Need some help with trip to uk.

kragen_ironfist

Yeah looked a trains, trainline is telling me it's £100 for two from Waterloo to Bournemouth, I know it can be cheaper but so far not really add to that the one way fee (Hertz it's £50 and they were the cheapest on the site I found) plus a 1 day hire for my parents and it's still more expensive than renting for 2 weeks.

I haven't looked at travel supermarket yet.

kragen_ironfist

Ok so just tried travel supermarket. Click on the cheapest link and it redirects me to Atlas Car Hire's own web page.

Pick my dates etc and end up a VW Golf at 115gbp (196cad) or a VW Golf Estate for 165gbp (289cad). Sounds good right?

Next I tell it I'm a resident of Canada and it switches the prices to Canadian $ and seems to add a small surcharge (now $210/$300cad respectively)

Not a huge difference so I click through, and click the what's included button, this is where I get a surprise...

The rate includes...

FOR USA, CANADA, SOUTH AMERICAN, AND CARIBBEAN RESIDENTS - ITEMS MARKED * ARE EXCLUDED!

Collision Damage Waiver* EXCLUDED!
Theft Protection* EXCLUDED!
Third Party Cover* EXCLUDED!

The rest of the fees and taxes are included but I guess because I now live in North America I get screwed - the way I read it I could come from anywhere else in the world and get the above at no extra cost.

blindman

kragen_ironfist wrote: »

The rest of the fees and taxes are included but I guess because I now live in North America I get screwed - the way I read it I could come from anywhere else in the world and get the above at no extra cost.

That's what we Brits get when hiring in USA

So if I read this right:

Flying into LGW -2 days in London. Just you two.

Have to get to Bournemouth (2 people)

Friend will lend a 2 seater car at Bournemouth-Not suitable for 4 (parents)

Travellng from Bournemouth to Birmingham (Four people) then Gatwick

Looked at National Express??

MegaBus?

I would have thought train travel would be easier than car hire.

kragen_ironfist

Not quite, basically it's just me and my wife for most of the time.

The 2 nights in London we're going to use public transport.

Then we have to get to Bournemouth, we have a relative in Winnersh (near wokingham) whom we wish to visit but can do that either on way to Bournemouth or on return from Birmingham.

Train to Bournemouth is a definite option providing we can make the separate car hire worthwhile.

We're planning the family day trip at the start of the week, but could maybe push that back a week and include in the hire for the return journey if it's cheap enough.

The reason for not taking train/coach to Birmingham is that my wife is has never seen England and we want to go via Wales etc and do some sightseeing en route.

NiftyDigits

kragen_ironfist wrote: »

Ok so just tried travel supermarket. Click on the cheapest link and it redirects me to Atlas Car Hire's own web page.

Pick my dates etc and end up a VW Golf at 115gbp (196cad) or a VW Golf Estate for 165gbp (289cad). Sounds good right?

Next I tell it I'm a resident of Canada and it switches the prices to Canadian $ and seems to add a small surcharge (now $210/$300cad respectively)

Not a huge difference so I click through, and click the what's included button, this is where I get a surprise...

The rate includes...

FOR USA, CANADA, SOUTH AMERICAN, AND CARIBBEAN RESIDENTS - ITEMS MARKED * ARE EXCLUDED!

Collision Damage Waiver* EXCLUDED!
Theft Protection* EXCLUDED!
Third Party Cover* EXCLUDED!

The rest of the fees and taxes are included but I guess because I now live in North America I get screwed - the way I read it I could come from anywhere else in the world and get the above at no extra cost.

Atlas Car Hire? Don't think such a company exists.
Seems that you are referring to another broker.

kragen_ironfist

Was Atlas choice and yes looks like another broker lol.

Am wondering if the lack of cdw etc is a good thing? According to this site https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/car-rental-cdw it's cheaper and better to get coverage my side of the pond. Except, just phoned my insurance company and they seemed to think I have to buy coverage when I get the car.

Guess maybe it's one of the USA VA Canada things. Anyway next step is to check our travel insurance options.

NiftyDigits

kragen_ironfist wrote: »

Was Atlas choice and yes looks like another broker lol.

Am wondering if the lack of cdw etc is a good thing? According to this site https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/car-rental-cdw it's cheaper and better to get coverage my side of the pond. Except, just phoned my insurance company and they seemed to think I have to buy coverage when I get the car.

Guess maybe it's one of the USA VA Canada things. Anyway next step is to check our travel insurance options.

I've already explained this to you/for you. There is a difference between CDW and Super CDW.
You can rent a car with CDW and purchase Super CDW as a standalone policy or from the car hirer(not the broker) or you can book a car without CDW and purchase a CDW policy from your country. You'll have to have a large amount ringfenced on your credit card for all options, apart from if you purchase Super CDW direct from the car hirer(not the broker).

kragen_ironfist

I understand what you said but as far as the Atlas choice site is concerned it appears that you don't even get REGULAR CDW as a Canadian

kragen_ironfist

If it's a case of purchasing the super cdw from the hirer, how do I find out what the different companies charge as its not clear on their websites and could make the difference between picking the supposedly cheaper option to find out that one that looked more expensive would have in fact been better.

NiftyDigits

kragen_ironfist wrote: »

I understand what you said but as far as the Atlas choice site is concerned it appears that you don't even get REGULAR CDW as a Canadian

So then don't use Atlas Choice....


or contact http://www.rentalcover.com to see what they can offer in the way of CDW....or pay for CDW/Super CDW direct from the car hirer...