j2spring
Unregistered User
(9/3/03 11:11 am)

car pick-up DBL- drop SNN?????

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Hello everyone, I'm in the process of doing my homework on car rental prices, but have a question best answered not by the car rental phone reservationist, but by those who have actually rented cars in Ireland. I arrive in Dublin the end of September and plan to get a taxi to the downtown hotel at which we will be staying for several days. Upon leaving Dublin, we plan to rent a car. However, first going back to the airport to get one, then to drive to the West coast seems an awful waste of time. So now here's my 2 questions:
1) Which rental companies have offices to pick the car up near downtown Dublin (near the Merrion Park area)?

2) Planning to drop the car off in Shannon, I would like to use a rental company that in airport-convenient.(A few places in the States I've rented from have had drop-off areas MILES from the airport and we had to wait forever for the shuttle to take us on that long ride back to the airport -- I'd like to use that time in Shannon at the duty free shop).

Well, I still will shop prices, but any help on these two questions will help narrow down the search. Thanks so very much.
J2spring

DebbieK
Registered User
Posts: 94
(9/3/03 10:34 am)

Re: car pick-up DBL- drop SNN?????

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I have always flown in&out of Shannon (mostly due to airfare deals) so the open-jaw part I don't know about.

BUT - I can tell you that the Shannon airport has a number of car rental agencies right there. Dan Dooley (my choice both times). Avis , Thrifty and others have booths there.

Check out the Shannon Airport page for more info & web site links.
www.shannonairport.com/AR...SN_CarHire

good luck.

Ande
Unregistered User
(9/3/03 11:44 am)

Cars

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I didn't find it a big deal to go back to the airport to pick up a rental car in Dublin. Using the aircoach bus, 10 euro roundtrip, beats a cab ride depending upon how many people are traveling.

Dude
Unregistered User
(9/3/03 3:51 pm)

Dublin driving

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Given a choice, I would much prefer to drive from the airport than from downtown Dublin. Probably not the best introduction to driving on the left, etc. The signage is better near the airports, also.
Hertz is right at the Shannon airport, also. But I had a bad experience with Hertz in Shannon ( The Hertz folks in Killarney redeemed them).

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1818
(9/4/03 12:04 am)

Re: car pick-up DBL- drop SNN?????

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Hi j2spring,

I always rent my car at Dublin Airport not in the city so am not familiar with individual car rental companies that have offices in Dublin City. (More homework!) I must second Dude's recommendation to rent at the airport because sometimes trying to get out of the city can be confusing and traffic can be bad. From Dublin Airport (north of the city) you can get right on the M50 and then on the road you want that takes you west. Much easier than city driving.

Most of the major car companies have close in and convenient car drop off lots right at Shannon Airport. Off the top of my head: Budget, Hertz, Avis, National, Dooley, Thrifty. From many you can just walk to the terminal. When I travel, my husband drops me at the terminal with all the luggage (trolleys available free); he drops off the car and walks to the terminal to meet me. The whole process takes maybe 10-15 minutes.

Many thanks to Debbie, Ande and Dude for their suggestions.

Michele

j2spring
Unregistered User
(9/4/03 8:03 pm)

car pick-up Dub -- drop-of SNN

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Much thanks to Debby K., Ande,Dude, and Michele for your advice. I thought picking up the car near the hotel would be more convenient, but you make a very good point about perhaps not wanting our first "driving on the left" experience to be in downtown Dublin. Yours are the voices of experience talking and I sincerely appreciate it.
J2spring

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1828
(9/5/03 1:00 am)

Happy to Help

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Hi j2spring,

We are all delighted to pass on our tips to you.

Michele

garyvol
Unregistered User
(9/5/03 5:42 am)

M50

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Hi J2
M50 is really nice to go on from the airport to get both used to the car (steering wheel on right) and to driving. Although I actually made a wrong turn right within the airport (duh) . Found our way out after doing a U turn at some sort of security booth.
Keep some spare euro change for the toll booth on M50.
Finally it will at first feel wierd getting onto and driving M50. Everything is opposite. then you'll get used to it.

safe travel,
-gary

himself
Unregistered User
(9/5/03 8:17 am)

renting a car

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My husband and I just returned from a trip to Ireland. We rented our car through autoeurope.com which is a rental broker. We picked up the car in Dulin city at Murrys Eurocar. It would be a really quick cab ride from Merrion Square area. We we headed to Galway from Dublin and had no problem getting out of town. It was a pretty straight shot. There are also several car rental agencies in the trinity college area. We returned the car a dublin airport, so not sure about shannon, but might be worth looking into. Also make sure you have a mastercard as Visa and AmEx don't cover the collision insurance.

j2spring
Unregistered User
(9/9/03 9:40 am)
 
car rental

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Thanks to gary and himself for you insights. Gary, glad you survived your wrong turn. Are many of the Irish roads tolls? Do they have a manual booth, also, for those without change? Himself, the res agent at my downtown Dublin hotel suggested the car rental company you used -- Murrays (because it was close to the hotel). Were you happy with the rates and service? I have yet to do my homework on the car. Like I said before, I'm going to need a vacation from this vacation. Lots of research, but well worth it I'm sure. Thanks, J2spring

mikey
Unregistered User
(9/9/03 12:03 pm)

tolls

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J2spring

I know of only two tolls in Ireland and they are both in the Dublin area. The one on the loop around Dublin has manned boots that can give change so as long as you have Euros you can get change. The last time I did it I didn't have euros but they did accept the English pounds I had a bad exchange rate but at least they took them.

Ande
Unregistered User
(9/9/03 4:04 pm)
 
Tolls

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Just out of curiousity, does anybody know what the toll authorities in Ireland do when someone pulls up with no money? You know it has to happen! Where I live, they take down all of your information and I guess you sign an iou.

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1841
(9/9/03 10:45 pm)

Tolls

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Hi Ande,

I don't have a clue as I've never been in that predicament. I suppose if you act like a really confused Yank just off the plane and offer American dollars they might forgive the toll (or take the dollars), but I have no first-hand experience. I'm always prepared with money in hand.

Michele