Alamo car hire at LAX

ceewash

Does anyone know if it is worth getting the "roadside plus" extra on Alamo car hire? Also is there a shuttle bus to take you to the car or is it within walking distance? Not been to USA before so any help or advice regarding car hire needed. We have paid for the car with Trailfinder but have just noticed the "roadside plus" add on.

Pssst

ceewash wrote: »

Does anyone know if it is worth getting the "roadside plus" extra on Alamo car hire? Also is there a shuttle bus to take you to the car or is it within walking distance? Not been to USA before so any help or advice regarding car hire needed. We have paid for the car with Trailfinder but have just noticed the "roadside plus" add on.

I've rented alamo several times,booked direct via www.alamo.com whats roadside plus?

EDIT

just found it

http://www.alamo.com/itemDetails.do?HelpItemID=ROA

I never had this. How much extra per day is it? It seems like a value added thing wihch costs but is of little use. You will already have some kind of recovery service.

lorweld

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fergual2

Lax is big there are a lot of shuttle buses probably one dedicated to alamo customers which take you to the off-location hire car lots. The main highway has narrow lanes and lots of them (6) and each time I returned to lax I hit slow / gridlock traffic so give yourself plenty of leeway. If you are touring and have a tom tom which can take maps on sd card then invest in the usa maps and take it with you - it will save you a lot of time in cities and allow you plan routes in advance.

mad_rich

If you're the kind of person who loses keys, runs out of petrol, or lets the battery run flat, then it might (but probably won't) come in useful.

For anyone else, it sounds like a waste of money. And I say that without knowing how much they're asking.

ceewash

Thanks for the replies. I think its about $5 a day. This will cost us about $90 for our holiday. We haven't got a SatNav. Is this necessary? Trying to keep costs down.

old_motters

ceewash wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I think its about $5 a day. This will cost us about $90 for our holiday. We haven't got a SatNav. Is this necessary? Trying to keep costs down.

In LA you will definitely need satnav unless you have an excellent map reader with you. There are areas around LAX and South LA that you definitely want to avoid. I wouldn't rent a satnav though, if you're out there for more than 10 days it usually works out cheaper to buy one and they're usually better than the hertz offering.

There's a shuttle bus at all terminals that will take you to the Alamo lot. It is walking distance but Century Blvd is not the nicest place to stroll.

One last thing... there are friendly people in the terminals who may offer to help you. Once you've collected your bags go directly outside and wait at the Alamo stand, without stopping.

ceewash

Should I buy the Sat Nav before I go? Any suggestions of ones that are simple to use and will work in US?

Pssst

ceewash wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I think its about $5 a day. This will cost us about $90 for our holiday. We haven't got a SatNav. Is this necessary? Trying to keep costs down.

How long are you driving for and how far?

I have done several roadtrips bost in the West and east USA and i have also driven around LA.

I would not leave home without my tomtom one and USA maps on SD Card.

It adds to your holiday and makes it more enjoyable. You can get to see more places as you only have to punch them in and go.

In addition,the last thing you want to do is be flapping around with a map whilst concentrating on 6 lanes each way on the freeway around LA with traffic passing on both sides.

My advice Tomtom one plus USA SD card.

You will be sorry if you dont.

malid

My family and I are going to California in August - touring LV, Arizona etc. We have been several times since our firt trip in 1990 and always rely on a good map. This time will be no exception and we shan't be using SatNav.

If you know where you are going, you can always plan your route and get directions on www.mapquest.com

I realise that having a SatNav is just a matter of preference; I would certainly not consider it a must, but as I said, that's my opinion.

Just about to book my car hire - can't wait!!

Enjoy your trip whatever you decide. :rotfl:

p4girl

Returned from California last week, I'd definitely say satnav is essential! Ours always got us where we wanted to go, including back to car rental depot at LAX, but not always the most direct route - and to go anywhere it was OBSESSED with taking us to the freeway - scary place!

So yes, take satnav, but as quickly as possible when you get there, grab a road map, GPS doesn't replace the ability to look at the bigger picture on a map!

Cheapest way I found was to hire a U.S. satnav here (a tomtom through http://www.rentasatnav.com/) and take it with me. Worked out well, good company, and because it had UK maps on it too, it got me to the airport then allowed me to switch maps for U.S.

If you're used to a particular satnav, try hiring the same, the freeways show up like a supersized spaghetti junction, it can take a while to understand what you're looking at!