Attnymom

I piggybacked earlier on another poster's question about dropping off a rental car after hours at the Nice train station and got some great advice (thanks Curmudgeon!!). Now I am considering changing the drop-off location and would like to hear what you all think.

Here is our plan: We arrive in Montpellier via train from Barcelona and pick up our rental car. We will drive to Arles, where we are staying for 2 nights. On Sunday, we would like to hit the market at Isle sur la Sorgue, then make our way to Nice, drop off our car and catch the overnight train to Venice, which leaves at 9:50 p.m. Because it is a Sunday, the rental car drop-off is closed at the Nice train station. I may have the option of an after-hours drop off, but understand that can be risky. I am now considering
dropping off our rental car at the Nice Cote d'Azur airport, then either take a taxi or the #99 bus to the main rail station to catch our overnight train to Venice. If we drop at the airport, the Hertz counter will be open, eliminating (hopefully!) any worry about being charged for damage to the car if we leave it unattended. What do you think of this idea? Also, how often does that #99 bus run to the main rail station? Or would it be easier to just take a cab? I'd love to hear your thoughts : )

Thank you very much in advance for any advice you can give me - I really appreciate it!!

GeoffHamer

The bus timetable is on www.lignedazur.com. Route 99 runs about every half hour. The last one is from T2 at 2053 and T1 at 2058, getting to Nice station at 2117. There are later services from the airport on route 98, but they'd be too late for your train.

Attnymom

Thank you GeoffHamer!

Eze

No doubt that the right choice is to take the bus (and leave you rented car in Nice Airport.
Cab prices in Nice are incredibily expensive !

artlover

We rented from Hertz in Nice and it was a total disaster. I would suggest changing your reservation if you can through Autoeurope. Hertz almost ruined our vacation and they were not open in NIce when and where they said they would be.

Attnymom

Yikes! Thanks for the warning about Hertz. We are also renting from them in Munich during this same trip. I thought they might be easier to deal with because my husband uses them often for business and is a "gold" member (or whatever their program is). I also thought that since they are an American company, if we do have issues, I can call a # in the States and get it resolved with no language barrier : ) I can easily cancel our reservation - what company do you recommend?

jean253

We rented from www.kemwell.com they are agents for Auto Europe but cheaper than booking A E direct . they also have an office /drop off at the Nice railway station.

artlover

Yes, I suggest you go through Autoeurope because they have more drop off points. We couldn't get any resolution with Hertz at all and finally had to get it through AMEX (which we did), but it was a big headache. Other Fodorites have had problems with them in Europe as well, but you might be lucky. Still, if you can switch, I would suggest doing so.

Eze

Assuming that you rent with AutoEurope correspondent in Nice, whatsoever could be the final renter, you could have the same prblm of worrying about droping your car at the railways station and leave it unattended !
If your plan is just to reach Nice, why don't you just take a train or a bus from Arles ? Just rent a car for a return day trip to Isle sur la Sorgue from Arles !