Ireland Cheapest for Car Rental

yesiree · Guru

Ireland Cheapest for Car Rental

Maggie117 · Guru

That's funny!

CowboyCraic · Guru

I read the article and then left a comment. It is definitely slanted to the European market, as one would expect it to be.

Here was the comment I left:

I will have to assume that this blog is directed toward the European market, as we here in North America definitely find Ireland to be one of the most expensive countries from which to let a vehicle. The base rate may seem reasonable. However, once local taxes, airport fees, fuel surcharges and other fineprint charges are added in, you find that you are paying close to or exactly double the quoted rate. As a veteran traveler to Ireland, I see this as a huge drawback to encouraging tourist travel there. I have been told by the Minister of Tourisms office staff that the National Car Rental Council is looking into stricter regulations for Irish Car Rental Companies. Perhaps, should those regulations ever be inacted, we North American travelers would be as pleased with the rates offered.

I just received an email back from Keith at the Minister of Tourism Office. In the email, he explained that they were trying to bring about a change in the way Irish Car rental was regulated. I was so tempted to respond back with "how can you change something which doesn't exist?" but I didn't.

tony2phones · Guru

Basic car hire in Ireland is fairly cheap. Of course this is before the Insurance and over the top extras are added to double or treble the basic cost?? The government could legislate the presentation of charges and standards of service, but ultimately the cost of hire is dictated by the Insurance industry which is a law unto itself.

yesiree · Guru

CowboyCraic/Bit,

It looks like they haven't "approved" you comment. I guess that's what happens when you post on a car rental company's blog.

CowboyCraic · Guru

Seo, a Chara,

But even a thorn in your paw that nobody sees still nags at ya! I suspect that I am a thorn in many a paw of the Irish Car Rental mafia.

Tony, well I understand about insurance being a driving force. Insurance companies do offer fleet rates for rental companies, which significantly reduces their costing. However, it is still an ungainly mess that needs to be addressed and brought in check. There is no reason for a Nissan Micra to run close to $1100 American for eleven days, either, which was the catalyst for my "Tilting at Windmills" crusade.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Those people kissed the Blarney stone! We know the truth.

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

With the mess this goverment has droped it's self in with the Banks it will be eons before they get round to sorting anything else out. With tourisum a major factor in the econnomy and car hire being a major negative factor then some one should niggle at the powers that be. Unfortunately that iritating itch will have to be instigated from someone in the US, so if you know how to start the process then go for it.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Tony,

We here have written to the Tourism Minister, Car Rental Council, etc. They will not listen to small average people like us. It will take a BIG name famous person to get the point across. But the famous people don't do things the same way that we do. They probably get chauffeur driven limos sent to pick them up at their chartered jets. It's a catch 22.

Michele

WCOMALLEY · Veteran Member

If you are in most civilized parts of the world, the tourism industry bends over backwards to make the consumer of their product happy and coming back for more. The Irish rental industry just plain has a screw loose! WC

tony2phones · Guru

Pitty Bill couldn't have had a quiet word on his recent visit. somthing along the lines of; "I'm only here because I didn't have to hire a car"

Michele Erdvig · Host

Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland are partners of the car rental companies in Ireland as well as the tour operator and hotel groups. Since those groups are major stakeholders in Tourism Ireland why would they rock the boat?

Tourism Ireland advertises Ireland. They will send free info to tourists intending to visit Ireland. Period. They will not get involved in or intervene with complaints of individual tourists. Their viewpoint is general not specific. They might forward complaints but it is not their job to resolve them.

BTW, I never even got a form letter back from Mary Hanafin. But she sure is on Irish TV a whole lot. She has bigger fish to fry that dealing with lowly tourists.

Michele

CowboyCraic · Guru

Tony,

I have sent emails to every High Level official for whom I could find a contact. I even used two personal email addresses hoping to draw attention to the situation at hand.

Michele is correct in that they don't listen to the lowly tourist at all. I have been tilting at this windmill for over a year now. I am surprised some haven't put me on a blocked list. I am beginning to suspect that everyone has begun using the same form letetr.

Short of standing at the airports in Ireland handing out fliers that read "If you are dissatisfied with your car rental experience, join us in demanding a Rental Car reform", I am flummoxed as to what we can do to gain the attention needed to fic teh problem.