werner@ut-ngp.UUCP (03/15/84)
X ... there must be a nest here somwhere source: INTERNATIONAL LIVING, Vol 3 # 11, March 84, PAGE 14 SPANISH WHEELS RANK HIGH - Best for European car rental is "Europcar" in Spain. Get a confirmation slip wherever you go, and be sure the word "Superdrive" is on your contract. This means unlimited mileage for $84/week plus 4% tax. A surplus of cars in Spain has kept rentals supplied with the latest models. Contact: Europcar, Calle Orense 29, Madrid, Spain; tel. (011341) 455-9930. [ Well, I've been on the phone to find out more details - this is what I have learned so far: Gotfried Davis represents Europcar 1-800-343-7184. when I mentioned my interest in this "cheap" program, they refered me to National Car Rentals, Intl. Division 1-800-CAR-RENT, who did not know the program, but offered the following: with minimum 7 days advance reservation, 7 days rental, unlimited mileage, basic insurance included: "European Passport Rates" Fiat Panda $101 Renault 5 $113 Opel Corsa $126 Renault 18 stationwagon $260 VW Minibus $800 prices are rough conversions from Pesetas. Iberia, the Spanish airline was next on my list at 1-800-221-9741 and they were "very glad I called" as they had some "very special offer" when flying Iberia both ways. You can get a car for $1 the first week, and $12 additional days, $79 additional weeks, unlimited mileage. car is Fiat Panda (a 2-door hatch) or a Mini. Your travel agents has to make the arrangements for you AFTER you have purchased the ticket by contacting Camwell Carrental. Iberia will send me a brochure and will provide you with the 800-number for Camwell, depending on your area code. BTW, Iberia flies out of NY, Boston, and Miami. No idea about their prices. People Express was next, and what did I find? They are flying out of Houston via Newark to London for $436 RT !!!! No car-rental connections, but HEYYYY , what a price. Now to find a good car rental deal in England. Maybe BWI gets a call from me or the British tourist agency. For now, I've had it. Icelandic flying to Luxembourg might also be a good deal, in combination with Auto-Europe at $129/week (says my travel agent)
ron@brl-vgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (03/15/84)
Stay away from National Car Rentals (in general) and their international arm Europcar. They damn near ruined a trip for us by: 1. Not having the correct car as reserved for us when we arrived (it had to be delivered the next day). 2. The engine died the day after. 3. The clutch/transmission froze up the next week in a remote area and we had to hitch back to civilization. 4. We waited a day for a replacement and again it was not the right sized car. We piled into the too small Fiat and headed for the next stop on our trip where they were supposed to fetch us a new car. 5. The new car's rear seat was busted and kept dumping the pasengers on the floor. Give me a break. I have had trouble 3 out of 4 times with National domestically too. -Ron