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I was “that guy” insisting on parking in the village (kerbing wheel) rather than at the station and paying a few £. Never again.
Tbh after my experiences on the Costa del Sol (eg Ronda centre) parking of late, even covered car parks are mega tight and squeezy on the continent. I didn’t see a single car without some kerb rash or scuffed corner bumper and an absence of “premium” brands presumably as bumps and scuffs are common place so why bother with a decent car. It kind of reminds me on NYC where folk drive with what look like rubber floor mats hanging over number (license) plates, as people actually use adjacent cars as guides to nudge in to when parking. I’d be fuming!!
Totally agree that covered car parks are tight and squeezy on the continent. We have parked our car early in the morning in car parks in France and Monaco where we haven’t been able to get out of our space. On one occasion we couldn’t open the doors to get into the car and on another occasion we were unable to drive out of the space. In Andorra we had to drive up a spiral to get out. It was so tight we had to go forward a little, then reverse and go forward again continuing these manoeuvres until we reached the top. In Paris and other cities, when parking the car alongside the road, they only know they have successfully parked the car in the space when they have hit the car at the front and rear!
With hiring EV cars, do the car hire companies expect the car to be fully charged when being returned at the end of the period?
Are there any smartphone EV apps that can reasonably predict if you’ll need to recharge for a specific journey?
I regularly hire EVs with Hertz – you have to return with a certain amount of charge but not full (that’s pretty unreasonable). Hertz is 80% full usually.
The website Love My EV has a review of various route planners/charging location finder https://lovemyev.com/explore/charging/on-test-the-six-best-route-planning-apps-for-ev-drivers Just bear in mind that the mileage your vehicle says it can do may be more than it actually does, so it’s stil wise to plan to charge a little earlier on in the journey than you must.
Thanks @JenT that’s very helpful.
With hiring EV cars, do the car hire companies expect the car to be fully charged when being returned at the end of the period?
Are there any smartphone EV apps that can reasonably predict if you’ll need to recharge for a specific journey?
I hired an EV from Avis in Athens a couple of weeks back and was told I could return with whatever charge I wanted. I returned it with about 90km range left (around 35%).
I hired an EV with Hertz in August. It might be because I’m Hertz President Club but I was told I could return with any charge I liked.
I regularly hire EVs with Hertz – you have to return with a certain amount of charge but not full (that’s pretty unreasonable). Hertz is 80% full usually.
This one’s news to me, what country(ies) was that JenT? My recent experience with Hertz (August, Italy) was I could return the car with any charge I liked, they just charged the cost to recharge, if I recall it wasn’t extortionate like their charges with ICE cars.
Are there any smartphone EV apps that can reasonably predict if you’ll need to recharge for a specific journey?
https://abetterrouteplanner.com/
And their ABRP App@SteveJ – the UK. Prices were very high for recharging and much cheaper to do it ourselves at a nearby charger.
Oh dear! Europcar switching to a revenue-based reward scheme. No more free weekend after 3 hires. One point per euro spent (and in the UK?) There will be ‘surprises’ (sounds like Nectar …) Four bands by spend (Discoverer, up to EUR 999; Traveller, 1000 – 2999; Adventurer 3000 – 9999; Navigator from 10,000 euro spent). No more roaring off in the Mercedes when I only booked a Ford Focus. Ah well, it was nice while it lasted. Time to review whether Avis President is better, but for how long?
Booking through Avios dot com is currently offering 15 Avios per £ spent (instead of 5). Book by 24 February 2025, for rental by 20 May 2025.
Booking through Avios dot com is currently offering 15 Avios per £ spent (instead of 5). Book by 24 February 2025, for rental by 20 May 2025.
That’s Avis, right?
You can select either an Avis or a Budget vehicle but you book through the Avios site.
… you book through the Avios site.
Meaning it won’t qualify for the Amex Gold offer of 20% back on online bookings at Avis: https://www.avis.co.uk/car-hire-offers/uk-offers/amex-loyalty-offer
Meaning it won’t qualify for the Amex Gold offer of 20% back on online bookings at Avis
Yes it lmost certainly will. Documented elsewhere that bookings via other sited such as carhire-ba, and non EU booking have always triggered the Amex offer in the past despite the Ts&Cs. No reason this would not.
@davefl then I stand corrected. I assumed for the Amex offer to credit there would need to be a purchase made through e.g. avis.co.uk
@davefl I’m puzzled by how this can work. I’ve followed a booking right through to payment page and everything is done on avios.com so how would Amex know that I’d made a purchase with Avis in order to apply the offer statement credit?
Pay at the avis office?
I made a booking yesterday using my BAPP, the payment is still showing as pending but the merchant is British Airways Avios Bookings, so no mention of Avis. I’ll report back if this changes when it’s moved from pending.
I made a booking yesterday using my BAPP, the payment is still showing as pending but the merchant is British Airways Avios Bookings, so no mention of Avis. I’ll report back if this changes when it’s moved from pending.
Yeah, that’s not going to trigger the Avis credit. Didn’t realise that was the billing company when I made my earlier comment.
Trying to book a car at KEF airport using Hertz.co.uk and logged in using my president club. The only response I get is click for quote then nothing.
The usual trick of hertz.com.au returns prices which are higher than buying the car!!
Anyone else find the hertz web site and app to be beyond useless.
Anytips or codes for Avis and or Sixt?
@Paul I gave up on all the majors at KEF and used Blue Car, just a short walk across the car park from the main terminal exit. Cheaper, good service. Sometimes it’s not about the points.
@Paul I gave up on all the majors at KEF and used Blue Car, just a short walk across the car park from the main terminal exit. Cheaper, good service. Sometimes it’s not about the points.
Thank you for that tip which I have just looked at. The prices were ok but more expensive than both Sixt and Avis on the same days. None-the-less I would never have heard of the but for you tip so thanks.
I have booked a flexible rate with Sixt for £134 for 4 days which is fine. The Hertz web site however is just a mess
Hertz 10% discount code: 211615
Strangely sent to me by TopCashback. Seems to be genuine on one random US booking I’ve been looking at. No indication of duration or any restrictions.
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