Driving Europe Crazy
How do you find the cheapest rental rates? What hidden charges can you avoid? What are your tips for dealing with unfamiliar signs, European driving etiquette, and driving on the other side of the road? Is it worthwhile to buy a new or used car in Europe? Is it useful to bring or rent a GPS?
Read the latest car rental advice from Rick.
- Please don't post questions here. Use our Travelers Helpline.
Amalfi Transfers and Tours
Twice while visiting southern Italy, we used the services of Vittorio Rosato at www.Rosatoprivatetour.com. Each time, Vittorio picked us up at our hotel in Rome and drove us to the Amalfi Coast. While in Amalfi, he took us on excursions to visit the jewels of the area.
I was worried about the crazy driving along the small streets of the area but he made each trip pleasant and carefree. He was born and lives in Sorrento and is very knowledgeable about the area. He is a delight, takes very good care of his customers and is very proficient in English. At the end of our stay, he drove us to Tuscany. If you desire to go to southern Italy but don't want the hassle of trains or planes, Vittorio is the man for you!
George and Julee Barber
Seattle, WA USA 01/11/2012
International Drivers License Advice
We just want to alert travelers who drive in Spain that you will do yourself a big favor if you pick up an International Drivers License at AAA ($15) before you leave the USA.
We just returned from our third driving trip in Spain. For the first time, I was stopped for an illegal left turn off Goya in Madrid. Local enforcement stopped me and checked my papers. My valid Iowa license was not good enough for them and I was fined 250 Euros on the spot. They also threatened to impound the car. Apparently it goes back to some Vienna treaty from years ago that was not officially signed by the U.S. A visit to the U.S. Embassy the next morning provided no help. I should have gotten the IDL before we left. I certainly will in the future. By the way, no mention was ever made of the need when I rented from SIXT in Madrid, and the Barcelona SIXT representatives told me I didn't need an International license.
Bob Holtan
Decorah, Iowa USA 01/06/2012
Car Rental in Europe
Last year I traveled for a week in the UK and a week on the continent. I rented separate cars, both from Avis. I reserved the cars online through the Avis website. I had clear quotes with prices stated in US dollars. When I returned and got my credit card bills, I found I was charged 2-1/2 times that amount for the actual rentals. I am still fighting the battle. Avis has blamed the overcharge on, in order, exchange rates, taxes, car upgrades, lack of documentation, and finally their own inability to deal with their European counterparts.None of those claims are valid. The quotes were in USD, taxes were clearly stated as included, I did not upgrade my car, I supplied documentation out the ying-yang, and their problems with the European office are theirs, not mine. It was a total rip off. I am posting similar messages all over web travel sites to caution people against Avis Europe and fraudulent practices.
John
Mertztown, PA USA 01/04/2012
Zagreb Car Rental
We rented a car in Zagreb Nov.16 and found Active Rent a Car to be an excellent choice. They have locations through out Croatia. They offered to pick us up at the train station free of charge. From their office is was easy to find our way to Plitvice Lakes. Right turn and 5km later you're on the expressway. Frane was very helpful and a pleasure to work with.
John
Wist, nc USA 12/08/2011
driving in germany
driving in germany involves lots of circles.remember,as you enter circle,drivers in the circle have the right of way.dont forget to yield. if you are not use to driving 100 miles an hour,stay off the autobahn.you will get ran over.
marshataylor
lithiasprings, ga USA 11/22/2011
Cinque Terre
If you have a fear of heights do not drive into the Cinque Terre, take a train. I drove in and then promptly drove out terrified. Ricks advice was right on, my friend Gary's was not. Totally enjoyed it by train and foot travel.
Teresa
Portland, ME USA 11/09/2011
Amalfi Transfer & Tours
We arranged for Anthony to meet us in Naples and drive us to our rental apartment in Positano. We visited Pompeii and then spent a day with Anthony driving the Amalfi coast. We appreciated Anthony's knowledge of the area and he took us to places that we wouldn't have known about if we had tried to do this on our own. We were able to make several stops along the way to fully appreciate the stunning views and he stopped several times so we could take pictures. We visited Amalfi, Anthony's hometown, Fiord de Furore, Ravello, a small winery in the hills, and a ceramics manufacturer so our friend was able to find some unique pottery. Anthony has a great sense of humour and is very personable. We would certainly recommend his services [INVALID] he kept in touch with us on a regular basis until we arrived in Naples, answering his emails very promptly and arrives when he says he will. We appreciated him giving us some free time to wander during the day, rather than feeling we were being rushed to the next place. We also used Anthony's services to return to Naples airport from Positano. If you want personalized service and good company, do consider using Anthony's services.
Amy Gerlock
Edmonton, Ab Can 11/04/2011
Just Buy a used car and Caravan
OK, I have taken the back door to the next level, the side door.
Rick would be so proud I am sure, I meet a guy on a car web site who lives in scotland. Told him I was coming over for a few months. He sent his WIFE to pick me up at the airport... latter we went to a local auto auction with his friend, bought used car and caravan. He keeps them at his house, I am going back over for 4 more months. all it costs is diesel, groceries, and sometime a camping fee. Put me on his insurance as just another driver...
if I can do this u can 2...
Thanks Rick, you got this started.
B
Brad S
Lawrence, Kansaa USA 10/30/2011
Damage Waiver in Ireland with Mastercard
Used my Mastercard in Ireland for the car rental insurance with no problem. I think MC is the only credit card accepted in Ireland that covers the damage and theft. You have to decline all damage waivers. I contacted MC and they sent me paperwork that I was covered. This cut my rental cost in half.
Paul Schwabe
Portland, OR USA 10/24/2011
Amalfi Transfer
My husband and I did a tour of the Amalfi Coast with Anthony Buonocore of Amalfi Transfer. We also stopped in Pompeii. He was friendly and funny and we had a very enjoyable day. He was knowledgable about the area, having been born and raised in Amalfi. We stopped for pictures of the beautiful views along the way, did a wine tasting, and had lunch in Ravello. I felt very comfortable with his driving. This was one of the highlights of out trip to Italy and by the end of the day we felt like we had a new friend in Amalfi! I would highly recommend Anthony. He also provided transportation for us from Sorrento to the airport in Naples. You can contact him at www.amalfitransfer.com or buonocoreanthony@yahoo.it.
Nina
Selden, NY USA 10/18/2011
GPS Advice for Europe
After two weeks of driving through from Germany to Italy, be aware that if you on "new construction" your GPS will become very confused. Sometimes, you are driving on nonexistent roads on your GPS, and sometimes the roads have been "moved".
So here's what we did to overcome "Garmin Confusion":
1) If the confusion comes at a round-about, tell the driver to just keep going until you, as the Navigator, have time to read/understand the signs and find the sign for the city you are going towards. Easier than finding a place to turn around only to head back into the same round-about.
2) If the confusion is just plain new construction, ignore the GPS and again know what cities you are driving toward or away from.
3) The Garmin always tells you what street name to turn on, but it's rare that you actually see a sign with the street name. So pay attention as to whether the turn is in .2 or .1 miles or 200 feet. Until we got used to this, we'd turn too soon or too late. Even though signage is in kilometers, we kept the GPS in Miles/feet as it was easier for us to judge those distances.
Karen
Santa Rosa, CA USA 09/25/2011
Flat tire in Germany
My wife and I this past summer (2011) rented an Opel Corsa through Avis with pickup at Frankfurt airport and had a great 15 days touring northwestern Germany and the Benelux countries. Our only bump in the road was in Brussels, Belgium, where we hit a large chuckhole somewhat hidden in the middle of a secluded street darkened by an overhead rail trestle. Of course it caused a flat tire and some scuff marks on the wheel cover. But when we returned the car a few days later, Avis charged us what amounted to $884.34 on our Visa card! We couldn't understand why a tire, which retailed in Germany for €108.05, and a hubcap could cost so much. Our insurance covered it, but we are convinced Avis Frankfurt tried to take advantage of our situation; it's hard to contest such problems nine time zones away. Just beware!
Michael
Sedro-Woolley, WA
Michael Barrett
Sedro-Woolley, WA USA 09/22/2011
Car Problems
Travelers to Europe need to be wary of car-rental policies concerning even minor problems that might arise, such as flat tires. It's almost a "you break it, you buy it" mentality.
Case in point, my wife and I hired an Opel Corsa through Avis with pickup this summer at Frankfurt airport. It was small, but a nice little car, and we enjoyed our 15 days of travel in it. Except for a bump in the road in Brussels, Belgium. We hit a large chuckhole somewhat hidden in the middle of a street darkened by an overhead rail trestle, and although I tried to avoid the gap, the right front wheel dropped down and then quickly out of the hole but close enough to the side to scrape the tire and wheel cover. A kilometer farther along we heard the soft rubbing sound and knew it was time to pull over.
When we returned the car several days later, the tire and seven scuff marks on the fancy hubcap could cost up to $884.34! We were told at the time that this amount, "the worst-case scenario" that would "likely turn out to be less," included "any downtime for the vehicle." In the end, of course, they stuck us for the full amount.
Researching online, I was able to find the same tire, brand new, available at a German tire outlet for €108.05, about $150, but not the exact wheel cover. Judging from what I did see, however, I figure the cover to be worth another hundred euros or so. (Why do they put such expensive parts on rental vehicles? one has to ask.) The total was considerably less than half what Avis Frankfurt charged us, and therein lies the lesson. I assume the tire and hubcap were replaced and not just mended and left on the vehicle, the scrapes painted over. And as for downtime, how long does it take to put on a new tire and wheel cover?
Fortunately, insurance paid the full amount. If I had been the underwriter, I would've contested the amount. But I believe insurance claims today are just easier paid than disputed.
It cost us $135 for the insurance, and in the end that saved us from an inflated charge for a lousy flat tire that we can only interpret, frankly, as another way Avis and companies like it make additional money off helpless travelers. Just beware!
Michael Barrett
Sedro-Woolley, WA USA 09/21/2011
Europcar Italy charges 4 months later
Europcar in Italy charged me 36 euro 3 months after I returned. I called Autoeurope in Maine and they say it is a lookup fee because my rental car was probably caught on a traffic camera. I am contesting the charge with my credit card company because I don't believe them and will not do business with them again. I can't imagine what's next, after reading other posts about nasty charges that didn't happen and you have no record of.
BJ
Denver, CO USA 09/21/2011
Filling your gas tank in Italy
In Italy my hysband and I were stymied when it came to filling our car with gas. The gas station was completely automated so there was no attendand to ask questions. We finally figured out that the pump would not take our credit card because it did not have a chip. (The train stations' automatic ticket machines also require a credit card with a chip, FYI.) The gas station does accept cash, much like a vending machine. As I write, this sounds so simple and clear cut, but we were at a loss for a good 15 minutes.
Alice Hawkins
Fort Wayne, IN USA 09/12/2011
Burnt Clutch in Ireland
We used Europcar to rent. We drove from the Dublin airport toward Trim and started smelling something, as well as saw smoke. By the time we reached Trim, less than an hour later, it was not good. So we visited Trim castle, then headed back to Europcar at the airport.
We were informed that we had obviously burned out the clutch, as the car had been recently serviced and no one had noted clutch damage. Well, you don't know a clutch is damaged until it suddenly goes out. They told us it was our fault and we would be charged $846 euro for the damage. And we had all kinds of insurance on that car!
Lucky for us, they exchanged the car and we drove it for the next 8 days and did NOT burn out the clutch, so they surmised that we must not have been responsible for the problem after all. But it was so awful dealing with them. In the end, they decided not to charge us after all.
I think the best you can do is ask your credit card company to question those charges and do some research that supports your position, such as in our case, it is not possible to burn out a clutch in less than an hour, especially if you drive a stick at home!
Good luck on that clutch situation. I think this is a common problem there and whoever happens to rent the vehicle when the part finally goes seems to get stuck with the repair, unfair as it is.
Holly
SIERRA VISTA, AZ - A USA 09/11/2011
Driving in Germany
Bavarian "Gemütlichkeit" seems to be largely gone, and no more so than on the road - especially in Munich. In fact there is so much construction in that city as to make it extremely difficult to navigate through.
Randy
Portland, OR USA 08/31/2011
St. Gotthard pass traffic
Avoid the St. Gotthard pass on busy weekends. We got stuck in a 7 hour traffic jam on Saturday, August 6 and, apparently, the same thing happened the next day. If you have to go through the pass, consider going over the top instead of the tunnel. It was easy, pretty and virtually no traffic.
Katie Gibbs
West Sacramento, CA USA 08/18/2011
Insurance and Documentation of Rentals
Two tips on car rentals:
1. My Am Ex card offers an excellent policy for less than $30 per rental, and I'm fairly sure other cards offer similar deals.
2. Reserved a small car with automatic for three weeks in the UK. Got a fantastic price online. Picking it up at Heathrow, I was just saying no to the endless up-selling until -- they tried to get me opt for an automatic!!
I had simply given them my reservation number, and the lady insisted it was reserved as a standard. But, I'm always over-prepared, so I pulled out a paper copy of the confirmation email which clearly said "automatic," then offered to boot up my laptop and show it to her.
After she talked with her supervisor, I drove off in the automatic at the great price.
Have ALL documentation. They don't expect it.
Joe
TX USA 08/11/2011
HERTZ / IRELAND RIP OFF !
Got a quote from HERTZ for five day rental ( Audi A-4 automatic) for 230GPS (included everything, I thought !). After undisclosed VAT tax on line, but really being lead to believe that if I didn't get the extra insurance coverages I'd automatically be setting myself up for a huge cost via accident or car damage, my five day rental turned into 660BPS !!! That's close to $1100 US for FIVE DAYS. I was worried about wrong side of car stearing wheel, wrong side of road driving, and they really play on that, but after about a day or so I was fine... Will never rent from HERTZ again, even here in the States. Feel completly ripped off ! Would recommend GPS for Ireland though...
BRIAN DOHERTY
MILL CREEK, WA USA 08/01/2011
Anthony OUR HERO!
www.amalfitransfer.com
My husband Benny and I had spent a busy morning touring the Colosseum, had a caught a train from the busy Termini station to Naples and were very much looking forward to our afternoon tour of the Amalfi Coast and ending up at our final destination of Positano for some R & R. Anthony greeted us at the Naples train station with a big warm smile and we immediately knew that we were in for a good time. After an afternoon spent taking in the sights of the beautiful Amalfi Coast (Anthony is completely flexible and ensures your time is spent doing exactly what you want to do), he offered to call our hotel in Positano to alert them to our arrival and send a porter to get our very heavy suitcases. Oh oh! We had booked the wrong hotel - and had NO accomodation in Positano. Anthony was our saviour! He promised to "not abandon us" and went about calling every hotel in Positano until we found some accomodation. Needless to say after a such a long day having this happen was somewhat stressful but Anthony took absolute care of us and did not give up until we had found a hotel. I can not express how grateful we were and now firmly believe that 'everything happens for a reason'. The hotel that Anthony found was by far the highlight of our European tour and we would not have found it without him. A day later we were walking through town and saw him again and were greeted with big hugs!! When we left a day later he was at the hotel on time (and very early at 5:30am!) to take us back to Naples airport. Anthony we LOVE you and will never stop singing your praises or recommending you to all of our friends and family. You are our HERO!
Benny & Elise "Corina" Corin
Melbourne, VIC AUS 07/20/2011
Drop off charge
Calvin,
-This is silly. A drop off charge of $50 or so is very low. And the AutoEurope website is very clear on the matter. I rented a car from them (EuropeCar was the actual supplier) taking it from Paris to Venice -one way. There was a drop off charge of 300 euros -reasonable given the added cost to the renting company. All was clear on the website, no surprises.
USA 07/13/2011
Fictional car rental price on autoeurope.com
I'm researching car rental in France and tried autoeurope.com. I got a quote of $150.77 for a 3-day, one-way rental but on the page with the price is this:
Please read! Important information about this rental. Please Note: Certain restrictions may apply when picking up and dropping off at different locations, including additional fees. If the one way is permitted, we will contact you to advise of any restrictions and/or applicable fees. A voucher will also be sent for your review. You may cancel your reservation and receive a full refund if done so with three days advanced notice.
So I called Autoeurope and was told that the quoted price is fiction and the real price would be $193. The agent couldn't explain why they would display a price that was fictional.
Calvin
Jacksonville, FL USA 07/05/2011
best time on the Amalfi coast!
Anthony is a great guy! my Mother and I went on a long awaited "mother daughter trip"and the day spent with Anthony was truly one of the highlights! He is fun to be around and when the day is done, you feel you have met a new friend. I am so thankful to have had Anthony drive us!
Diana Chambers
Charleston, sc USA 07/03/2011
Amalfi Coastline - Anthony Buonocore
I purchased the 2011 Rick Steves Italy Travel Guide for our 3 week trip in June. While trying to figure out the best way to visit the Amalfi Coastline from Naples, I came across the "By Taxi" information in the book. I emailed all the people recommended by the book and the only one who responded was Anthony Buonocore. He responded promptly with a quote and details. He picked us up at our Bed & Breakfast in Naples. We had a very enjoyable time with Anthony. His knowledge and humor made the trip even more wonderful. Anthony's lunch recommendation was not only delicious but the view was incredible. Our stops at the winery and Lemoncello factory were delightful. We were traveling with 2 older teenagers (18 & 19) and Anthony was very engaging with them as well. I highly recommend Anthony to anyone who is looking for an excellent driver and guide of this beautiful coastline. I only hope Anthony visits Tampa sometime so that we can show our gratitude by driving him around our city. You can reach Anthony at his website www.amalfitransfer.com or directly to his email at buonocoreanthony@yahoo.it. Thank you again Anthony, you made it unforgettable! John, Diana, Teena & Rockie
Diana Fehling
Tampa, Florid USA 06/28/2011
Europcar and 3rd party renters (autoeurope)
This is turning out to be a fun holiday!
I rented an Audi A3 (or similar) and I requested information on what is considered similar. I also asked if I could pay a fee to ensure the car of my choice. I was informed there is no way to specifically reserve a particular car.
So I arrive in Frankfurt and am given a Hyundai I30, which for those familiar is in no way close to an Audi A3 or similar. It was not on the list of anyone's similar car from the 3 different rental companies I investigated; but I digress.
When I went to the lot guess what was parked two spaces down? Yes an Audi A3 as I had requested. I went back inside with my papers but was told the car was reserved, reserved? If you recall I was told there was absolutely no way to reserve a specific car for any amount of money.
So I drive the Hyundai, which is a kind car which helps you to be safe by slowing down when it goes up a hill. Now to be honest if I were to drive all over Germany at 50 then I would have no problem. But since my trip required a bit of driving then I had an unreasonable expectation of being able to keep up with the traffic in the right hand lane.
So ay way I contact the rental company, who apologize and tell me that Europcar can replace my vehicle but for a gas powered one.
S I drive to the location they specified and there I am offered a VW Golf. Now mind you that's a fine car for it's intended purpose but not my intended purpose. I ask for an upgrade and offer tp give them more money, on top of what I originally paid for an Audi A3, or similar. The response was they have no other cars of the 40 or 50 on the lat that I can exchange, only the VW Golf.
S the moral is, before you accept the car they decide is what you want, you may choose to examine other rental agencies to see what they have available for walk ups. [INVALID]natively you may wish to examine other options.
At any rate you might want to keep in mind that your wonderful vacation that requires some driving my be spoiled due to driving around in an unsuitable vehicle. I would suggest seeing if you can just arrainge to go only where a train goes and stay on the beaten path. Forget old friends and just stay in the city where your plane lands.
Bill
West central WI, Wi USA 06/26/2011
Rental car consolidators
While planning a recent trip to Spain, I decided that we would need a rentla car for part of the trip. While looking for companies that rent cars in Barcelona, I came across a company called Argus Car Rental. I initially believed it to be an actual car rental company, but then relized that it was a car consolidator. They operate somewhat like priceline: You agree to a price & terms, they then tell you who which company will be supplying you the car. In this case, it was PepeCar, a Spanish rental car company that I had never heard of. Upon arrival at PepeCar, I was informed that Argus Car Rental had used another consolidator CarTrawler to reserve the car. No big deal, thought I was now being informed that the insurance that was included with the deal was insurance thru CarTrawler, not Pepecar. So if there was an accident, PepeCar would would get reimbursed thru me, I would have to file a claim with CarTrawler. Being a little pissed at the insurance arrangement. I balked at buying any additional insurance thru PepeCar as I was already covered thru CarTrawler & my credit card. I was not going to buy insurance for the 3rd time. The thought did cross my mind that if I had to file a claim with CarTrawler it would be a nightmare. Well, the very first day, I banged up the car while driving thru the maze-like streets of Cadaques. Not bad damage, just scrapes on the rear bump and left rear corner. when I returned the car to Pepcar, I had full intentions of telling them about the damage even though I knew it meant the beginning of a insurance ordeal that I was dreading. When we arrived, we were handled by a lady who spent the whole time she was dealing with us on the phone speaking to someone over at the barcelona airport. She even stayed on the phone(cordless) while she went out to record the mileage and look over the car for damage. She inspected the interior, then got out and inspected every corner of the car until she got around to the corner where the damage was. She completely neglected the rear left corner all together. She then came back in to the office, and while still on the phone, gestured for me to sign the :no damage" section on the paperwork. She then refunded the damage deposit, signed the inspection section,gave us our paperwork, then shuffled us over to the shuttle bus. All the while, talking on the phone. Now, I am normally the guy who insists on taking responsibility for all of my actions, good or bad. But I wlaked away with a smile because of this: Most rental car insurance is a scam, especially in Europe. I WAS NOT going to buy additional insurance when the deal I got thru Argus was "all inclusive", including all needed insurance. Heck, I wouldn't have even bought some of the insurance that was supplied under the "all inclusive" deal except for the fact that it was "all inclusive. And in the end, I knew that my credit card company would also back me up. The poin there is this: Always be aware that there may be middle men involved if you are using consolidators for air, car rental, or accomodations. And these consolidators can add an extra twist to you holiday plans.
Mike Allen
Lutz, FL USA 06/23/2011
Anthony - driving you to the best view of Amalfi
My husband and I are usually independent travellers, using public transport or car hire, however for our short stay of only 6 hours on the Amalfi coast we decided that we needed our own chauffeur to show us the delights of this beautiful coastline. After some internet research we found great reviews on a gentleman named Anthony Buonocore. I sent him an email requesting his assistance and advice in an itinerary that would include the picturesque town of Positano. A few years ago we had taken a cruise into Naples and had visited the fantastic ruins of Pompeii and the beautiful town of Sorrento. This time we wanted to explore further long this delightful coastline. Anthony answered my email promptly with a suggestion of Positano, Fiordo do Furore, Esmeralda, Ravello and Limoncello tasting.
Our cruise ship was offering a tour to Positano by boat, but we felt that the only way to experience the real Amalfi would be to drive on land amongst the locals and indeed, Anthony as it turned out was born and bred in Amalfi, so what better guide could we ask for! On reflection this decision was the best one as it turned out that the ships tour of Positano was cancelled at the last minute. Anthony's prices compare favourably with the cruise ship tour prices and instead of being herded along in a large group in coaches we had our own private vehicle and our own chauffeur and guide. Anthony is a family man who is passionate about his birthplace and was really keen to show us Amalfi at its best.
Anthony arranged to meet us at our cruise port at 8.00 am and unknown to us the ship tours were first to disembark on the tenders meaning we didn't get to shore until 8.30. We arrived to find Anthony patiently waiting for us dressed in a smart suit and tie and we were greeted with a big smile and warm hand shake and welcomed to the Amalfi. He clarified our requested itinerary with us and timings of the return to our ship.
I don't usually travel well in a car so I asked to sit in the front with Anthony. The coastal roads, though breathtaking were quite twisty, Anthony knew them like the back of his hand so at all times we felt comfortable with his driving. We stopped at some picturesque photo stops and heard many amusing tales of local life, past and present, by Anthony, a true professional who took pride in his business.
All too quickly our tour came to an end and we were safely back on the quayside for one last photo and farewell to Anthony who now felt more like a friend.
For a first class professional service, we definitely recommend Anthony at www.amalfitransfer.com or email him at buonocoreanthony@yahoo.it
MarkC
Dubai, UAE 06/17/2011
Best Amalfi Coast Driver
Based on Rick Steve's recommendation in his Naples/Amalfi Coast Snapshot Guide, we hired Carmello Monetti (www.monettitaxi17.it) for a ride from our hotel in Sorrento to our one in Priano. What a great trip. He told us the history of the area & stopped several times for "photo ops".
But the real reason for this recommendation: I accidently gave him 50 euros more than the fare & he returned it! He had driven part way back to Sorrento, stopped for a coffee and realized that I'd made the mistake. He drove back to the hotel to give me the money back. And if that wasn't enough, he then offered to take us to Positano for free because it was on his way home. Unbelievable!
If you need a driver for the Amalfi Coast then Carmello Monetti is your man.
Brent Lok
San Francisco, CA USA 06/12/2011
Great Sicily Car Rental
For car rentals on Sicily, I had a great experience with Marco at www.noloinrentalcar.com. The phone is 34 329 534 40348; they deliver and come fetch it at the end.
Robert Sanford
Edmonds, WA USA 06/02/2011
Amalfi Coast Car Service
Contact Anthony at Amalfitranfers.com for transportation around Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Met us at the Naples airport and picked us up in Vietri Sul Mare for our return to Naples. Very punctual, friendly and knowledgeable . Wonderful service and highly recommened.
Bill & Ellen
Longmont, CO USA 06/02/2011
Rental cars on Autobahns REPLY
For the Autobahns,
Germany does not require a pass for the Autobahn you do have to have an emissions sticker for entering major towns but that will be provided by the renting organization.
Austria requires the toll sticker called a Vignette if you are traveling on major roads, back roads do not need it. Also they require an international drivers license.
Switerland requires a Vignette for driving on any road.
Depending on the country you can purchase it for a few days vs the entire year.
If you plan to drive outside the country you get the car check because alot of the countries bordering that part of Germany do require a sticker per country.
Will
Germany, DE 05/25/2011
Amalfi Coast Experience
I often travel alone, as I did at the beginning of this year, and it's nice to know that I can always rely on Anthony Buonocore to transfer me between the Amalfi Coast and Naples airport as I quite often arrive too late for public transport. Anthony runs a very professional transfer service and has a wealth of knowlege and love of his homeland that makes every trip with him, not only so interesting and lively, but one you will always remember and distinguish from all others. You are treated as an individual when you are travelling, and not as part of a herd, when you book Anthony to show you the delights of the Amalfi Coast.
Winnie
Ayrshire, United Kingdom 05/17/2011
Rental cars on Autobahns
When renting a car in, specifically Germany and Austria, be aware of traffic fines for driving on autobahns without a special pass on the windshield. I drove on an Austrian Autobahn, leaving Bertchesgaden, Germany back to southern Germany ( Munich area). The route had me on an Austrian highway ( Autobahn or equivalent) for 4 km. This cost me $195 of tolls, charged to my rental car credit card. I never even exited the highway to enjoy Austria. Beware to all driving in Austria or southern Germany!
Marilyn
Danville, CA USA 05/17/2011
Anthony Buonocore
I was invited to share a cab with friends to Salerno on Easter Sunday(2011) and we found ourselves treated to the most professional service from a true Gentleman.The car was clean,comfortable and free from unpleasant odours.Passenger comfort was clearly a high priority to Anthony.
I would highly recommend any service which involves Anthony Buonocore.
Linda De Marco
Brisbane, QLD Australia 05/14/2011
Amalfitransfer.com and Anthony are your best bet for seeing the Amalfi Coast!
Just returned from a Mediterranean cruise. Our days were filled with many large group excursions, and that is not how I wanted to see the beautiful Amalfi coast!. By doing some research, I found Anthony and Amalfitransfer.com. First, he was a pleasure to work with prior to our trip. He has a very complete website, a short video on You Tube, and was very timely getting back to me via email as we planned my day to the Amalfi coast.
Anthony's rates were very good compared to some other private tour companies, and this made using him instead of paying for a day excursion through the cruise ship possible.
When at the last minute, we added two more people to the tour, Anthony was very flexible, as he was in planning our personalized trip for the day.
Anthony arrived in a Fiat van. He was waiting at the peer when we disembarked. He was totally charming, and by the end of our day with Anthony, I felt I had made a new long lasting friend! As a native of Amalfi, Anthony knows his local area very well, and had a day planned for us of the most beautiful areas on the coast. When we informed him that we wanted to go first to Pompei, he was completely flexible, waited patiently for us, until we realized that Pompei would really cut into a thorough days visit to Amalfi. He was good-natured, and adjusted our itinerary based on the time we had spent at pompei, still giving us a tour of Amalfi that we will never forget. He planned a stop for lunch at a wonderful restaurant a little past Positano that was on top of a cliff and we ate lunch outside overlooking the Mediterranean. As we ate our lunch in these beautiful surroundings, a mandolin player played italian songs like "Oh Solo Mio". A local family was having a wedding luncheon that day, and we left that day feeling as if Anthony who had planned our lunch there, also really showed us a slice of Amalfi coast life!
Anthony is a charming gentlemen, with a friendly personality and a good sense of humor. He speaks English quite well, and takes his work quite seriously. He drove slowly and carefully, and we felt very safe with him and his van as we drove through the cliff side roads up the Amalfi coast. I have recommended Amalfitransfer.com to my friends and family visiting that part of the world, and I highly recommend Anthony. Lastly, he knows the Amalfi coast, has a wealth of information about the area, and is extremely professional. When I return, I will use Amalfitransfer.com for my transport and tour needs.! If you want to see Amalfi your way, contact Anthony!
ilana
Solon, Oh USA 05/13/2011
Thrify Rent a Car in Germany
Thrifty Rent A Car in Germany
My advice: don't ever rent a car from Thrifty.
I recently traveled to Germany and needed to rent a car for a week. I compared rental prices on several websites (e.g., kayak, Orbitz, Travelocity, etc.) and found that Thrifty was always the cheapest by about $75/week. I read Thrifty's rental conditions ("fine print") and noticed that I needed to rent the car using a platinum Mastercard that specifically stated that it provided collision insurance for cars rented in Germany. I called Mastercard (Citi) and was directed to a document on their website stating that Mastercard provides collision insurance coverage for cars rented in all countries except Israel, Russia and Ukraine. Mastercard assured me that all I needed to do was to bring a printed version of their coverage statement to the Thrifty car rental office. I printed the Mastercard coverage statement and brought it with me to Germany.
In the Frankfurt airport I showed the Mastercard coverage printout to the Thrifty representative. He immediately gave the Mastercard agreement back to me (without reading it), and told me that the Mastercard agreement from the Mastercard website was unacceptable. The Thrifty representative said I needed to have a letter from Mastercard specifically stating that Mastercard would provide collision insurance coverage in Germany. The Thrifty representative then pulled out a sample letter from under his desk (which was in a well-worn plastic protector). Obviously, the Thrifty employee had dealt with this "problem" on multiple prior occasions.
The Thrifty representative said I needed to purchase collision insurance coverage from Thrifty at a cost of about 20 Euros/day (which increased my total cost by about 50%). I checked other car rental desks but none had cars available for rent. So, I was forced to pay the extra cost of collision insurance to Thrifty to rent the car.
My conclusion: Thrifty purposely misleads people into thinking that they can rent a car at a lower price if they have a platinum Mastercard. Thrifty does not explain that a separate letter is needed from Mastercard. Thrifty has been doing this for a long time (Thrifty has a sample letter in a plastic protector) and knows that it is cheating people
I have now been home for 3 weeks. I just received my bill from Mastercard. Thrifty charged my card 600 Euros ($850) as a deposit in case the car was damaged. Thrifty has not released the deposit. I called Thrifty to ask for my deposit back and was told that there was a small scratch on the driver's side mirror and I was being charged $300 to fix the scratch. I wasn't involved in any close encounters/accidents and I don't recall any scratches when I returned the car. But, it is difficult to deal with this problem not what I am in the US and don't speak German.
My recommendation: Never rent a car from Thrifty. If you want to rent a car in Europe, I suggest that you rent from Europcar (www.eurocar.com) or possibly Sixt (www.sixt.com).
You will probably need to have buy (pay for) collision insurance from the company you rent the car from. Your US car insurance will not cover you for collision coverage in Europe.
T. Morgan
Liver101@hotmail.com
Tim Morgan
Irvine, ca USA 05/04/2011
Best Rental in Ireland
Auto Europe is the way to go, Rick is right. A couple years ago we went to Ireland and needed a car. Auto Europe was a third less than all the others, and they picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel! Go Auto Europe!
Tim
Tampa, Fl USA 05/03/2011
AmalfiTransfer.com
Anthony picked us up at the Naples train station for transport to Positano, on another day took us on a day trip to visit Pompeii and Ercolano from Positano, and finally took us from Positano back to the Naples train station. There were four of us with luggage, so Anthony's transportation assistance was so much easier than trying to navigate a train/bus combination from Naples to Positano (on the same day that we had already flown in from the US). His service was reasonably priced considering that we were a group of four, Anthony was always exactly on time, he was a very careful and skillful driver, was fun and pleasant to travel with, and was very knowledgeable and helpful about the area. We would highly recommend his services!
Kate
Austin, TX USA 05/02/2011
AutoEurope - Great Experience
Just returned from 2 weeks in Italy and France. We ended up pricing it out and for the 6 of us, it was cheaper to rent a van in Venice through Auto Europe and drop it off in Grenoble, France and pay the one-way fee (which was about $560 with tax). It still turned out to be about the same as buying 6 train tickets across Italy and then into France, plus we had the convenience of having the car. A couple of suggestions:
* Auto Europe was great. They booked it and let us pay the return fee upfront in US$ (so no surprises). When their vendor, Europcar, also charged our credit card for 501 Euros for the one-way fee, they figured out which was more and refunded that with no problem. They told me that this happens way too often and so check your credit card statement if you pay in advance.
* We got a GPS and it was definitely worth it.
* Expect to pay an extra driver fee even for a spouse (this was 8.33 Euros per day).
* It's said again and again, but BE SURE TO DO A DAMAGE CHECK ON THE VEHICLE. We're experienced travellers and I can't believe we didn't do this; we were in a hurry to get out of Venice and just forgot. When we returned the van in France, of course they found damage and we found an empty, unsigned checkout damage report with the paperwork. Luckily, they gave us the benefit of the doubt and didn't charge us, but don't count on the rental agents to do this.
Mike Kelly
Bainbridge Island, WA USA 04/19/2011
Driving in England
I don't know if this is the right way to do this, but I just returned from a vacation in England where we drove a manual transmission car in England.
We have not been to England since 2002 so we were naturally a little worried about driving on the 'wrong' side of the car on the 'wrong' side of the road. We rented from Sixt just outside Heathrow and without fanfare we were hurried out onto the roads. Very stressful.
Patience is the key to most things, as it is with driving in a foreign country. And after a few days we started to get it.
We hated the 'M' roads and avoided them. We also noticed that watching the road ahead took a lot more concentration than at home and looking in the rearview mirrors didn't happen as often as at home.
Roundabouts with lane commitments were the biggest stressor. England seems to prefer roundabouts to stop signs and traffic lights, which makes some sense. Looking at the signs before the roundabouts were more helpful than the ones in the roundabout. And going around more than once is allowed if you aren't sure.
We had a Michelin road map that we thought was decent until compared to a more detailed AA road atlas. Use a good map or better yet pay for the GPS.
Accept that at home you may be an expert driver, but in a foreign country you are a rookie. Go easy on yourself and be a little more cautious than at home.
Troxstar
Eugene, OR USA 03/31/2011
Driving in Amalfi
If you are travelling to the Amalfi coast there is no better way to get there than with Anthony from www.amalfitransfer.com. Charming, helpful and a mine of information, so much safer and relaxing than the bus on the breathtaking but at times very scary roads, he picked us up from the airport and took us to the best pizzeria ever, they even made a 40th pizza for my friend and sang happy birthday!! fantastic and so friendly!! He also took us to Pompei and waited hours without complaint as we wandered around, looked after us in Naples and back to glorious Amalfi. Safe and relaxing, its the only way to travel.
alison hunt
leeds, uk 03/17/2011
Driving
Get an international road sign brochure at home from an auto club. The further you go south in Europe, the worse the etiquette.
Drive slow and expect the unexpected. Don't buy a car. Best advice is NOT to drive!
Giuseppe Nero
london ontario, ont Canada 02/27/2011
One-Way Rental Italy-France
In case anyone doubts, it is a lot cheaper to rent one-way within France than picking up in Italy and dropping in France. We looked at renting a van for 6 people in Genoa (after staying in the Cinque Terre) for a couple of days and spending a few days in France, then dropping at the Lyon airport. The cost was $1300 from AutoEurope for the rental and the return fee. I then asked them, what if we took the train into France (at Nice) and picked up the same vehicle? $476 - an $820 saving. Not all is in the drop-off fee (there is none within France for this rental) - the rate also fell almost in half, probably because they are using a different vendor in France.
Mike Kelly
Bainbridge Island, WA USA 02/14/2011
IDP
Interesting that Rick says having an International Driving Permit is technically required in Spain. I rented a car from one of the big international chains (can't remember which now) and wasn't asked for one. Seems like a law that is not really enforced.
Mark
Houston, TX USA 02/08/2011
Renting a car in Ireland
Spent two weeks driving around Ireland: used Budget rent-a-car, expensive once all insurances were added (worth peace of mind, tho). One thing I (GPS) will recommend (GPS) while driving in (GPS) Ireland, particularly in urban areas (GPS) which we didnt have (GPS) and wish we did (GPS)... now I cant remember what it was. Had NO problems with the driving and NO problems at all with Budget RAC. Recommended.
Keith Reed
Rosemount, MN USA 01/23/2011
Renting a car in Ireland
One more thing about Budget RAC in Ireland. They didnt try to sell us stuff like "special" (transmission, clutch, windshield, roof(?)) insurances like we got in Spain and Italy. One thing they did though that I missed when I picked up the car was I was charged for a full tank of gas from the get-go. When I returned the car, though, they looked at the volume of gas in the tank and credited me back for the unused.
Keith
Rosemount, MN USA 01/23/2011
Hertz and Ireland
Also had bad experience with Hertz in Ireland
Glen
Portrland, OR USA 01/17/2011
Also bad experience with Hertz in Europe
Phil G.,
We also were charged by Hertz for damage we did not do. We used our Visa card to pay for the rental and they have insurance that covered the damage. This is a standard policy for Visa, we didn't purchase anything extra. Hope it works for you. As yes, beware of Hertz in Europe!
Bob V.
Il USA 12/21/2010
Very Bad experience with Hertz in Europe
We traveled through Germany late spring of 2010, renting a little Mercedes A190 from Hertz. It was a great trip, and everything went smoothly. Four months later I get a letter from Hertz saying the tires and rim were damaged, and I owed the EUR 246. The provided very nice pictures of a JAGUAR (not the car we rented!) with banged up rims and a ripped tire. Sparing the details, I made my case very logically and rationally, noting the different tire sizes on the two cars, etc. They refused to listen. I got Hertz Customer Service in the U.S. involved, and was mislead by a representative who didn't know what she was talking about. Yesterday I got a letter from Hertz Europe saying they are about to refer the claim to a collection agency. I'm going to pay because I'm at wits end and want to protect my perfect credit. It appears to me that Hertz Europe exploits U.S customers because they know it will be too difficult for us to advocate four ourselves. We are seasoned European travelers, and have rented cars in Europe many times previously.
Phil G.
Fairfax,, VA USA 12/17/2010
Car rental pick-up and drop off
Airport Pick-up: Plan to pick up your rental car at a local airport. Hours of service are usually longer, get accustomed to the vehicle in the parking lot and get on your way without having to deal with a strange car and getting out of a crowded city center with unusual signs. Many city-center car rental locations are in weird garages, restricted hours, are near the back of a train station in a maze of narrow streets. Instead, take the airport shuttle to the terminal, negotiate the car pick-up and drive around the parking lot for a few minutes to test rear view mirrors, the manual shift and the car's lights and signals. Most airports offer excellent roads directions to get you on your way and can introduce you to reduced local driving – think left-hand in the UK. The same can be said for dropping off the rental car... use the nearest airport and take hassle-free airport-city transportation into town.
Peter K. MacLeod
Gatineau,, Quebec canada 12/11/2010
Sorrento Car hire service
Just got back from the Amalphi Coast in Italy. Hired Sorrento Silverstar car service for various trips. Cannot recommend them highly enough...professional, punctual, friendly, fun, competitive and extremely helpful and flexible. Luisa, the General Manager, will take care of all your needs. Included in Rick Steves' 2010 Italy Guide (see Sorrento). www.sorrentosilverstar.com
Jon
Durango, Co USA 11/18/2010
Driving IN Italy
Drove for a week in Italy this summer with our family. Advice:
1) Buy a Garmin Nuvi with Europe maps installed before you leave. (about $100 reconditioned on Amazon). When you get to Europe, turn it on outdoors and let it sit in one spot for 10 minutes. It will take that long for it to find the satellites the first time.
2) The GPS warns you of fixed traffic capmerasthat alone pays for it!
3) The GPS is almost perfect for directions but twice in one day (in Sorrento), it tried to lead us down motorscooter alleys. :-)
3) Many AMEX cards have free (or cheap) first-line insurance. This does NOT apply to Italy.
4) We felt comfortable driving everywhere in Italy, except Amalfi coast, where it was more fun to take the bus and a ferry
Ed
Vancouver, WA USA 10/24/2010
Navigating in France
If you're driving on back roads in France (not the autoroute) be sure you have a good map. It needs to be at least 1cm=2km. If you get a less-detailed map covering a larger area, you will have problems! Also, be aware that signs seldom give direction (NSEW), they just give town names. So you need to have an idea of which towns are in the general direction you are heading.
Marcia
Spokane, WA USA 10/23/2010
Auto Europe Car Rental
Rick suggests to use Auto Europe and to look at the UK rates versus the rates on the US website. I have had nothing but problems with this strategy. I live in the US, thought that I was saving money on the UK website and found the cancellation policies to be very very harsh. They keep 3 days of your PREPAYMENT. I didn't cancel, either. They cancelled on me. Please be absolutely sure that you are going to use their service before you click on the internet. A terrible scam. I personally can not believe that Rick endorses them. Please be careful!!!! Subsequently, I had to take a 2 trains and 3 buses, and a taxi to get to my location after that. And I am a seasoned traveler.
Rebecca Montgomery
Katy, Tx USA 10/08/2010
Rental Car Pickup Locations
Beware of picking up cars at airports or rail stations in Germany - there is a 17% surtax to do this. This applies to pickups, not drop offs.
Steve
Richmond, VA USA 10/05/2010
Pick-up locations for cars
If you pick up a rental car in Europe, the easiest place to get in and out is at the airport. Friends picked up cars at the train station in Firenze, and everyone driving out from there got a ticket that had to be paid on the spot.
Traci Drake
Tacoma, WA USA 10/02/2010
Beware Thrifty Car Rental in Germany
BEWARE Thrifty car rental in Munich. They rent cheap, poorly mainted Chevy's, ours broke down and we were stranded for 5.5 hrs and then they tried to charge us for that day also.
Leonardo
Flagstaff, AZ USA 09/27/2010
The Roof is not part of the car!?
Here is a new one in the never ending battle with car rental companies on insurance. If one purchases complete CDW coverage on a rental -in Paris- (as I did a few days ago from Auto-Europe and as Rick suggests is often a good idea) when you get the car you will be informed that this "complete" CDW insurance on the car does not cover: the roof, the glass, the tires, the underside or interior of the vehicle. Of course, you will be offered the opportunity to buy additional insurance to cover these items which, as the rental agent told me with a straight face, are "not part of the car!" I think this belongs in the "you can't make this stuff up" category. Beware, and do not be surprised if you arrive after an overnight flight with no other source of a car in sight, faced with charges such as these, which do add up, I may say. Suppose you bought a Honda and on delivery they told you you were going to have to pay more for the roof?
USA 09/25/2010
Burnt clutch in IRELAND.
Having a lot of experience driving manual rental cars on countless trips, I recently was billed $1,900 by Hertz. I drove less than 320 km, on highway, etc. Any idea where in Ireland I can go to get legal help, any government agency. This looks like a scam. I know I did not damage that clutch.
Brian
Nepean, On Canada 09/19/2010
Driving in Germany
Just got back from a 15 day trip to Gemany and Switzerland. Couple of things I wanted to pass on to my fellow travelers regarding transporation in Germany: 1. If you are renting a car, be sure to check out this website before you go. Google "Brian's Guide to Getting Around Germany". It has a lot of detail information about German road signs, rules of the roads, etc that I found very helpful. It also has a section on using the rail system. 2. Driving on the autobahn is not much different than our Interstates except (a) you are required to drive in the right hand lane unless you are passing (b) when you do pass a car, you have to figure out whether the car in the left hand lane is approaching at 80 or 120 mph. 3. If you are renting a car and returning it to a different location, make sure you get a GPS address for the return location. I didn't and I spent 1.5 hours at the Koln railway station trying to figure out where to take the car (I thought they would have a return sing like American Airport, so I didn't ask when I got the car. They don't)
Todd
Tulsa, OK USA 09/06/2010
Car Rental Insurance
Travelers might find this article in the New York Times helpful if you plan to rent a car in Europe. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/travel/05prac.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail0=y
Charles M. Luther
Katy, TX USA 09/06/2010
Exploring Tuscany by car
Last fall, we rented a Hertz car at Milan airport (used FF miles and couldn't arrive in Rome - but it worked out well.) On arrival day, headed for lovely Lucca - about 200 miles, easy few hours' drive.
Stayed at a Rick Steves recommendation Hotel San Marco just outside town walls - free parking and a pleasant very short stroll into town. Next day - Very short drive to Pisa for stop plus lunch. Then based ourselves at an agriturismo just outside San Gimignano to explore the hill towns for a few days before heading to Rome.
An easy way to return the car: Drive to Chiusi - Hertz is right across the street from the train station. And it is just a 1.5 hour train ride from Chiusi nonstop to Rome Termini station.
Chris
Cedar Point, NC USA 08/12/2010
Euro to dollar conversion
Rented a car from Hertz in June for 10 days in Ireland. When asked if I wanted to be charged in dollars, I agreed. Big mistake! They converted euros to dollars at a rate of about $1.50 per euro, when the real bank exchange rate was about $1.23--and they charged almost 3% as an additional conversion charge for the privilege of being robbed. I'd never rent from them again. The only experience during two weeks in Ireland that made me feel I couldn't trust the local people.
Don Hoyt
Atlanta, GA USA 08/11/2010
Nationality driving tendencies
I just returned from a 2 1/2 week driving trip through Europe, and I couldn't help noticing differences in the way people drive in each country. I think it's worth mentioning because of the dangers I encountered.
The French make a fine art of tailgating, speeding, and reacting vociferously to anything on the road. I tried to drive the speed limit in order to avoid tickets, but literally 95% of all drivers went faster, including trucks, and 95% of all who encountered me tailgated me regardless of the lane I was in. On one very tricky single-lane winding road up in the mountains of southern France a speeder decided to pass me on a sharp curve and actually went off the road! Nuts. They seem to take driving the speed limit anywhere as an insult.
Whatever the reputation of Italian drivers, they were far less prone to tailgating, and only maybe 60% tended to speed. The speeders, however, were seriously excessive speeders for the speed limit, and I had a near accident when a speeder came upon me suddenly as I was passing someone. I tried to move out of the way but he tried to pass me on the right, so I steered back, but then so did he. Given his speed there was simply no chance for me to accomodate him and he almost rearended me at high speed, slowing hairs away from my back bumper. Of course he finally passed with the usual honking and finger waving as if I were the one in the wrong. There were more drivers like that, but I managed to steer clear of them better.
People behaved fairly reasonably in Switzerland though there were a lot of international drivers, so the speeders and tailgaters weren't always Swiss. Germany was a big surprise. With the lack of speed limits I thought I'd end up being treated even worse, but people generally either went the speed limit or patiently waited for each other to clear out of the left to make way. There were very few "crazy" drivers despite the increased speed as if all still knew the value of safety, and I too drove as fast as 150 kph where it was legal without incident. Even off the autobahn Germans behaved reasonably on the road.
On another note, I didn't have the same traffic problems as others here have mentioned while driving to Munich, then the Romantic Road to Rothenburg, then to the Rhine Valley up to the Mosel, though construction is indeed everywhere, and the German autobahn thus now has a lot more speed limited sections than otherwise.
I'd also like to say that Mio GPS I bought in Amsterdam made the trip worlds of difference better than paper maps despite tracking problems in Marseilles and elsewhere.
Brian
Dayton, NJ USA 08/04/2010
Warning: Avis Car Rental in Tours, France
Be very wary of renting a car from Avis in France, particularly St-Pierre-des-Corps!
We picked up our car and immediately noticed the clutch was not grabbing right out of the lot, and it stalled constantly. We persevered and just 10 minutes later there was thick smoke coming from the vents and we ended up stranded on a busy roadway. Avis refused to pick us up or send help, and we had to walk the 3km back to their office!
We had to fill out an accident report, and Avis blamed us for burning out the clutch, charging us 1000 euro for the repair. The smug attitude from the Tours office was "Americans cannot drive manual transmission cars", even though we drove hundreds of kilometers the previous week in Bordeaux - from a very experienced manual transmission driver.
We are still fighting this with Avis USA.
Don't assume an American company will give you good service in Europe.
Frank
Santa Clara, CA USA 08/03/2010
When Renting Car with Damage
When renting a car in Amboise, France, the rental agent noted some damage on the rental agreement. To ensure an accurate record, I took pictures of the entire car, focusing on the damaged areas. Returning the car later was hassle free.
Ed
Richmond, VA USA 07/23/2010
Returning Rental Cars at Lille, France train station
When returning a rental car in Lille, France, pay close attention to the car rental signs. They are poorly posted. You must enter a garage, go down one floor and follow signs to the appropriate rental car return area.
Ed
Richmond, VA USA 07/23/2010
Excellent Cab Service in Rome
If you are planning a trip to Rome, be prepared for the challenges of securing an honest, reasonably priced ride to and from your sights and destinations within the city. Take with you the name of Roberto Di Genova. Gracious, courteous, and punctual, Roberto will get you where you want to go, and as a native Roman, will be pleased to tell you all about the landmarks of his city en route.
Ph: 39-338 2854 998
robertodigenova@yahoo.it
Carrie Johnson
Carlsbad, CA USA 07/23/2010
Value for the money when wanting to have a private car
How do you get the most value for the money/budget when U wanna get around the rocky amalfi coast not being stuck with using just your own legs or taking the local bus? I wanted to rent a car, but the local hotelmanager advised us to use a localprivate cab driver. We did not regret that. We used Anthony's transfer & excursions (Amalfi: +393494410336 or buonocoreanthony@yahoo.com). Its safe, its flexible, you get to see places you wouldn't find on your own and buck for buch this gives the beste bang for the buck. It's too expensive and labourous to handle a car of own own-we think- under these conditions. So best advice: hire a driver - and a god tips is Anhony. Enjoy. We did.
Lars
Oslo, Norway 07/13/2010
Allow time Returning car to Autoeuropa in Lyon, France
Allow a lot of extra time to find the return parking lot when returning your car. We allowed 1 hour, but needed 3 hours in a crazy twist of streets, while the car agent attempted to talk us to their lot while driving. They did not have an address, and the address on the paperwork did not exist. We consequently missed three seqential prepaid trains to Italy (family of 4)and spent an extra night in Milan. Expensive mistake! On the plus side, the GPS was pricelss during the rest of the trip through the French countryside. And everywhere else - we used the trains!
Lauren
Bothell, WA USA 07/11/2010
Driving on the Autobahn in Germany..not what it used to be!
Driving on the autobahn in Germany was absolutely CRAZY!!!! (we just returned July 1). The amount of traffic (mostly 18 wheeler trucks from former eastern-block countries) has created a traffic nightmare, along with major construction on virtually all major highways, leaving about 6 inches between the small k-wall and the truck next to you :) my husband drives in metropolitan Los Angeles 2-3/week and extensively in Europe in the past and has never seen anything like it. We drove from Munich to Koln and it took 3 times longer than we expected (when I googled the drive times). In fact, Rothenburg to Koln took (with some stops to eat, gas, one brief nap at a rest stop), took 11 hours...to go 367 km...NEVER AGAIN!!!! I'm sticking with trains. Had we not been with my mother in law who needed a wheelchair, we would have ditched the car, but she didn't think train travel was an option given that many train stations (at least in France) are not handicapped accessible.
Stephanie Jamgochian
Goleta, CA USA 07/10/2010
Limited Traffic Zones in Italy
My wife traveled in Italy several hundred in Sept. 2007 and really loved the experiences by car. The one problem is tickets, since returning we have received four tickets. Two one year after our return and today Jul 7, 2010 two more, date of tickets Sept 2,2007. Driving along lanes for public transport only and moved around a restricted traffic area without authorization. All tickets were issued in city of Florence. We traveled from Naples to Venice and received tickets only in Florence, we never recognized any restricted zones. Limited Traffic Zones can be had to detect but the places one can visit by car can make it worthwhile.
Bob S
Roberto Sanchez
Pleasanton, CA USA 07/09/2010
When in Rome choose DRIVERINROME
On a recent trip to Italy my wife and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. We were referred to DRIVERINROME by our trusted travel agent, Merci Cantwell, of Cruise Planners (www.MerciCruises.com). We are so pleased she recommended the company. I can say unequivocally that the tours they conducted in Rome, Vatican City, Pompeii, Tivoli, Positano, Sorrento and along the Amalfi coast were the highlight of our visit to Italy and the best we have enjoyed during our 40 years of travel. Each of the tour guides was most affable, but more importantly the depth of their knowledge about the history, culture, language, cuisine of Italy and the historic sites we visited was remarkable and personally engaging.
It was clear from the first meeting that the company’s singular concern is for the comfort and satisfaction of the clients they serve. For over three decades my wife and I were in business for ourselves in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. She managed a large real estate office. I was in clinical practice as a child psychologist. We know firsthand the attention to detail, commitment to service and the importance of integrity that is necessary in every business transaction for successful entrepreneurship. DRIVERINROME certainly embodies those exemplary values and it shows.
Dr. Lou Aymard
Annapolis, MD USA 07/07/2010
Private driver for getting around in Italy
We (an extended family of 5) just returned from a two week trip in Italy and DRIVERINROME picked us up at the airport,drove us around for the entire two weeks and took us back to the airport on the last day. It was fantastic! We got to see and do so much more because we didn't have to adhere to train or bus schedules. Our driver, Tino, was excellent in every way. He was professional, knowledgeable, and fun. We always felt safe driving with him and we covered a lot of territory in two weeks. My sister-in-law is half Italian and she wanted to go to the little towns, where her grandparents had been born. This would have been almost impossible without Tino. Not only did he drive us to these tiny, out of the way places which never see tourists, he was instrumental in talking to people in the towns and finding out information which lead us to the houses. It was an exciting, emotional time for my sister-in-law. All of us, including Tino, were thrilled for her. He handled everything with ease and in the most professional manner. Tino told us that this wasn't the first time he had helped guests traveling with DRIVERINROME who wanted to locate distant relatives or towns. He was a wealth of information when it came to restaurants to try and he was never wrong. The tiny, out of the way places with delicious food seemed to be his speciality! Most times, we were the only non-Italians in the restaurant. My husband and I have used DRIVERINROME in the past for day trips when we were on a cruise. Our decision to use them for the entire two weeks was the right one. You can be sure that we will use them again the next time we are in Italy.
Donna
MD USA 07/07/2010
YES, 100% worth it to get the GPS-- even if your rental comes with one!
We went ahead and rented a Garmin Nuvi GPS when driving through Europe. SO worth the bit of extra luggage and the cost! My husband and I agreed this was THE number one thing to bring on our trip (besides of course a money belt). The Nuvi directed us in clear English, it was incredibly easy to use, and it led us through some remote areas of the countryside that we couldn't believe it actually picked up. Our car came with a GPS but it was impossible to figure out how to use it, so we were extremely glad to have the Nuvi. We spent a lot of time enjoying ourselves that would have otherwise been spent lost and confused without it.
Chelsea
Portland, ME USA 06/20/2010
AutoEurope .COM or .EU
If you're not finding what you want with www.autoeurope.com then try www.autoeurope.eu Didn't even know it existed and just happened upon it. The .eu website allowed me to reserve a car in a location that was not available on the .com website. The .eu website also allowed me to choose a zero deductible for my insurance which was not possible on the .com version. Everything worked out just fine and we had a great time with the vehicles.
Tim
USA 06/17/2010
Parking in Italy
Make sure you Goggle all the parking regulations and symbols before you leave. Find out what that little clock like thing on your windshield is.
Barbara
USA 06/10/2010
a professional private driver on the amalfi coast
I can recommend Anthony's service, he is the owner of amalfitransfer.com . Always very helpful, speaks good English, and his prices are very reasonable. As a local resident of Amalfi he can also show you the real attractions of this beautiful area.
I have recommended him to many of my friends and all of them have truly enjoyed themselves .A great way to transfer from the airport and see the beautiful Amalfi Coast with his organized excursion. Thanks Anthony!!!!
Pola
USA 06/07/2010
Limited Traffic Zones
If you do rent a car, beware of the LTZ (Limited Traffic Zones). They are in almost every major city in Italy. 18 months after returning from my 3 week driving tour of Italy & the south of France/Monaco by myself, I received four certified letters from Firenze (Florence) informing me that I had passed through 3 of these zones & 1 round about marked for buses only and that I owed a large fine. Beware that this is a SCAM. In Florence, my hotel was located inside the LTZ. The concierge is supposed to let the local police know of your stay & vehicle Lic. plate info. They don't always do this, as I found out. Research on the internet revealed a web site that talks at length about this: http://www.bella-toscana.com/traffic_violations_italy.htm Be aware that handling fees, bank transfer fees and late fees rapidly add up to much, much more than the fine itself. In addition, for some traffic fines, if you challenge and lose, you have to pay double the original sum. My 4 tickets totaled to over $1,000 USD before any of these fees. The above web site will also tell you that if you do not pay, they come after the car rental agency who in turn charges the fines to the credit card you used to rent the vehicle. Furthermore, if you live in the UK, the Italian police have an agreement worked out with the UK that your driver’s license can be suspended if you do not pay the fines in full. My trip was the most amazing journey I’ve ever been on & I want nothing but to return & possible live in Italy one day….that’s how much I loved it. The above experience was my only bad experience besides the high prices in Milano & Monaco, but I knew about those before I went. I didn’t know anything about the LTZ, etc. till the certified letters arrived & I don’t see anything on Rick’s site about this. I’m told that these LTZ exist in most major cities in Italy, they are usually restricted during heavy traffic times (thus the reason for their existence) & the signs are in one language only…better brush up on your Italian. The 3 LTZ in Florence I went through were 24 hrs./7 days/week. Avoid this hassle & you’ll have a great time & thank you Mr. Steves for this message board. It is an indispensible tool whilst traveling Europe.
Eddie G.
New Orleans, LA USA 06/07/2010
Which Side of The Road
The UK, Republic of Ireland, Malta and Cyprus are the only European countries that drive on the other side to the US. Everywhere else, it is the same as the US - bar metric speed limits and smaller cars that is.
Richard
Hall, CA USA 06/04/2010
Navigator is wonderful
We drove all over Germany, Switzerland and a couple other counties last summer. A relative loaned us a navigator for the car and it was excellent: told us the expected driving times and warned us of approaching exits, even told us what lane we would need well in advance of the exits. Really a wonderful tool for stress reduction. Esp. in city traffic it beats the heck out of balancing the map book on your knee, trying to read the road signs/street names and having to drive the car all at the same time.
Sam
Kurikka, 06/01/2010
Driving Service In Rome
We used Driverinrome for all of our transportation in Rome and surrounding areas. They were wonderful. Always on-time, flexible with changes, plenty of room with clean vans and buses. We had 8 - 26 people at different times and they met our needs 100%> I would only use them when I return. Prices were very good.
Nancy C.
Denver, CO USA 05/31/2010
Ravello
We used and loved Rick's book on the Amalfi Coast. Our driver picked us up in Naples and drove us to Ravello-lovely city where we stayed 7 days. Best find - Salvatore Pagano who owns and drives for Ravello Taxi (0039-338-4883510; salvatore@ravellotaxi.com. ) Another of Ravello Taxi drivers, Joncarlo, was also wonderful. We highly recommend these drivers.
Also hired Dr. Esposito for guide of Archaeological Museum tour in Naples and Sylvia Braggio for Paestum tour. Both outstanding - they added immensely to our enjoyment and knowledge of both places. Big disappointment-we used another highly recommended driving guide on one day but quickly returned to Ravello Taxi who were knowledgeable about local cuisine and history and also easy to understand. Another guide not in the
book--- Conny (0039-339-7884607) we recommend for the Herculaneum tour.
Deborah Welch
Amarillo , Texas USA 05/24/2010
Frankfurt Airport Car Rental Head's Up
A Head’s Up from a recent car rental experience at the Frankfurt Airport –
a. If you reserve your car through Expedia, double check to make sure the car rental company actually has your reservation! Apparently, the reservation does not really happen with certain companies.
b. Read all the fine print on the reservation form. I was planning to waive the CDW because of the coverage provided by my credit card. However, it turns out that this particular company (Thrifty/Terstappen) will only allow Americans and Canadians to waive the company’s coverage if they have particular levels of a Visa or Master Card PLUS a letter from the credit card company saying they provide coverage in Germany. The insert from my credit card describing the coverage was not sufficient.
c. Check to see what terminal you are flying into as well as which car rentals are in that terminal – particularly if you are traveling with slow moving family members or lots of luggage. We finally got to the car rental counter area in our terminal, only to find out that the only desk was in the other terminal. Very slow going if you have to find the elevators!
Judi
Everett, WA USA 05/23/2010
Traffic Tckets
Nobody likes an "I told you so."
Steve
Richmond, VA USA 05/05/2010
John
You wouldn't have received ANY tickets had you been on the train :-)
USA 05/03/2010
car rental
Heads up. This is the second time in three driving trips, over the past three years, that Europcar charged my card with a " traffic fine". Both times the additional charge came through more than 90 days after returning the car. No tickets were received by me or the car, to my knowledge. Difficult to dispute more than 7000 miles away.
Rhonda Younker
Bellevue, WA USA 05/01/2010
Following airport signs
...or get a gps!
Tim
USA 04/29/2010
Driving in Europe made easier
Driving round and round trying to find the road out of that big European city?We found the perfect way to drive out. Just look for the airport signs, follow them out of town and voila, you will usually be on the road that will carry you to your next destination, but at least you'll be out of the big city quagmire. We've driven all over Europe and found this worked everytime.
Suzie
Melbourne, FL USA 04/27/2010
Free book on car rental in Europe
Several readers of this forum have mentioned the rental car service of gemut.com. I notice they have recently posted a free booklet, “What You Should Know About Renting a Car in Europe” at their website, www.gemut.com.
Guy Crouchback
Hayward, CA USA 04/23/2010
Let Amalfi Transfer move you!
I agree with Dr Jennifer Bugg. The best way to get about along the Amalfi Coast, particularly if you are a small group or have luggage to keep tabs on is to use a reputable local company for trips and transfers. Anthony Buonocore who runs Amalfi Transfer is very helpful and the prices are reasonable. As well as providing an efficient and friendly service for airport / port to resort transfers and local tours, as a resident of the Amalfi area he is also able to provide a depth of local information on other topics of interest such as restaurants and less well known tourist attractions which may be off the more beaten track. I would be happy to recommend Amalfi Transfer and Anthony to anyone wishing to travel around the area. The website address is www.amalfitransfer.com - don't worry if your Italian isn't that great, he speaks good English. Have a great visit.
C Baker
Cheltenham, Glos UK 04/21/2010
Amalfi Taxi Service
I take pleasure in recommending a good service, so if you’re going to the Amalfi Coast and need a private taxi service you can’t do better than contact Anthony of Amalfi Transfer. We found them on the net and booked a transfer from Naples. As we hadn’t been recommended ourselves we were unsure what to expect but fortunately we were not disappointed. Anthony was waiting for us at the when we arrived and took on us on a very scenic route along the coast to our Hotel in Amalfi. We’d heard stories about hair raising taxi rides along the narrow coast roads but to our relief Anthony turned out to be a very steady and careful driver. He is a charming man, speaks very good English and gave us lots of local information. When our return from Amalfi was affected by the Icelandic volcanic ash air flight disruption and we had to leave suddenly Anthony was there to assist. He drove us to meet up with a coach at a motorway service station and stayed with us until the coach arrived and we were safely on board.
www.amalfitransfer.com
phone 0039-3494410336
Bob White
Banstead, Surrey UK 04/21/2010
CDW Coverage Better Under Access America
I just almost bought $35,000 in CDW coverage from Travel Guard, with a $250 deductible, as Rick suggested, but at the last minute checked out my old standby travel insurance company Access America. They offered $50,000 in CDW coverage with NO deductible coverage under the Deluxe Comprehensive policy for similar rates - and I got full trip cancellation and medical/medical evac insurance to boot!! (Travel Guard was $72 just for CDW, Access America was $86 for full policy with CDW included).
I have used Access America before - my father died while I was on my honeymoon in the Maldives - we came home immediately and missed an expensive boat trip - they paid on the unused portion of our trip within one week and were kind and helpful.
I couldn't recommend them more.
Heather Steele
San Diego, CA USA 04/20/2010
Too many traffic tickets in France- use train instead
We rented a car in France to tour the Provence region. We've gotten 2 tickets in the past 3 days despite 1) having a GPS to tell us where the cameras are and 2) never having gotten traffic tickets in the U.S.
The government has gone crazy installing traffic cameras everywhere this past year. There are a lot of cameras that are there just to trap the tourists. For example, we made a right turn out of a train station (so had no speed limit signs and GPS was busy giving us directions), and the camera was right there. Because we had turned right onto the road, we only saw the speed limit signs after the camera had taken pictures of us. It's tricky and it seems like only locals know where the cameras are. But they'll tailgate you everywhere else which pressures you into go faster.
The government is very strict about handing out tickets at a camera, even if you're 2 km/hr over you're stuck with a ticket. 65 euros for ticket + 50 euros service charge by the rental company really adds up quickly -- these arbritrary nonsensical traps have really put a damper on our vacation. If we had to do it all over again, we'd just use the train to get to different places. Renting a car is not cheap in the first place. Also, this random "tourist tax" forces you to drive dangerously because you're so busy watching the signs rather than going with the flow of the traffic.
Andrew
San Diego, CA USA 04/08/2010
Relax and Use Mike the Chauffeur
Just returned from a trip through Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Vienna, and Budapest and we scrapped the car rental and went with Mike the Chauffuer who is highly recommended by Rick. He was the best! He is a most pleasant and hard working man who has reasonable prices. He made arrangements for tours all along the way, was flexible with our stops, and gave us loads of information. Based in Prague, he drives to and from many countries. Definitely check it out!
Deborah
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA USA 04/05/2010
Which Side of The Road
Continental Europe drives on the right, just like North America.
Steve
Richmond, VA USA 03/11/2010
Which side of the road to drive on
I know Great Britian drives on the lefthand side of the road. I recently watched a RS Italy show, and I caught a brief look at what I think I saw of people driving on the righthand side of the road. Does the European continent drive oppisite of Great Britian? When I go on vacation, and rent a car I would like to drive on the appropriate side of the road. Thanks!
Betty
Burbank, USA USA 03/09/2010
Use European websites
We have found the American websites tend to quote much higher rates than European sites - we like www.easycar.com and www.easyjet.com. The other advantage is that the www.easycar.com offers an additional driver for free, and the optional insurance is cheaper. We don't take the optional insurance in the US, but in Europe, we usually do.
Laurie H.
Chaska, MN USA 01/24/2010
Ireland/Auto Europe problem
What John fails to mention is that he got a confirming voucher from Auto Europe prior to the rental which specified all those extra charges. As to the car, he could have used Auto Europe's toll-free, 24/7 help-line from Ireland and had AE deal with the rental company. Yes, AE is a broker but the fact that John got a bad car isn't their fault. In fact, had John booked directly with the vendor instead of AE he wouldn't have had the toll-free number to call which, had he used it, no doubt would have resulted in a better car.
Harmon
USA 01/15/2010
Book with someone who knows
In reading this forum I note many problems which could have been avoided by booking via a real live person who knows and can explain all the possible extra charges and pitfall of European car rental. For years we've stayed out of trouble by booking through Andy at gemut.com. His rates are consistenly either the lowest or very competitive.
Guy
USA 01/15/2010
Auto rental
I second Gemut.com. Two rentals in Germany and no problems, no surprises.
Steve
Richmond, VA USA 01/15/2010