Recommendation for Car Hire please.

[PapaBravo]

Friends will need to hire a car when they visit in July. Is it normal practice to collect the hire the car from Ercan and return it there, or does the company pick up the party (4 adults and a 9 year old) and transport them from/to Ercan to the Hire Car office in Girne/ Catalkoy?

Recommendations please, for a good, honest company who will not try and up the costs with needless insurance etc, and who won't try and 'skin' you for damage you have not incurred when you return the car.

Many thanks.

[Hedge-fund]

You can arrange the hire details either way as you wish.

I've always found Karapasha a decent firm - they are by the new roundabout coming out of girne towards ozankoy on the opposite side of the road to upper crust.

[Cally]

I've used A One for a few years, they are not the newest & that suits me as I would be mortified if I had an accident in a new car. I always go to look round the car to be told "doesn't matter", no rip off & the price is inclusive.

[thickey]

Pacific car hire have never had any problems with them

[Mimi2]

A-one car hire great service reasonable prices. Think pickups from Ercan free Larnaca only £25. Not new cars but won't rip you off on price

[jofra]

Another one for A-One; have used them several times (with pickup from/to Larnaca) - very happy BUT - if (like me, you want/need manual rather than automatic - tell them in advance, and when they deliver the car, make sure it's a manual before they disappear - every time, I highlighted/emphasised/stressed that I cannot drive an auto - and last time they delivered an auto; the time before, they had to take me to where a manual was being collected...
After 50+ years of driving, the very first time I had to drive an auto was in Cyprus - I don't know who was more terrified - me or the other inhabitants......

[Kazzy2437]

A1 definately

[niceone]

We have used Bird for many many years with no problems
They deliver the car to you at Ercan and you drop it back there.

http://www.birdrentacar.com/yeni/

[Eric7622]

Ask for Rosemary at Pacific. They will pick you up at the airport and take you to pick up your car. Just up the road from the Colony in Girne.

[PaulW]

I concur with "niceone" Bird always reliable and a good price

[Peggy]

Bellapais Taxi & Rent a Car 0533 8592875 0542 8592875 offices on the main road in Catalkoy near the Malpas Hotel.
Excellent service We have used them for the last ten years

[Panchocat]

Baspinar very good too. Never had any problems with them.
In the parade of shops outside the entrance to The Cratos. RHS if going from Catalkoy.

[aripointer]

Gunray Rent a Car are very good. I have been using them for over 12 years. Prices are very good and the quality of the cars are excellent. Look for their special offers box on their website.

They meet you with the car, do all the paperwork and payment at Ercan. At drop off leave the car at Ercan in a designated bay, pop the car keys in a box and off you go.
AP

[gary&shirley]

Been using A1 for 10 + years, not the best condition or newest cars however with the state of the roads that's what we and our visitors want. Good price and reliable.

[Cally]

I'm like you Jofra, has to be manual & with over 50 years am not about to change either. A one usually bring car to hotel after dropping me off the night before, this time they took me to office & it wasn't till I got in the car realised it was auto.......they took me back to hotel & delivered a new manual car later. They said it was for a few days, they had to borrow from somewhere else, I actually had it for the whole 3 weeks, but couldn't relax. I order about 6 weeks before & emphasise manual.

[SussexBoy]

We have had a lot of experience with hire cars/taxis as we need to recommend reliable firms to hirers of our villa. One or two I would not touch with a bargepole! But here are my comments on a few of the good or better ones we have used ourselves:

We used BIRD for many years - friendly and reliable people - but their fleet was getting too old, and both ourselves and hirers were experiencing problems with vehicles. But Bird will resolve any matters quickly and their hire prices are very reasonable.

We also tried A-ONE as many people recommended them and I did warn them before hire that we were trying them out before recommending them to villa hirers. However, the car we were given had seriously dangerous tyres and there was no rubber on the window wipers. To their credit, they immediately rectified the matters and perhaps we were just unlucky.

PACIFIC are excellent and we would have no hesitation in recommending them. Rosemarie and others there speak excellent English. Modern fleet.

CYPRUS PINES are also excellent and staff both in their Girne office and Esentepe agency speak fluent English. Cyprus Pines are one of the few hire companies that hire their vehicles with fully comprehensive insurance. Modern fleet.

Both Pacific and Cyprus Pines provide hire cars from Ercan. They also provide a taxi service from Ercan and would deliver a hire car direct to your accommodation the same or the following day (or any day you wish).

One thing to remember that, if hiring a car at Ercan, you will need to be mindful of the amout of luggage being brought. Five people's luggage may make it difficult or impossible to fit into a small or medium sized vehicle. If this is the case, then it may be preferable to get a taxi from Ercan to the accommodation.

[Maisiemoo]

From my experience I would never use Aone again after a nasty experience with them! Can thoroughly recommend Pacific, lovely company to deal with and have always been very helpful, even when I have had to rearrange bookings at short notice due to illness. The one time we had a problem with the car they delivered another one to our villa within 2 hours.

[niceone]

Yes Bird cars are old, we like that, hire includes CDW, Our son had an accident that was his fault, he phoned them and told them what had happened, they arranged to meet him at the police station, the person that arrived said don't worry we will take care of everything there is another car outside for you, that is why we have used them for about 12 years

[PapaBravo]

WOW! What a great response. A big THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to share their recommendations.

Maisiemoo,

From my experience I would never use Aone again after a nasty experience with them!

would you be prepared to tell us about your experience with A-1 as most others were very enthusiastic about them. Thanks.

[Maisiemoo]

PapaBravo I have pm'd you, don't want to put the details on a public forum!

[frugal90]

Would be interested to know as well please

[PapaBravo]

frugal90

Would be interested to know as well please

Sorry, I must respect the confidentiality requested my Maisiemoo.

[CatalkoyChris]

A-One for me. Be clear with what your requirements are. Check around the car before accepting it.
Don't expect brand new. Good prices, friendly staff, friendly taxi drivers, good price on transfer.

Plus if there is an issue (tyres etc) they generally sort things out.