BajaNomad

car rental query

msamuel.choi - 3-14-2006 at 11:35 AM

My wife and I are planning a vacation to Baja in late July/early August and want to rent a car to drive, most likely, to Guerroro Negro (maybe further?). We are planning on starting out of San Diego (have friends there). We know Mex Ins. is a must. Looking at some of the US websites (Avis, Hertz, etc.) the prices seem astronomical. (approx. $500/wk.). Does anyone know of a cheaper car rental place - maybe local in Mex (Tecate or Mexical, Tijuana even)?

osoflojo - 3-14-2006 at 12:39 PM

Rent the car in Mexico. That time of year most places you dont have to reserve on line. If you negotiate in person you may most likely get a better deal.

vandenberg - 3-14-2006 at 02:30 PM

And try Euro-car. They seem to have the best rates by far. At least here in Loreto.

tim40 - 3-16-2006 at 09:49 PM

We had in the past used Euro car....to convey the least I will never rent or use (you could not pay for it on my behalf). They are slime... loose reservations, produce your copy, claim no cars, and then provide one to others (paid higher rate...we asked the others.......). NEVER again.

Marinero - 3-16-2006 at 10:14 PM

Not a company recommendation, just a general rent-a-car suggestion: Check the spare for air, be sure there is a jack (gato) and a jack handle/lugwrench. Oh yes, be sure the lugwrench fits the bolts on the tires. Sounds over the top? Wait until you have a flat miles from nowhere and one of the above is not present or working. It happened to me. By luck a bunch of passing young men scurried about, found what it took and changed my tire. I could have done it, with the right tools now, but they insisted. When they were done I tried to thank them with a nice propina, but no. I did get them to accept some bebidas.

Meanwhile, back in town National Car Rental found me a jack and a new spare. However, when I got to the airport to turn in the car they said I drove on the tire while it was flat and ruined it. Odd, since it went flat while the car was parked. I told them to stuff it, take the car and I would deal with it later. I had the paperwork from the office that changed out the spare and faxed it to the internet office. I pointed out that the people who did the exchange said nothing about a ruined tire. They took the charge off the bill. I don't really think it was a deliberate scam, just mis-communication, but I can't be sure.

Anyway, if you have a problem get it settled at get your paperwork at the first place you go to work things out.

Euro Car-----

Barry A. - 3-17-2006 at 12:05 AM

We used a "Euro Car" rental in Italy last summer and tho the car was terrific (a big BMW diesel, brand new) it is not the car we reserved, they were very sloppy in EVERYTHING, and their attitude was very poor, and they charged more than we had agreed to.

No more Euro-Car for us!!

Martyman - 3-17-2006 at 01:07 PM

rentalcars.com got me a nice deal for a car in Loreto. $40/day

I will never use Euro-Car again!

Dianamo - 3-17-2006 at 01:23 PM

We have the best luck with Thrifty out of Cabo, although they are still not in Loreto (as of December 05)!

We were charged more than double our reserved rate and then HAD to pay for an expensive scratch on the underneath of the car! :mad: :mad::fire::mad::fire::mad: Yes, now we lay down on the ground and try to look underneath!!!:P

There is an airport charge out of Loreto where they "get" you! Everyone at the airport was very angry.

Have had great success in Europe, but they are crooks in Loreto. After the Loreto scam, I will never use them anywhere again!!!!:fire:

DianaMo

awfulart - 3-18-2006 at 08:35 AM

Who is making the airport charge? How much did they charge and was this to leave or enter or both? I expect to rent a car in Loreto and am trying to calculate costs. Thank you

Pstreet1 - 3-23-2006 at 03:04 PM

We've had very good luck with renting from Avis. We reserve in the U.S. (much better rates) from their International Desk on the phone--they have been better than the internet rates. One advantage of Avis is that their quoted rates include the LEGALLY MANDITORY 3rd party liability (for damage you do to other people or their property). Other rental companies do not include this charge in the quoted rate, and you absolutely have to buy it. To compare rates add $7.00-$11.00 a day to other companies' quotes.

We let our credit card insurance cover damage to the vehicle, so the rental of a small car for a week is under $150.00.

baja829 - 3-24-2006 at 05:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by msamuel.choi
My wife and I are planning a vacation to Baja in late July/early August and want to rent a car to drive, most likely, to Guerroro Negro (maybe further?). We are planning on starting out of San Diego (have friends there). We know Mex Ins. is a must. Looking at some of the US websites (Avis, Hertz, etc.) the prices seem astronomical. (approx. $500/wk.). Does anyone know of a cheaper car rental place - maybe local in Mex (Tecate or Mexical, Tijuana even)?

baja829 - 3-24-2006 at 05:33 PM

There is a Thrifty Car Rental branch in the Century 21 Office in San Felipe. It's at the end of the Malecon on the left. You can check it out on website of eldoradoranch.com. , or Thrifty in U.S. Very nice, well cared for cars.

wilderone - 3-24-2006 at 05:46 PM

If you're starting in San Diego, then yes, Tijuana has all the major car rental companies. Budget, Avis, National, etc. You might be able to make reservations online. Take the trolley to the border; walk across and take a taxi to the car rental place. They're all grouped together en route to the airport - about 4 miles from downtown.

shari - 3-25-2006 at 05:30 PM

If anyone is renting from Euro-car in Loretto make sure to get extra insurance because when you turn the car in they always find (or possible create) extra scratches and dents they want to charge you for..scammers...luckily we had extra insurance

guerrero negro visit

shari - 3-25-2006 at 05:37 PM

TextHola amigos, just a suggestion about coming here in summer...if you want to see an incredible part of mid baja, you should drive to bahia asuncion (get there by turning right past the pemex at Vizcaino and going 1 1/2 hours to the beach) It's spectacular, pristine and a lovely temperature even in the summer....nice places to stay and eat and camp and off the beaten track...contact me for more info