Car Hire

[ppow]

We have changed our holiday for next year and now need to organise our own car hire (no more Virgin rip-off)

We will be out for 3 weeks July/August -

* how far in advance to i need to sort it
* who do people use and why?
* we are myself, DH, DD12 and DS7 - so what size car would you HONESTLY recommend we willneed?

 

[TraceyL]

We're going next month & have just booked our car this week - no rush we like to keep our money earning interest for as long as possible
We use airline network as they have consistenty been the cheapest for our needs (7 seater, platinum insurance) over the past 4 years. Shop around, you will find different companies have better prices for different classes - I usually compare, Dollar, Alamo,USRentacar, allstatescarhire, yescarhire, floridacarhire as well as airnet
I would recommend an I4 at least - though it' s been a while since we went as a party of 4

 

[wayneg]

I have used Airline network/Dollar for years now with no problems. Alamo is only company I won't use again but others prefer them.
I use them because you can leave it right until just before you go, very easy system, no hidden charges and very good value.
I keep checking their prices every now and then see if they have any offers on, sometimes they do free upgrades or free platinum cover, then you have to consider if its worth paying in advance and losing your interest in the bank.
Look at their prices, sometimes just as cheap to take bigger cars when you have added platinum.
If you use Dollar then register on Dollar.com for Dollar Express, its free and can save you about an hour when you pick the car up, you just go right to the front of any line.
If you have an rpoint.com account they have started giving 1% cashback for carhire thru airnet, I just got £200 cashback this week for what I have bought thru them in past 3 months.

 

[Jakey Rowling]

* how far in advance to i need to sort it
It's probably the last thing I organise as I generally prepay and no need to order it months in advance. I've never seen the prices vary much for advance booking for example

* who do people use and why?
Hertz for #1 club gold membership, ease of pick up and free spouse as driver

* we are myself, DH, DD12 and DS7 - so what size car would you HONESTLY recommend we willneed?

a lot depends on luggage TBH
Hertz compact is a Focus or similar, OK for getting around but limited boot space.
I normally go for a full size (mondeo)because my kids are older and you generally can't get any feet under the drivers seat due to the electrics And I need the seat fairly well back, not a problem for DS7 though.

You could easily get away with an intermediate (Corrola). It's only £20 more for the three weeks with Hertz so for the bigger boot and more leg room I'd go for this anyway, even if the compact car boot works OK for you.

You need to consider all the options that make up the final price, insurance, petrol, additional drivers once you decide on which car type to go for.

 

[wayneg]

Just read TracyL's post and I agree intermediate or maybe full size(usually not much dearer) but if you use Dollar don't pay for a 4 door, 2 door is cheaper but they don't stock them, I was told this 10 years ago and rented about 20 cars since, every time I have been given 4 door, so I guess its true.

 

[Frances999]

If you have an rpoint.com account they have started giving 1% cashback for carhire thru airnet, I just got £200 cashback this week for what I have bought thru them in past 3 months.

You've spent £20,000 on car hire in the past 3 months?!
I must have miss understood you!

 

[wayneg]

You've spent £20,000 on car hire in the past 3 months?!
I must have miss understood you!

YES not just car hire, although spent over £1,000 this year already on car hire, I am sure it would be cheaper to buy a car and keep it in our friends garage.

 

[ppow]

Thanks Guys.... now realise I can leave it til next year (and earn some interest on our money)

Have made a note in my"disney file" of everything you have all said so i can refer back to.

Cheers

 

[TraceyL]

Just read TracyL's post and I agree intermediate or maybe full size(usually not much dearer) but if you use Dollar don't pay for a 4 door, 2 door is cheaper but they don't stock them, I was told this 10 years ago and rented about 20 cars since, every time I have been given 4 door, so I guess its true.

We've had a 2 door from Dollar - in 2003 - it was a dodge intrepid iirc

WIsh I'd known about airnet & rpoints befor e this week WIll remember for next time - thanks for the info

 

[wayneg]

We've had a 2 door from Dollar - in 2003 - it was a dodge intrepid iirc

WIsh I'd known about airnet & rpoints befor e this week WIll remember for next time - thanks for the info

We must have been lucky with getting 4 doors then.

I always got rpoints for airnet but they stopped a while back, just started again so hopefully here to stay.

 

[Netty]

We're going next month & have just booked our car this week - no rush we like to keep our money earning interest for as long as possible
We use airline network as they have consistenty been the cheapest for our needs (7 seater, platinum insurance) over the past 4 years. Shop around, you will find different companies have better prices for different classes - I usually compare, Dollar, Alamo,USRentacar, allstatescarhire, yescarhire, floridacarhire as well as airnet
I would recommend an I4 at least - though it' s been a while since we went as a party of 4

Thanks for the heads up Tracy, we are going next month and I have just priced up 7 seater cars with platinum ins, and airline network came up the cheapest so we'll be booking this as we had a 7 seater last July/aug and much preferred it to an intermediate, loads of room for just the 3 of us!