Despite my recent rants, our latest rental car experience in Europe was mostly positive. So instead of just ranting this time, allow me to provide some tips and suggestions in this rental car rant wrap-up.
Tips and Suggestions
Number one: if you plan on staying in Centre Ville areas, try not to rent a car that’s larger than what you need. Driving in Europe is so much easier when your car is the same size as everyone else’s.
I always book rental cars on-line in advance. Book in advance and pick up the car at the airport. But on this trip, the rental car office at the airport had recently closed permanently. It wasn’t a huge problem, but it did complicate things that day.
I still recommend booking on-line ahead of time, when there’s plenty of time to consider all the options. But maybe check on the status shortly before your departure date.
By the way, while you’re still at the rental car office, ask what type of gas the car uses, and perhaps more importantly, what color pump handle will that be? (See below).
No Owner’s Manual? Really?
Really. You may be surprised, like I was, to not find an owner’s manual in the glove compartment of your European rental car. But rental car companies, at least in Europe, generally don’t provide owner’s manuals with their cars.
On this trip, my search for an owner’s manual began when we were at a gas station in the middle of nowhere. I had no idea what type of gas to put in the tank. I found myself looking at multiple pump handles, each in a different color, none of which meant anything to me.
There was another occasion when I wished I had access to the owner’s manual. I wanted to turn the GPS Lady’s volume down – all the way. We’d changed plans, but the GPS Lady didn’t know. She was desperately trying to get us back to where she thought we wanted to go.
She was just doing her job, but she was getting on my nerves. I couldn’t turn her off. I couldn’t even turn her volume down. We were on a winding mountain road where pull-outs were few and far between. (Of COURSE we were!)
I eventually found the secret button that opened up the GPS Lady’s volume control. Our relationship improved dramatically after that.
I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t think of it at the time, but if there’s internet access, there’s access to a car’s owner’s manual. Use it in real time, or even better, download a copy. That way you’ll have it when you’re in the middle of nowhere, at night, which is when you’re most likely to need it.
A Map is a Good Thing
GPS systems and European cities don’t play well together. I offer Exhibit A, (Carcassonne), and Exhibit B, (Antibes), as proof.
If your hotel is in the heart of a European city, download and print a map of the immediate area before you leave home. Bonus points for you if street names are visible and it’s big enough to see in poor light.
In Closing…
Renting a car is still my favorite way to see Europe. The freedom to go where you want, when you want can’t be beat. Next time I do, though, I’m going to take my own advice. Maybe that way, there won’t be as much excitement on the next trip.
To be continued…
Photo at the top of this post: Rental Car in Europe. Credit: istockphoto/VV-pics
