 brian
brian
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.... and for the French side, there are petrol stations on the French side of the border just beyond the customs post at Ferney.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Brian
I think that Agip is the one just before Parking 51 - it takes SFr10/20 notes and credit cards (which are better for an exact top-up).
Will try the Ibis ones this weekend - thanks!
Boswell
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Thanks for the garage tips 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I'm a great believer in going with the same firm all the time where possible. Most operators use franchises in smaller destinations and most franchisees will try to take the p*&s. If you are a proven regular with the 'brand', any problems brought to head office's attention will usually be resolved quickly in your favour. I've been using Hertz where possible for years. I get a small discount through the British Mountaineering Council - which generally makes them competitive. But the USP is that any problems can generally be sorted out after the event with "I'm a regular customer and if you don't sort this out I'll never use you again". Example: three years ago - booked a Hertz car plus snow chains. Arrived - no chains. A week later - huge dump, had to buy chains to get out of the resort. Surrendered chains at airport. Wrote to Hertz = refund of cost of chains (EURO 50).
OK - you can save a few quid going with the local cowboys. But will you be able to play the loyalty card?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I agree with your principle, Stevo, but it does also work for anyone if your consistent. I've just had to sort out a problem with Holiday Autos and they were gracious enough to offer up that I'd hired a car many times before and that they'd give me the benefit of the doubt.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Although we have used many differnet methods of booking, we have nearly always had hire at the other end through Avis(edit-oops sorry, Alamo). The guy on the desk now recognises us, and had upgraded us on the last two occasions, we lalso weren't charged in the winter for the snow tyres and chains.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Sat 2-09-06 18:53; edited 2 times in total
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Autoeurope (Geneva) hit me for 800 Euros a couple of years ago, because one of the windscreen wipers packed up on a trip to Courmayeur! I argued (after the event) that this was their 'maintenance' not my 'damage', which they eventually agreed and refunded the 800, but currency chages still left me about £60 out of pocket which took another round of argument with Barclaycard to resolve. eventually I got a full credit, including the interest B/C had charged me on the balance. I have NEVER used Autocar Europe since.
With regard to holiday Autos (great link PhillipStanton, cheapest I've seen) Does anyone know if the 'snow pack (at 115 Euros!) is required? Looking at their prices from Grenoble they are cheap without it, but with it they are expensive. Is it just snow chains or what?
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AxsMan, I would imagine they are snowtyres and chains. All cars at geneva have them fitted in the winter, but it isn't compulsory for French hire cars, although you have to carry chains. We have been charges 6CHF per day before at Geneva, but were not charged at all last winter. You can always buy some chains from a garage, but it's a risk getting the right ones. Some guests at our apartment last year got to Grenoble, and there were no chains left for their car. They did manage to buy some though.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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AxsMan, I've never booked the winter pack when booking at Geneva, but I've always had winter tyres and chains on the cars I've been given. Unfortunately the only occasion last season when snow tyres weren't sufficient the chains in the boot were the wrong size!
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brian
brian
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| Boswell wrote: |
Brian
I think that Agip is the one just before Parking 51 - it takes SFr10/20 notes and credit cards (which are better for an exact top-up).
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Yep, I was there yesterday, realised my directions above were slightly wrong 
It's the lane to the right of the car rental return lane. not the left. Follow the sign for "P51-Illimité".
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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rob@rar.org.uk, try www.carhire3000.com found them through Helens www.travelsupermarket.com site last year and were brilliant. Hire was through National/Alamo at Geneva. Alsofind the cheapest price on there, then ring them up, the price may have gone up by then but they'll honour the price and explain the differences between geneva side and swiss side to work out which is the cheapest and which side has the best car for the money.
Not sure if this link will work for you but may do, and would get you even more off through it as it's a mail shot i got a few weeks back: http://www.carhire3000.com/Worldwide/special_offers/offers2.html?affiliateCode=UK_offers&adplat=email&adcamp=NewAug&adco=18
Telephone number 00800 4473 3000 (international free phone number) or +44 161 836 6707
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Sun 3-09-06 11:38; edited 1 time in total
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Also there are plenty of petrol stations on the road through geneva (when you don't have that pass that allows you to go on the motorways) just outside the airport to fill up with fuel..............or so i seem to remember 
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tescos clubcard vouchers can get you Avis rentals in Europe for 25% normal price. Not the cheapest rental company, but if you've got enough to pay for most of the price it works out very well. Looks like you might need about £85 plus worth of vouchers for 10 days in december from the Swiss side of GVA. Or you can use the points for valet parking at Heathrow... really really cheap.
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You know it makes sense.
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or you can forget the car hire, and drive to the Alps, using your Tesco vouchers for your Eurotunnel crossing. Every pound of vouchers is worth £4 off your crossing fare.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Holiday Autos now seem to charge £2-50/day to cover the excess, which may be worth it, unless you're doing dozens of trips and the annual policy looks good.
I still think checking with whoever you book with about closing times could be a major point - it's not a comfortable airport to spend the night.
Boswell
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Poster: A snowHead
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who has the best prices for car hire in america.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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When I have put in a late arrival before, it usually tells you when the desk closes. Also, if you call the hire company before you leave the UK, when you know you will be late, Alamo will wait for you. I have heard him talking to customers before when we were waiting for our car.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Dan, thanks for the link. Another one to check when comparing prices
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Chains drive me crazy - somehow it's always 0200 in the morning, starting up some mountain, collar full of snow, shoes leaking, boots in a buried suitcase, getting soaked in slush etc. etc. and all the systems I've tried are different.
Does any car-hire outfit offer 4WD at a reasonable price? Last time I tried it was out-of-sight, but there are many basic standard vehicles with 4WD these days - does anyone offer a reasonable price?
GVA again for me, but maybe some company's seen the light.
Boswell
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Boswell, a decent set of winter tyres makes chains unnecessary in all but the worst of road conditions.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Boswell, last March we booked a car through Holiday Autos. When we arrived at GVA, they gave us a free upgrade to a 4WD, it would be Alamo, and it was a Hyundai they gave us, not as good as our own, but it got us over the Col du Lauteret in a blizzard on the return journey, and along the Maurienne valley in heavy snow on the way there. I think we'd booked a small estate or Focus type. All the HA prices I quoted above included the 2.50 insurance excess payment. I agree with Rob, that we have never had to use the chains if we have the snowtyres, regardless of 2wd or 4wd.
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rob@rar.org.uk, that carhire3000 link, if you get an emailed quote and then don't proceed, they usually send you a link for the same car at a reduced price a couple of weeks later. We used them last October, and we got our car with Avis on that occasion.
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Rob, are you sure? I've had some reasonably pushing-up-daisy experiences on our mountain roads over the last few winters, even with 4WD.
On top of that, and shoot me down if I'm wrong, chains or 4WD are compulsory in Switzerland (or at least in Vaud) on any mountain road that I've seen, depending on surface conditions. The notice boards are everywhere, with road conditions, chain/snowflake symbols etc. or was I hallucinating? Fines are eyewatering as well.
Plus, of course, traditional local driving eccentricities: tail-gating 4mm off one's backside; overtaking and swerving in 1m off your front bumper at 130km/hr (in any weather conditions); while I was overtakng a coach last week, on a two lane mountain road, some dork overtook both of us when I was alongside the coach; nuns on motorbikes on blind corners. I quite often just pull off in a layby to let the maniacs zap past.
Boswell
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Boswell wrote: |
| Rob, are you sure? I've had some reasonably pushing-up-daisy experiences on our mountain roads over the last few winters, even with 4WD. |
I can't see that it's worth the expense of hiring a 4x4 when winter tyres (and a set of chains in the boot, as insurance) will get you just about everywhere for a fraction of the cost.
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But French diesel is cheaper than Swiss.
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FAQ
