Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2013

duchy

Can someone educate me on carhire on Vegas. I don't "do" wrong side of the road driving but OH wants to hire a car there.

He doesn't want to use creditcards in the US (Yeah I know..... <sigh> so presumably the hire companies will take an authorisation on his debit card and I'm assuming it'll be a few hundred at least ?

StuieUK34

I booked with Dollar (via netflights), and as it was 1 day hire, paid for fuel + add driver...
As its full insurance, they didnt ask to see a card, as no excess, and no reason to "hold" any money on a card anyway...

Last trip i booked direct with alamo.co.uk , and again, paid for fuel in advance, i dont use credit cards either.... Alamo say they take cash deposit or Debit cards....
Picked up the mustang, drive to checkout, guy wanted a card so i gave him my debit card, silly !!!!!! said he wanted a credit card, so i gave him my FairFX card.....
He "Auth" $1 on the card and that was that............
Book british, its zero excess..... book elsewhere, its a different story..

duchy

Cheers Stuie

vegasvisitor

Well, that's us done our car rental

I called up in the end, because every time I tired to add the fuel it was diverting me to the Airport location for some reason. When I called, the guy had a different booking system and could get exactly what I wanted - TI plus the fuel upgrade and extra driver. £167 for the week, sorted. Just waiting on email confirmation. Have checked the booking on online though with my reference and it appears to be fine. :j

I asked about the terms and conditions. He said that they have it noted that for Dollar you buy the fuel on collection. Might be a required 'upsell' as part of their contract with Carhire3000. Strange how Dollar's policy differs, but I guess they can set terms and conditions for third parties, so I couldn't be sure I'd be able to return the car full and not pay their fuel prices!

That's another thing sorted. 6 weeks tomorrow!! Bit early to pack though, but I could practice sunbathing today :rotfl:

Georgiegirl256

lesley74 wrote: »

Well, that's us done our car rental

I called up in the end, because every time I tired to add the fuel it was diverting me to the Airport location for some reason. When I called, the guy had a different booking system and could get exactly what I wanted - TI plus the fuel upgrade and extra driver. £167 for the week, sorted. Just waiting on email confirmation. Have checked the booking on online though with my reference and it appears to be fine. :j

I asked about the terms and conditions. He said that they have it noted that for Dollar you buy the fuel on collection. Might be a required 'upsell' as part of their contract with Carhire3000. Strange how Dollar's policy differs, but I guess they can set terms and conditions for third parties, so I couldn't be sure I'd be able to return the car full and not pay their fuel prices!

That's another thing sorted. 6 weeks tomorrow!! Bit early to pack though, but I could practice sunbathing today :rotfl:

Yeah bit early....we usually don't pack until the night before! :rotfl: Enjoy practicing the sunbathing!

daisiegg

duchy wrote: »

Can someone educate me on carhire on Vegas. I don't "do" wrong side of the road driving but OH wants to hire a car there.

He doesn't want to use creditcards in the US (Yeah I know..... <sigh> so presumably the hire companies will take an authorisation on his debit card and I'm assuming it'll be a few hundred at least ?

I would definitely check very carefully in advance whether this will be possible, because a lot of companies demand a credit card. My sister recently had a huge problem in LA having pre-booked and pre-paid for a hire car, and then realising that she needed a credit card for a guarantee...she doesn't have a credit card! Cue lots of frantic research by my mum, who found many different accounts online of not being allowed to hire the car without the credit card. Sister contacted the company (one of the big ones - can't remember which) who said very firmly no, you have to have a credit card, and it has to be in the name of the person hiring the car. Eventually my sister managed to hire her car using her debit card but they insisted on doing a very extensive (and slow) background and credit check. I think not all companies would even do this, according to most accounts online. I would definitely get in touch with the hire company before rocking up to pick up the car to make sure they will take the debit card..... Or just persuade him to use his credit card!!

bubble113

lesley74 wrote: »

Well, that's us done our car rental

I called up in the end, because every time I tired to add the fuel it was diverting me to the Airport location for some reason. When I called, the guy had a different booking system and could get exactly what I wanted - TI plus the fuel upgrade and extra driver. £167 for the week, sorted. Just waiting on email confirmation. Have checked the booking on online though with my reference and it appears to be fine. :j

I asked about the terms and conditions. He said that they have it noted that for Dollar you buy the fuel on collection. Might be a required 'upsell' as part of their contract with Carhire3000. Strange how Dollar's policy differs, but I guess they can set terms and conditions for third parties, so I couldn't be sure I'd be able to return the car full and not pay their fuel prices!

That's another thing sorted. 6 weeks tomorrow!! Bit early to pack though, but I could practice sunbathing today :rotfl:

I'm trying to book a car too, usually use netflights but want to pick up from TI so going through carhire3000 but its doing the same to me. I put in upgrade for extra driver/ tank of fuel and go to book now and it gives me airport pick up. Thought it may be something to do with TI opening times but checked Ferf's post about Dollar at TI and should be open. Looks like I will have to ring them, thanks for the post saved me a lot of faffing about!

Froggitt

duchy wrote: »

Can someone educate me on carhire on Vegas. I don't "do" wrong side of the road driving but OH wants to hire a car there.

You can turn right at a red light unless it says otherwise.

ferf1223

restaurant.com code TRAVEL extended through today for $25 certificate for $5 (normally $10)

ferf1223

daisiegg wrote: »

I would definitely get in touch with the hire company before rocking up to pick up the car to make sure they will take the debit card..... Or just persuade him to use his credit card!!

I agree - there are so many posts about people panicking when they realise that most T&Cs require a CC that I just don't think it can be the case that if you book through a UK 3rd party it is always the case that one is not required...when you get to the Dollar desk they ask for licence and credit card...whether I could decline to provide a CC I don't know as I have never tried...but will try remember to ask in October.

And the TI location at least now has a sign up saying that if you have a foreign driving licence they also want to see your passport.

Appreciate the heads up on the issues with TI pick-up/adding fuel upgrade as now I will be expecting it and know that calling will sort it out...we normally pick up TI, return to the airport - haven't tried getting quotes for our October trip yet so will be interesting to see if it goes wacky for me too.