[Closed] Alicante airport car hire.

I used Gold on my last trip to Palma recently. I normally book europcar thru easy jet but it was so cheap I went for it. I actually booked thru rental cars.com who look after you if there are any issues. Take out online excess cover before you go for around £10.  Keep petrol receipts when you fill up.

I didn’t have any problems.

Used a good few, best experience was centauro. You'll find the cheapest are located just outside of the airport and offer a bus service to collect the car which isn't too bad. All depends on how much you want to save in relation to time.

I shall be with 2 women and more suit cases than you can comprehend.

I ain’t getting on no bus.

I use insurance4carHire (sorry to sound like a commercial 🙂

for 43quid(a year) covers you for all the excess insurance rubbish that they rip you off on the desk for.

My wifes uncle has a villa out there and we have used Coys rent a car a few times now, been great, english people met us at the airport, the car had all the child seats fitted, just hopped in and off we went, not badly priced too. And the were great for dropping back at the airport car park.

We got ripped off royally by Budget at Palma after naively agreeing to a load of charges including one where they offer to give you holiday advice. I learned a big lesson that day.

Watching this thread with great interest as we may be heading there this year. Always used Cicar in Fuerteventura.

What's the crack with goldcar then? Just booked one from Almeria through 'doyouspain'.

Who are you flying with ? I've found Ryanair to be the cheapest , especially if you've got the nerve to wait until a few days before your flight for booking the car.Last one was with Centauro. Brand new Nissan,4kms on clock.No issues at all. I've used OK car rental in the past who were good but seem a bit pricey now. I always take out independent insurance normally for a full year at around £40.

Another recommendation for Centauro from Alicante - you pick up from the terminal, and Insurance4CarHire

I know you said no bus transfer BUT, Drivalia are very good and I use them every time I fly to Alicante.  They are 5 mins in the bus, and the process when you get there is quick and easy.  We've done the bus transfer as a family of 5 with car seats & luggage and it was no problem.  You could always go get the car then come back for the other passengers.

Prior to Drivalia, we used Javea cars without a problem.

Fly to Alicante most years and holiday along the stretch from Altea to Xabia.

All of my experiences with the providers in the airport have been awful. Often queuing for several hours. someone on here recommended Drivalia, just off site (as per woody's post) and they are ace. Straight outside and onto a small bus. A few minutes drive and you will be driving your car a lot quicker than waiting at the main desks.

Last year with my wife and teenage daughter. I share your pain ref luggage but this was still very easy.

I would rather pluck out my own eyes and eat them than use Goldcar again.

If you do, make sure you have third party excess insurance.

Ask for a dry car (not just washed) so you can check for marks.

Take a full set of photos before you leave.

Make sure any deposit is taken in Euros and not converted to pounds by them (2% surcharge you wont get back).

etc

etc

I think this year we took out the insurance Drivalia suggested. Normally I have an annual policy but theirs was only a few quid more expensive so took that to avoid the usual 5 mins of "tutting" and eyebrow raising as they tell you they will take your first born if you so much as get sand in the boot!

I would rather pluck out my own eyes and eat them than use Goldcar again

I wouldn't quite go that far but I definitely wouldn't use them again. Our plane was delayed and we landed in the middle of the night, hence I wasn't alert to their rip-off techniques, added to which theirs was the only desk open.  I was well and truly shafted.  She wrote a number on a piece of paper that she said was the total cost for the hire, then slid the form underneath to get me to sign. The piece of paper on top was hiding the true cost which was on the form that I had signed......................

Cheers Leku - I have 3rd party excess insurance and always take photos so should be fine.

I have a shortlist for a potential trip and its Coys, EDI or Lara Cars.

I've done some research and these are all local suppliers who don't rip you off for fuel, don't have dodgy insurance add ons, often include child seats, have been in business for years and most importantly meet you at arrivals and hand the car over outside (no queues). These are my criteria for any Med rental and I avoid the big players and the regional scum (Gold) like the plague.

I've not used either but will be booking via one of them if I do end up going. The cars may be slightly older with the odd scrape but you don't want the hassle of kerbing a brand new Golf or having it shunted in a car park.

I use sixt at Alicante. They are dearer but there’s never a queue, the cars are in the multi-storey over the link bridge and they were fine when I chipped an alloy. Just remember to bring your credit card and have enough credit on it.

Ive also used Javea cars. They were good. You get a car that has a reassuring amount of scratches and if they are closed you can pick the car up and pay in Javea the next day.

Used europcar couple times alicante now - as someone above said hold your nerve and book day or two before and is super cheap.

Pick up in multistory attached to airport and never had to queue with them either while all other providers around had.

Used autoclick a few times, cheap, great service and cars, no hassle.

Used record go car hire in November from Alicante. No hassle at all. Then again I’ve hired loads of cars and never had a problem. I do have my own insurance now so don’t buy at the airport. Also avoid the bling cars. Fur coat and no knickers and all that.

We use gold car, have used them about 4 times now, always berlingo type cars.

Never had any problems though book through brokers (do you spain?) and always get extra insurance before and got unlimited milage last time.

Have been in the que with people being dicks moaning about the car being damaged rather than just explain calmly staff always seem to go slower with them.

Read all the paperwork before hand and make sure you understand all the costs.

I hear problems all the time from people renting cheap cars at alc, edi is good at least you can speak to the owner directly.  He may seem expensive but there are no hidden costs so will be cheaper and less stressful in the end.

If you join denia connect on fb you will read daily posts re various rip off attempts.