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Reply to: Car hire in the US
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Previously on "Car hire in the US"
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This year I used rentalcars.com and they had quite a few offers for a free sat nav included in the price which I took up. Otherwise the sat navs work out expensive.
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You really don't need a Satnav in the USA, just ask a friendly Policeman for directions (don't do this if you are not white).
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Originally posted by TheFaQQer View PostNavmii do a free app that you download the maps to in advance so it doesn't use any data. Doesn't give live traffic (obviously) but it's a completely free sat nav solution.
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Originally posted by Fred Bloggs View PostWhen we last had the Avis car in Florida, we bought the USA maps for my daughter's TomTom device. But these days, probably better to use a data SIM and Google maps, I reckon.
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Originally posted by quackhandle View PostIt can get quite expensive, child seats, GPS - 100 notes?
Some car rental scraping sites will offer to include one seat FoC (can't remember which one I used in the past that did, sorry) but my children only needed a booster seat. So I found out where the nearest Wallmart was to the collection point for the car, pre-ordered online for in-store collection and went there before picking the family up.
Bought 2 booster seats in Atlanta, only needed one of them so kept the other on in it's packaging and returned it in Colorado when we were on the next leg of the trip (needed to see if we needed a seat in CO as well). Cost $15 for the car seat.
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When we last had the Avis car in Florida, we bought the USA maps for my daughter's TomTom device. But these days, probably better to use a data SIM and Google maps, I reckon.
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Originally posted by barrydidit View PostI used myco's 3 mifi device in new York for navigation via google maps. So long as you're not heading too far off piste that might be an option.
Can't really comment on the car hire part, never been to the states.
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I used myco's 3 mifi device in new York for navigation via google maps. So long as you're not heading too far off piste that might be an option.
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I think (because I'm trying to remember what a friend told me) if you have platinum Amex, you also get gold membership to one of the major car hire companies and I guess that gets you discount/upgrades or some such.
If the trip is a while away, might be worth checking out, applying, and then cancelling the card when you return. You'll get charged the annual fee on first use but they do a pro-rata refund (again, IIRC).
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Originally posted by Scratch It View PostI used AVIS recently. I was happy with the price, and if you go through the UK site you get all of the various insurances included as standard. Cars were a decent standard, and no funny business with extra costs. We had a friend stateside that could lend us a GPS.
Could be cheaper to buy a sat nav first. https://www.amazon.co.uk/GARMIN-NUVI...ds=sat+nav+usa
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Buying a satnav on arrival will be cheaper than hiring it. I used to use worldwideinsure.com for car hire insurance (now it comes as part of my credit card deal). When I had to make a claim, they coughed up very quickly. £35 for a year, IIRC.
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I used AVIS recently. I was happy with the price, and if you go through the UK site you get all of the various insurances included as standard. Cars were a decent standard, and no funny business with extra costs. We had a friend stateside that could lend us a GPS.
Could be cheaper to buy a sat nav first. https://www.amazon.co.uk/GARMIN-NUVI...ds=sat+nav+usa
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Originally posted by quackhandle View PostNeed one for four adults + 2 kids for nine days in the US for summer hollibobs.
It can get quite expensive, child seats, GPS - 100 notes?
Any recommendations on making this process cheaper? Prices are coming in at 700+ notes for Avis and Hertz.
Worth becoming a member for any discount? I have heard that it's cheaper to book when you land stateside but I need something for 6 passengers so they might not have anything available?
qh
The other thing I noticed when booking online is if you choose say a jeep chances are when you get there its pot luck and you may be saddled with a cheaper car. I've had to argue both visits to the us to get what I paid for. Last time I tipped the guy in the car park to give me a better car. Not sure if that is usual or not.
I researched it and nationalcars have one of the better reps. Some providers will try to up sell and have long queues. Nationalcars are a bit more expensive but queues are small and generally seem good. Best of a bad lot.
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Originally posted by quackhandle View PostFlights already booked and paid for (BA) but if that's the going rate then fair enough, cost will be split with my folks anyway.
Cheers
qh
I used to have a holidayautos.com discount code, but don't think it works any more. Other option is to go onto moneysavingexpert.com and look on there.
Oh, and get your own insurance, don't pay for the insurance the renter tries to sell you.
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Originally posted by WTFH View PostYou could try looking at booking it with the flight (sometimes cheaper), but yes £1k is probably not far off
Cheers
qh
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