Julie

My brother and I are arriving in Boston on Thursday 13th September, we are staying at the Doubletree hotel for 3 nights. We want to hire a car on the Sunday 17th and take off wherever our hearts desire!! My question is, is it easy to hire a car when we are in Boston? I have been on several websites, most of which are very anoying, and only seem to serve Logon Airport - we don't want to have to go back out to the airport to get the car. Are there car hire places in Boston itself? Would we have to give them a coupld of days notice? Also what insurance must we take out as opposed to the insurance they want to sell us? Be most grateful if someone can enlighten me.

Julis

Julie:
Suggest you call Hertz at Victoria Station or any London office. They'll answer all your questions. Or go to their website for more information. www.hertz.com. Having visited Boston I do know they have numerous offices downtown(CBD). Same information applies for any international car rental company.
You'll love New England.
John

Julie

Thanks John, I have been on Hertz, but again, it kept going back to Logon Airport, I will give them a ring in London though, what about the insurance, I know when we go to Florida, they try to sell us all sorts of different "extras" - i am always worried in case we are not covered properly, but don't want to pay for something we don't really need, I find it all very confusing as in England, you just pay one lot of insurance and it covers you for everything.

Ann

Hi Julie,
The major place to pick up cars is indeed Logan airport, but from your hotel it's very easy to get there by the T (our underground). But you can also rent on this side of the harbor. Try Avis and National as well as Hertz, just to name a few. Budget is also a US company. If you need some local help, email me directly. At least I have the boston yellow pages at hand.

As for insurance, if you use a good credit card (like a gold visa or mastercharge) it usually covers what they try to sell you. Call your credit card company. Also, call your local insurance company and see if they have coverage for rental cars. We find the credit card route is usually the best.

Peter

Try the hotel. Most major-city hotels have rental car companies on site - often with tiny storefronts in their shopping area / lobby.

If Doubletree does not, ask their Concierge. Most Marriott's have at least one rental company on-site. The cars should be in the hotel's parking garage (or brought to you). No need to go to the airport.

fran

Check with your credit card company to see if you are covered for insurance if you use them for car rental. Also, you can check with your own car insurance company to see if they cover you abroad. The major car rental companies will have locations other than at the airport so you might want to call the companies at a toll-free number to arrange.

JJ

Check Hertz.com. They do have, in fact, a location in Downtown Boston. Just put in the days that you may want to rent the car and click on Massach. for the state. They will then ask you whether you want Logan Airport or DT Boston.

If you don't mind playing on the internet, you may want to check Avis.com or other big US companies (e.g. National Rent a Car). But for sure, the Hertz.com site has a Downtown Boston location, Copley Plz. I believe.

John

Julie:
Nothing I can add to the above postings. Excellent advice. One thing though, there is a scarcity of street signs in Boston. The reason given, if you don't know where you are, you don't belong there. One saving grace, natives love to help with directions. Stop anywhere and ask.
John

Tony

Don't rent the car at the Boston airport if you can avoid it. They have all kinds of extra fees and taxes on cars rented there. Not sure if they apply to renting a car elsewhere in the Boston area. Regarding insurance, you might want to see what protection you have from your credit card company before you buy insurance.