Car Hire
 

Hi there

As a couple, we are planning a trip to the US in September 2011 flying from London to Las Vegas and then taking a road trip (via the coast) to San Francisco.

Can anyone recommend the best way to book car hire collecting from Vegas and dropping off in San Francisco?

Any tips, do and dont's regarding the best way to book, recommended routes etc would be appreciated!

Thanks

Try reading this for some starting info:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...s-243212-3.cfm

I am not sure what impact being non-US citizens will have on prices, insurance etc. Most companies [if not all] will charge a one way rental drop off fee and they can be quite steep.

Here's more info:
http://www.ehow.com/about_4697966_on...r-rentals.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26722285/

Just check all the usual suspects (hertz, avis, etc etc) and be sure to compare drop off charges. Unlike in the UK, many if not most hires here can involve substantial fees for picking up in pne place and dropping in another. Also check for off-airport pick up locations. Airport collection can add a lot to the rental charge.Normally - airport dropoff doesn't matter one way or the other. (I'm assuming you are booking open jaw London > Las Vegas and San Francisco > London)

Before suggesting routes and what to see/do, we need to know how many days you have in total and how many days you want to spend IN Vegas and SF.

I would suggest a different thread for routes, sights etc. Keep this one just about car rental.

I really agree w/ DebitNM - especially w/ the thread's title. I only mentioned needing to know the trip's length and such because you asked for >>recommended routes etc <<

You can start another thread (where you can provide the details of what you are looking for routes/sites-wise) and leave this one to car hire issues.

Unless you really want to drive from Vegas to the coast, consider flying to San francisco and renting a car there for your drive on the coast. The cost may not be much different as there are often discount rates for the airfare, may even be less with one way fees.

Here are some etc, etc names to check out - generally lower cost than Hertz and Avis

dollar.com
thrifty.com

and a smaller western US co called Fox
foxrentacar.com

I like to use www.orbitz.com for rental car comparison shopping, then go directly to the rental company website to make the reservation. I've had good luck with one-way rentals using Thrifty. There have been several times when other companies charged $150 to $200 for one-way drop off charge and Thrifty had no added fee.

Try to find some kind of a package that will include all insurance. US customers insurance is paid for by either their own car insurance or their credit card - but for ex-us customer this isn;t true - and insurance can be quite expensive. And do expect an out of state drop-off charge.

Jenji, I would like to know if there are any sites you wish to see between the two cities, otherwise I like emalloy's idea of flying. When I visit Las Vegas I rent a car from Dollar rent a car. www.dollar.com I joined their 'fastlane' club so you can pre register and when you are at the car terminal you jump to the head of the line. enjoy the U.S., ziggypop

One of your best deals for a state to state one way drop off is to check with AutoEurope.com. They are a consolidator now offering rentals in the US that match their usual best price deals in Europe.

We have always been lucky with Alamo. This past September we got a Seattle to San Francisco rental for less than $200 for a full size or luxury model.
Before every trip I check their web site daily.

Car companies adjust their fleets to meet anticipated demand and one way deals come up frequently.

Mark

Jenji1921;

Another very good consolidator is http://www.novacarhire.com We have used many times coming home to the UK from the US and always placed with a major car hire company.

Sandy

There are basically two routes from Las Vegas two San Francisco - either through the mountains or along the coast. Both are spectacular, so it is hard to decide, but maybe you can combine a bit (if you have time enough).

In any case, I strongly recommend to see Valley of Fire State Park (east of Las Vegas), Red Rock Canyon (west of Las Vegas, very close) and Death Valley (northwest of Las Vegas). You can don all three as separate daytrips from Las Vegas, or you can drive from Las Vegas through Death Valley to California (with an overnight stay in Death Valley which I recommend because Death Valley is most beautiful at sunset and at sunrise).

From Death Valley, you can drive westwards to the coast. The way would lead through Trona, a quite impressive desert town which recently became famous because it starred in a movie and in a late Ry Cooder record. Then continue along Lake Isabella, via Maricopa to the coast and drive scenic highway no. 1 northwards. Or catch a bit of Giant Sequoia Natl. Monument and drive via Templeton to Cambria. The most scenic parts of the coastal highway are around Big Sur (esp. Pfeiffer Beach) and between Santa Cruz and Pacifica.

SandyBrit, that is interesting. I knew Nova from Europe but didn't realize they were also now in the US market. But like others, be very careful. They quote you a price but leave the idea of drop off charge open (saying it "may be charged". You want to be sure to get in writing that they won't end up adding a few hundred dollars (or more) for a drop off charge.

It's a little too early to book a car for 2011. I'd wait until about a two to three months beforehand when all the promotional codes are out and then use them to book it.

Depending on the amount of time available, flying in and out of SF or Las Vegas might be a better option in terms of a car rental. There is enough to see going and coming to make such an option worthwhile.