what car to expect from Dollar

[rpbert1]

Next year we have the car booked through Virgin, its an E$ economy has anyone booked this and what car do you get, if anyone has upgraded what did it cost and what was it you upgraded to. just looking for info so i know what to do next year

 

[Claire L]

It will be a very small car, how many of you are there as it would be worth upgrading.

Claire

 

[rpbert1]

2 adults and a child .
last year we where upgraded for $9 a day sounded good at the time and i think it was a really good deal as Virgin where wanting £180 to upgrade here for the 3 weeks, to a luxury,, but dont know if i would get that deal again, or maybe i paid to much ,i am sure someone will let me know.
so will more than likely upgrade next year when we arrive, but would like to know, how much should i be willing to pay.

 

[Claire L]

Difficult question really re upgrade prices at the airport as it depends what they have most in stock at the time. I find upgrading here a couple fo levels to eb good and gives me the option to decide when out there if an upgrade price is a good one for a much larger vehicle. We also pre book the vehicle we would be comfortable in if we didn't get the upgrade, usually an F4 for two or three adults with 4 - 5 suitcases/bags.

Claire

 

[Rascal1003]

The Economy cars are usually something like a Chrysler Neon or Chryslet PT Cruiser, which to be honest, are a lot smaller than they look.

Not sure about upgrade costs, but as a general guideline take a look at Dollar direct and perhaps try to calculate the difference between the Economy and the grade that you would prefer.

We have just booked direct with Dollar because they include a tank of gas and also all of the Collision Damage Waiver and other insurances as standard on their fully inclusinve package. I think an Economy works out at around £16 a day. We have booked a People Carrier at a total of £25 a day, which we thought was very reasonable.

I now know how Virgin can include a car at no cost - they charge excessive insurance rates. I think for a 10 day holiday, Virgins insurance is actually about the same as the full price when booked direct......food for thought.

 

[Cochise]

We booked our Alamo full size 4 door on the top package through a price match by our agents Trailfinders for £16.33 a day so the same price for a economy seems high. The price match was for an intermediate with a free upgrade to a full size.

 

[barry7767]

We have had a Hyundai Accent (pants) and a Chrysler Neon (not quite pants) from Dollar through Virgin.

For info, I have stopped hiring car through Virgin as the costs are silly for the cars you get, particularly for under 25's. For 1 weeks hire with US rent a car, the cost was £101 for a Chevy HHR, a vast improvement on any other car we have had from Dollar. The car was from Budget and included gold insurance in that price. Instead of paying $20-25 a day for the privelage of being 24, you can pre-pay it and it worked out at £50. The Virgin Platinum insurance, from memory, costs £150 ish per week, but you still get a pants car. Maybe worth a look if not booked and want more options.

Also, be prepared to tip at MCO for someone to show you where the indicator stalk is!

 

[bazzanoid]

I'd also be surprised if they have any economy cars when you arrive - IIRC neither Dollar or Alamo have any economy cars as a rule (make sure you're not first in line for the rental desk when you get off the plane to be sure) and would invariably be upgraded free to next available class, typically 4-door intermediate Dodge Stratus or similar.

 

[Dimplenose]

We upgraded from a economy to intermediate with Virgin last year and got a PT cruiser but found we had less boot space than we'd had on our previous trip with a Neon!

Libby

 

[Vikki_G]

One word of advice when picking up your car from Dollar - check it (inside & out) before you leave the airport.

Our car last year had obviously been to the beach earlier in the day and was full of sand in the rear and the boot, plus the front passenger seat was soaing wet as though a window had been left open. By the time we arrived at our villa my trousers were soaked through and I had to sit on a towlel for the next couple of days until we found a local Dollar branch to provide a replacement car! They were very helpful when we eventually swapped for a new vehicle, but it did cause a lot of hassle and a wasted afternoon driving around.

 

[Graeme]

I'd also be surprised if they have any economy cars when you arrive

That's what I've always found, Though you do get directed towards the older compacts and told to choose from them. We've had free upgrades on all but one trip.