View Full Version : Car hire in the states
Caddy2000
18-05-09, 05:15 PM
I'm going to the states for a weel earned break and need to hire a car, can anyone in the org reccommend me a good company.
Will be starting in Washington and then going South a couple of states.
Cheers
Paul
I go to the states a lot and always use either Alamo or National. They may be a joint company but have different offers so try both. Not sure about other companies but with either of these you state the car but get to choose any car of the same group that they have out on the car park so you dont get stuck with a crappy colour or model you do not like.
You might also want to try Holiday Autos as they have a Max pack that is pretty cheap and gives a few extras and they also normally use Alamo or National.
davepreston
18-05-09, 09:43 PM
we used national on our honeymoon got a 300 lux with 200mile on the clock free upgrade as well for being a british squadie might be worth trying to blag the last bit wink wink
Uncle Nuk
19-05-09, 12:13 AM
When my I've been to the states I've used National. They always seem to be reasonably priced and you normally get a free upgrade. I had a rear end shunt in Las Vegas, they sorted it out with no fuss.
BanannaMan
19-05-09, 01:19 AM
National is probably the best. Can't go wrong there.
Hertz and Avis are OK too.
DC then headed south???
Wave when you pass my house! :smt039
I think we used Avis when we went last year
If you're lucky you may get an upgrade.
We went from a Focus to a Mustang :D My wife tells everyone I was like a dog with 2 tails for the week we had it
I have just booked a car for my 2 weeks in June through Dollar.
The cheapest car they had was a convertable, so I had one of them. Although it is a Chrysler Sebring which are supposed to be carp. Gonna try and blag something better.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article4873574.ece
metalangel
19-05-09, 07:24 AM
Sebring is a very good car, actually. The Buick Century we had as a rental once, though, now that was a load of crap.
I was pretty pleased last time (I think I used National) and was upgraded from mid-size car to SUV (as they were short on cars). So instead of a Pontiac G5 I got a Ford Escape which was fantastic fun!
Caddy2000
19-05-09, 07:46 AM
Cheers all,
So National are getting a good vote, excellent. I might see if paying the IAM gives me any decent perks - well I do want something for my money!
Might be able to borrow a car whilst I'm out there, so that'll be cheap!
Trying to get GPS as well, thought this might be a good idea.
BanannaMan - Will do, you'll have to live on the I95 or in Raleigh though!
STRAMASHER
19-05-09, 09:20 AM
We have hired a Chrsyler Sebring convertible for our trip round California and Arizona in a couple of weeks. Hired through Alamo in November. (Aye been counting the days:rolleyes:)
Read Clarksons "review" on the internets of the Sebring if you want a laugh!
Had a bit of hassle getting a good price as I had a hard time getting the original price quoted through the "official" sites when going back in a few days/week later. Prices rose by quite a bit everytime we went back in?! Summit to do with IP addresses?
So after a lot of digging for price etc. went with this broker.....
http://www.carhireagency.com (http://www.carhireagency.com)
Going with GPS *spit!* :smt012too after hearing from a couple of folk that LA is a nightmare for driving and the GPS saved a coupla days of their holiday from not getting lost. TBH , if i should go left, I will end up going right....... so thinking it will be a good aid.
Right, am away to watch Vanishing Point again for some driving tips. :driving::p
We have hired a Chrsyler Sebring convertible for our trip round California and Arizona in a couple of weeks. Hired through Alamo in November. (Aye been counting the days:rolleyes:)
Read Clarksons "review" on the internets of the Sebring if you want a laugh!
Had a bit of hassle getting a good price as I had a hard time getting the original price quoted through the "official" sites when going back in a few days/week later. Prices rose by quite a bit everytime we went back in?! Summit to do with IP addresses?
So after a lot of digging for price etc. went with this broker.....
http://www.carhireagency.com (http://www.carhireagency.com)
Going with GPS *spit!* :smt012too after hearing from a couple of folk that LA is a nightmare for driving and the GPS saved a coupla days of their holiday from not getting lost. TBH , if i should go left, I will end up going right....... so thinking it will be a good aid.
Right, am away to watch Vanishing Point again for some driving tips. :driving::p
That's pretty much what I am doing, any reccomendations of places to go / things to see?
STRAMASHER
19-05-09, 02:56 PM
That's pretty much what I am doing, any reccomendations of places to go / things to see?
Away June for just short of 3wks, only been to Florida years ago , so usual tourist things mostly.
Collect motor at Sanfran , PacificCoastHighway, SantaMonica/Venice/Sunset Strip , Joshua Tree National Park, MojaveNP, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Old Route66 bits, Death Valley NP, Yosemite NP, then dump car for 4 nights back in San Fran. About 2400mile. Piece of **** in a car. See how we go tho'.
Having a few eartquakes and fires out that way recently!:smt100
Where you headed?
Flying into LA spending a few nights there then heading over to Vegas but allocated 4 days inbetween where we have no plan, just gonna cruise around and see what happens.
Sounds like you are doing a lot more mileage than me, I am only there for 2 weeks so cant do as much.
Really wanted to hire a bike while I was there but the cost is insane.
gruntygiggles
19-05-09, 04:59 PM
I'm going to the states for a weel earned break and need to hire a car, can anyone in the org reccommend me a good company.
Will be starting in Washington and then going South a couple of states.
Cheers
Paul
If you mean Washington State, not Washington DC, then make sure to visit Portland, Oregon as it's full of great little micro breweries and is a lovely city. From there you can go west and get on the 101 coast road. This is fantastic road and you'll see amazing Pacific coast scenery. I used to have a boyfriend that lived there and have visited the states so many time it's stupid. Also, if you do drive the 101, get yourself some sal****er taffy. You'll find it for sale in all the coastal shops and it's yummy!!! Can't really describe it other than a chewy sweet, but different!
Hope you have fun and every single time I have gone to the states I have use holiday autos, had perfect service and great vehicles every time and also, when someone decided to wipe the wing mirror off the car once and leave a nice big dent going down the side, the insurance was sorted out without fuss and I was delivered a replacement car within the day.
Hope you have a fab time....I'm jealous now!
BanannaMan
20-05-09, 03:12 AM
BanannaMan - Will do, you'll have to live on the I95 or in Raleigh though!
Too Bad....When you get to Emporia would be the closest point.
I'm approx. 125 miles west of there.
Hope you enjoy the trip! :D
Caddy2000
20-05-09, 09:52 AM
If you mean Washington State, not Washington DC, then make sure to visit Portland, Oregon as it's full of great little micro breweries and is a lovely city. From there you can go west and get on the 101 coast road. This is fantastic road and you'll see amazing Pacific coast scenery. I used to have a boyfriend that lived there and have visited the states so many time it's stupid. Also, if you do drive the 101, get yourself some sal****er taffy. You'll find it for sale in all the coastal shops and it's yummy!!! Can't really describe it other than a chewy sweet, but different!
Hope you have fun and every single time I have gone to the states I have use holiday autos, had perfect service and great vehicles every time and also, when someone decided to wipe the wing mirror off the car once and leave a nice big dent going down the side, the insurance was sorted out without fuss and I was delivered a replacement car within the day.
Hope you have a fab time....I'm jealous now!
I'm flying into Washington D.C. Maybe Washinton State will be my next trip over, I've got family in Vancouver, and always wanted to visit Seattle.
I will have great time out there, get to see family that I haven't met up with for over a decade!
Too Bad....When you get to Emporia would be the closest point.
I'm approx. 125 miles west of there.
Hope you enjoy the trip! :D
You must be near Galax then (just looked it up on google).
Thanks, I intend to enjoy being away from work and the work phone! Oh and getting very very drunk with my cousins!
... and getting very very drunk with my cousins!
HA HA! She won't let you! Coz you'll have to drive...
We have hired a Chrsyler Sebring convertible for our trip round California and Arizona in a couple of weeks. Hired through Alamo in November. (Aye been counting the days:rolleyes:)
Read Clarksons "review" on the internets of the Sebring if you want a laugh!
Had a bit of hassle getting a good price as I had a hard time getting the original price quoted through the "official" sites when going back in a few days/week later. Prices rose by quite a bit everytime we went back in?! Summit to do with IP addresses?
So after a lot of digging for price etc. went with this broker.....
http://www.carhireagency.com (http://www.carhireagency.com)
Going with GPS *spit!* :smt012too after hearing from a couple of folk that LA is a nightmare for driving and the GPS saved a coupla days of their holiday from not getting lost. TBH , if i should go left, I will end up going right....... so thinking it will be a good aid.
Right, am away to watch Vanishing Point again for some driving tips. :driving::p
The car make is not certain....you will get a choice of convertibles to choose from depending how many are in the depot at the time.
rusty76
21-05-09, 06:11 PM
I always use holidaysautos.co.uk
They're loads cheaper, you don't have to worry about the 1000's of rip-off extra insurance options you get in the states, and you end up getting the care from avis/alamo etc anyway
rusty76
21-05-09, 06:14 PM
PS just visited the site to check the adress was right and notice they have an extra 10% off deal for the states at the mo
+ quidco cashback
mikebrooman
21-05-09, 06:17 PM
I just booked 3 weeks hire with http://www.usrentacar.co.uk/. By far the cheapest for me (21yrs old) as they offer a young drivers policy so I don't have to pay the $25 a day extra for being young. Also they have given me 3 days extra for free at the end as they don't want the car back so early! Going North up the I95 from Miami to NYC via all points in-between.
If your doing a one - way trip, its worth asking for the one way charge to be reduced, I asked and got $300 dollars off mine, just for asking!
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