Going to Palma, Majorca...

[slowmotion]

Sorry @Dave7, I just spotted that you are heading to Menorca, not Majorca!

 

[Globalti]

@Dave7 The basic "tempter" price was about €290 but by the time they had added all the sneaky extras it was over €500. They are counting on you being tired, hot, impatient to get on the road and willing to say "yes" to everything. This unfortunately was what I did, thinking it would only be CDW. They even charged me €76 for a "Travel Partner Counter Product" which is a service that gives you holiday advice. I have disputed this on the grounds that I have lived and worked in Spain, speak Spanish and don't need holiday advice so if it had been explained to me I would have declined it. The best thing to do is to query every single damned thing before you sign. They make their money on these extras after hooking you with a cheap quote.

Don't pay for two drivers, don't take the windscreen cover or any enhanced accident help cover, don't pay for twatnav, just use your phone with Google Maps for navigation. Check your credit card because some cards even give you the CDW or collision damage waiver cover. However if you don't accept their CDW they will, reportedly, search for small damage on the car when you return it then charge you for repairs.

Bonnes vacances!

 

[screenman]

I had the front wing ripped off of a hire car by a manic cyclist driving a van, this on Ventoux. I just handed the keys back in and said thanks, I am glad that I had excess cover.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I have had one which had a low headline cost but you had to pay for a full tank of fuel. The con was that you end up giving them back some of the fuel at the end of the hire.

Hire it full, return it full. Isn't that the norm these days?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

@Dave7 The basic "tempter" price was about €290 but by the time they had added all the sneaky extras it was over €500. They are counting on you being tired, hot, impatient to get on the road and willing to say "yes" to everything. This unfortunately was what I did, thinking it would only be CDW. They even charged me €76 for a "Travel Partner Counter Product" which is a service that gives you holiday advice. I have disputed this on the grounds that I have lived and worked in Spain, speak Spanish and don't need holiday advice so if it had been explained to me I would have declined it. The best thing to do is to query every single damned thing before you sign. They make their money on these extras after hooking you with a cheap quote.

Don't pay for two drivers, don't take the windscreen cover or any enhanced accident help cover, don't pay for twatnav, just use your phone with Google Maps for navigation. Check your credit card because some cards even give you the CDW or collision damage waiver cover. However if you don't accept their CDW they will, reportedly, search for small damage on the car when you return it then charge you for repairs.

Bonnes vacances!

We always pay for two drivers. It has saved our bacon on overseas holidays twice in the past.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

When they ask whether or not you want to pay the up-front amount to reduce the excess to nil, always get a coin out and toss it as though that is how you are going to decide. You could even actually decide that way, if you want.

Doesn't everyone take out a policy in the UK first and then have the argument at the desk about "No I don't have to provide evidence that I have it covered" in pidgin English? Always gets the hols off to a crackin' start. That and the "Senor Grumpy, we have upgraded you to a car with no boot space, bugger all ground clearance, rigid sports suspension and a low roofline, enjoy it as our gift to you!"

 

[Globalti]

So does the car hire excess cover come with your household insurance?

 

[vickster]

So does the car hire excess cover come with your household insurance?

Presumably he's talking about a policy such as this https://www.carhireexcess.co.uk/

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Yes it is. This deal was hire it full and bring it back empty, because you have paid for the fuel in it.

Hate that.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I have had a holiday in Majorca without a car. There is a bus into town and, from there, the train took us to Soller.

That's pretty much the plan...