Cyprus-Forum.com

[krasnal]

Hi all,
I am going to rent a car from Larnaca airport, most affordable prices are in Budget. Does anyone can recommend it? Do they have their office directly at the airport (i.e. together with Avis)? In rental condition they say, that the office is 3 km away from apt, so thus "airport collection" doesn't make sense.

[bill cobbett]

Hi krasnal and welcome to CF.

By and large the rental cos at LCA are more expensive than finding something on-line. Hired once from Budget without problems, a nice and fairly new Focus and pretty good price.

If you hire on-line from one of the others they will send a rep to meet you at the airport to take your details, check your licence and take payment in the terminal. it is a cheaper option. Shop around comes to mind.

[krasnal]

Hi Bill and thanks for your reply,

I rather thought about renting car online and collecting it from the airport. In this case do I meet with a representative of Budget at the airport or maybe there is shuttle bus, which would take me to their office? Unfortunately, Budget doesn't respond my e-mails.

[Kikapu]

Over the years in different parts of the world, the Car Rental company I have used at over 90% of the time which had the best rates over others, has been with Alamo, booked directly with them online, with the Insurance included. https://www.alamo.com/ . I used Alamo also in Larnaca Airport few years ago and they were on the premises at the old terminal. The good thing about booking online with Alamo is, although you get a confirmed booking at the price you booked it, you do not need to confirm it with a Credit card, which means, if you find a better deal later, you can always cancel the Alamo booking without any cost or penalty. You don't even need to cancel, as it would just expire if you do not show, but it is always a good policy to cancel online if you are not going to use the car. In fact, Alamo will remind you via email few days before your pick-up date if you are still going to need the car or not. Most online booking companies might show a cheaper rates than Alamo's, but often it does not include the daily Insurance on the car, so be aware, because you will get a nasty surprise at the time of the pick-up. http://www.ebookers.com is actually one of the good online booking companies that does include the insurance with the price on the cars they offer from all the leading car rental companies, which I have also used the remaining 10% of the time, but they do require that the booking is confirmed with a credit card and that there is a penalty if you should cancel at later stage. I really think that Alamo is the tops when it comes to prices and booking rules.

Note: Just to clarify something regarding the daily insurance being included with Alamo in their prices.

If you put the United States as your residing country, often the daily insurance is not included in the rates, but the rate is also much lower, that's because, most people with Gold and higher rated Credit Cards, when are used booking with it, one can refuse the insurance on the rental car and that the Credit Card company covers you in case of a claim, as long as you sign away the refusal of CDW with the Rental Car company. But if you put any other place as your residence in the world, often you will find that the daily insurance is included in the price.

[krasnal]

Thanks for your answers,

finally I got a respond from Budget, they provide a shuttle bus directly to/from the apt.

[Jerry]

If you have not yet booked look at: - http://www.stevenscarrentals.com/

They meet you at airport, show you to car and only take payment when you accept the car, no hidden extras, my last car only had 2000 kms on clock. Easy to return, leave in car park ond lock keys in boot.

[Moonage Daydream]

I've used Fontana several times from both Larnaka and Pafos airports, details here: http://www.cyprus-car.com/
.
You book online, and they meet you with a board with your name on as you come through arrivals. A few minutes doing the formalities and form filling and your away. You can return the car at the airport or in any major town by arrangement.
They are not the rock bottom cheapest you can find, but they are reliable, and they use good quality vehicles. A further advantage is that will allow you to take the car into the north of the island, providing you buy third party insurance at the Green Line.

[Vas105]

WARNING - if you book Avis as I did you will find that their office is now a mobile hut placed outside the old Larnaca airport. When you eventually find their desk you ring a number. Someone will turn up in a mini van, which will be parked 400 metres from the airport, on an incline with an uneven surface. If you have lots of luggage, young family, or any mobility issues, I would ask you think twice. A warning of this does not appear on their website at point of sale! So turning up with all the above issues at 2am in the morning to go through all this was an unpleasant surprise. If none of the above bothers you, I can say, their quality of car has always been good. Unfortunately for me, their arrangements do not work.