Taking the car with Virgin

[T16GEM]

As we've booked a package this year with Virgin we have got a car included.


I have seen that a lot of people don't actually take the car and book their own. Why is this?

 

[chocolateMinnie]

I can only assume that alternative companies either cost less to upgrade or less for the waiver insurance.

Personally we don't have the car at all. Don't particularly want to go shopping - Disney and duty free is enough for us. Definitely want to eat onsite at Disney (we always stop at a Disney resort) and it works out cheaper or about the same to take a taxi or Mears if we choose to have one offsite day as it does to pay for the car's waiver insurance. Add the Virgin or DME transfer to the resort and it is completely unnecessary for the type of holiday we have although I'm sure this would drive other people nuts.

In addition I like a drink with my meal and in an evening and we never ever have to worry about designating a driver

 

[wayneg]

All depends on the deal they are offering you, for us being only a family of 3 they only include the smallest car so we have to do 2 or 3 cat upgrades. They used to only include the 1st week free (has this changed?) then the insurance is a little OTT.
All in the last time I got a quote from them (2 years + since) they wanted £750 for the car, I booked elsewhere at £450, same car, same company, same insurance.
Just the odd time they are competative so get a quote and compare.

 

[aaronandterri]

I know a lot of people dont like these policies, but we bought an insurance product separatly and used it with our free virgin car, we had no problems with it even though it was a flydrive, i have read others have but personally we was fine, was a lot cheaper at 129 for the year for the insurance, and only 110 to add extra 2 weeks car hire.

Virgin were wuoting us an additional 800 for the same coverwith them and extra car hire , i know this is where people find it cheaper to leave the car and rent elsewhere.

 

[Pegasus928]

We have done Virgin fly drive twice and have never taken the car.
The reason for us was because the car was only for 7 days and we had a 3 week holiday, then when we looked into booking the car seperately it worked out less than taking Virgins and paying the insurance - by quite a lot.

 

[T16GEM]

Thanks guys, I think now that you have mentioned it that I remember the reason being becuase it was only for 7 days, we are there for 17 nights so it's going to be a lot to add on the extra 10 days. I think we will go back to Alamo as we usually do.

I think it's a bit misleading on Virgin's part as it's not glaringly obvious that the car is only included for 7 days.

Gems

 

[wayneg]

When you are ready to book send me your dates, size car and best price, I will have a look around for cheaper.

 

[Dimplenose]

I think it's a bit misleading on Virgin's part as it's not glaringly obvious that the car is only included for 7 days.

Gems

Last year we booked a package with Virgin and the car hire was inclused for all 14 days - but we did pay quite a bit for insurance.

On a previous trip we just booked a flydrive (where the car is a vital part or it wouldn't be a flydrive would it?) and the car was just included for 7 days.

But that was when they used Dollar rathre than Alamo.

 

[irongirlof12]

we book a flydrive and ditch the car, the lure of 'free' car seems so good, but after upgrading, taxes and insurance we find it cheaper to book a car with an online site, pick-up at a resort hotel and drop-off at airport - it works for us.

 

[T16GEM]

When you are ready to book send me your dates, size car and best price, I will have a look around for cheaper.

Thanks Wayne! Will do!

 

[debs69]

Wayne, can I take you up on that offer. It's all new to me too as the last two times we have been we have relied on transportation and taxis. Next year however we are with friends in a villa and we have booked a virgin flydrive. August 22nd for 14 nights. Thanks

 

[wayneg]

Wayne, can I take you up on that offer. It's all new to me too as the last two times we have been we have relied on transportation and taxis. Next year however we are with friends in a villa and we have booked a virgin flydrive. August 22nd for 14 nights. Thanks

Might be a bit early yet for next August but will have a look around for you see whats available, what size car? have Virgin given you an indication of cost?

 

[debs69]

Sorry Wayne, only gave you half a tale didn't I. We were going to share a car so only one person need drive in the evening, so we need a 12 seater ( only 9 of us but from what I can see it jumps from an 8 to a 12 seater ). Virgin are quoting over £600

 

[wayneg]

Sorry Wayne, only gave you half a tale didn't I. We were going to share a car so only one person need drive in the evening, so we need a 12 seater ( only 9 of us but from what I can see it jumps from an 8 to a 12 seater ). Virgin are quoting over £600

As I suspected too early, just tried about 12 companies only 1 giving a price. USrentacar.co.uk using Budget at £609.00 incls 2 drivers.
Every other company either not giving any prices yet or only showing limited cars, 12 seater not amongst them.
In about a month or so we can try again, either revive this thread or send me a PM and I will have another look.
For this August some companies didn't release until after New year but that was later than usual.

 

[debs69]

Thanks Wayne, you are really very helpful

 

[Netty]

I'm sure i have read somewhere recently that if you dont take the free vh car, then vh will charge you so many $$ per day

 

[wayneg]

I'm sure i have read somewhere recently that if you dont take the free vh car, then vh will charge you so many $$ per day

VH policy (full text below) for a flydrive is a £30pp fee if you don't pick up the car, many of us done it without telling them and still not seen anyone post to say they have been charged the fee so would be interested if anyone has been charged.
VH package holidays no fee at all, you can openly tell them you don't want the car.

Independent itinerary charge
We provide Package Holidays. We do NOT sell Flight Only. Because we have commitments to our Hotels, Car Hire Companies and other Suppliers we have decided to make a flat charge of £30 per person for any period of 7 nights or more spent on holiday not using any of our services (excluding infants). FOR EXAMPLE you spend a week at one of our Hotels, but then decide to spend a week doing your own thing with new love Samantha in Miami, we will charge you £30 for that week.

 

[Pegasus928]

Sorry Wayne, only gave you half a tale didn't I. We were going to share a car so only one person need drive in the evening, so we need a 12 seater ( only 9 of us but from what I can see it jumps from an 8 to a 12 seater ). Virgin are quoting over £600

Hi Debs
Can I just add that with 9 of you going you would really, and I mean REALLY, struggle to get all your luggage plus 9 of you in a 12 seater. We went last year with 8 of us and had 2 cars, yet on the trip from the airport to the villa, with only 6 of us in the 12 seater, we couldn't fit all the luggage in and had to use the boot and back seat of the 2nd car as well.