Car Hire - Faro
Discussion
You are better off getting a car from one of the smaller outfits.
If you arrange it through one of the main companies you waste loads if time collecting the car.
First you see the company’s rep, along with loads of others who have booked with them, so there is always a queue, then wait for a mini bus to take you to their site down the road, then you wait in the mini bus for everyone else to arrive. When you finally get to the site where all the cars are, there is a big scramble from the bus and if you’re not careful you find yourself at the back of the queue and another long wait.
With the small independent companies, you meet the rep at the airport, sign the papers and the car is outside waiting for you. You can be on the road while the others are still waiting for the mini bus.
We have used Yorcar and Luzcar in the past without any problems.
If you arrange it through one of the main companies you waste loads if time collecting the car.
First you see the company’s rep, along with loads of others who have booked with them, so there is always a queue, then wait for a mini bus to take you to their site down the road, then you wait in the mini bus for everyone else to arrive. When you finally get to the site where all the cars are, there is a big scramble from the bus and if you’re not careful you find yourself at the back of the queue and another long wait.
With the small independent companies, you meet the rep at the airport, sign the papers and the car is outside waiting for you. You can be on the road while the others are still waiting for the mini bus.
We have used Yorcar and Luzcar in the past without any problems.
I usually use one of the comparison sites to find the best price, moneysupermarket or http://www.arguscarhire.com/
Last time they booked me up with an outfit called travel rent http://www.travelrent.pt They have a shared desk in the airport and the car is parked out in the car park at the front. The car was a Fiat Grand Punto costing about £110 for a week.
Last time they booked me up with an outfit called travel rent http://www.travelrent.pt They have a shared desk in the airport and the car is parked out in the car park at the front. The car was a Fiat Grand Punto costing about £110 for a week.
Muzzer said:
Hertz have an office about 2 mins walk from the terminal so no buses or anything like that.
We rented an Astra from them last year without problems.
All the main car hire companies are located (and have been for the last 10 years) at the airport. There is no need to get a bus anywhere. The walk from arrivals is less than 50m. It takes a couple of minutes to collect one. No problems at all.We rented an Astra from them last year without problems.
El stovey said:
All the main car hire companies are located (and have been for the last 10 years) at the airport. There is no need to get a bus anywhere. The walk from arrivals is less than 50m. It takes a couple of minutes to collect one. No problems at all.
Europcar are off the airport, I used them two years ago and the office was still in the same place when I passed by last week. I think there is another next door to Europcar (possibly Auto Ardim). But yes most others are on the right as you exit customs.Edited by gavmobile on Monday 18th August 10:28
I have hired cars there quite a few times. Usual companies such as Hertz / Avis have offices & car pick up / drop off adjacent to the terminal.
I have noticed that they try to sting you for a lot of extra insurances in Portugal, over £100 of extras for a weeks stay, far worse than other European countries I hire cars in. Make sure any prices you are quoted actually include all the 'extras' !.
I have noticed that they try to sting you for a lot of extra insurances in Portugal, over £100 of extras for a weeks stay, far worse than other European countries I hire cars in. Make sure any prices you are quoted actually include all the 'extras' !.
Jimboka said:
I have noticed that they try to sting you for a lot of extra insurances in Portugal, over £100 of extras for a weeks stay, far worse than other European countries I hire cars in. Make sure any prices you are quoted actually include all the 'extras' !.
Will be traveling with a Potugese native so hopefully, their gypsy scams will be picked up on 
Thanks for the tips guys, holiday autos looks really good!
El stovey said:
All the main car hire companies are located (and have been for the last 10 years) at the airport. There is no need to get a bus anywhere. The walk from arrivals is less than 50m. It takes a couple of minutes to collect one. No problems at all.
Ah, sorry for posting out of date info. We had a nightmare time with car hire when we first went to Portugal and have avoided the major companies there ever since.Good to hear things have improved.
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