Car Hire with First Choice

[scoobee]

Hi everyone,

Can anyone give me an idea of how much extra per week the cost of fully inclusive car insurance is with a First Choice holiday?

Many thanks.

 

[wayneg]

What size car? You have 2 options Fully inclusive or Gold.

Full list of costs here http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/inform...car-hire/car-hire-inclusive-packages-florida/

Can't see a date on the page so might be worth checking if this is for this year or next years holidays.

Also consider not taking their "free" car.
Working on their price list I just compared a 7 seater minivan with a random rental company, Netflights.com(maybe cheaper elsewhere) 2 weeks from 4th Aug. All inclusive.
First Choice/Alamo £32 x 14 = £448
Netflights/Thrifty £350.90 less 5% Quidco(£17.55) = £333.35

 

[scoobee]

Thanks Wayne - you successfully located the price list on the FC website when I was struggling to!

The car is for 2 adults only, so the smallest and therefore cheapest on offer will suffice.

Dates are likely to be 1-15 Oct 10 inclusive.

 

[wayneg]

For smallest(economy) they quote £266

Same price with Netflights would get you a Dodge Charger (or similar) £283 less 5% = £269.

They also look about cheapest for economy £210 after Quidco.

Even if there were only 2 of us I would get full size but I don't like the smaller cars.

 

[scoobee]

That's a heck of a saving - thanks Wayne.

Now making me rethink the whole hol, I was originally going to DIY, then after the volcano debacle I thought there'd be more protection going package. Now I'm veering back to DIY!!!

Am I right in thinking if I flew with a US airline and got 'stranded' in Orlando they are not obliged to provide accom?

 

[wayneg]

Unfortunatley thats correct, we were "stuck" in Florida for 4 extra days over Easter with Delta airlines, no cover at all. Couldn't fault Delta they got us onto another flight no problem and got back into UK within 2 hours of UK airspace being re-opened. Insurance company(Insure & Go) would not pay out.
Cost me approx £600 for hotel, car hire, food, cinema, mini golf etc. plus 3 days lost wage.
Not great but it really is a drop in the ocean considering the savings I have made over the years, last August alone was approx £6,000 difference between what I paid DIY and a package, mainly down to me getting Business class seats for price of economy.
Personally I can't see the volcano affecting us again with new tollerance levels and less activity so not something I am bothered about.

If you wanted to stick with FC couldn't you just ignore the car or refuse it? with a Virgin holiday package you don't have to take it, with a flydrive you are supposed to but we just ignore it and don't collect, book my own seperate.

 

[scoobee]

Not particularly fussed about sticking with FC, I just thought I’d found a decent holiday price with them, but once you add their car insurance it’s not so great!

AA have currently got cheapest flights from Manchester in Sept/Oct time, roughly £436 pp. Have never flown indirect before but not really an issue if the price is right!

Thanks for all of your help Wayne - I need to stop deliberating/waiting for the amazing deal that never comes and book something I think!

 

[dixonsontour]

American airlines have a sale on there was a link in travel zoo today.

I'd book AA and your car separately.

We used to fly indirect all the time before we had our daughter. You clear customs when you enter the US so you save that time when you get to Orlando. So as long as the connctions are ok it doesn't add that much too your journey time at all.