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Looking for the best car rental. Will be in St Barts 4/044/11.
- Thread starter Captiva
- Start date
Skateboard Phil
Senior Insider
Re: Car Rental
Go to Europcar.com, much better prices than on island.
Go to Europcar.com, much better prices than on island.
KaraBrooks
Senior Insider
Re: Car Rental Story/Warning (Europcar)
There was a lot of talk of car rental deals a few months ago and we, along with a number of others, booked online with Europcar for a very good rate. When we got to SBH everything seemed fine and our reservation was honored. When, however, we dropped off the car our credit card was charged for the difference between the rate we prepaid on the Europcar site and the rate they normally charge in SBH. Our plane was leaving so we were unable to resolve the issue while on the island and contacted Europcar's national headquarters when we got home. They merely forwarded our emails to the SBH Europcar address and asked them to "help the customer" which, to date, they have failed to do. I don't know whether other people have had success using the national Europcar internet rates and whether our situation was a "fluke" but I wanted to give everyone a heads up to a potential problem booking through the national Europcar site.
There was a lot of talk of car rental deals a few months ago and we, along with a number of others, booked online with Europcar for a very good rate. When we got to SBH everything seemed fine and our reservation was honored. When, however, we dropped off the car our credit card was charged for the difference between the rate we prepaid on the Europcar site and the rate they normally charge in SBH. Our plane was leaving so we were unable to resolve the issue while on the island and contacted Europcar's national headquarters when we got home. They merely forwarded our emails to the SBH Europcar address and asked them to "help the customer" which, to date, they have failed to do. I don't know whether other people have had success using the national Europcar internet rates and whether our situation was a "fluke" but I wanted to give everyone a heads up to a potential problem booking through the national Europcar site.
Re: Car Rental
I am not sure what is up with the Rental car companies in St. Barts. I have e-mailed Budget, Eurocar and a couple
others several times for a quote, and none of them have responed. On the AVIS and Budget US web sites they
are quoting about $500 dollars for 1 week. A little steep for low season since I paid about $160 last year with
Budget. Curious if any others have booked cars for May and what price quotes they have received.
I am not sure what is up with the Rental car companies in St. Barts. I have e-mailed Budget, Eurocar and a couple
others several times for a quote, and none of them have responed. On the AVIS and Budget US web sites they
are quoting about $500 dollars for 1 week. A little steep for low season since I paid about $160 last year with
Budget. Curious if any others have booked cars for May and what price quotes they have received.
Re: Car Rental
I was quoted $200 a week for a Samurai, plus insurance, for a June rental. This was Budget. As discussed on this board several months ago, the insurance is an extremely good idea as most American auto/homeowner/credit card policies will not apply in SBH.
If you are renting a villa your agent will help you with a car rental.
Bob
I was quoted $200 a week for a Samurai, plus insurance, for a June rental. This was Budget. As discussed on this board several months ago, the insurance is an extremely good idea as most American auto/homeowner/credit card policies will not apply in SBH.
If you are renting a villa your agent will help you with a car rental.
Bob
Re: Car Rental Story/Warning (Europcar)
Kara - I usually use Europcar in ST Barths. I learned also to call and confirm/ask for a faxed response describing exactly what I asked for and how much it will cost. Several times I arrived at the Europcar booth to be told that the price was different. However, upon presentation of the fax confirmation, the picture changed for the better.
I have used this same philosophy travelling in metropolitan France, whether it is a car or hotel reservation.
The concept of whether Avis, Hertz or Europcar is better or worse in French countries is a moot point. I have used all of them. Once in Nice, after two flights, a long delay in 100 degree heat on a plane for two hours, and a long walk through construction to a long line at Avis, I was told that my car was not there, and a ....."step van" was all they had for my three and a half week auto trip. I said, I don't think so, and after about thirty minutes of junk, they materialized a brand new, metallic silver Mercedes, suppposedly at the same cost. After getting back home, I of course was charged about $500 for "insurance", which I had the papers to show that I had denied. After all of the hassle, Avis in America solved the problem, adjusted the cost, and said, ..."they just do it their way in France". I did not use Avis again.
Last trip, I used Hertz. Picked it up at the Air France Aerogare in Paris. Wanted to have a lot of cars to pick from. Worked much better on pickup. However, dropping the car off several weeks later at Charles de Gaulle airport, I requested a signature for the return, and could not get anyone to accommodate. "Just leave it, it is OK" was the response. (This was the same attitude that occurred when I dropped off the Avis car in Paris previously. "Just leave it, it is OK". Okay as long as someone doesn't run into it, steal it or otherwise damage it after you have left the vehicle.) When I returned this last trip, I called Hertz in the U.S., and they simply said, "that is not the way they are supposed to do business". Anyone else have this problem?
Kara - I usually use Europcar in ST Barths. I learned also to call and confirm/ask for a faxed response describing exactly what I asked for and how much it will cost. Several times I arrived at the Europcar booth to be told that the price was different. However, upon presentation of the fax confirmation, the picture changed for the better.
I have used this same philosophy travelling in metropolitan France, whether it is a car or hotel reservation.
The concept of whether Avis, Hertz or Europcar is better or worse in French countries is a moot point. I have used all of them. Once in Nice, after two flights, a long delay in 100 degree heat on a plane for two hours, and a long walk through construction to a long line at Avis, I was told that my car was not there, and a ....."step van" was all they had for my three and a half week auto trip. I said, I don't think so, and after about thirty minutes of junk, they materialized a brand new, metallic silver Mercedes, suppposedly at the same cost. After getting back home, I of course was charged about $500 for "insurance", which I had the papers to show that I had denied. After all of the hassle, Avis in America solved the problem, adjusted the cost, and said, ..."they just do it their way in France". I did not use Avis again.
Last trip, I used Hertz. Picked it up at the Air France Aerogare in Paris. Wanted to have a lot of cars to pick from. Worked much better on pickup. However, dropping the car off several weeks later at Charles de Gaulle airport, I requested a signature for the return, and could not get anyone to accommodate. "Just leave it, it is OK" was the response. (This was the same attitude that occurred when I dropped off the Avis car in Paris previously. "Just leave it, it is OK". Okay as long as someone doesn't run into it, steal it or otherwise damage it after you have left the vehicle.) When I returned this last trip, I called Hertz in the U.S., and they simply said, "that is not the way they are supposed to do business". Anyone else have this problem?
scsiv
SBH Member
Re: Car Rental
How did the SmartCar do on those hilly roads. We've thought about renting one, too, but were concerned about not having FWD (ever parked on a hill near Carl Gustaf, La Mandala, etc?).
What's the scoop--when it comes to St. Barth, is the SmartCar really smart or only mildly clever? /scsiv
How did the SmartCar do on those hilly roads. We've thought about renting one, too, but were concerned about not having FWD (ever parked on a hill near Carl Gustaf, La Mandala, etc?).
What's the scoop--when it comes to St. Barth, is the SmartCar really smart or only mildly clever? /scsiv
Re: Car Rental
Yvette, Patric and Suzette at Soelil Caribe have been wonderful for us for more than 15 years. Even with the occasional breakdowns or more precisely running out of gas, they provide a replacement car, and they have typically given a discount for more than 10 days rental.
Yvette, Patric and Suzette at Soelil Caribe have been wonderful for us for more than 15 years. Even with the occasional breakdowns or more precisely running out of gas, they provide a replacement car, and they have typically given a discount for more than 10 days rental.
