One Way Driving in Europe

[gvix]

Dear AFFers!

After a long time, I am going to do a dream trip with the family around Europe. Flying J from KL to Madrid and then thinking of driving around Madrid to Barcelona, South France, Monaco and onwards to Rome and Venice. Everything was going smoothly till I got stuck with the car rental issue!

All European holiday brochures promise the drive in Europe is fantastic. What they don't mention is that it can be bloody expensive if you do a one way trip. Sample:

12 day compact car hire if staying within Spain: $300.
12 day compact car hire going from Madrid to Rome: $2000+ which includes around $1600 of one way international fees!

That is atrocious!

I have had a ring in around all the major car companies even auto europe and the like and they are all charging the same rates.

Does the AFFer community know any way to bypass this issue? Do I just have to suck it up?

Thanks!

 

[sutho58]

how long is your trip for,,, I think Peugot have a lease (rental) with drop off at airport other then pickup,, minimum period is 21 days.

Peugeot Leasing Special | DriveAway Holidays

 

[gvix]

Unfortunately, I have to fly out of Venice (or Verona) on the 1st of Oct to go to UK. It equates to around 18 days, just 3 days shorter than the 21 day mark.

Edit: I just checked that website, and even they have an outside France pickup and return fees. With my pickup in Spain and drop off in Rome, it is over $600 extra on the cheapest $1400 rental. That is more expensive than the Hertz rental.

 

[ftm]

I've not found a way to avoid one way fees when picking up and dropping off in different countries. Generally there isn't a fee if you contain it within one country. But that doesn't sound like it will help you this time.

FTM

Sent from my HTC Velocity 4G using AustFreqFly

 

[tehuringa]

I have just come back from Europe and combined car hire (18 days total) and train trips so I didn't have to worry about drop off fees. Depending on the size of your family I'd look at getting something bigger than a compact also....we had three people in a mid-sized Peugeot and luggage was a squeeze with that. Also watch out for hidden fees.....Europcar stung us for a €135 car cleaning fee at Dijon rail station......$#%@ing thieves :evil:

 

[bigmal]

I'm looking at doing a similar thing, but from Amsterdam to Paris. One way fees and the whole rental was a ridiculous amount, but then went back to the Hertz site, took out my membership number and the rate was quite acceptable, about $100 per day including all fees etc.
Give that a go!

 

[gvix]

I'm looking at doing a similar thing, but from Amsterdam to Paris. One way fees and the whole rental was a ridiculous amount, but then went back to the Hertz site, took out my membership number and the rate was quite acceptable, about $100 per day including all fees etc.
Give that a go!

Was that Hertz Australia or Europe? No.1 Gold?

 

[here2go]

Concur with previous advice re train. Do one way rental within country and take train across borders if you are flying open jaw. Can your travel agent organise something though?

 

[gvix]

Concur with previous advice re train. Do one way rental within country and take train across borders if you are flying open jaw. Can your travel agent organise something though?

I am the travel agent.

I have now found with some more research that it is Italy which is the biggest culprit. If I drop anywhere in France, it is less than half price. *sigh* I should have checked before doing the plans.

 

[bigmal]

Was that Hertz Australia or Europe? No.1 Gold?

Was with Hertz Aust on the website, and am Presidents Circle member. Ended up being a 7 day rental for €500, including the €250 drop fee. With the PC number included it was almost €2000!! (Just tried again and same result)

 

[gvix]

Was with Hertz Aust on the website, and am Presidents Circle member. Ended up being a 7 day rental for €500, including the €250 drop fee. With the PC number included it was almost €2000!! (Just tried again and same result)

OK. I am Gold with Hertz and I get a 15% discount. Thanks for the advice.