Lake Garda July - hire car

[heisthegaffer]

Hi all

Any recommendations for a reliable hire car company for about 5 days hire in Lake Garda in July?

Are they all much of a muchness?

[heisthegaffer]

Specifically we are going to Garda land. Do we need a car if we want to get out and about?

Are the buses/trains good?

[MarkJS]

I’ve used these a couple of times and they’ve always been spot on:

https://www.malcesinerent.eu/it/index.html

I’d recommend something compact - there’s no point in having a big car around the Italian lakes/Dolomites.

[Your Dad]

heisthegaffer said:

Specifically we are going to Garda land. Do we need a car if we want to get out and about?

Are the buses/trains good?

Buses run regularly from Peschiera to Bardolino and stop right in front of Gardaland entrance, but would be useful if you mentioned where you’re actually staying as you first need to get to Peschiera or Bardolino.

[TC7]

i tend to just book with whoever is cheapest, normally via economybookings when we travel to Italy and refuse any of the excess they try to push on you at the desk.

They are all pretty much the same now and will make a point of trying to find anything they can to charge the earth for, so go into it expecting to be charged for something!

I bought a personal excess cover online for peace of mind, was around £45 for the year and it paid itself back last year when the rental company in pisa airport charged me 120 euro for a stone chip on the plastic wheel trim that may or may not of been on it when i collected it. They were expecting me to have taken pics right round the car upon collection in the dark and pouring rain to then be able to then prove i hadn't damaged anything when returning it. Also check fuel level before you drive away as more than once we've had a car that isn't full yet they expect you to return it full.

Make sure to get something small and underpowered and thrash it to within an inch to fit in with the locals, Garda is stunning well worth having a car to follow the road right round from Sirmione to Riva Del Garda

[omniflow]

For 5 days, at least one of which will be at an amusement park, I wouldn't bother with a car. There are ferries that connect most of the interesting places on the lake and they will be far more relaxing than driving.