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rental car companies - choice between 3
rental car companies - choice between 3
Apologies in advance if a simple search would find the answer in a previous post.
Family group of 16. We will be renting 3 cars - two 4-door Wranglers and one larger vehicle. I have narrowed it down to 3 companies. There is a price difference. Weekly o/s rates from the 3 as listed on their websites are $420, $480 and $510. That last one is before the promotional discount of 20% for rental between June & Sept. With discount the rate comes down to $408/week.
My questions:
1. Cost factor aside, is there really a difference between the companies? I know in-town parking can be a nice perk, as would free additional driver. What else should I look for? Do most offer unlimited mileage? Only one company posted that on its website.
2. The larger vehicle. Just how narrow are the roads? I have driven in Ireland and New Zealand but not in a larger 4WD vehicle. Assume if we take it slow, all will be fine.
thanks!
Family group of 16. We will be renting 3 cars - two 4-door Wranglers and one larger vehicle. I have narrowed it down to 3 companies. There is a price difference. Weekly o/s rates from the 3 as listed on their websites are $420, $480 and $510. That last one is before the promotional discount of 20% for rental between June & Sept. With discount the rate comes down to $408/week.
My questions:
1. Cost factor aside, is there really a difference between the companies? I know in-town parking can be a nice perk, as would free additional driver. What else should I look for? Do most offer unlimited mileage? Only one company posted that on its website.
2. The larger vehicle. Just how narrow are the roads? I have driven in Ireland and New Zealand but not in a larger 4WD vehicle. Assume if we take it slow, all will be fine.
thanks!
Besides price, no... I personally haven't found that much of a difference. St. John Car Rental has very nice cars, but sometimes a beat-up car is preferable because if you ding it, it's not that big a deal.
We got a larger SUV last time (similar to a Ford Escape) and it was definitely small enough for the roads. They aren't *that* narrow. You see pick-up trucks on the road all the time, and not the mini-ones.
About mileage, you really don't rack up that many miles on St. John cause it's not that big. But I've never seen a company charge a per mile price.
We got a larger SUV last time (similar to a Ford Escape) and it was definitely small enough for the roads. They aren't *that* narrow. You see pick-up trucks on the road all the time, and not the mini-ones.
About mileage, you really don't rack up that many miles on St. John cause it's not that big. But I've never seen a company charge a per mile price.
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donna ristuccia
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:15 am
- Location: st john
I think all rental companies have their quirks and their pluses. We have rented from STJ Car Rental the past couple of years, two or three vehicles at a time. One was always nearly brand new and the other one or two were not, far from it. We are ok with the less-than-perfect rental so we volunteered to drive the least nicest car.
STJ Car Rental does have a lot but if it gets full, access can be challenging. It generally didn't bother my husband but there were times we just got lazy and parked elsewhere.
STJ Car Rental does have a lot but if it gets full, access can be challenging. It generally didn't bother my husband but there were times we just got lazy and parked elsewhere.
The unlimited mileage is kinda funny when you think about it. Seriously, you're gonna giggle for a while about that one when you get there. 
STJ Car rental always allows 2 drivers without any extra charge or difficulty.
Don't worry too much about the condition of the cars with any outfit -- as long as the tires are decent and the brakes work you're good. If you have any problems they will get you squared away pretty quickly. Like someone else said, I prefer my car to have some wear and tear. The ONE time I got a brand spanking new car from STJ car rental, some jackass backed into while I was parked in their lot and left a giant dent in the corner of the bumper.
Fortunately, they reviewed their video tape of the lot and found out the culprit and didn't charge me for any damages. The whole time I drove the vehicle on island I worried about getting a scratch on it! Give me a beater any day!
Another advantage to renting on STJ: if you have a problem you're solution is close by, not a ferry ride away.
Road width is not as much of an issue as the steep factor and the curve factor. Driving on the left is something you get used to quickly.
As mentioned before, the speed limit on island is 20 mph and at times you may feel like that is too fast (again, you laugh now but when you get there you'll understand).
The STJ car rental lot can be tight at times. But parking anywhere in Cruz Bay is tight. If you can't make it work just go over to Slimman's parking lot. Sure you have to pay but it may make the most sense depending.
So glad to hear that your peeps took our advice about the car rental. I think they are going to be glad they did!
STJ Car rental always allows 2 drivers without any extra charge or difficulty.
Don't worry too much about the condition of the cars with any outfit -- as long as the tires are decent and the brakes work you're good. If you have any problems they will get you squared away pretty quickly. Like someone else said, I prefer my car to have some wear and tear. The ONE time I got a brand spanking new car from STJ car rental, some jackass backed into while I was parked in their lot and left a giant dent in the corner of the bumper.
Fortunately, they reviewed their video tape of the lot and found out the culprit and didn't charge me for any damages. The whole time I drove the vehicle on island I worried about getting a scratch on it! Give me a beater any day!
Another advantage to renting on STJ: if you have a problem you're solution is close by, not a ferry ride away.
Road width is not as much of an issue as the steep factor and the curve factor. Driving on the left is something you get used to quickly.
As mentioned before, the speed limit on island is 20 mph and at times you may feel like that is too fast (again, you laugh now but when you get there you'll understand).
The STJ car rental lot can be tight at times. But parking anywhere in Cruz Bay is tight. If you can't make it work just go over to Slimman's parking lot. Sure you have to pay but it may make the most sense depending.
So glad to hear that your peeps took our advice about the car rental. I think they are going to be glad they did!
*Another fine scatterbrained production
