Renting a car in Europe, a good idea or not?
 

What are your thoughts on renting a car in Barcelona, driving into France,
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and back to Barcelona in 3 weeks?
Is gas too expensive?
Car rental rates too high?
Need a special licence if American?
How difficult is it to cross country boundaries in a rental car?
Crime against rental cars too high?
Anyone here have done that and could share their experiences, please?

thanks
qsh

Re: Renting a car in Europe, a good idea or not?
 

QuiltShopHopper wrote:

    > What are your thoughts on renting a car in Barcelona, driving into France,
    > Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and back to Barcelona in 3 weeks?

Did this 2 years ago with our family of 5. Started in Paris, put about
8,000km
on our leased diesel van. Had a great time. Visited Italy, Germany,
Austria,
Switzerland, The Netherlands, France.

    > Is gas too expensive?

Get a diesel car/van - save about 30%

    > Car rental rates too high?

Cheaper than rail depending on how many people are in your party. Look
into leasing - we used Eurodrive cost about C$2300 for a month (taxes AND
insurance included) for a 7 passenger van. Pick-up/drop-off in Paris (CDG)

    > Need a special licence if American?

Didn't need as a Canadians.

    > How difficult is it to cross country boundaries in a rental car?

No problems - haven't crossed from France to Spain, but shouldn't
be any different than between France and Germany.

    > Crime against rental cars too high?

Had no problems and we were everywhere from big cities (Paris, Rome)
to the smallest villages.

    > Anyone here have done that and could share their experiences, please?

If you have any specific questions just ask.

    > thanks
    > qsh

Re: Renting a car in Europe, a good idea or not?
 

I sent a long answer but it was returned because your address is invalid. I
should have remembered that and not wasted my time!

Larry in Berkeley, California (seaotter 6 at a o l dot c o m)(no spaces in
address)

Re: Renting a car in Europe, a good idea or not?
 

"QuiltShopHopper" wrote in
news:[email protected]:

    > What are your thoughts on renting a car in Barcelona, driving into
    > France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and back to Barcelona in 3
    > weeks? Is gas too expensive?
    > Car rental rates too high?
    > Need a special licence if American?
    > How difficult is it to cross country boundaries in a rental car?
    > Crime against rental cars too high?
    > Anyone here have done that and could share their experiences, please?
    >
    > thanks
    > qsh
    >
    >

You will have no trouble with your itinerary. Will only see border guards
going into Switzerland. Yes the gas is expensive (1usd per liter) but the
cars get good mileage (kilometrage?) and the flexibility is a great aid to
seeing things on your terms.

Check with AutoEurope (3 weeks you might look into getting your car in
France as a short term lease from Renault very good rates (they get a tax
break))

Re: Renting a car in Europe, a good idea or not?
 

I haven't done that one but I am about to do a nine week tour using a
leased Renault. The total lease cost is AU$1850 or about a thousand
euros. It can be very cheap, but you must lease for at least 17 days.
In your case it would be cheaper if you picked up and returned the car
over the border in France.

Cheers - Alan

Re: Renting a car in Europe, a good idea or not?
 

Following up to QuiltShopHopper

    >What are your thoughts on renting a car in Barcelona, driving into France,
    >Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and back to Barcelona in 3 weeks?
    >Is gas too expensive?

You will think so! Seems a lot for three weeks to me but perfectly
feasible.

    >Car rental rates too high?

look at, say, europecar site and make a judgement. Spain will be
cheaper than most countries to hire but will possibly charge extra for
other countries. I would use a company with a presence in all the
countries you are visiting.

    >Need a special licence if American?

I suspect you need to get an international driving license.

    >How difficult is it to cross country boundaries in a rental car?

borders normally unmanned, but you will have to clear your journey
with the hire car company.

    >Crime against rental cars too high?

do not leave things on view in any parked car in Spain, vioent crime
low, theft from cars high. I dont leave loaded cars unattended at any
time.

    >Anyone here have done that and could share their experiences, please?

--
Regards
Mike Reid
Spanish regional cooking at
"http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/espania.htm"

Re: Renting a car in Europe, a good idea or not?
 

"QuiltShopHopper" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > What are your thoughts on renting a car in Barcelona, driving into France,
    > Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and back to Barcelona in 3 weeks?
    > Is gas too expensive?
    > Car rental rates too high?
    > Need a special licence if American?
    > How difficult is it to cross country boundaries in a rental car?
    > Crime against rental cars too high?
    > Anyone here have done that and could share their experiences, please?

I suggest that you use http://groups.google.com and search. Most of these
questions have been discussed at some length within the past month.

Re: Renting a car in Europe, a good idea or not?
 

Larry wrote:
    >
    > I sent a long answer but it was returned because your address is invalid. I
    > should have remembered that and not wasted my time!
    >
    > Larry in Berkeley, California (seaotter 6 at a o l dot c o m)(no spaces in
    > address)

This is a public forum, designed for SHARING of information! If you
insist on responding by private email you deserve whatever inconvenience
you get! We don't want to hear about it! YOU'RE wasting MY time
everytime you post this &^&% complaint!

UNDERSTAND???

Barbara

Re: Renting a car in Europe, a good idea or not?
 

The Reids wrote:
    >
    > Following up to QuiltShopHopper
    >
    > >What are your thoughts on renting a car in Barcelona, driving into France,
    > >Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and back to Barcelona in 3 weeks?
    > >Is gas too expensive?
    >
    > You will think so! Seems a lot for three weeks to me but perfectly
    > feasible.
    >
    > >Car rental rates too high?
    >
    > look at, say, europecar site and make a judgement. Spain will be
    > cheaper than most countries to hire but will possibly charge extra for
    > other countries. I would use a company with a presence in all the
    > countries you are visiting.
    >
    > >Need a special licence if American?
    >
    > I suspect you need to get an international driving license.

In Austria (according to an Austrian person who posted here) an IDL is
required. I believe it's also required in Spain. The rental car company
may not require it, but you may have to pay a fine if you're stopped and
don't have it. The IDL must always be accompanied by your national
license. It's a translation, not a substitute.

Barbara

Re: Renting a car in Europe, a good idea or not?
 

Following up to Barbara Vaughan

    >In Austria (according to an Austrian person who posted here) an IDL is
    >required. I believe it's also required in Spain. The rental car company
    >may not require it, but you may have to pay a fine if you're stopped and
    >don't have it. The IDL must always be accompanied by your national
    >license. It's a translation, not a substitute.

Its certainly required in Spain by the hire company, I have never
turned up without one but I suspect no license, no car. They want a
credit card and a license. I reckon you have more chance of getting
the car with just a foreign license, but have both! Nowadays of course
Europeans no longer need them as UK license is pan EU.
--
Mike Reid
Land of roast meat "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/castile.htm"
(see web to email)

Re: Renting a car in Europe, Thanks to All!
 

Thank you all for your advice! I can't wait to get to Europe!

qsh

Re: IDL ripoff!
 

Barbara Vaughan wrote:
    >
    > The Reids wrote:
    >
    >>Following up to QuiltShopHopper

    >>>What are your thoughts on renting a car in Barcelona, driving into France,
    >>>Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and back to Barcelona in 3 weeks?
    >>>Is gas too expensive?
    >>You will think so! Seems a lot for three weeks to me but perfectly
    >>feasible.

    >>>Car rental rates too high?
    >>look at, say, europecar site and make a judgement. Spain will be
    >>cheaper than most countries to hire but will possibly charge extra for
    >>other countries. I would use a company with a presence in all the
    >>countries you are visiting.
    >>>Need a special licence if American?
    >>I suspect you need to get an international driving license.
    >
    >
    > In Austria (according to an Austrian person who posted here) an IDL is
    > required. I believe it's also required in Spain. The rental car company
    > may not require it, but you may have to pay a fine if you're stopped and
    > don't have it. The IDL must always be accompanied by your national
    > license. It's a translation, not a substitute.
    >
    > Barbara

I wonder why the supposed translation has validity that is so much
shorter than the license that it is supposed to be translating? Are
they expecting the languages to change?

Frank Matthews

Re: IDL ripoff!
 

Frank Matthews wrote:
    >
    > Barbara Vaughan wrote:
    > >
    > > The Reids wrote:
    > >
    > >>Following up to QuiltShopHopper
    >
    > >>>What are your thoughts on renting a car in Barcelona, driving into France,
    > >>>Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and back to Barcelona in 3 weeks?
    > >>>Is gas too expensive?
    > >>
    > >>You will think so! Seems a lot for three weeks to me but perfectly
    > >>feasible.
    >
    > >>>Car rental rates too high?
    > >>
    > >>look at, say, europecar site and make a judgement. Spain will be
    > >>cheaper than most countries to hire but will possibly charge extra for
    > >>other countries. I would use a company with a presence in all the
    > >>countries you are visiting.
    > >>
    > >>
    > >>>Need a special licence if American?
    > >>
    > >>I suspect you need to get an international driving license.
    > >
    > >
    > > In Austria (according to an Austrian person who posted here) an IDL is
    > > required. I believe it's also required in Spain. The rental car company
    > > may not require it, but you may have to pay a fine if you're stopped and
    > > don't have it. The IDL must always be accompanied by your national
    > > license. It's a translation, not a substitute.
    > >
    > > Barbara
    >
    > I wonder why the supposed translation has validity that is so much
    > shorter than the license that it is supposed to be translating? Are
    > they expecting the languages to change?

I have no idea. But it is a real translation, not a supposed
translation.

Barbara

Re: Renting a car in Europe, a good idea or not?
 

jcoulter schrieb:
    >
    > "QuiltShopHopper" wrote in
    > news:[email protected]:
    >
    > > What are your thoughts on renting a car in Barcelona, driving into
    > > France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and back to Barcelona in 3
    > > weeks? Is gas too expensive?
    > > Car rental rates too high?
    > > Need a special licence if American?
    > > How difficult is it to cross country boundaries in a rental car?
    > > Crime against rental cars too high?
    > > Anyone here have done that and could share their experiences, please?
    > >
    > > thanks
    > > qsh
    > >
    > >
    >
    > You will have no trouble with your itinerary. Will only see border guards
    > going into Switzerland.

You will also need a sticker to use the highways in Switzerland. (In
Austria too,
but you can get one valid for 10 days which is not too expensive).
The Swiss sticker is expensive and is valid for a year, which is a pain
if you
just happen to be driving through the country once.
If you are lucky, you might get a rental car with the sticker on it
already.
The chances are not very good in Spain, but if you have the choice of
starting
your trip in a different country, it might be worth considering.
Tom

Yes the gas is expensive (1usd per liter) but the
    > cars get good mileage (kilometrage?) and the flexibility is a great aid to
    > seeing things on your terms.
    >
    > Check with AutoEurope (3 weeks you might look into getting your car in
    > France as a short term lease from Renault very good rates (they get a tax
    > break))

Re: Renting a car in Europe, a good idea or not?
 

A few more elements to consider in addition to gaz and rental costs:

- Highway toll fees can significantly increase the cost of your
journey. Most European countries make you pay to drive on their
highways. The following website: http://www.autoroutes.fr/ provides
information on the cost of travel (gaz + toll fee) for different
routes in France. For example: toll fees for a trip from Perpignan to
Paris amount to approximately $60...

- I would also strongly recommend you check your driving schedule
against the calendar of Bison Fute if you plan to travel in the
summer. (http://www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr/) Their traffic
congestion predictive calendar (Calendrier du Traffic 2003) is very
accurate. Avoid traveling on French highways during the last week-end
of June, July and any week-end in August when traffic congestion is
the highest.

- Vehicles in Europe -especially rental cars- with non-local license
plates are targets for break-ins, and you should remove all luggage
from vehicles once parked. This is especially true in Southern
countries for cars with northern European licence plates. Extra
source of information:
http://www.andalucia.com/tourism/pettycrime.htm

I hope this helps,

Stephane (your Tyzo.com friend)