Two different Avis rental sites, different quotes
 

The obvious Avis website is www.Avis.com and I plugged in various car rental scenarios(France), boiling down to a 3-day rental for $254/inclusive and a 4-day rental for $339/inclusive.

Then I was surfing around and came up on this website: http://www.e-hotellerie.com/reservat...ation-avis.htm
I suppose it is a broker in Paris using Avis.
My same scenarios above now produce quotes of 3-day/115E-150E/inclusive, or 4-day 150E-289E/inclusive. The 2 prices/day relate to different pick-up times.

Obviously, the e-Hotellerie quotes are better. Is there any reason a US resident cannot avail herself of this website? (or should not?)

I'm waiting to hear back from Novarentacar as to whether they utilize St Pierre des Corps - their city list only says 'Tours'. I don't want to start off first foreign driving experience in the heart of Tours.

This is the last arrangement I need to make... :)

Look on AutoEurope. Have always been the best for us.

Try Auto Europe. You might want to post a question asking people for their experiences with avis in Europe.

When you convert the euro to dollars, I'm not so sure the first quote isn't better than the high range of the second. I don't know what that means "150 to 289E" -- quite a range. What car do you get for the 289 and how does that compare to the car you get for $339? And frankly I don't get how they could quote you a top of 150 euro for 3 days, but 289 (almost double) for one extra day. Something doesn't smell right here.

AutoEurope only lists downtown Tours as the location, don't really want to start there. Their best price for 4-day rental/inclusive is $271. The French Avis site prices same at 150E/ $183.

Patrick, Avis.com's $254 offer is more than French Avis' 115E/ $183 offer.

I've priced every provider that has a location in St Pierre des Corps. It comes down to Avis or Novarentacar...

I really am just wondering about the Avis site on e-Hotellerie. It comes up using the Avis logo and design.

Hi Trav,

I looked up renting a car at
e-hotellerie.com.

It looks like the rate is NOT unlimited mileage and doesn't include PAI. You might want to check this.

Travelnut, not wanting to split hairs but. . . you say that AutoEurope's best price was _______. Does that mean you called them? Until you do you have no idea what there best price is. In addition they will match any other price you are actually quoted. Although I usually start on the web, I always call AutoEurope and have always gotten a better rate than what the website quoted. Also, they may offer more pickup or return sites.

Travelnut - I was in France in June and rented a car from Avis after getting quotes from AutoEurope.com and EuropeByCar.com. I had seen a Fodor post advising to check out the Avis UK website. I got a great deal and I see that they are running a similar special right now. From www.avis.co.uk click on the France mainland prepaid special. I booked online from the UK website. There was nothing that stated a US resident couldn't book through the UK website -- although I did add my city, state, zipcode and "USA" in "Postal code / town" field on their form. Everything went smoothly with Avis when we picked up the car.

No, I could try calling AutoEurope. I just looked online for the pick-up locations, and they only show "Downtown Tours". I'm a bit anxiety-ridden over the whole car rental thing, but I want to try it...just really don't want to go into Tours center.

Thanks, Norskie... I will compare your Avis tip to the ones I got today...

I'm beginning to see a pattern. The US version has the CDW/TP etc as add-ons, while the Europe-based sites include them. Therefore the US base price is already equal to the Europe inclusive price, then you tack on the 'extras' to get the policies in sync. That is why the US site (Avis.com) is so much higher than the UK or FR sites.

Although the mileage may not be 'unlimited', it is for 1000 kms. We're only driving for 3 days, furthest east is Chambord, furthest west is Fontevraud. I don't think we will exceed the 1000kms.

I am not sure about PAI. I don't think we need this since we have trip insurance that includes medical/emergency funds. PAI is for the driver and passengers.
Deep into the details, the FR site states that &quot;third party liability&quot; is included but doesn't explain what that is. Is it insurance to cover in case someone in <i>another</i> car is injured or sues?
I'm gettin' the hang of this Europe rental thing, hopefully I can say the same for reading the map and road signs when we get there!

Travelnut: CALL AutoEurope, as Patrick says. I'm sure they have a pickup spot at St-Pierre-des-Corps.They will always match or give you a lower price. If you're tearing your hair out over internet deals, pick up the phone and call - you'll almost always get a better deal that way anyway, I've found. And talking to a real live human actually reassures you about the details. Try it.