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Since I posted a positive comment on Budget Rental Car on another thread, I felt compelled to update my most recent experience. A few days ago, I rented a car and it turned into a real horror story. I made the reservation online for an economy car for 6 days at the office down from the Pizza Hut for $89. Upon arrival the manager told me it would cost $200 some plus $200 for airport tax. I showed her my printout of my reservation for $89 and told her I have never payed airport tax from this location. After 15 minutes of arguing, she finally offered to give me a car for $92 dollars without airport tax. Then I told her I wanted all 3 insurances, buy she only offered two, so we argued for another 10 minutes. Finally, I got the third insurance, and thought my day would get better. WRONG !!!! Heading back downtown on Paseo Colon, I was stopped at a light when a car pulls up and yells that I have a flat tire. Now I had been moving since I left the rental office, so I know no one touched the tire. Immediately, red flags went up, I asked my colombiana how many guys there were-2- as I continued on looking for an escape route.
Stopped at the next light, anothet car pulls up yelling about my flat. So then I knew there were 2 cars with 4 guys looking to rob the gringo. I decided to go around traffic into the opposite direction traffic and luckily pulled into the ESSO Station. Jumping out, I was surprised to see both cars pull in, so I told the colombiana to run to the station. Things happened so fast that it is hard to accurately decribe what transpired, but the station manager saw it going down and came out with 4 other attendents and the ladrones took off. The manager said that I was very lucky as the ladrones almost got me. So, as I was having the flat changed, I called the Budget and accused them of being co-conspirators as it appearred that an ice pick had been used in the side wall. Of course she denied having anything to do with it and told me I would have to pay for the tire. It took me about 7 minutes to get back to the office, whereupon I MF´ed everyone in the office, accused them of being ladrones as well, and told the manager she could stick that tire up her a**. Needless to say the place was in an uproar. I threatened to call the police (as if this would do any good). I should have left, but I only travel with debit cards, and Budget is the only place I know that accepts them. The manager finally said they would change the tire and offer a police excort into town, but I demanded another car and left. It should only get better when I return the car next Thursday. TIENE CUIDADO with Budget. Somebody at that office stuck my tire and telephoned his buddy. I was lucky

It appears that rental cars in Central America are as dicey as lawyers. I had a similar expereience with Advantage in Nicaragua. I made my reservation on line prior to departure through Continental Airline's web site as one of their mileage partners. I was supposed to get a bunch of bonus mileage credits and theirs was the only one which did not require you to take all the extra insurance which I don't need when using my credit card. The cost for the week was something like $60 or $80 dollars total. I get to the rental counter at the airport at MGA and guess what? First of all it is not Advantage, but a "local affiliate" then the clerk pretends not to speak English so I start talking to her in Spanish. Then she tells me that they don't honor internet reservations so I give her a copy and start raising hell. Then she says they don't have any cars in economy class but I can rent a pickup for some exorbitant amount per day, which I refuse to pay and tell her that she is obligated to honor the reservation price with whatever is available because it is their screwup and if she doesn't I will make sure that they are deleted from Continental's website and any US affiliation. Then she pretends not to understand Spanish until I ask the clerk at the Hertz counter next to her if they have any cars available She finally agrees but then insists that it is Nicaraguan law that I have to take the insurance for an extra bunch of money(several hundred extra) and I have to bring the truck back in 2 days and exchange it for an economy car which MIGHT be available then but not guaranteed. I told her we were leaving Managua for a week at the beach and there was no way in hell I was going to do that. I finally agreed to pay the insurance but not return the truck early and left. Bottom line is the rental cost 5 0r 6 times what it was posted to be and I still have not gotten the mileage credits.

Second bad experience was in Panama with Avis. Once again made online thru Continental for a very good rate for a week. My taxi driver who took me to the rental place said be careful of these guys because they will try to hit you with phony damage claims for miniscule scratches so I was super careful with the inspection report. The week went by, no problems, returned the car, the charges were as expected and I thought all was well. That is until I got my next American Express bill. Remember the ONLY place I used that card on that trip was Avis. I started getting massive charges in Honduras and Nicaragua for electronics, car rentals, stereo equipment, airline tickets, etc. From the variety of locations and the high dollar amounts charged, plus the airline ticket bought and used on an international flight, someone had to have produced a counterfeit card and ID to go with it, as I have had to produce a passport that matched the name and signature virtually every time I have used a credit card in Central America. Whoever initiated this had to be connected with Avis. I don't think you can create a viable counterfeit card with just a paper slip from a dumpster. The amount was over $10000.00 before I got the first bill. It was all removed, but it took about five months to finally clear up and I had to get a new card and change all my automatic charges. A real pain in the ass.

I don't know what the solution is because it seems to be universal down there in the game of Phuck the tourist.

Goetz

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In heaven there is no beer, that's why we drink it here!

Guys... I have never had a desire to rent a car in CR and I never will. I'm the one who likes to do the screwing and not the other way around!

Berk....

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FRUITCAKE... and you thought it was something you eat! Not on CRT!

Sorry to hear about you hard luck with rental cars. I just flew home this past monday from a 2week stay in CR. I rented again from Andy ( Ad in Tico Times). Same deal, $300 down in cash plus the two weeks rent. Decent running car with CR version of AAA for road service. No problems the entire time. Returned the car before my flight on monday morning and got my same crisp 3, $100 bills back. I have done the same bullshit dance with the CR Rental agencies in the past. The car rental business is a ripoff business even in the states. Add the CR business ethic and that is what you get, a fricken nightmare.

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My life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming...." MAN....WHAT A RIDE!!!!"

The first time I rented a car in Costa Rica I rented it online through Expedia at Europcar. I thought it would be safer to go with an international chain, I didn't know how wrong I was.
When I arrived they didn't have a car for me, actually they didn't have any cars that day!

So I had no other option than to search another agency. I almost ended up renting a car from Dollar rent a car... After the receptionist had explained me their rates and I agreed he suddenly started adding additional fees to the rate I just had agreed on! Something like a license plate fee, which no other rental company in Costa Rica had ever mentioned to me. So I said thanks and walked out of there. At the end I rented a car from Wild Rider, they have comprehendible rates and didn't even charge for the extra driver.
The worst company in Costa Rica that I have heard of seems to be Plus rent a car in Liberia.

Jesus H Diablo! I'm glad you made it out alright! Quick thinking on your part. Very smart. Those ladrones might have stuck you with the ice pick.

I got some very bad juju on my last trip from this Tica I met on the net.

I've rented cars twice and each tme went thru the hotels/hostel where I stayed and was lucky no problems. Each outfit was locally owned and honest, no chains to deal with. I think the chains since they are corporate pay the lowest and up front cost the lowest but this also enables that corruption.

It's incredible how much they try and fok us! I think we all need to band up, organize and form a militia on them.

I guess I got lucky, I came back from a weekend trip to CR where I rented an SUV (Hyundai Tuscon) for 2 days from Advantage (which is actually Economy) at/near the airport. I booked thru Expedia for only $17/day. My insurance at home only covers rentals domestically, so I had to buy the liability (SLI/API) insurance ($28/day with no deductible). The collision damage waiver (CDW) was covered by my Citibank credit card.

I got there about 10am on Saturday, the car was ready to go. In and out in 10 minutes. My flight on Monday was at 2:30, so I got the guy to extend my return time to 12:00, so I wasn't charged for an extra hour or extra day. Returned the car about 12:15, no problem. Total charge for 2 days was $100.80 (includes 12% airport tax).

BTW, driving in SJ is no biggie. You just have to adapt to their style. Reckless, pushy, and inconsiderate is normal. Common courtesy and patience is not.

Orange you are from NYC, they drive like Ticos there. So you blended right in on the roads of San Jose.

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[url=http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/]

On 24 Sept, I completed my 7th or 8th car rental in CR without incident. I got a Friday to Monday rental from Advantage near the airport. I had reserved a mini SUV for the long weekend for $50, but opted for taking all the extra insurance which ran the total up to $129 by the time that I turned the car in. To me it's worth it the have a zero liability rental. They did ask me if I wanted the next bigger SUV for only $5 more per day, but I said no. Turns out that the baby SUV was in the shop so I got the upgrade for free.

For those of you who really want to see the real CR, having a car gives you unimaginable flexibility. I can understand not wanting to drive in the myriad one way streets in downtown SJ, BUT, if you pick up a car near the airport the traffic on the Pan American Highway is nt that bad. And once you hit roads to major tourist spots, the roads are usually OK and pretty well marked, Try it.

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Providing humanitarian assistance to self employed chicas, one cash grant at a time.

I was thinking the same thing.

I want to suggest you a very Cheap Car Rental Service. Visit there site.