I've used AutoEurope many times in Spain and elsewhere in Europe without any problems. I'm not sure, but are they a 'broker' and your final rental may be with one of the more recognised names?
----- Original Message ----- From: Steve Wright To: travelspain@googlegroups.com Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 2:35 PM Subject: [travelspain] autoeurope
I'm trying to book a car with automatic transimission for pickup in central Barcelona for 4 days' use along the cost, etc in Catalonia.
The best deal seems to be through AutoEurope....but I want to check first to see if anyone on the list has any horror stories about them.
Please share thumbs up thumbs down and alternate suggestions (again, I don't want to pick up at the airport and I MUST have automatic transmission).
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I have been using AutoEurope for several years now....before I would check the rental car companies, as customary, and would end up with Hertz, Avis, Budget, and National, and one Atesa (the Spanish company). But, AutoEurope (it will be a EuropeCar in Madrid) has recently been the least expensive and they always had a diesel (though they couldn't promise it). Checked also with PepeCar and, if well ahead of pickup, there were a bit cheaper, but had no agencies outside of Madrid and Barcelona? So, that didn't seem like a good idea, if I had a problem. I have had no problems with AutoEurope, but all companies seem fine until you have a problem and then it counts. I have never picked up AutoEurope at the airport, always at Atocha railway station because I usually spend a day or two in Madrid before travelling. You are going to pay dearly for automatic transmission. Rental alone should be 50-100% greater (also the car will be larger than the mini/sub-compacts that I rent--sometimes even they are too big for Spanish cities & parking). Then you will pay extra for fuel, which makes US/Canada prices seem like a bargain. Let us know how it works out......
Alfonso
-- Dr Alfonso Gonzalez, Prof Emeritus Dept of Geography University of Calgary HOME: Calgary, Alberta 3910 19th Ave, SW #24 CANADA T2N 1N4 Calgary, Alberta T3E 7E7 E-MAIL: gonza...@ucalgary.ca CANADA PHONE: (403) 220-5584 PHONE: (403) 686-1796 FAX: (403) 282-6561
Very pleased to see one of your reports again. As I have said before, you have excellent information, specially on budget travel ways. And from personal experience, I must add, that old professors never die, they just go Emeritus. edwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
On 5/2/07, Dr Alfonso Gonzalez <gonza...@ucalgary.ca> wrote:
> I have been using AutoEurope for several years now....before I would > check the rental car companies, as customary, and would end up with > Hertz, Avis, Budget, and National, and one Atesa (the Spanish company). > But, AutoEurope (it will be a EuropeCar in Madrid) has recently been the > least expensive and they always had a diesel (though they couldn't > promise it). Checked also with PepeCar and, if well ahead of pickup, > there were a bit cheaper, but had no agencies outside of Madrid and > Barcelona? So, that didn't seem like a good idea, if I had a problem. I > have had no problems with AutoEurope, but all companies seem fine until > you have a problem and then it counts. > I have never picked up AutoEurope at the airport, always at Atocha > railway station because I usually spend a day or two in Madrid before > travelling. > You are going to pay dearly for automatic transmission. Rental > alone should be 50-100% greater (also the car will be larger than the > mini/sub-compacts that I rent--sometimes even they are too big for > Spanish cities & parking). Then you will pay extra for fuel, which > makes US/Canada prices seem like a bargain. > Let us know how it works out......
> Alfonso
> -- > Dr Alfonso Gonzalez, Prof Emeritus > Dept of Geography > University of Calgary HOME: > Calgary, Alberta 3910 19th Ave, SW #24 > CANADA T2N 1N4 Calgary, Alberta T3E 7E7 > E-MAIL: gonza...@ucalgary.ca CANADA > PHONE: (403) 220-5584 PHONE: (403) 686-1796 > FAX: (403) 282-6561
Roger.....hope all is going well with you and the group. Apparently very little activity....I plan to be going this year to Spain about the end of the summer for my usual time of 1-1/2 months and looking forward to it. I may (finally) be obtaining Spanish citizenship (via my parents) and would like to know some info if you are able to provide it....the consulate in Miami is somewhat vague about this and am not sure how much of the details they know. They are even vague about identification numbers (Carnet de Identificacion, NIF, Seguro Social, etc) My concern is obtaining medical/health coverage while I am there (as you know, it is expensive from here in the US/Canada) and some have indicated that I might be able to obtain a small pension (I am a senior). Any info you can pass on would be helpful. I leave tomorrow on a trip and won't return until about the 12th-15th. Thanks for all your help
Hi Alfonso,
Congratulations - that's great. Does that mean you'll be coming to Spain to
live permanently?
If you obtain Spanish citizenship, then I imagine all bureaucratic processes
will be greatly facilitated. As a Spanish citizen, you will need to apply
for a Document Nacional de Identidad, or DNI. You should read through all
the documentation on the Ministerio de Interior website for information on
how to obtain this:
I suppose that will automatically give you access to the public health
service. There are also private health services, the most popular of which
is Sanitas. For around 60 euros per month you can get quite decent coverage.
More info on their website.
Not sure about getting a pension. I believe you have to be making social
security payments for a certain time before you earn the right to any kind
of pension, but it's best to check that out with Seguridad Social once you
have a number.
> Roger.....hope all is going well with you and the group. Apparently
> very little activity....I plan to be going this year to Spain about the
> end of the summer for my usual time of 1-1/2 months and looking forward
> to it.
> I may (finally) be obtaining Spanish citizenship (via my parents)
> and would like to know some info if you are able to provide it....the
> consulate in Miami is somewhat vague about this and am not sure how much
> of the details they know. They are even vague about identification
> numbers (Carnet de Identificacion, NIF, Seguro Social, etc)
> My concern is obtaining medical/health coverage while I am there (as
> you know, it is expensive from here in the US/Canada) and some have
> indicated that I might be able to obtain a small pension (I am a
> senior). Any info you can pass on would be helpful.
> I leave tomorrow on a trip and won't return until about the
> 12th-15th. Thanks for all your help