Flying to Frankfurt in September, taking train to Mainz where I would like to pick up a rental car for about three weeks. Perhaps I will drop car at another location. Is this a reasonable plan?? Suggestions on good rental companies (price & service)??
Danke!!

asw,

your plan does not sound unreasonable to me.
Usually Europcar does not charge extra for a drop-off at a location different from the one where you rented.
Europcar and Sixt usually have quite attractive rates. Beware that the rates quoted on the website of Europcar usually do not include insurance. The cost of that can be obtained through the website, too, by clicking on "Details" or something to that extent.
Take a look at Hertz and Avis, too.
Budget currently runs a special renting smaller cars (Volkswagen Golf category) for € 39.- (plus insurance) a day, bigger ones (Mercedes E- class) for € 59.- (plus insurance).
Try the respective websites and enjoy your trip!
hsv

Hi asw,

Also take a look at http://www.novarentacar.com/

I second Ira's recommendations. We've used Nova twice with excellent results. But do shop around a bit as no one broker or company has the best price every time, every where.

Autoeurope (autoeurope.com) is the one we've used in the past. In additon to very good service, they will meet or beat better offers you might get elsewhere. They are a wholesale or broker (not sure which) so you could still end up using Europcar at better than retail rates.

They don't charge for drop offs in different cities either and have pick up locations at train stations or in towns.

Within the past week I've priced a three-week rental from FRA with quite a few companies; the best prices came from Nova and Gemut, the latter quoted $794 vs 667Euro from Nova. I booked with Andy at http://www.gemut.com/

Let me add that the voucher is via Auto Europe and that this is their "economy" price with a free upgrade to compact (VW Golf or similar).

We have used gemut. the past 3 rentals all for 4 weeks and have a rental sept 7 for 4 weeks. we have checked them all and as far as we are concerned they are the best. check them out.
sister

Thanks all!! Useful information.

Al

We picked up our rental car at FRA and drove from there to Rhine area. It wasn't difficult. Okay, we missed a turn and went almost all the way to Bonn first, but it would have been a breeze except for that

We haven't rented from gemut several times and we were very pleased.

This spring we picked up the car at Europcar in Kelsterbach. It was just a short cab ride from the airport and the employees there were so much more relaxed, pleasant, and helpful than the ones we've run into at the airport.

If you are taking the train to Mainz to pick up the rental car, remember that the surcharge for picking up a car at the airport also applies to picking one up at a train station.