414bhp wrote

I’ve got a few trips planned this year and need to book some rental cars. I’m travelling with my family and need seats for 4 people and 1 large suitcase, 1 rollaboard, 1 compact kid stroller, and 3 backpacks. Usually this means booking a full size sedan or mid size SUV.

414bhp wrote

What is your strategy for getting a decent rental car in the US?

If money is no object, reserve a rental in "full size" or "SUV" categories.
Most rental companies have those, though names many vary.
Expect to pay 2x or 3x the base rate for those.

414bhp wrote

Any different advice for doing the same in Italy?

Depends on where you are going, roads will be varying from "small highway" to "narrow country road" to something almost unpassable in a full-size car or an SUV. If you plan to drive into any towns or cities, you will need to downscale to something much narrower than an SUV to physically make it. NX / Q4 maybe almost the max width you could get away with.

414bhp wrote

Also, what’s your favorite rental car model, if it’s available?

Personally, I maintain a "premium/gold/platinum" status with 1-2 rental car companies and stock with those. That works well in the US and guarantees upgrades and availability.
Worldwide, you have to make an extra effort to confirm that the car rental chain of your choosing actually operates at that location (many cross brand, especially in southern Europe), and has the cars of the type and size that you expect. In other words - call those sites, and speak to someone who works there (and hopefully speaks english) and can validate what cars they have in their rental fleet. Be prepared to hear about and research Peugeots and Citroens that you did not know existed. Otherwise, all bets are off.

HTH,
a

LH44 wrote

I’ve used Sixt in over 15 countries by now. Experience has always been perfect.

LH44 wrote

I’ve used Sixt in over 15 countries by now. Experience has always been perfect.

afadeev wrote

414bhp wrote

I’ve got a few trips planned this year and need to book some rental cars. I’m travelling with my family and need seats for 4 people and 1 large suitcase, 1 rollaboard, 1 compact kid stroller, and 3 backpacks. Usually this means booking a full size sedan or mid size SUV.



If money is no object, reserve a rental in "full size" or "SUV" categories.
Most rental companies have those, though names many vary.
Expect to pay 2x or 3x the base rate for those.



Depends on where you are going, roads will be varying from "small highway" to "narrow country road" to something almost unpassable in a full-size car or an SUV. If you plan to drive into any towns or cities, you will need to downscale to something much narrower than an SUV to physically make it. NX / Q4 maybe almost the max width you could get away with.



Personally, I maintain a "premium/gold/platinum" status with 1-2 rental car companies and stock with those. That works well in the US and guarantees upgrades and availability.
Worldwide, you have to make an extra effort to confirm that the car rental chain of your choosing actually operates at that location (many cross brand, especially in southern Europe), and has the cars of the type and size that you expect. In other words - call those sits, and speak to someone who works there (and hopefully speaks english) and can validate what cars they have in their rental fleet. Be prepared to hear about and research Peugeots and Citroens that you did not know existed. Otherwise, all bets are off.

HTH,
a

Thanks for the many details! I never thought about needed to directly call the foreign rental offices to confirm the car types. I'm going to be renting from the Pisa airport, so I hope there will be more cars types than a local office might have.

Good point, too, about not getting too large of a car for the countryside.

Alfisti wrote

Define Italy? All Autostrada or more adventurous?

I rented a Skoda Octavia in Croatia, it was magnificent. It looks like a sedan but the rear opens like a giant mega-hatch, it has a decently small footprint and SWALLOWED 5 people and luggage. Best bit is it averaged like 4L/100km (whatever the fuck that is in your cockamaime system) and got like 900km on a tank.

BUT it's not tiny, and city driving in Italy needs TINY.

Autoeurope is your friend.

414bhp wrote

We are going to Pisa, then taking the ferry to Elba island, the driving back to the airport. So, mostly Pisa city and island roads.

BeEmVe wrote

Regarding renting in Italy. The price can vary substantially. For instance, for my last trip to northern Italy I rented a vehicle in Müchen (City Center) as it was much cheaper than in Italy. Also the drive was shorter and nicer than from Milano where I rented from in the past. Definitely check renting in the city center vs airport. Expedia works good for finding something (I get their 3rd party insurance).

Also I download Google maps for offline usage which works great as then I do not have to pay $10/day cell phone access.

LH44 wrote

I’ve used Sixt in over 15 countries by now. Experience has always been perfect.