My girlfriend and I will be staying in Punta Del Este at the AWA Hotel for three nights later this month. I REALLY do not want to rent a car---one important reason for that is because I plan on taking advantage of all of what Punta has to offer (including beach side bars and clubs). Is it THAT bad without a car?? Aren't taxis plentiful? If they are, how expensive do they run?

Please let me know
Thanks.

The AWA hotel looks beautiful in the internet. My first consideration would be is November is not the high season, so many places would not be open . So I do not know exactly what will be available. My advise is you need a car in Punta. There are taxis, radio taxis, they are not cheap as far as I recall but I am not sure, you can call the hotel buy phone and ask them how much is a taxi to the COnrad Casino Hotel to have an idea, how much is to downtown Punta, and how much is to Casa Pueblo to have some references. Or of course you can try to email them.
The problem I see with not having a car is that Punta is VERY spread out, many places are far,
and a depending only on taxis limits your freedom.
Again my advise is have a car. Good luck.

I'm going to chime in with another car question on Punta del Este. We're going to be there for a few days in early March, after a couple of nights in Montevideo. We thought that we would take a bus from Montevideo since we would prefer not to have to deal with driving from Montevideo to Punta. We thought we'd rent a car in Punta del Este though for maybe 2 or 3 days. Car rentals definitely seem cheaper if you pick them up at the airport in Punta. Any idea how far the airport is from the city? Or should we just bite the bullet and rent from a place in Punta (the city)?

Other alternative is to rent the car in Montevideo and have it the whole time we're in Punta del Este. That makes me a little nervous though.

The airport is about 25 km (15 mi) from the center of town.

Thanks Jeff. It sounds like we wouldn't want to rent a car at the airport. Too much of a hassle getting there and back.

It is very easy to drive between the Airport and Punta, you have to follow one road, the main one and that is it.
THe distance between Punta and Montevideo es only 140 Kms , like 90 miles I guess, you have to take into consideration that gasoline is expensive in Uruguay, a country that imports all the gasoline it needs. If you find a good deal in Carrasco Airport , the airport in Montevideo, the drive is very simple, follow the main road, that is it. There is also a toll between both cities which I do not know how much it is now, there are two gates. That is you have to pay twice.
I agree that it would be simpler to take a bus, be sure you ask for a bus that does not stop in between.You can buy reserved seats ahead of time . You can take it at the Airport in Montevideo and in several more places.
I am glad you are going to have a car, imagine if you wish to go to the beach>? Can you take a taxi? Yes you can, but it is not a good idea. People in PUnta when going to the beach are restless may be they try one, and if it is too windy or whatever might chance till they find the right one. One more thing, lately there are many persons that help you parking, everywhere even in the beach. If they are the official guys, or even if they are not, you are supposed to give them something, any coins will do. Like 3 or 4 or 5 or whatever you can go up to 24 pesos more or less is ok, but even if you have no change on any given day, they are very polite and you can tell them I have no change today, and no problem, they will say Do not worry. THere is such a protocol. In Spanish PErdon, hoy no tengo cambio. So do not worry too much, but if you have a few coins is better. OK>?

Thanks Graziella. What about if we pick up a car in Montevideo, not at the airport? We are not flying to Montevideo - we're taking Buquebus from Buenos Aires and staying in Montevideo for 2 nights (and we won't want a car there). If we were to pick up a car in the city, is it an ok drive?

Canada is metric, so we are quite used to thinking in kilometers. Gas is also more expensive in Canada than it is in the US - I think we're paying about $1 a liter right now in Toronto, but it's been as high as $1.40 at times.

Both of us are ok driving a car with standard transmission as well - that usually makes a car rental less expensive.

I do like the convenience of a car. Have to think about this.

Hi Susan, IT is my believe that you might be able, to get a better rate in Montevideo. From the outset let me tell you: renting cars in Uruguay is not that cheap, so remember adding the fuel and tolls. Big convenience to have the car. The driving should not be difficult, where is your hotel located in Montevideo.? If you are going to Punta in low season that might help to get there a better rate, the idea of taking the bus to the Punta Airport is good because as I said is very easy to drive from Punta Airport to PUnta. What hotel are you using in Punta, Where is it located.>?
iI am writing to Montevideo to ask where is better to rent a car, tell me the moth you will be there and day of the week?
Now I noticed you are going to be there in early March so I shal write now. Good idea to be there in early March , the weather is usually BEAUTIFUL and the water BEAUTIFUL,....

While in Montevideo, the best way, in my opinion to go around is to take a remise. I use
Remises IBeria, look in the phone book, I do not have the number here. They use to ways
to charge you, for the trip , a flat rate to go to the Airport, etc.
By the hour, too. Ask them and ask them to find out which is the most convenient way for you. You can call ahead and make reservations , always call ahead of time is possible.

WOW I made a mistake the name is REMISE LA ESPAÑOLA
598 2 622 2323

598 is Uruguay, 2 Montevideo

We're staying for 2 nights (March 7 & 8 - Sunday & Monday), at Punta Trouville apart in Pocitos. Then we'll be going to Punta del Este from the 9th, returning to BA on the 13th.

I'm now thinking that we might rent a car - I've checked Budget and we could pick up a car at their Punta Carretas Shopping location. We could then drive to Punta del Este for our 4 nights. We've rented an apartment in Punta, near Playa Brava and apparently we have parking there. When we're ready to leave, we could drop the car at the Montevideo airport and fly back to BA.

That's totally different from what I was originally planning! But the airfare from Montevideo to BA seems fairly reasonable, not much more than Buquebus from Punta > BA, and the timing looks good.

Still lots of time to plan, so I'm sure I'll come up with other ideas.

Prices at Budget seem ok. From what I can see on the web, we can rent an economy (2 door, no A/C, manual) for about $16 USD a day, then the insurance. So it's definitely a possibility.

Hi Susan, I am amazed that the renting rate is wo low, double check to be sure if they do not add taxes and other things. Just in case, do they charge for each kilometer etc , buses should be very cheap, in my opinion remises are also cheap . Of course the time factor is also imporant, the Buquebus insumes a lot of time.
I think it is a personal choice what combination would be better for you, once you add up all expenses you can choose. Do not forget to include the toll, the rent a car agency can inform you about it. Also gasoline in Uruguay is more expensive that in any other place I know.
Parking will be no problem at all in Punta. In Montevideo is more restricted.
Personally I think I would take the bus to Punta, pick it up at the airport . In Punta the car is not a luxury is a MUST. Good luck.

Graziella, are you saying that we should try to pick up a car at the airport in Punta and drop it off at the airport in Punta? I'm not sure what advantage that would be.

I've checked the Budget site and this is the cost breakdown if we picked up a car at Punta Carretas shopping centre and dropped it at the Montevideo airport:

For 4 days, the rental is $64 ($16/day), the insurance is $65.04 ($16.26 day) and the taxes are $14.08, for a total of $143.12.

Now I've just looked and it seems that Budget offers pickup service, so we could take the bus to Punta del Este, get a car from Budget, then drop it off at the Montevideo airport when we leave. We'd probably have it for only 3 days instead of the 4, but that's ok.

So many decisions!!!

Hi Susan, I am as confused as anyone, to tell the truth I am surprised that the car rental deal is so good,
I never rent in Uruguay but I was under the impression rentals were expensive. Things change,good news...
I thought it would be the best to limited the use of the car to Punta, but being the rental so reasonable it also seems a good idea what you are proposing.
My preference rests in the fact that buses are fairly good and very cheap. You can reserve seats. Yhe bus can leave you at the Airport in Punta coming from Montevideo, you pick up your car , coming back you do the same. At the end of the day it is a personal choice, you can for instance go to PUnta by bus, pick up the car at the airport in Punta or at any other place in Punta, and then you can drive back to Montevideo, may be visiting or stopping in another beach on the way....leave the car at Carrasco Airport in Montevideo and fly back.
The choice is up to you.

Hi, SusanInToronto!

I thought your rental from Budget sounded too cheap, so I tried it and you are absolutely right, 64 dollars for four days is correct. Probably low season for car rentals.

However, it could still be quite warm in early March. That means I would much prefer the intermediate four-door car WITH air conditioning, for $ 160.

Have a great time in our sister country, Uruguay.

Hi Susan In Toronto, a friend in Uruguay recommended http://www.puntacar.com.uy/
give it try. Again for me March is the most wonderful time of the year to be in Punta.
Good luck