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Re: Car Rental advice
[Re: hotdancer]
#82548
01/17/2016 02:56 PM
01/17/2016 02:56 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,460 île staten
Bobcat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,460
île staten
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Renting on line is the way to go here, allow yourself time to select the vehicle you want at the price you want. Rentals at the airport are not generally more expensive and may at time be less however there are so many agencies at the airport, when they see you are looking they will be after you in mass, it just creates delays and confusion. =============== Hertz Sint marten offer the most locations and largest fleet -you can book direct or from any discounter on line, you get the liability coverage included in the rate no matter how you book.
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Re: Car Rental advice
[Re: hotdancer]
#82549
01/17/2016 04:42 PM
01/17/2016 04:42 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 680 Burlington, Ontario, Canada
JohnandBev
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 680
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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You will get lots of suggestions re car rentals - everyone has their favourite - ours is AAA, but we have used Hertz in the past without an issue Some thoughts Make sure you get a final price, all charges and taxes included - I found that sometimes taxes are left out of quotes and somehow the tax rate seems to be differ! Your cc probably covers your collision, but not liabilty, if you want that [a good idea], make sure it is included in your quote Landing day - rather than pick up the car when we land and drive, our preference to be picked by Wilfred Brooks - TTOL sponsor - and be driven, a nice finish to a long day.
We arrange for the rental car to be dropped off where we stay next day.
Remember leave nothing in the car.
Have to ask - 3 tall ladies [a good name for a beach bar drink], how tall is tall? - a Jeep convetible might be a solution [just kidding] J&B
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Re: Car Rental advice
[Re: hotdancer]
#82558
01/19/2016 06:37 AM
01/19/2016 06:37 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,550 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,550
Ohio
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You are NOT required to purchase any extra insurance, it is optional and your choice. Some choose to purchase it and others don't. Your credit card should provide some coverage (if needed). This may also depend on the type of vehicle you rent as to if your credit card provides any coverage. If you are from the states there is very little chance your auto insurance or umbrella policy provides coverage. I think some Canadian members have mentioned having coverage but it would be very rare for a US policy to cover you.
Tax should be in the 9% range or so I believe.
J.D.
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Re: Car Rental advice
[Re: islandgem]
#82561
01/19/2016 09:43 AM
01/19/2016 09:43 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 415 Quebec, Canada
extreme
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 415
Quebec, Canada
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Sorry but they do charge the 18% tax on the dutch side...I've been asking prices from a couple of companies and they all add 15 $ for airport fees and 18 % taxes. Maybe some companies include these fees in their prices,that's why you don't see them!
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Re: Car Rental advice
[Re: extreme]
#82564
01/19/2016 10:25 AM
01/19/2016 10:25 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,916 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,916
Central Florida!
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I think the actual legal tax rate is 10%, but I'm not exactly sure. Regardless, get a quote that INCLUDES taxes and any insurance that you want to purchase and compare them straight up at the final, total price, and go from there. It appears to me that SOME car rental companies play with the numbers, perhaps adding TOT, which they are not supposed to do, and/or some other items, to boost their bottom line. Car rentals are a very tough business to be in, in SXM. So, again, get your total price and see if you can live with the total price, regardless of how they say they arrive at it, compare total price versus total price and make your choice. If they quote you 18% tax, you might try and say that tax should only be 10% and see what they say. To me, I just ask them to give me a price, including tax, and go from there.
Carol Hill
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Re: Car Rental advice
[Re: extreme]
#82565
01/19/2016 10:32 AM
01/19/2016 10:32 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,143 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
islandgem
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,143
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Sorry, but we have never paid 18%.No hidden charges either!Different rental companies are charging different taxes and if you get a few quotes including taxes and liability insurance, you will easily see that. Not all the sponsors here charge the same taxes ether, so check around and you could save some money.
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Re: Car Rental advice
[Re: islandgem]
#82566
01/19/2016 10:42 AM
01/19/2016 10:42 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 415 Quebec, Canada
extreme
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 415
Quebec, Canada
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Thanks ! I'll compare with the final prices each company gives me! But I still don't get how come the tax could be so different from one company to another... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />
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Re: Car Rental advice
[Re: hotdancer]
#82571
02/01/2016 06:57 AM
02/01/2016 06:57 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,550 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,550
Ohio
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While that "hold" does seem high, it happens with many companies. I bought less than $20 worth of gas here at home yesterday and the place I bought it put a "hold" or pre-authorization of $100 on my card. Another gas purchase at a different station resulted in only a $1 "hold".
This has been discussed before and I forget if it is actually the merchant placing the "hold" or if it is the bank the merchant or card uses. I know one station around here has sign posted on their pumps that address this but I don't recall exactly what they say.
You might try calling your credit card and running this by them and/or asking for a credit increase to offset this.
J.D.
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Re: Car Rental advice
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#82572
02/01/2016 07:32 AM
02/01/2016 07:32 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,433 Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,433
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
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JD, what you're referring to is a pre-authorization, which is automatically done by some establishments when the card is swiped. In the case of a gas station, since the amount of the purchase isn't known until you finish pumping, some will pre-authorize the maximum amount of gas that they allow to be pumped, which in many cases is $100. Once the final charge amount is determined and charged to your account, the pre-authorization falls off.
What this car rental company is doing is different, and if it isn't removed until ten days after he returns the vehicle, then his card will in fact be limited by that amount, in addition to the amount of the actual charge, until they release the hold
Personally, I wouldn't patronize a company that does that. There are plenty of rental companies on the island that don't put holds for possible damage on credit cards.
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Re: Car Rental advice
[Re: GaKaye]
#82573
02/01/2016 08:05 AM
02/01/2016 08:05 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,550 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,550
Ohio
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Thank you for the clarification. I was pretty sure you would know the facts in this case. I was just going by what I see when I check my account online. Sorry for the confusion.
J.D.
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Re: Car Rental advice
[Re: GaKaye]
#82575
02/01/2016 08:20 AM
02/01/2016 08:20 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,550 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,550
Ohio
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Correct. The exact thing you are describing was posted and discussed here a year or so ago. Initially the thought was the person believed they had been overcharged.
J.D.
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