Just a reminder that it pays to check AutoEurope to see if rates have dropped. Ours just went down about 25% on our upcoming trip. What a significant savings! Pat
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Posts: 1099 | Location: Rochester, NY and Bonita Springs, Fl | Registered: 18 September 2002
Hi Kim, What happens is simple. First of all, I called rather than checked the website. The fellow said that I would be credited my original deposit and charged the new one, which went down about 50 bucks. When I arrive, I will owe an amount approximately $150 less than before. He forwarded me a new voucher, by e-mail. Actually, I may call again before i go, but i may be pressing my luck. Pat
Posts: 1099 | Location: Rochester, NY and Bonita Springs, Fl | Registered: 18 September 2002
This has really made my day. We are renting for 15 days, picking up at the Rome airport and paying, of course, a surcharge to do so. I tried to convince my husband to pick up at St.Peters or the Borghese office, but no luck. This drop in price definitely helps ease the pain of the surcharge and the sinking dollar too.
Posts: 1456 | Location: on the Alabama River | Registered: 22 July 2002
quote:Originally posted by Bags packed: This has really made my day. We are renting for 15 days, picking up at the Rome airport and paying, of course, a surcharge to do so. I tried to convince my husband to pick up at St.Peters or the Borghese office, but no luck. This drop in price definitely helps ease the pain of the surcharge and the sinking dollar too.
We are picking up at Fiumicino also, but dropping off at the Borghese office.Having learned to drive in NYC, we are both completely undaunted by Italian driving and traffic. I assume you are going with Hertz. The agent told me they are discounting them now for reasons unbeknownst to me. The dollar is sinking yet again? I have not been keeping track. Pat
Posts: 1099 | Location: Rochester, NY and Bonita Springs, Fl | Registered: 18 September 2002
Pat, I am up for the adventure of a pick up in town to save even more $$, but my husband gets the say on this since he is the driver. Also, we are headed to Umbria and then we end our trip with a few days in Rome. It would indeed make more sense for us to follow your lead with the airport pick up and city drop off, but it's airport all the way for us.
I was wrong in my earlier post - we are saving $187 and our rental is Hertz too. This is really not going to be a savings - Rome is where we shop and I have no doubt we will leave our new found bonanza there.
Thanks again. Several people have posted about the occasional drop in prices in the past, but I had forgotten to check the rates since booking a month ago. Safe travels to you, Pat.
Posts: 1456 | Location: on the Alabama River | Registered: 22 July 2002
quote:Originally posted by bsteele: I need to rent an eight person van in May of 2004, how soon do I need to make reservations ?
My husband is one of those people who has his life (read "our" life) planned a year in advance. I must hand it to him that his avid planning allows for great adventures even though he has a rigorous work schedule in between.
I have never rented a van, but what's the harm in doing it now and checking in once a month or so to see if the rates drop, similar to what i did. You will hae a guaranteed reservation, but it will be up to you to keep a vigil for price drops.
Kim can tell you about renting a van.
Pat
Posts: 1099 | Location: Rochester, NY and Bonita Springs, Fl | Registered: 18 September 2002
We rented an eight (actually turned about to be nine) person van I named the monster. Sally Watkins actually made the arrangements for us through Auto Europe. I can't imagine there are too many of those vans available and you will have limits on where you can pick it up - I'd err on the side of early than late. Especially, if you do it through Auto Europe, b/c if the rate drops between now and your departure, you can contact them and get the lower rate.
Now - can I ask why an eight person van versus 2 cars?
Yeah - then go for it. We did the car and the van on our last trip (there were 9 of us) b/c we feared (and rightly so) that we wouldn't be able to fit all the luggage in the van. But for our day trips, we didn't use the car, we all went together.
This next trip, we're allowing for the possibility that we'll split up and are opting for the two mid size cars instead.
Just make sure whatever car/van you rent has a *spare* tire in the trunk!!
Europcar (who we rented with through Auto Europe) convinced us we didn't need a spare tire...that the "tire kit" they handed to us would be sufficient. Needless to say, we ended up getting a flat (first ever of course!) - and could have used a real spare!
AutoEurope, to their credit, stuck with us and we got it all resolved...but lesson learned: check and then INSIST on having a spare tire when you rent your car!
Jody
Posts: 352 | Location: San Diego, Calif. USA | Registered: 19 June 2003
As far as the flat tire goes, well, it was all just part of the adventure!!
Fortunately, it happened on the last day of our trip and at the end of the day -- and it only ended up solidifying our warm feelings towards the Italians.
A driver next to us had pointed out our flat (and since this can be a scam we waved a "thanks" at him but drove off until we felt it was safe to pull over). Another Italian man, waiting nearby for his girlfriend to meet him at the lot we were in, watched from a distance but then became fascinated with the tire kit the rental agency had given us. He suddenly rolled up his sleeves and pitched right in, helping Dan with the tire. Just another experience of turning lemons into lemonade, I guess - or maybe that should be: limoncello?
Jody
Posts: 352 | Location: San Diego, Calif. USA | Registered: 19 June 2003
When we rented one( 9 passenger van) in April of 2000, we had 6 adults. I can't remember how much storage space it had.We will have 4 adults and 4 teens. Can you get luggage racks ?
Posts: 33 | Location: Roswell, GA | Registered: 12 September 2003
I do believe that Autoeurope offers luggage racks as optional equipment. Though I'd be concerned about being exposed like that (that's just my hang-up though).
We were 7 adults and 2 kids and everyone pretty much had a mid size bag and a carry on (except my parents who had larger pieces b/c they met us after an extended trip). I'd say we got about 1/2 that in the van (but we may have used the back seat).
Hi- I notice that this article also mentions Nova, who we used for our last trip...MUCH cheaper that AutoEurope, and great customer service. I would recommend them highly.
Posts: 605 | Location: Rehoboth, MA USA | Registered: 30 August 2003
For 23 days starting April 16, AutoEurope will give me my favorite Alfa for $1461.50. Nova will give me a four-door A/C compact for $1,063.07. Can this be right?
quote:Originally posted by Joanna: For 23 days starting April 16, AutoEurope will give me my favorite Alfa for $1461.50. Nova will give me a four-door A/C compact for $1,063.07. Can this be right?
Joanna, are you sure you are converting the Nova price from Euros? I got excited at first too, until I realized that Autoeurope was quoting in dollars, and Nova in Euros. It turned out they were both giving me virtually the same price: $1054 for a compact Automatic for 14 days (autoeurope) $1056 from Nova. The only difference seems to be that Autoeurope was offering a Nissan Micra (2-dr) and Nova a Ford Focus (4 dr) which would be better, but then again there's no guarantee of a particular car. If the prices were about the same I'd still go with Autoeurope because they have a US 800# and that would seem more convenient than possibly having to call Northern Ireland if there's a problem.
A thought on van vs. 2 cars--We opted for the 2 cars BUT with 5 mile range walkie-talkies and even though we were out-of-sight of each other being in constant contact was a real stress reducer when it came to unmarked turns/roads. This was for 4 adults/4 children.
Topic Closed
I have not been keeping track.
