Can anyone please recommend a good car rental that will allow a pickup in Bath and drop-off in/around York (kind of like the route Rick recommends)? Has anyone had good luck with Enterprise? Do the car rentals charge an extra fee for doing this?
Posted by
Phoenix, AZ
12 posts
We are doing the same thing in two weeks and got a great deal on autoeurope.com (RS recommends in his 2008 Great Britain book) and we got our renters
collision insurance through travelguard.com (also RS recommended and much cheaper than going through the car rental company!)
Posted by
Brangwin, Wa, USA
349 posts
I know ar one time almost all companys allowed a Heathrow drop off at no charge
Posted by
Lewis, WV, US
178 posts
When you get a rental in Great Britain be sure to order an automatic. We were there this summer, and it was very difficult shifting with the left hand while sitting on the right side in narrow lanes on the wrong side of the road. It is worth whatever extra you need to pay. :):):):) Keep traveling.
Posted by
washington
837 posts
We used Enterprise in 2007, Heathrow to Heathrow. Their price was FAR lower than anyone else. They were very helpful, even loaned us a Michelin road atlas. While we usually like to use trains, the car rental was so much cheaper in GB that trains were out of the question. My question would be why pickup in Bath and return in York. Presumably you aren't flying into Bath and out of York.
Posted by
Troy, Oh, USA
2804 posts
Hi Shelley, we have used AutoEurope and was happy with them. We always pickup in one location and drop off at another location. Unlike what Rick says, I like starting our trips out in London, then we take the train to another town to pick up the car, then drop it off near to where we will end out trip. You will be able to see so many beauatiful villages on your way up to York. We haven't had experience with Enterprise so not able to help you with that. Have a great trip.
Posted by
OP
Topeka, KS, USA
6 posts
Thank you all for your replies. I went ahead and booked thru AutoEurope-with a standard shift..yea, I thought about that left hand shifter too--all I can say is those blokes better WATCH OUT. If they don't like the way I drive, they need to stay off the sidewalk! (Just kidding!) No freakin way I'm going to drive in the big cities, hence even tho flying in/out of London, No can do. We are driving countryside thru Cotswolds, Wales, Scotland, etc. It will be an experience- driving-, and isn't that what the whole idea of going somewhere different is in the first place?! Happy Travels to ya'll!
Posted by
washington
837 posts
Shelly, consider you rethink. I think you will find that driving on freeways and in the suburbs is easy. Heathrow is not in downtown London. Neither are any other London airports. I think you will find driving in the countryside far more challenging than on highways and in towns. I found driving at dusk and after dark on country, one lane roads, particularly daunting. I have no problems with sticks with left hand drives in other areas of Europe, but was very glad to have an automatic in Britain. I found, as have others I have spoken to, that guiding in the center of the lane was difficult. I was constantly hitting the left curb. Another word of caution. As a pedestrian, it is difficult to get used to traffic coming from the opposite direction.
Posted by
Boscombe, Dorset, UK
964 posts
Hi Shelley,
I learned to drive, and drove, in Canada and the US for 25 years. Then 12 years ago I moved to the UK. Trust me when I tell you, driving in the country here is not like it is in N. America! The roads here are crowded. I'd suggest an automatic would be so much easier and would let you enjoy the areas you're driving through.
Also- when working out your driving times, allow a lot longer than you would at home; I usually double the time.
Whatever you decide to do, have a great time.