Astronomical car rental drop charges
Jul 3rd 2003, 4:18 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Astronomical car rental drop charges
Folks, I just got off the phone with kemwel.com which had
an attractive quote of USD 320 for a compact car for
6 days, picking up in Venice, dropping off in Zurich.
Unfortunately the "drop charge" was USD 1200!!!! I
about passed out after hearing that. Needless to stay
my dreams of driving in europe went bye-bye after
that.
What I don't understand is I've seen people on this
NG arguing about which is cheaper, car or rail, when
travelling between, say, Paris and Rome. With
drop charges like this, how could car ever possibly
be CLOSE to rail when going between different countries??
The kemwel guy did say drop charges
were higher into and out of Italy and Spain, but come
on.. that's ridiculous! Did I miss something here?
Is it possible to rent a car, pick up in Italy, drop
off in Switzerland, for less than USD 1500???? In
fact, I probably wouldn't do it for anything more
than USD 600.
cj
an attractive quote of USD 320 for a compact car for
6 days, picking up in Venice, dropping off in Zurich.
Unfortunately the "drop charge" was USD 1200!!!! I
about passed out after hearing that. Needless to stay
my dreams of driving in europe went bye-bye after
that.
What I don't understand is I've seen people on this
NG arguing about which is cheaper, car or rail, when
travelling between, say, Paris and Rome. With
drop charges like this, how could car ever possibly
be CLOSE to rail when going between different countries??
The kemwel guy did say drop charges
were higher into and out of Italy and Spain, but come
on.. that's ridiculous! Did I miss something here?
Is it possible to rent a car, pick up in Italy, drop
off in Switzerland, for less than USD 1500???? In
fact, I probably wouldn't do it for anything more
than USD 600.
cj
Jul 3rd 2003, 4:39 am
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Astronomical car rental drop charges
"Chris Jarshant" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:[email protected]...
http://www.fti.de/
Send them an email and ask what they can offer you!
Within one country they do not charge any drop off fee IIRC. (at least not
in Britain)
lg Gernot
news:[email protected]...
http://www.fti.de/
Send them an email and ask what they can offer you!
Within one country they do not charge any drop off fee IIRC. (at least not
in Britain)
lg Gernot
Jul 3rd 2003, 4:39 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Astronomical car rental drop charges
Chris Jarshant wrote:
> Folks, I just got off the phone with kemwel.com which had
> an attractive quote of USD 320 for a compact car for
> 6 days, picking up in Venice, dropping off in Zurich.
> Unfortunately the "drop charge" was USD 1200!!!! I
> about passed out after hearing that. Needless to stay
> my dreams of driving in europe went bye-bye after
> that.
>
> What I don't understand is I've seen people on this
> NG arguing about which is cheaper, car or rail, when
> travelling between, say, Paris and Rome. With
> drop charges like this, how could car ever possibly
> be CLOSE to rail when going between different countries??
> The kemwel guy did say drop charges
> were higher into and out of Italy and Spain, but come
> on.. that's ridiculous! Did I miss something here?
> Is it possible to rent a car, pick up in Italy, drop
> off in Switzerland, for less than USD 1500????
Car rental in Italy is a disaster, even if you bring it back to starting
location.
For amusement, I looked at Avis which can't do it online and Hertz which
does.
For a ford Focus it produced this:
Compact / 165.71 EUR -Weekly
Total Approx. Charges: 864.19 EUR
which is still pretty stiff...
Another solution is to lose a day's vacation and drive it back. Should
be easy to do in a day.
Bernard Higonnet
> Folks, I just got off the phone with kemwel.com which had
> an attractive quote of USD 320 for a compact car for
> 6 days, picking up in Venice, dropping off in Zurich.
> Unfortunately the "drop charge" was USD 1200!!!! I
> about passed out after hearing that. Needless to stay
> my dreams of driving in europe went bye-bye after
> that.
>
> What I don't understand is I've seen people on this
> NG arguing about which is cheaper, car or rail, when
> travelling between, say, Paris and Rome. With
> drop charges like this, how could car ever possibly
> be CLOSE to rail when going between different countries??
> The kemwel guy did say drop charges
> were higher into and out of Italy and Spain, but come
> on.. that's ridiculous! Did I miss something here?
> Is it possible to rent a car, pick up in Italy, drop
> off in Switzerland, for less than USD 1500????
Car rental in Italy is a disaster, even if you bring it back to starting
location.
For amusement, I looked at Avis which can't do it online and Hertz which
does.
For a ford Focus it produced this:
Compact / 165.71 EUR -Weekly
Total Approx. Charges: 864.19 EUR
which is still pretty stiff...
Another solution is to lose a day's vacation and drive it back. Should
be easy to do in a day.
Bernard Higonnet
Jul 3rd 2003, 5:21 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Astronomical car rental drop charges
"Chris Jarshant" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Folks, I just got off the phone with kemwel.com which had
> an attractive quote of USD 320 for a compact car for
> 6 days, picking up in Venice, dropping off in Zurich.
> Unfortunately the "drop charge" was USD 1200!!!! I
> about passed out after hearing that. Needless to stay
> my dreams of driving in europe went bye-bye after
> that.
> What I don't understand is I've seen people on this
> NG arguing about which is cheaper, car or rail, when
> travelling between, say, Paris and Rome. With
> drop charges like this, how could car ever possibly
> be CLOSE to rail when going between different countries??
> The kemwel guy did say drop charges
> were higher into and out of Italy and Spain, but come
> on.. that's ridiculous! Did I miss something here?
> Is it possible to rent a car, pick up in Italy, drop
> off in Switzerland, for less than USD 1500???? In
> fact, I probably wouldn't do it for anything more
> than USD 600.
$1,200 seems excessive, but generally you are stung by very high drop-off
charge for international one-way rentals. From the rental co's point of
view, it's an expensive proposition. First a foreign-registered car is of no
use for the rental operation in another country, and has to be transported
or driven back at their expense to the registered country. And while this is
taking place, the car isn't earning any money.
Some rental companies operate a 'swap' operation at a border town between
certain countries, unfortunately not including Italy. For example, you can
do such a swap at Strasbourg between German and French cars, and at
Eurotunnel terminal in Calais between UK and French. This works out much
cheaper than normal international drop-off.
Years ago I managed to rent a 'floater', US-registered car, at Avis in
Toronto and dropped it off at Buffalo NY at normal rates, but I don't know
if this sort of thing is possible today.
Alec
news:[email protected]...
> Folks, I just got off the phone with kemwel.com which had
> an attractive quote of USD 320 for a compact car for
> 6 days, picking up in Venice, dropping off in Zurich.
> Unfortunately the "drop charge" was USD 1200!!!! I
> about passed out after hearing that. Needless to stay
> my dreams of driving in europe went bye-bye after
> that.
> What I don't understand is I've seen people on this
> NG arguing about which is cheaper, car or rail, when
> travelling between, say, Paris and Rome. With
> drop charges like this, how could car ever possibly
> be CLOSE to rail when going between different countries??
> The kemwel guy did say drop charges
> were higher into and out of Italy and Spain, but come
> on.. that's ridiculous! Did I miss something here?
> Is it possible to rent a car, pick up in Italy, drop
> off in Switzerland, for less than USD 1500???? In
> fact, I probably wouldn't do it for anything more
> than USD 600.
$1,200 seems excessive, but generally you are stung by very high drop-off
charge for international one-way rentals. From the rental co's point of
view, it's an expensive proposition. First a foreign-registered car is of no
use for the rental operation in another country, and has to be transported
or driven back at their expense to the registered country. And while this is
taking place, the car isn't earning any money.
Some rental companies operate a 'swap' operation at a border town between
certain countries, unfortunately not including Italy. For example, you can
do such a swap at Strasbourg between German and French cars, and at
Eurotunnel terminal in Calais between UK and French. This works out much
cheaper than normal international drop-off.
Years ago I managed to rent a 'floater', US-registered car, at Avis in
Toronto and dropped it off at Buffalo NY at normal rates, but I don't know
if this sort of thing is possible today.
Alec
Jul 3rd 2003, 8:48 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Astronomical car rental drop charges
In Europe, I have always used www.alamo.com. I just checked your
destinations for pickup in Venice (VC1) and return to Zurich (ZRH) and the
dropoff fee is 200 Euros. The weekly rate for a compact is about 230 Euros
and so the total is less than 600 Euros. The dates I punched in were July
14th and July 21st. Check it out and good luck!
"Chris Jarshant" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Folks, I just got off the phone with kemwel.com which had
> an attractive quote of USD 320 for a compact car for
> 6 days, picking up in Venice, dropping off in Zurich.
> Unfortunately the "drop charge" was USD 1200!!!! I
> about passed out after hearing that. Needless to stay
> my dreams of driving in europe went bye-bye after
> that.
> What I don't understand is I've seen people on this
> NG arguing about which is cheaper, car or rail, when
> travelling between, say, Paris and Rome. With
> drop charges like this, how could car ever possibly
> be CLOSE to rail when going between different countries??
> The kemwel guy did say drop charges
> were higher into and out of Italy and Spain, but come
> on.. that's ridiculous! Did I miss something here?
> Is it possible to rent a car, pick up in Italy, drop
> off in Switzerland, for less than USD 1500???? In
> fact, I probably wouldn't do it for anything more
> than USD 600.
> cj
destinations for pickup in Venice (VC1) and return to Zurich (ZRH) and the
dropoff fee is 200 Euros. The weekly rate for a compact is about 230 Euros
and so the total is less than 600 Euros. The dates I punched in were July
14th and July 21st. Check it out and good luck!
"Chris Jarshant" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Folks, I just got off the phone with kemwel.com which had
> an attractive quote of USD 320 for a compact car for
> 6 days, picking up in Venice, dropping off in Zurich.
> Unfortunately the "drop charge" was USD 1200!!!! I
> about passed out after hearing that. Needless to stay
> my dreams of driving in europe went bye-bye after
> that.
> What I don't understand is I've seen people on this
> NG arguing about which is cheaper, car or rail, when
> travelling between, say, Paris and Rome. With
> drop charges like this, how could car ever possibly
> be CLOSE to rail when going between different countries??
> The kemwel guy did say drop charges
> were higher into and out of Italy and Spain, but come
> on.. that's ridiculous! Did I miss something here?
> Is it possible to rent a car, pick up in Italy, drop
> off in Switzerland, for less than USD 1500???? In
> fact, I probably wouldn't do it for anything more
> than USD 600.
> cj
Jul 3rd 2003, 9:56 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Astronomical car rental drop charges
Chris Jarshant wrote:
>
> Folks, I just got off the phone with kemwel.com which had
> an attractive quote of USD 320 for a compact car for
> 6 days, picking up in Venice, dropping off in Zurich.
> Unfortunately the "drop charge" was USD 1200!!!! I
> about passed out after hearing that. Needless to stay
> my dreams of driving in europe went bye-bye after
> that.
>
> What I don't understand is I've seen people on this
> NG arguing about which is cheaper, car or rail, when
> travelling between, say, Paris and Rome. With
> drop charges like this, how could car ever possibly
> be CLOSE to rail when going between different countries??
> The kemwel guy did say drop charges
> were higher into and out of Italy and Spain, but come
> on.. that's ridiculous! Did I miss something here?
> Is it possible to rent a car, pick up in Italy, drop
> off in Switzerland, for less than USD 1500???? In
> fact, I probably wouldn't do it for anything more
> than USD 600.
>
> cj
When renting a car you also have the pleasure of paying for gasoline and
tolls. If it's just point to point you are looking for try the train.
John Bermont
--
-------------------------------------------------------
"HOW TO EUROPE: The Complete Travelers Handbook"
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/hteurope.htm
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Folks, I just got off the phone with kemwel.com which had
> an attractive quote of USD 320 for a compact car for
> 6 days, picking up in Venice, dropping off in Zurich.
> Unfortunately the "drop charge" was USD 1200!!!! I
> about passed out after hearing that. Needless to stay
> my dreams of driving in europe went bye-bye after
> that.
>
> What I don't understand is I've seen people on this
> NG arguing about which is cheaper, car or rail, when
> travelling between, say, Paris and Rome. With
> drop charges like this, how could car ever possibly
> be CLOSE to rail when going between different countries??
> The kemwel guy did say drop charges
> were higher into and out of Italy and Spain, but come
> on.. that's ridiculous! Did I miss something here?
> Is it possible to rent a car, pick up in Italy, drop
> off in Switzerland, for less than USD 1500???? In
> fact, I probably wouldn't do it for anything more
> than USD 600.
>
> cj
When renting a car you also have the pleasure of paying for gasoline and
tolls. If it's just point to point you are looking for try the train.
John Bermont
--
-------------------------------------------------------
"HOW TO EUROPE: The Complete Travelers Handbook"
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/hteurope.htm
-------------------------------------------------------
Jul 3rd 2003, 3:47 pm
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Astronomical car rental drop charges
Chris Jarshant wrote:
>Folks, I just got off the phone with kemwel.com which had
>an attractive quote of USD 320 for a compact car for
>6 days, picking up in Venice, dropping off in Zurich.
>Unfortunately the "drop charge" was USD 1200!!!! I
>about passed out after hearing that. Needless to stay
>my dreams of driving in europe went bye-bye after
>that.
>What I don't understand is I've seen people on this
>NG arguing about which is cheaper, car or rail, when
>travelling between, say, Paris and Rome. With
>drop charges like this, how could car ever possibly
>be CLOSE to rail when going between different countries??
>The kemwel guy did say drop charges
>were higher into and out of Italy and Spain, but come
>on.. that's ridiculous! Did I miss something here?
>Is it possible to rent a car, pick up in Italy, drop
>off in Switzerland, for less than USD 1500???? In
>fact, I probably wouldn't do it for anything more
>than USD 600.
>cj
Like everyone else is saying.... shop around .... My last two trips w/
drop, Munich to Venice, and Paris to Barcelona, the drop charges were
only $50 and $75 dollars respectively.
Sometimes, it makes a difference which direction you are headed. I
was once quoted $220 to drop from Madrid to Lisbon, but only half that
amount for a Lisbon to Madrid.... and then when I showed up in Lisbon
to pick up the car, turns out they had a Spanish car that needed
returning, so they waived the drop charge.... And I experienced this
another time on an Amsterdam to Munich trip.
So, what I'm saying, is to see which way they're wanting the cars to
be moved.... and see if they can tell you where someone else may be
dropping cars that will need returning anyway.
Good luck.
--
Glenn
--
Reply addresses should be corrected
for Auntie Spam!
>Folks, I just got off the phone with kemwel.com which had
>an attractive quote of USD 320 for a compact car for
>6 days, picking up in Venice, dropping off in Zurich.
>Unfortunately the "drop charge" was USD 1200!!!! I
>about passed out after hearing that. Needless to stay
>my dreams of driving in europe went bye-bye after
>that.
>What I don't understand is I've seen people on this
>NG arguing about which is cheaper, car or rail, when
>travelling between, say, Paris and Rome. With
>drop charges like this, how could car ever possibly
>be CLOSE to rail when going between different countries??
>The kemwel guy did say drop charges
>were higher into and out of Italy and Spain, but come
>on.. that's ridiculous! Did I miss something here?
>Is it possible to rent a car, pick up in Italy, drop
>off in Switzerland, for less than USD 1500???? In
>fact, I probably wouldn't do it for anything more
>than USD 600.
>cj
Like everyone else is saying.... shop around .... My last two trips w/
drop, Munich to Venice, and Paris to Barcelona, the drop charges were
only $50 and $75 dollars respectively.
Sometimes, it makes a difference which direction you are headed. I
was once quoted $220 to drop from Madrid to Lisbon, but only half that
amount for a Lisbon to Madrid.... and then when I showed up in Lisbon
to pick up the car, turns out they had a Spanish car that needed
returning, so they waived the drop charge.... And I experienced this
another time on an Amsterdam to Munich trip.
So, what I'm saying, is to see which way they're wanting the cars to
be moved.... and see if they can tell you where someone else may be
dropping cars that will need returning anyway.
Good luck.
--
Glenn
--
Reply addresses should be corrected
for Auntie Spam!
