I used to be in Eire and UK on a month lengthy journey throughout Sep/Oct 2023 and was doing a few day journeys usually. One tremendous day me and my good friend determined to take a rental automobile (self-drive) in Eire to discover Galway & Cliffs of Moher for a weekend from Dublin.

And right here I’m sharing my expertise with automobile leases in Eire which is likely to be helpful for you once you’re exploring Eire or wherever in Europe for that matter as it really works largely related.

Btw, each UK & Eire observe left lane driving (driver on proper) similar to in India, I suppose it’s as a result of Eire and India had been below British rule. And one can drive in Eire with Indian driving license.

Amex Concierge

So to start with, I requested American Specific Platinum Journey Concierge to search for obtainable choices. 

Whereas I’m proud of Plat Concierge up to now couple of years, I’m fairly dissatisfied not too long ago with the drop of e mail assist, which I’ll cowl another day. 

So I used to be given an honest choice by means of Hertz as Amex Platinum has Hertz Gold membership low cost. Right here’s a Fast Look:

I suppose that’s a good worth for a premium Electrical Automobile. However I considered reserving it later and left it there as I choose to guide when journey date is nearer.

Hertz Expertise

As the times received nearer, I began exploring choices on the hertz web site solely to appreciate that it’s such a painful expertise to look on their web site, particularly once you wish to test the supply on a number of places close by.

I’m wondering how on earth Hertz is working an enormous enterprise with such a poor consumer expertise.

Anyway, the issue was that no vehicles had been obtainable 2 days prior. On checking why, I heard my good friend say that a whole lot of Europeans journey throughout weekend and so it’s apparent!

So I began taking a look at different choices like kayak, and many others and at last discovered an honest deal on reserving.com for Ford Focus and most different choices had been unavailable.

Reserving.com Expertise

It was fairly a shock that we had been in a position to guide a pleasant automobile for 50€ a day+ 20€ insurance coverage (120EUR in complete) for two days, as different portals had been displaying increased charges.

That apart right here’s one thing I received to know:

Whereas searching for choices, one factor that set out reserving.com from others is that nearly each web site redirects you elsewhere with completely totally different choices than what was chosen, however reserving.com had all the main points with them with none redirection and with superb consumer expertise. 

At Dublin airport

So we went to the Dublin airport’s automobile rental counter and will see giant queues, like 20 in every counter simply. 

Europcar queue was as excessive as Hertz however fortuitously they moved us on to the pickup middle as we had the reserving already. 

That apart, one factor I seen is that there’s a separate line for “hertz gold” which is accessible as complimentary with Amex Plat Cost as talked about earlier than. That’s simple 1hr financial savings at airport if you happen to’re into Hertz automobile leases. 

EuropCar expertise

We lastly went to EuropCar’s pickup space at Dublin airport an hr or so previous our precise reporting time.

The counter man at Europcar pickup centre was very pleasant and got here up with one thing new, which was a unique insurance coverage plan with “no extra”. 

In different phrases, irrespective of how large or small the harm is, we don’t have to pay something. This prices 80€. So the choices had been like:

• 20€ prepay, 1600€ maintain on card (reserving.com plan)
• 80€ prepay, no maintain, no legal responsibility (Europcar plan)

We went with 80€ plan to have a peace of thoughts. So now the man went to test the supply of the automobile, solely to come back again saying that the automobile isn’t obtainable now. 

After going backwards and forwards to test the supply for an alternate choice which is Toyota CHR, he lastly got here again with a key and stated, “I’ve one thing particular for you guys immediately”.

After a little bit of paperwork he lastly stated “I’ve upgraded your reserving to Audi A6 etron hybrid and right here’s your key”.

Wow!!

We had been extraordinarily happy to listen to that and on the similar time frightened a bit, as a part of the journey must be performed by means of slim roads alongside the Wild Atlantic Means.

Finally every part went nicely with gods grace and the general journey was approach past expectation.

Audi A6 etron was extraordinarily easy, steady and comfy even at 120 Km/hr pace simply as anybody would anticipate it to be. Dashboard reveals how a lot vitality getting used from battery/ICE in real-time and in actuality one couldn’t discover any distinction from a typical ICE.

That apart, reserving.com refunded the 20€ insurance coverage a part of the preliminary reserving as we took an alternate one. I needed to elevate a request for a similar with all of the paperwork and refund got here to card in per week. 

Remaining Ideas

So general it was superb to expertise the Europcar’s automobile rental service and we might maybe return once more when in want, possible by way of reserving.com each time potential.

Having stated that every one, it’s worthwhile to say that Europcar even operates in India with chauffeur pushed vehicles and our hottest airport switch companies on axis (they hold altering although) and Financial institution of Baroda makes use of Europcar’s eco-rent-a automobile service.

So right here’s the takeaway,

1. It’s higher to guide the service per week previous to journey date
2. Going bit late throughout weekends may get you an improve, however dangerous as it’d get offered out.
3. Insurance coverage plan can at all times be determined and brought whereas taking the automobile, so higher to not prepay
4. Reserving.com for automobile rental is lot higher than direct service supplier web sites or different aggregators

Whereas my expertise is likely to be simply out of luck, I’m not sure what number of such upgrades occur in a typical day. If you happen to’ve taken Rental Automobiles in Europe or US earlier than, be happy to share your experiences within the feedback under.