Dave!

Will be in Vegas for a week in Sept then on to LA, Frisco etc. Its been 12 years since i last did this and i'm wondering whether it's cheaper to make the arrangements now or wait till i get there.
Anyone done this recently? Which company did you use?

TIA,

D.

CupraT

I always book from the UK as I find it a little cheaper most of the time & more convenient. Do this twice per year for Vegas.

I usually use holiday autos or dollar - Dollar will have more pick up locations on the strip but Holiday Auto is usually cheaper if you can pick up at the airport when you get there.

Also worth checking Avis etc as there may be a special offer on when you go.

Enjoy the trip & good luck!

Spoon

It's just so hard to get the hire car on the plane with you though!!

Best do it there.

john_s

iTrader: (1)

Last september, Alamo were loads cheaper than any other companies we tried when we hired a car from NY to Washington DC and then another from WDC to LA. The big killer was the one way charge.

John.

JackClark

Dollar fined me $200 for using unmarked roads. The car must have had GPS tracking. Won't be using them again.

ariel

It's much better/cheaper to arrange before you go.
Try airline network for a reasonable deal.

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Glad they didn't have GPS tracking on ours when we went We explored the desert in ours

Dave!

Thanks Guys.......interesting stuff about Dollar! I'll probably avoid them as we're coming back through the desert from Frisco to Vegas.

D.

Spoon

Don't, there first album was great.

Muffleman

But book something less than you want, they always offer to upgrade you and you can always haggle too !

We booked a 4-dour something-or-another, paid an extra $150 and got a Mustang convertible for 2 weeks

Matt

gareth123

I hope you're planning to so east through Yosemite then south through Death Valley as your route. In September the Tioga Pass (peaks at 11,000ft IIRC) through Yosemite should still be open, and it's very cool. You could even stop at Mono Lake and recreate the Wish You Were Here artwork

The quicker route through Bakersfield and Barstow is still fun (and hot, take gallons of water and don't run out of petrol) but I'd go through Yosemite if I was you.

ariel

I agree with Gareth, you must definitely go through death valley and up through the Owen's Valley. Stop in Bishop or Lone Pine if you like mountain scenery. I've flown hang gliders from the mountains in Owens and it truly is awesome (and scary).

gareth123

While I'm thinking about what a lucky sod you are...

have a delmonico at the Delmonico in the Venetian in LV.

the best view of SF is from Marin. Drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and take the exit *after* the parking lot and take an immediate left under the road (101) you've just left. You'll be heading back towards the bridge then take a right steeply uphill for about 1/2 mile. Walk out to the old fort and you get an awesome view of the city framed by the bridge. Or fog. You might just get fog

JackClark

Mmm Mono Lake

Part of a panoramic taken in Feb. Picture does it no justice, well worth taking the dirt track around it.

Dave!

Thanks for all the tips guys, Death Valley is a must for me this time as i've done the other stuff (cities...cept Vegas) before (but the wife hasn't).
What are your thoughts on a convertible....are the personal safety issues too great these days?
We nearly came unstuck in '92 after taking the wrong exit and ended up in a well dodgy area of central (south) LA. I was with the lads then though!

D.

gareth123

I live in the area and have a convertible. I wouldn't worry about it. There are areas of SF, LA and Oakland I would be wary of driving through at night without a roof, but I can't see any reason for you to be going there. Improve your map reading skills

BTW, if you're planning on driving the Pacific Coast Highway it's a much more scenic drive going south. Driving LA -> SF on the PCH is a bit of a waste, go the other way if you can.

Dave!

Thanks Gareth,
You know, i'd never even considered doing it the other way till now! However, the wife wants to go straight to universal from Vegas and has even booked us in the (Regent?)Beverly Wilshire hotel for that night (and only that night..at those rates!). So i guess that takes care of the direction then !

D.

WRXPete

A mate of mine runs a company called usrentacar on the net...check it out first...they basically deal with the major companies but get it all sorted this end first!! Check it out!!!

Dave!

Nice one Pete......their prices seem to be the best around so we'll be giving them a call.

D.

gareth123

On your drive the wrong way along the PCH, you could stop off at http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/ for lunch. The cafe is much cheaper than the restaurant, with pretty much the same views.

http://www.mysteryspot.com/ a couple of miles off Hwy 1 in Santa Cruz is fun.

Dave!

Thanks Gareth....mystery spot eh!?..........you never know!

D.