iris1745

Hi Stu; In addition, if you can get a better rate with any other company, that you can with either Auto Europe or Kemwel, these companies will [usually] negotiate to meet the competors price. Auto Europe is a very reliable company. ENJOY Iris

Betty1

Stu D, I'm happy for you that you got a good rate with AE. I am also happy to report that, after having spoken with Camille at AE, I have been assured that we can pick up 3 IDMR cars (Renault Laguna, VW Passat or similar) in Brive for the same price (actually about $10 less!) than Hector at Kemwel quoted me. I find it interesting, though, that I did not get that rate until I mentioned my previous conversation with Hector.

I made it very clear that if I got to Brive and my cars were not waiting, they would be getting an irate phone call from me! Camille again assured me that they would be there. Interestingly, at one point she mentioned having spoken to the Europcar rep in her office.

I also mentioned the "buy the tank of gas and bring it back empty" policy, which I did not like. She read to me their contract info with Europcar which says you don't have to buy the tank of gas but bring it back full. She advised that if Europcar told me something different I should have them call AE. We'll see how that goes down.

BTW, if anyone else needs to rent several cars at once, one person can reserve all the cars, then have the other drivers call with their CC info.

Thanks to all who chimed in here with advice, recommendations. Ira, I wish I could afford that place but one reason I have so much interest in my trips is that I keep the prices down! Stu T, thanks for the good wishes and the restaurant rec. I have a good map that shows Almont les Junies about half-way between Conques and Décazeville. That must be the place, right? Would you have an idea of the price of the Sunday lunch at Frerrieres?

Stu D, I have my Green Guide for that area. The task will be deciding what I must leave out! I especially appreciate the info about the picnic area.

We are renting a house just outside Figeac so will be there for a week. I know from previous experience that a week isn't as long as it seems. Maybe I will do a separate post with my current itinerary and see what you all think I might add or subtract.

Again, merci à tous!

tower

Hi Betty:

>>> I have a good map that shows Almont les Junies about half-way between Conques and Décazeville. That must be the place, right? Would you have an idea of the price of the Sunday lunch at Frerrieres?<<<

Yep, that's it..Almon-les-Junies...
it's a very small town/village...you'll spot Frerrieres as soon as you drive into the center ...as I said, it's a family-run place, nothing fancy...my notes tell me that the Sunday lunch was $12 a person when the pre-Euro FF was 7-1...with the € at 1.30 now, it will be more...but my guess it's not changed much. I don't have the phone number, but if you call from Figeac you can check the prices..as I recall, they don't take reservations. Maybe that's changed,too.

stu t.

Betty1

Sounds like my kind of place, stu!

One thing I meant to mention and forgot - remember a while back someone bad-mouthing Autoeurope saying we should check with BBB about them? Well, I did. True, they had a number of complaints (25, I think, in the last 3 years) but most were resolved. When you consider the huge number of cars they must have rented in 3 years that doesn't seem too bad to me. Plus, they are BBB accredited and have a rating of A.

I also checked Kemwel - no BBB accreditation and a rating of D-!! However, I don't know how meaningful this is because they had only had 3 complaints in 3 years! The D- was explained as "failure to respond to complaints."

At any rate, I just feel more comfortable going through AE even though the two companies are basically the same. And as long as AE will match any quotes from Kemwel, why not?