Lease Renault Eurodrive

Melissa,

My husband and I and our two kids leased a e-space mini van in 2004 through renault. it was great! The van was new and had navigation, we needed it because it was our first trip to Europe. We picked it up in Paris and dropped it off in Rome at the airport. We had it for 21 days. It worked out great for us.

Melissa - I did this twice (in 1993 and 2004) both times it worked great! No hassles, a brand new car, very convenient. I recommend Eurodrive to everyone taking an extended European trip. You can't beat the price or the service. Have fun!

None of the websites make this blatantly apparent, but you must allow 6 weeks to 2 months lead time for completion of all paperwork.

Also, are you really going to drive while in big!!! traffic congested cities? I've rented and leased, and to be honest it will sit in the garge at your hotel rather than face the nightmare of navigating and trying to find a parking space, so much wasted money unless you are going to smaller towns, rural areas, etc. We drove from Florence, south of France, up to Bordeaux, then dropped it at Paris on one trip. The highways (autostrade) in Italy and France are great, Spain - watch for potholes (tolls in all countries, you might want to get an electronic pass: www.autostrade.it), smaller country roads and towns ok, but really, Rome, Paris, Madrid? I just got to either the car drop off or to my hotel and parked it.

Ramona - I appreciate your comments about the traffic in big cities - however, I have driven in downtown Florence and Paris (along with Nice and Avignon among others). Sure it was challenging - sometimes every a little scary - but now some of our best travel stories are our urban traffic adventures. If you remain calm and have an open mind those "hassles" they really can be happy memorable moments - at least for us!

Thank you all for the information. We are going to pick up the car after we are done in Rome on the way and out only going to travel to small towns up towards Paris. We are going to drop off the car at the airport in Paris and just use the Metro to get around.

I have used Renault many times with great satisfaction. You get a brand new car and everything is included in the price. Plus the cars have CD players, air conditionioning, some have GPS navigation. Sometimes they have an owner's book in English; ask when you pick up the car. The office in New York (www.renaultusa.com) is efficient, but get started 60 days ahead of time. And bear in mind that the minimum "rental" period is 17 days. We always pick up a car in the city when we leave Paris and return it at CDG. We stay at Ibis hotel(Ibis #1404) at CDG the night before we fly home and the Renault return station is a three minute walk from Ibis. Unless you require an automatic transmission, be sure to get a diesel car, as the mileage is incredable and diesel fuel is much cheaper.