I liked the idea of GPS for $10 a day, but I have never used GPS, so I don't know if it is necessary. Pick up in Perpignan, then on to Carcassone, Bibao, Dordogne, Loire Valley and a dropoff in Paris are the spots we will travel to.
Can you suggest a different company? I get a AAA car rental discount rate. Need a car that can hide 3 smallish suitcases.
Thanks!
I always recommend comparing rates online at Autoeurope. Very reputable company for booking rentals in France and they commit to meeting or beating other companies' rates.
As stated above, AutoEurope is a good company to use. We find the GPS extremely useful.
I also book through Autoeurope. That gave me Europcar in France just a few weeks ago, but the provider varies by country I think. (Maybe even based upon your pick up and drop off locations.)
A GPS could come in handy, but I would not want my first time driving with GPS to be in a foreign country. Could be a distraction if you are not used to using one.
Kayak.com compares autoeurope and a batch of otheres -- try it.
You don't need to hide your suitcases, so don't make that a factor. Trust me, mine are never hidden.
If you can swing it, buy and bring your own gps so you can get used to it. I've had both tom-tom and garmin and can make a case for either one -- or an uncase.
I agree -- buy a GPS before you go and practice with it. We got a Garmin that was preloaded with European maps and have now used it twice in Europe and several US trips too. It is indespensible. I pride myself on my mapreading skills -- but this last trip to the Netherlands and Belgium would have been much more difficult driving wise without the GPS. Check out Amazon.com. They have charts that tell you what features each units have -- this will help you determine which one to get. Ours even has the traffic alert -- and speed camera alert thing -- which sounded frequently in Belgium. By the time you rent and pay $10 a day you could soon just own your own.
Buy a GPS here that is pre-loaded with EU maps, and practice. If you try learning how to use one in the EU if will tak you three days to figure it out!
You still want to take a Michelin map, or buy one is service station in France (that is what we did last year.) The GPS is not infallible.
We love Auto Europe (they are a broker) because their web site lets you play around with pick-up and drop off locations, and car sizes, allowing you to find the best price. They always beat my AAA or Costco discount prices, and they are really helpful when you call them on the phone.
I used Kayak to find out that Hertz was the cheapest rental for me in France. I looked at autoeurope, but they were more. Hertz also has about 25 drop off locations in Paris, so we could drop the car near our hotel.
We've rented cars in Europe many times and have always used Europcar. Have not had a bad experience with them yet.
But as far as GPS is concerned...not really sure it's needed. It's really easy driving in France. We've always done just find with online Michelin road maps that calculate time, mileage, gas, toll prices for you.
Good Luck!
I use AutoEurope. They are a consolidator and the rental will be at whichever company gives you the best price. I believe they will match any price. I have used only maps and I have used GPS. I recommend using both.
We always end up using Avis in France -- so many locations, and whenever we run comparisons they always come up least expensive if we use our Costco membership. (Plus, there is no charge for extra driver, and we haven't had any extra charge to pick up and drop off in different locations. Picked up in Versailles and dropped in Nice, as well as Strasbourg dropping outside Paris.)
Haven't ever used GPS, so can't comment on that.
Our cars have always had a hatchback, with covered baggage area. It's not a bad idea to go with a smaller car for parking and small streets, but comfortable enough for the long stretches.
