Virgin Hols car hire

[granmaz]

Has anyone not taken the car hire with Virgin Hols and organised their own?

 

[wayneg]

Has anyone not taken the car hire with Virgin Hols and organised their own?

lots of us, Virgin are way overpriced usually with their cars. Just once I took it as part of flydrive, with 10% disc is was only a few £'s more than Airnet who I usually use.
price up elswhere. If its expensive dont pick it up.

 

[daipp]

We have always used our own apart from the very first time we went with Virgin.

For ease of location, have also only used Dollar.

David

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Many do.
Virgin holidays and the hire company are happy as they have been paid for 7 days use without any wear and tear on the vehicle, plus they can resell the hire.

Sometimes its the cheapest way to book a flight, fly drive and not take the car

 

[wayneg]

Sometimes its the cheapest way to book a flight, fly drive and not take the car

Correct. Twice I have booked Virgin Flydrives for Xmas-New Year time. Both times cheaper than Virgin flight only.

 

[granmaz]

Thanks!

 

[luke]

We are going with Virgin and ARE taking the car (now my replacement paper licence came through the post two days after ordering it - well done DVLA!).

Is it simply a case of going to the car desk and showing your tickets and that to get it?

Never hired a car before

 

[wayneg]

You should have a car hire voucher.
When you get to the rental area Virgin's desks for Dollar are on the left, regular rentals on right.
You give them your Voucher and Plastic part of licence(never been asked for paper yet) If you have a small car they will try get you to upgrade. If you dont want upgrade say no no no!!! some can be persistant. usiually they are ok but some are a pain, one last year I got in Los Angeles was totally ignorant to me after I refused upgrade and I had prebooked full size car.
If you have Platinum insurance double check they are not charging you for additional drivers (I had to claim back at Easter forgot to check! doh!!)
You will then sign and intial rental agreement and on your way.

 

[wilma-bride]

I notice a couple of you have suggested booking a fly drive with VH and not taking the car. I have been told by VH that if you choose not to take the car, you have to pay an 'independent travel' fee of £30 per person if you don't take the car. It is written in their T&Cs also - something to do with the fact that they don't sell 'flight only' holidays So, basically, when booking a 14-day fly-drive, I was told that I had to pay for the extra 7 days' car hire or get charged the £30 pp supplement thing, which would have been more exensive than the car.

ETA: here is the link to my previous post about this

 

[wayneg]

Joh
Do you have a link to the T&C's clause #?
I have just read here twice quickly and can't find anything, maybe I missed it. https://www.virginholidays.co.uk/info/important/terms_conditions/booking_conditions/default.aspx

I just did a sample booking online, let me get right to the payment page without saying anyThing about this fee.
It just says "The cost of your car hire and selected insurance: FREE!"

I have never tried booking by phone with them, never a problem online, just booked with Airnet instead.
Wayne

 

[granmaz]

Well I would take a car, but we need to be able to drop it off at Port Canaveral and Dollar don't have a depot there. If they would find a Budget car for us then I would take the car!!!

 

[RachaelC]

Well I would take a car, but we need to be able to drop it off at Port Canaveral and Dollar don't have a depot there. If they would find a Budget car for us then I would take the car!!!

I've booked a Budget car through usrentacar.com who were the cheapest for us

 

[luke]

You should have a car hire voucher.
When you get to the rental area Virgin's desks for Dollar are on the left, regular rentals on right.
You give them your Voucher and Plastic part of licence(never been asked for paper yet)

Well Virgin managed to lose our tickets in the post so now have nothing at all from them except a hliday number which we have to say at the airport to get our stuff - no doubt this will mess up being able to check in online too!!

Oh and i just paid for a new paper licence (well, i thought it was, turned out to be a new paper AND photo licence, which i could have got for free if i'd have known it would come through so quick, as we have changed address since and would have simply requested that!!).

Oh well

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Well Virgin managed to lose our tickets in the post so now have nothing at all from them except a hliday number which we have to say at the airport to get our stuff - no doubt this will mess up being able to check in online too!!

Oh and i just paid for a new paper licence (well, i thought it was, turned out to be a new paper AND photo licence, which i could have got for free if i'd have known it would come through so quick, as we have changed address since and would have simply requested that!!).

Oh well

You should still be able to check in online.
We now never get tickets from VA, just a reference number
get them to confirm your Booking reference/E ticket number and you can check in on line