Car rental questions

Found this post on another thread, and sounds great to us:

"We just returned from Curacao. You might want to consider what we did - best day we've had on this cruise. We rented a car at the pier(reserved in advance [from Avis]). After getting our car, we put all of our beach bags in the car and just let it parked at the pier. We walked the brief walk along the harbor to see the floating bridge and colored buildings in the daylight. Then, we returned to the car and headed for Cas Abao/Abou(you will see different spellings). Driving is on the right and not difficult at all. There are signs along the way directing you to the beach."

"The beach is FABULOUS!!! Not crowded. Great snorkeling right from the shore. The beach has cliffs on each side that meet the water. There are reefs on the left and right of the beach with cave inlets. There is lots of coral and a great variety of fish. I'd definitely recommend this beach"

I contacted Avis and they have high rates if you pick the car up at the cruise port, but they, Budget and others have locations at the Renaissance, Howard Johnson, etc. with better rates.

Looks easily walkable to get to other locations - for anyone who's more familiar with the island, is that true? Any reason NOT to do this?

Thanks!

 

I contacted Avis and they have high rates if you pick the car up at the cruise port, but they, Budget and others have locations at the Renaissance, Howard Johnson, etc. with better rates.

 

Looks easily walkable to get to other locations - for anyone who's more familiar with the island, is that true? Any reason NOT to do this?

 

Thanks!

Renaissance and Howard Johnson are both a VERY short walk from the pier area. I would definitely look into this option.

Great - thanks Isa, we'll do that!

Renaissance and Howard Johnson are both a VERY short walk from the pier area. I would definitely look into this option.

There are actually two piers in Curacao: the MEGA-PIER and the smaller one next to the floating bridge. The Renaissance and Howard Johnson are walkable from both, but it's a longer walk from the MEGA-PIER.

Carefully check the hours the rental offices are open. I paid a little bit extra to pick up at the MEGA-PIER because their hours were a little better and we wanted an early start. The Avis website says the “location hours” are “Only when there are cruise ships moored”, but in reality we had to wait until 8am for them to show up. She told us they leave at 5pm, but left instructions on how to do an after hour drop off. The lot is within the secured port facility, so I felt much better leaving the car there (after dark) than someplace else.

See some of the other threads. The drivers in Curacao are slightly nuts. I would rate them worse than Washington DC drivers but better than NJ ones. I wouldn't recommend renting to people who are timid drivers or aren't used to city driving.

Dennis

Thanks Dennis. We'll be at the Megapier, but don't mind the walk. I took your suggestion and checked the hours, and they'll work for our plans.

As far as crazy drivers, we're from DC and we've also driven in lots of foreign countries (some of which were insane!) so feel okay about it, but appreciate the heads up.

I see the rates are much cheaper with avis at the howard Johnson a short walk from the pier....Since our ship comes in at 1pm and doesn't leave until 10pm can I leave the car at the howard Johnson or at the pier after they close?

Anyone do this?

also how do I find out exactly what time they close for lunch at the howard Johnson? If they close from 12-2pm and I get in port at 1pm that doesn't help much...the rep on the phone at avis said they have written in their system closed only from 12:30-1pm? Hummm... who knows for sure? Anyone else take a cruise that got in at 1pm and rent from howard Johnson?

also how do I find out exactly what time they close for lunch at the howard Johnson? If they close from 12-2pm and I get in port at 1pm that doesn't help much...the rep on the phone at avis said they have written in their system closed only from 12:30-1pm? Hummm... who knows for sure? Anyone else take a cruise that got in at 1pm and rent from howard Johnson?

I don't know what time their lunch break is over, but when your ship gets here at 1 pm, you won't be at the HJ earlier than 1.30 - 1.45 anyway.

We rented from the Howard Johnson location but had to wait a little while for the employee to show up. When we returned the car, no one was there but a hotel employee checked the car for us. Fortunately we did not have any issues, but I took pictures before and after the rental. It was a lot cheaper renting there and we did not have to wait in line.

Thanks for all the great info on renting from Avis at the Howard Johnson, yes much cheaper picking up there, and as they close at 5pm, even though someone mentioned returning their car after that, I chose to drop at the Mega-Pier location which is open later and the rate was the same. I guess it's only more expensive if you pick-up the car there. BTW-Noticed there are (2) Howard Johnson's in Willemstad, one is a Beach/Casino location and much farther away from the Mega-Pier, so hoping it's the Plaza Hotel location. Per Google Maps, about an 11 min walk.

We rented last March and it was the best decision. We drove to Playa Lagun - very easy to find and drive. We also stopped at the grocery store on the way to get a case of Amstel Light for the beach (drinking on the beach is legal). I rented a van and 10 of us went.

Playa Lagun was awesome- well worth the money. Great snorkeling from the beach.

Klink