siena as a hub to explorethe area at the suggestion of many on this site. That is why I would want to have a car. We are planning on spending 5ish nights in Siena.
The suitcases are not huge, just not carry on size. They are the larger onesvthat came in a set of two, hard to explain but if need be i could get the dimensions.
As for learning manual. All my friends drive automatics leaving me with the option of buying a clunker or destroying the transmission in my fathers Audi (not going to happen).
Janis: they offer a car OR ONE SIMILAR. I am guessing they could figure out a way to guarentee an automatic 9 months from now. It would not be the exact car but one similar as their disclaimer suggests.
By that logiv I should just forget about driving in general as you are suggesting there is no guarentee regardless of when I book. If a company cannot guarentee a car per your contract with them then they have a terrible business model. If they cannot guarentee a suitable car they should mot accept my payment. If this is a possibility then I will have to rethink our trip.
I was planning on using Siena as a hub to explorethe area at the suggestion of many on this site. That is why I would want to have a car. We are planning on spending 5ish nights in Siena.
The suitcases are not huge, just not carry on size. They are the larger onesvthat came in a set of two, hard to explain but if need be i could get the dimensions.
As for learning manual. All my friends drive automatics leaving me with the option of buying a clunker or destroying the transmission in my fathers Audi (not going to happen).
Jul 26th, 2012, 06:38 AM
#34
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Worm -- I hear you on learning on someone else's car- unless it was a total junker -- there is no way I could ask. I tried to see if I could rent one here and but when I looked into it that didn't seem possible from the major car rental places. My next step was to look up a driving school- which I haven't done yet.
I will also doing an Orvieto drop off - maybe I will see you there!
I will also doing an Orvieto drop off - maybe I will see you there!
Jul 26th, 2012, 08:10 AM
#35
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Or similar means another car that also automatic. But janis is right; there's always a chance that they don't have an automatic, especially in a smaller town. You can increase your chances by picking up at Florence's airport, which is easy to get to by bus and out of the city near the autostrada.
Jul 26th, 2012, 08:13 AM
#36
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I so often wonder why people don't learnto drive a stick shift. It's fun! More importantly it's a good skill tohave in life, obviously. Yu have many months to learn and practice. Think of the money and hassle youwillsave on your future trips.
Buon viaggio!
Buon viaggio!
Jul 26th, 2012, 08:34 AM
#37
WorminRome: Put your listening ears on. Just because you only drive an automatic doesn't mean rental agencies in Europe have a terrible business model.
In Europe the majority of cars are stick shift and probably 90% of renters can drive them. Americans who have never driven a stick make up a relatively small portion of their customer base.
In the States almost all rental cars cars are automatics, so of course they can 'guarantee' an automatic.
If you MUST have an automatic, you need to collect the car at a major location like an international airport, not in a small town. Major airports will have larger inventory and you are <i>almost</i> guaranteed to get what you want.
(Someone wanting a stick in the States would have the same problem only more so)
In Europe the majority of cars are stick shift and probably 90% of renters can drive them. Americans who have never driven a stick make up a relatively small portion of their customer base.
In the States almost all rental cars cars are automatics, so of course they can 'guarantee' an automatic.
If you MUST have an automatic, you need to collect the car at a major location like an international airport, not in a small town. Major airports will have larger inventory and you are <i>almost</i> guaranteed to get what you want.
(Someone wanting a stick in the States would have the same problem only more so)
Jul 26th, 2012, 08:48 AM
#38
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I'm curious. How do the rental agencies adjust the rental price if an automatic (usually more expensive) is not available? Do they offer a refund? Does the new rate for the standard shift car reflect the walk-in rate or the possible discount for what may have been an early rental?
Jul 26th, 2012, 10:28 AM
#39
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janisj: First, there is absolutely no reason to be that obnoxious.
Secondly, I wholeheartedly disagree with you. If a company takes money as a payment for a future service that they cannot guarantee, then yes, that is a terrible business model. If they offer an automatic to you, they are contractually obligated to provide that car or one like it (as their website states). If they cannot do this, then they should not take my money, because even a refund on the premisses would leave me "stranded" in a foreign country.
So yes, under almost any circumstance this would be considered a bad business model.
Finally, I thought I made it clear that I wanted to pick the car up in Florence, if I merely insinuated Florence as my pick-up location then I apologize.
Secondly, I wholeheartedly disagree with you. If a company takes money as a payment for a future service that they cannot guarantee, then yes, that is a terrible business model. If they offer an automatic to you, they are contractually obligated to provide that car or one like it (as their website states). If they cannot do this, then they should not take my money, because even a refund on the premisses would leave me "stranded" in a foreign country.
So yes, under almost any circumstance this would be considered a bad business model.
Finally, I thought I made it clear that I wanted to pick the car up in Florence, if I merely insinuated Florence as my pick-up location then I apologize.
Jul 27th, 2012, 07:06 AM
#40
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WorminRome, have you rented many cars? We have and a number of times, they haven't had the car we ordered. It's just a fact of the car renting business. People are unpredictable. Usually the car rental agency upgrades us, give us a bigger, more expensive car, not always a desireable thing if you will be driving in small hilltowns.
One time, in Hawaii, they gave us a car so big I couldn't reach the gas pedal. (I'm 5'2".)
One time, in Hawaii, they gave us a car so big I couldn't reach the gas pedal. (I'm 5'2".)
