I'm in the Netherlands and looking for a reasonably priced car rental firm in Las Vegas. Dollar and New Frontier seem to offer a good deal, anybody like to recommend either one?
Question on insurance: I've never rented before in the US and am a bit puzzled as to which - if any - insurance to cover damage to the car is included in the basic rate of about $30 a day for a small car. Looking at a couple of sites it seems that this insurance is extra (about $15 a day). Would that be right?
Also a question on the pick-up location: would I be right that picking a car up at a hotel is cheaper than at the airport?
Grateful for any help you can give.

The insurance you're referring to is called CDW (collision damage waiver) and is always a substantial charge in addition to the basic rental rate, as you indicate. Many credit cards will cover damage to a rental car when you use their card for the rental, so you should check yours and (if none of them do) consider getting one that does.

I'm a long way from Las Vegas, so can't help you with that part.

I can not answer your questions, but I would suggest that you check with a good travel agent or insurance company in your area to see if they are able to help you. When we have traveled in Europe, we found that if we charged the rental to a Master Card that the insurance was not necessary. However, that may not be the true in your case. Again, check it out. It would probably be cheaper to pick up the rental car at the airport, but this, too, needs further checking on your part. "Enterprize rent-a-car" delivers the car to you and then you fill in the paper work after they drive you back to their business location. Have found them to be reasonable and honest in their dealings.

Jim

Thanks for your quick responses FlyFish and Jim.

We had a good experience last week with Dollar in Las Vegas, only $20 per day for a mid-sized car, much less than the 30 you quote, so keep looking. I made my reservation on Dollar.com. The only insurance included in the rate is collision above the $1000-2000 deductible. The Collision damage waiver coverage that you add on for $15-20/day waives the deductible. Most Gold and Platinum credit cards include coverage for the collision damage waiver if you charge the rental on that card. Make sure you have some coverage because if the car is damaged and you didn't buy the overpriced CDW or it's covered by your card, you must produce the cash before departing. This is the case even if the accident is not your fault. You will not save by picking the car up at the hotel, in fact that will cost you more because you will have to pay for airport to hotel transport that otherwise you would be using the car for. Pick the car up at the airport.

Here is a website about rental car insurance issues:http://www.freetraveltips.com/Cars/car07.htm#33

We had a positive experience last summer with Dollar. They offered the best price. They run a shuttle bus from the terminal to the rental site.

Much obliged for the new responses.
Sqorces: Just checked prices and it's 147 (for 7 days) from the airport and 187 from a hotel (MGM). An extra 10% on top of the 147 is charged as a Airport Concession Recovery Fee and I assumed that it would'nt apply from the hotel but not only is it more expensive but there's also a service facility fee of 10% instead (on top of 187).
John: useful website, thanks.