Sunday car rental drop off -Tours

One solution might be to check into a hotel in Amboise, drop the car at StPdesC rental location, take 10 minute train ride back to Amboise, and tour the city that evening and the next morning. RS France guide shows lots of things to do in Amboise. In fact 2 people could stay behind in Amboise while the driver takes care of delivering the rental car. The train is only 4.80 and it might save you a day of rental fees.

Interesting idea Sam, I would not have thought of that! Thank you, once again!!

Don't they have a drop box for the keys? Have you tried another agency? Have you called anybody and asked?

I was just looking online at AutoEurope. All locations are closed on Sundays. I'm sure this is a problem all the time, so I was hoping someone had an easy solution they had done before. I will call though, and see if there is a drop box. Thanks!

A couple of years ago we did this at the St Pierre des Corps station.We rented an Avis car and arranged with the agent to drop it off on Sunday when the office was closed. We returned the car to the garage and walked the keys over to the drop box. I cannot recall whether we arranged the rental directly through Avis or through Autoeurope, but it would have been one or the other. When setting this up with the agent at the station, I do remember that our knowledge of each other's language was equal at about 10 words each, but it all worked.
Also...we were told to drop the garage ticket along with the keys.. I guess to show the time the vehicle was returned as per agreement.

I do so much online booking that I had not even thought of calling Auto Europe to see if there is a drop box, so I will try that. Thank you!

AE won't know, they guess. You can't even check with the agency they foist you off upon. You have to call the local office of the agency.

So, Auto Europe tells me there is no drop off at St Pierre des Corps, but there is a drop off at Europe Car at the Tours ICK North location. Is that at a train station? Would that be do-able?

ICK? Now I'm confused. The EuropeCar website says the St Pierre des Corps train station is open Sunday noon to 10:30 pm. (extra charges may apply)
http://www.europcar.com/?xtor=SEC--GOO-%5BTUFT02%5D-%5B23190214097%5D-S-%5B%2Btours%20%2Beuropcar%5D&xts=

See above. AE doesn't know, they guess.

So, I did a "false" booking with the Avis car rental site choosing the return time of 9:00 on a Sunday at the St-Pierre-des Corps station and it didn't give me an error message, just a quote. So...should I be ok then? They wouldn't accept a booking if it was a problem, right?

One itty bitty problem is the Sunday Avis hours are 3 PM to 7 PM. That sweet TGV direct train to Avignon leaves at 14:31 aka 2:31 PM.

Talking to an Avis rep (via online chat) she says we can drop the keys before they open. I guess I'll go with that answer, and continue planning our trip based on dropping the car. Yikes! Hope it works out.

Or, maybe we'll do Amboise for the evening like you suggested Sam. It is just so much nicer to stay put a few days rather than a one night stay, but it is an option.
Thanks!

I think you should take them at their word. Just confirm when you pick up the rental and keep some documents just incase the right hand doesn't tell the left hand what's going on. On to next problem.

Has anybody read the Avis website for that location? It is quite clear. Their hours of opening are Horaires d'ouverture Matin Après-midi Lundi 08:00 - 12:30 13:30 - 19:00 Mardi 08:00 - 12:30 13:30 - 19:00 Mercredi 08:00 - 12:30 13:30 - 19:00 Jeudi 08:00 - 12:30 13:30 - 19:00 Vendredi 08:00 - 12:30 13:30 - 19:00 Samedi 08:00 - 12:30 14:00 - 17:30 Dimanche 15:00 - 19:00 which does mean, as Sam mentioned, 3pm to 7pm on Sundays, with different hours on 4 remaining holidays this year Horaires d'ouverture pendant les vacances Jour férié 01/11/2013 15:00 - 19:00 Jour férié 11/11/2013 15:00 - 19:00 Jour férié 25/12/2013 Fermé
Jour férié 01/01/2014 Fermé The real helper on that webpage is just above under Services: Retour en dehors des horaires d'ouverture which roughly translates as a service provided is return outside opening hours. That is on the webpage at http://www.avis.fr/Locationvoiture/Europe/France/Tours/Tours-Gare-Saint-Pierre-Des-Corps which is for the TGV station

Yes, Sam- on to the next problem! Nigel, thank you for your research. I can't read a word of French so that website in French is way over my head! I called Andy at Gemut and talked with him about it. He said for an extra fee (probably 20-50 Euro) Europe Car would have someone there to take the car so we could drop it. Just like you said Nigel. Otherwise, looks like Avis may work with a drop box. I think I won't worry about it and assume it is going to work somehow. Even though I'm way out in my planning, I like to find the snags early so they are not as big of a deal as I get closer. Thank you everyone for the help!