Great service from Alamo in Spain.

[drron]

Booked 6 day rental direct with Alamo in Barcelona as virtually the same rate as discounters though still expensive as 1100 EUR.
On Arrival obviously didn't have any Opel equivalents left so offered various upgrades, Selected a Lexus hybrid which didn't have a GPS so rental came down to 980 EUR.
Everything explained- road laws,tolls and police.

Had a warning pop up just before arriving in Bilbao so detoured to the Alamo set up at the main station -an experience in itself.
Took a short while as the only English speaker finished a job. No problems it is only saying a service is due and you will be fine returning to Barcelona.

I was supposed to take it back to the downtown Barcelona depot but Google maps direct you to go down a one way street the wrong way which I latter found out even Alamo staff do. For the life of me could not find the other entrance to the street. So eventually gave up and returned it to the airport. Service there couldn't have been any better. Walked around the car and agreed all damage was pre existing. I knew the odometer reading and told her of the oil warning plus being unable to find the city depot.
So the woman said you are a very good man and it is unfair that you have been charged a full days rental so I am taking it off. So now rental cost 820 EUR.
Actually totally gob smacked with the service. Until they screw something up they will be my go to car rental in the future.

 

[RB]

Booked 6 day rental direct with Alamo in Barcelona as virtually the same rate as discounters though still expensive as 1100 EUR.
On Arrival obviously didn't have any Opel equivalents left so offered various upgrades, Selected a Lexus hybrid which didn't have a GPS so rental came down to 980 EUR.
Everything explained- road laws,tolls and police.

Had a warning pop up just before arriving in Bilbao so detoured to the Alamo set up at the main station -an experience in itself.
Took a short while as the only English speaker finished a job. No problems it is only saying a service is due and you will be fine returning to Barcelona.

I was supposed to take it back to the downtown Barcelona depot but Google maps direct you to go down a one way street the wrong way which I latter found out even Alamo staff do. For the life of me could not find the other entrance to the street. So eventually gave up and returned it to the airport. Service there couldn't have been any better. Walked around the car and agreed all damage was pre existing. I knew the odometer reading and told her of the oil warning plus being unable to find the city depot.
So the woman said you are a very good man and it is unfair that you have been charged a full days rental so I am taking it off. So now rental cost 820 EUR.
Actually totally gob smacked with the service. Until they screw something up they will be my go to car rental in the future.

Just had a look at google maps-glad I wasn't driving around lost in that area

 

[drron]

And to follow up today picked up an Alamo rental this time booked through a consolidator. much better experienc today than I ever had using my Avis preferred status. On;y had to show my DL and CC. Sign the already completed agreement. My allocated car was already close to the office with the attendant even taking our bags to the car.

 

[UP4014]

Alamo is a company I haven't had any issues with at all, cars worked, never tried to rip me off.

As opposed to Avis, Dollar, National, Hertz and Budget who over time have tried to charge extra, not record all the damage and one car even had two bald tyres with wire frayed out.

 

[N860CR]

Good to know. I’ve used them in the US where I find hire cars to be pretty straight forward at the best of times but never elsewhere (where it ranges from poor to absolutely awful). Will give them a go.

 

[drron]

I am now an Alamo Insider. Free to sign up and you get a 5% discount on rentals.

 

[opusman]

Just wondering if anything's changed since this thread or if you'd still recommend them for Spain?

Currently looking at a one-way drive from Barcelona to Madrid over 14 days and Alamo seem to be one of the cheapest. I normally use Europcar or Avis and feel like I've read bad reviews of Alamo in the past but can't point to anything specific.

 

[drron]

Just wondering if anything's changed since this thread or if you'd still recommend them for Spain?

Currently looking at a one-way drive from Barcelona to Madrid over 14 days and Alamo seem to be one of the cheapest. I normally use Europcar or Avis and feel like I've read bad reviews of Alamo in the past but can't point to anything specific.

Since Spain I have used them in England -fabulous service and upgrade to Mercedes.
Then Portugal. again great service which was needed as i destroyed a tire. did get upgraded to upper end Peugeot.
And use them in Australia all the time. Last was in Darwin and poor service. The only time.

 

[bernardblack]

Almost always my rentals in the US are Alamo (or its sister company National), and I find them simple and painless. And at most decent-sized locations you can choose your own car from the row. They're not always an option elsewhere in the world but my upcoming rental in Málaga is Alamo (through a broker). I will report back if anything noteworthy.

 

[bernardblack]

I am pleased to report that my Alamo experience in Málaga was very good. The staff were friendly and helpful, pickup and dropoff were simple, they didn't try to jerk me around with any of the existing minor damage, and my deposit was refunded in a timely manner.