CAR HIRE

Annie,

You know what I'm like, can't be doing with hanging about and the sooner I can get car and go the better  .

So while hubbly heads for the cases I head for the car and usually get out in no time.  .  Next time hoping to just take hand luggage and away to go

"Just take hand luggage" Good grief - if only.  Hubby manages it but it would be a major miracle if I ever did!!

I travelled to Spain with Ryanair on 22nd October & as we were bringing bits & pieces over for our apartment, we had to check luggage in & we didn't have priority boarding.

It was a nightmare - queuing at check in while people who couldn't be bothered to read terms & conditions, redistributed & repacked their luggage, went off to pay excess baggage & then came back to the front of the queue again.

At the gate it was bedlam as a Ryanair jobsworth kept yelling at people to sit down - like a British person would sit down when there is a queue to join!!!

However, this weekend I travelled to Dublin with Ryanair but as it was only a couple of days, managed with just a rucksack plus online check in. What a difference!!!! - straight through security, first on the plane, emergency exit seats at the front, first off the plane.

We landed at 9pm & were through the airport meeting our family by 9.15 - Terrific.

Definitely will employ the same strategy for travelling to Spain.

Noreen

Noreen - some neighbours of ours travel Ryanair all the time. They only ever take hand luggage & just sit back watching the scrummage to get on the plane. When it's all died down they casually stroll on & claim 2 aisle seats opposite each other - no hassle required lol.

Murcia airport was classic a week or so ago. 2 Ryanair flights & 1 Jet 2 due to go out straight after each other. All called roughly at the same time to different gates but once the other side of the gates everyone converged together again. Security were yelling which plane was going where & Ryanair passengers were in serious danger of legging it onto the wrong plane - most kept their sense of humour thank goodness .

I use this one http://www.eurocasacar.co.uk - cheapest I've found and their vehicles are great - I've used them 6 times and never been let down - 750 euros for a Toyota Yaris for 60 days - anyone know a better one?

The one that Justin recommends is a couple of euros cheaper for an economy but wants a chunk of money up front. With EuroCasa you don't pay anything 'til you get to the desk in the airport.

I use Murcia airport and I find that I can sort the car out and then go to the carousel and my case usually shows up a couple of minutes later - and the car is generally in the area opposite the main door - so the whole thing is pretty pain free.

With http://www.eurocasacar.co.uk  there is a cancellation fee (see below) unlike if you book through http://www.doyouspain.com/

Eurocasa = No cancellation fee "providing you notify us at least 24 hours prior to the start of car hire Spain."  (Anyone's guess what they'll charge if you cancel within the 24 hrs)

 http://www.doyouspain.com/conditions.htm says FREE amendments and FREE booking cancellations. If you choose to modify or cancel your booking for any reason, you will not pay any cancellation fees. Please, we simply ask to be informed as soon as possible so we can offer your car to another customer.

Also Eurocasa's fuel arrangements are :
Pay for full tank. Return empty. No refund. The exception to this rule is for hire periods of 4 days or less when we credit your credit card with the equivalent value of the fuel left in the tank. Or return with full tank. (No cash payment possible)

I know doyouspain's site also says this but when booking with them & asking for Auriga Crown, I can only say we (& others) have always taken the car back full (to Murcia) & been credited whilst waiting with the full amount they initially took for the fuel. When we've taken delivery of the car we have always been advised that if we take the car back full, we will be credited for what they took for fuel. (I'm aware this is a controversial issue though. Some say this hasn't been the case with their booking.)

Check out  http://www.eurocasacar.co.uk/terms_uk.asp

You also pay for additional drivers with Eurocasa : ADDITIONAL DRIVER
All additional drivers 2€ a day max 10€. Name must be in contract.
Limit max 3 drivers

With http://www.doyouspain.com/  extra drivers are free. http://www.doyouspain.com/conditions.htm

Just need to be aware of terms & conditions

I'd posted this before, it's reviews on car hire in Spain, makes interesting reading.

http://www.reviewcentre.com/products3589.html

Hi Cheetah

I agree with you Cheetah, I posted earlier about this one and went back to Centauro, compared with Doyouspain and centauro came out tops. (I'd like my comission now Centauro folk LOL)

Gina

I've just checked Centuro (direct from their web site) against http://www.doyouspain.com/ & this is what each quoted.

Both 14/12/07 pick up 2000 hrs & drop off 1500 hrs 6/1/08  (Murcia airport). 

http://www.centauro.net/  quoted for a Ford Fiesta 3dr (or equivalent) 295.70€ or a Ford Fiesta (or equivalent) 1.4  5 dr 312.10€

 http://www.doyouspain.com/ put us with our preferred company, Auriga Crown, & quoted for a Renault Clio 5 dr  with air con (or equivalent)  only 249.96€ (  http://www.car-jet.co.uk/  quoted 249.76€).

Another benefit of Do You Spain is that you don't pay for the car until you pick it up. For those of us that book months in advance, we know that the car is reserved but haven't had to dish out for it.

Noreen

Hi

If you are looking for a car hire company that does not do the full/empty policy try recordrentacar there moto is "we do not do business on fuel" they also have a points system for regular users. I just booked a 5 door clio for 4 days for 58 euros which is as cheap as all the other rental companies that have the rip off fuel system. I will let you know how i get on with them after my trip.

www.recordrentacar.com this is the weblink.

Sean

Hi Sean

Thanks for the tip. I just compared them to Premier Carjet & found them to be 40 euros dearer for the equivalent car over the easter period but as you say they don't do the rip off petrol so maybe swings & roundabouts. Just out of interest which company do you pick the car up with?

At Malaga they have there own counter. Not sure about other airports.

I looked for Feb half Term as well and again they were the same price as Auriga cown who we normally end up going with. It just annoys me when im going on a short trip like this one on my own i know there is no way i will use a full tank of fuel.

I always used to use Record because of their fuel policy but after a bad experience with them when I booked a basic car earlier last year I decided to change to a different company.  I was given a Kia Picanto and they wanted a 300e deposit for the removable facia to the stereo system.  As you are advised not to carry a bag around with you I didn't fancy having to remove the facia each time so I declined.

I always booked through www.email-car-hire.com and found that they were cheaper than the prices quoted with the main Record site.  It's the same company so you'd have to do your own research as to how it compares with the points system.

I changed over to doyouspain for booking cars and my last two trips I was given Record.  At Alicante they have changed the fuel policy and now give you a car with a full tank, the first trip they offered me the chance to pay up front for the full tank at the reduced price of 60e.  As I never know how much fuel I am going to use I declined and filled up on my return (1/4 tank 20e)

Next trip I was offered the same deal but I could now pay for how much I thought I would use, full, 1/2 etc.  Again I declined and with a smaller car just over 1/2 tank 20e.

The other thing to take into account with them is the extra insurance for tyres, fuel, keys etc.  The daily rate is quite dear but as a regular user I get offered a discount.  I used to pay 21e maximum for a two week + hire but it may have gone up.  I have been using them for over 4 years now and in the beginning I didn't take out this insurance. 

It's been a couple of years since I've used Murcia airport and I found that I couldn't use them there but they might have changed their policy.

Re the extra insurance.  We've just taken out a policy with Insurance4carhire.  Cost £49 for Europe for one year and covers the super excess stuff.  Thought the car hire company might be sniffy but no problem.  Hopefully we'll not have to use it.

(Just posted reply on the Petrol prices thread re the rip off of full empty charges)

If anyone is going to Morocco be warned and book in advance.  We couldn't this time and ended up being totally robbed of 100€ for a nasty little FIat Punto for 1 (yes one) day hire.  And that's speaking Arabic with them too!  Due to the drivers and the roads its always wise to take any insurance you're offered there.