LARGE Car Hire without hidden extras?

[seobaina]

Hi

I'm wondering if anyone can help. We have a holiday booked that starts in New Orleans on 17th Sept and ends in Orlando on 1st Oct. We plan to drive up to Nashville, Memphis, etc and back down. Originally there were four of us going and we planned to do what we'd done last year when there were 5 of us - hire a 7 seater. We always book through Alamo cause I like that they do a package with unlimited milage, extra driver, CDW, LDW, etc and a single one way drop off fee. I like that I know what I'm paying before I get there.

However, there are now 6 of us and possibly up to 8 going. We only just fit 5 of us and our cases in a 7-seater so we were thinking, ok we'll get a 15 seater. However, there are none available from New Orleans with Alamo at the time we're going.

We could get two cars but ideally we'll be together because I'm the only one with lots of experience of driving in the USA and it would be better if we could be together (more fun on longer drives, won't lose each other, etc)

Can anyone recommend a company I can try where I'm gonna know what I'm paying/do a good deal etc please? Or suggest anything else?


Thank you

 

[JessM]

Did you look at National or Enterprise? Enterprise actually owns Alamo and National, they are all the same company.

I don't think Hertz typically carries 15 passenger vans... I would try Avis or Budget. They should give you a price similar to Alamo with all fees shown and will be located right at the airport.

 

[NotUrsula]

Be aware that 15-passenger vans often have restrictions on how far from the origin point that they may be driven. They are also extremely uncomfortable to drive long-distance, and routinely have a very large insurance surcharge tacked on because of the high danger of flipping them. You would almost certainly end up spending a lot less on two vehicles than on one, not to mention the wear and tear on your bodies from spending that much time in that kind of van.

BTW, have you done that route before? That's a long haul of a drive plan. I drive those routes pretty frequently. It is 6 hours from NOLA to Memphis, another 4 or so from Memphis to Nashville, and 11 more hours from Nashville to Orlando, assuming that you go the shorter route via Chattanooga and Atlanta, which happens to include one of the most treacherous stretches of motorway in the continental United States. (Google "Monteagle Pass" for more information on that. Very pretty in the mountains, but the driving can be a nightmare if the weather goes bad, which it often does in that pass.) Driving south from Nashville via Birmingham, AL is easier driving than the Chattanooga/Atlanta route, though it will add on another 90 minutes or so.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

15 passenger vans are dangerous. I would not rent one. If you do, be sure you have adequate insurance coverage.

 

[seobaina]

Hi all

I've not done that route before but I've driven longer distances in shorter time frames. However, the comments on them being dangerous is not very reassuring. I've only driven 7 seaters before. I'd do that again but I don't think we'd get 6 of us and all our stuff in a 7 seater…it was squishy with 5 Are 12 seaters similar?

 

[seobaina]

BTW, have you done that route before? That's a long haul of a drive plan. I drive those routes pretty frequently. It is 6 hours from NOLA to Memphis, another 4 or so from Memphis to Nashville, and 11 more hours from Nashville to Orlando, assuming that you go the shorter route via Chattanooga and Atlanta, which happens to include one of the most treacherous stretches of motorway in the continental United States. (Google "Monteagle Pass" for more information on that. Very pretty in the mountains, but the driving can be a nightmare if the weather goes bad, which it often does in that pass.) Driving south from Nashville via Birmingham, AL is easier driving than the Chattanooga/Atlanta route, though it will add on another 90 minutes or so.

We're actually heading from Nashville to Pigeon Forge and then down to Atlanta and then on to Orlando so it'll be broken up a bit. I'm struggling to see where the Monteagle pass is…do we go near it on that route?

 

[tobikaye]

I have driven a 12 passenger van and do not find them any more difficult to drive than a large SUV (Yukon), but they are not that comfortable for long trips. I will admit that I think I would have issues with a 15 passenger van, especially in tight areas.

The issue with larger passenger vans is the space for luggage. Many of them have a very small area for luggage. I am an assistant coach that takes a team of athletes to state games every year. If we have 4 coaches and 15 athletes, we usually have an 8 or 9 passenger van and a 12 passenger van. We usually are very tight on space.

There is a newer style of 9 passenger van that we used last year that actually gave us more luggage space, but I cannot remember which model it was. It had a large luggage area, but the seats seemed narrower than normal the older models.

I cannot comment on price as we are part of a large group deal and insurance is included. I will say that I looked into one for a trip this past fall and they seemed to have a very high cost for a week long trip.

 

[seobaina]

That's what worries me with 5 of us last year we just squeezed everything in. Granted we did Disneyland first so had stuff from that but 5 adults and luggage seemed to fill the dodge grand caravan 7 seater. And if there's 6 of us we don't wanna be like sardines on the longer journeys. There are other 7 seater options To hire (suv s) that are more expensive. Would they have more room?

 

[NotUrsula]

We're actually heading from Nashville to Pigeon Forge and then down to Atlanta and then on to Orlando so it'll be broken up a bit. I'm struggling to see where the Monteagle pass is…do we go near it on that route?

Sorry if I didn't get back to you quickly enough; other things going on. No, you normally would not go through Monteagle on that route (it is between Nashville and Chatanooga, on I-24).

However, if you are going to Pigeon Forge, here is something to keep in mind: While the highways are well-graded in the area, the residential roads often run up and down the mountain in very steep switchbacks, which is very important to know if you plan to rent a self-catering "cabin".. A fully-loaded large rental van might not make it up those road grades unless the passengers get out and walk uphill. (Rental models tend not to have the most powerful available engine.)

 

[seobaina]

Hi, thanks for the info. We're staying in a motel on the main road so we should hopefully be ok. I appreciate the advice and warnings.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Hi, thanks for the info. We're staying in a motel on the main road so we should hopefully be ok. I appreciate the advice and warnings.

staying on main road in Pigeon Forge is fine for roads but can be tight for large vans and I drive a large pickup truck. I second no 15 passenger van unless you are used to driving one plus for adults crawling to back seats can be a pain. and yes I have driven one for work and they are no longer allowed to use them because of accidents with them. as much as I hate to say it I am guessing you will need minivan and second car

 

[sluggozmom]

Why not rent 2 cars ...if you're going to be 8