Posts: 838
From: arlington, va; Fairshare Plus, HGVC, Park Plaza Utah
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-17-2005 04:48               

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All,

We have a group of 14 going to Cabo in August. Should we all rent carsor just take a van to and from the resort (Pueblo Bonito at Sunset Beach) to airport? Does anyone know if the resort shuttle takes you to the grocery store? Thanks.

Karen

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Posts: 3086
From: Bellevue, WA; own in Hawaii, Mexico, South Africa, Texas (RCI Pts.)
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-17-2005 07:48               

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The resort shuttle runs only between Sunset Beach and the PB Rose on a regular schedule. They don't make any stops in between, so they wouldn't take you to the grocery store.

With a group as large as yours, I think you'd find that renting cars would enhance your trip, and give people a little more freedom to come and go as they please.

If you didn't rent a car, an option for getting groceries would be to take a taxi both ways. Or you could take the free shuttle to the PB Rose, walk to the grocery store, then take a taxi back with your groceries.

I think you'll be happier with a rental car, though.

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Posts: 838
From: arlington, va; Fairshare Plus, HGVC, Park Plaza Utah
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-17-2005 10:07               

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What is the best rental car agency to use for decent prices in Cabo? Thanks.

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Posts: 828
From: Monterey, CA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-17-2005 14:59               

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The best thing to do is go out on travelocity or orbitz and use the dates of your visit and use the airport code SJD and see what comes up for the type of car(s) that you want to get. Make sure you get a company that quotes all the fees including taxes so you can compare. With 14 people you might want to get several full size cars or a couple of vans. Depends on what you want to to together and how much you want to be on your own. I am in cabo now and I just rented a full size dodge stratus for 7 days $173 plus 44 dollars for taxes and fees from Dollar. Harvey

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Posts: 36
From: Anchorage, Alaska Royal Sands Wk 24, 27, 28, 34, 51, 52 Pueblo Bonito Blanco Wk 50, 51, 52 Los Cabos Country Club Penthouse
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 05-18-2005 13:03               

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What about insurance? Does the credit card cover it?

Thanks,
AKGOLFER

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Posts: 3086
From: Bellevue, WA; own in Hawaii, Mexico, South Africa, Texas (RCI Pts.)
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-18-2005 15:41               

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quote:

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Originally posted by akgolfer:
What about insurance? Does the credit card cover it?

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Many do. You should check with your particular card to be sure before you leave for Mexico.

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Posts: 1836
From: CO--but since April 22, Arizona
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-19-2005 07:28               

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Insurance: There are two parts to the insurance. Your credit card company MAY cover the damage you might do to the rental car. If so, the credit card company's insurance probably has a $0.00 deductible. IMO the credit card company's insurance is a better deal than the car rental company's insurance. I like the idea of having Mastercard/American Express/Visa behind me to deal with a problem if there is one. (Bear in mind that if you accept the rental car company's insurance, the credit card company's insurance is negated.)

The second insurance is liability for damage you do to someone else or to someone else's property. No credit card company's insurance covers this insurance. It is, in fact, required by Mexican law before you can drive the rental car off the lot. You WILL have to buy this insurance. (Accepting this insurance does not affect your credit card company's insurance, provided you take nothing else from the car company.)

IMO since it is required by law, the price should be included in the rate you are quoted; you should not arrive at the desk to rent and be told "Well, this insurance is mandatory," (and it actually is mandatory.) I know Avis includes this mandatory insurance coverage in the rate they quote you. I believe National also includes it. Others do not. It will add--maybe $7.00 a day ?--to the rental price you are actually getting from a company which does not include it in the quote.

Pat

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Posts: 18
From: OBBR, Sr. Maarten
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 05-19-2005 15:00            

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We had a rental from Thrifty for May 7-14th. Reserved on their website @ $118. Used platinum visa coverage for cdw and their liability @ $11/day. total came to $203 at return.

Automatic w/ air, brand new (which i wasn't excited about since they will try to charge you for any dings, but this time was no hassle). Overall no problems and I would recommend them, but don't be "touristy". i think they were trying to hustle us bc they required a 1900 authorization hold on the card once i let them know i only wanted liability and they were willing to reduce it if i took their full coverage at over $50/day. Didn't really matter since I had cards with me, but definitely wasn't expecting THAT much!!

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Posts: 499
From: Ottawa, Canada
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 05-19-2005 19:34               

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Has anyone had experience with Advantage car rental in Cabo? Do they include the liability insurance in their rates? I've been comparing rates on Orbitz for next January and they keep coming up with the lowest rates. We are going for three weeks and would like to rent for the first and last week only. Ideally, I'd like the first rental with a pick-up at the airport and a drop-off in Cabo and for the third week a pick-up in Cabo and drop-off at the airport. In this way we could mitigate our shuttle costs to and from the airport as well as having a vehicle for Costco, touring, etc.
Steve

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Posts: 1836
From: CO--but since April 22, Arizona
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-20-2005 06:39               

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I'm pretty sure only Avis and National include liability in the rates; add $50.00 to $80.00 a week to other quotes in order to compare.

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Posts: 261
From: Monterey County CA
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 05-20-2005 15:59               

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quote:

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Originally posted by PStreet1:
I know Avis includes this mandatory insurance coverage in the rate they quote you. I believe National also includes it.
Pat

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National does not include it, at least not as of last year. I started a long thread about this last year, probably gone now, about how much trouble I had just in finding out whether liability was included. In a nutshell, the international desk at National headquarters is useless; and I got dinged for about $20/day when I arrived in Cabo. I've been recommending against National in Cabo ever since.

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Posts: 1836
From: CO--but since April 22, Arizona
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-21-2005 13:11               

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WOW! I stand corrected. That leaves Avis the only "upright" one imo. If it's required to drive the car off the lot, it's really part of the cost no matter how it's broken down.

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Posts: 61
From: Willmar, MN Resorts Owned; Mexico, Hawaii, Marriott, Fairfield, Arizona, Wisconsin
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 05-21-2005 19:31               

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We have rented from Avis many times in Cabo, and have always used our credit card for the collison coverage. My understanding is that ALL rental agencies are responsible for the minimum amount of liability coverage. Many will imply that it is mandatory to purchase the collision coverage at a rate equal to the regular rental rate per day. We used National last February for a 30 day rental, and did NOT purchase any additional insurance coverage. They tried to convince me that I needed additional insurance, but just told them that Visa covers the vehicle damage up to $50,000, or the value of the car, and any lost time due to repairs. The car was a Nissan Tsuru, with air and auto trans. We paid $458 total for the 30 days.

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Posts: 117
From: Mitchell, SD
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-24-2005 20:26               

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Hi Bruce, I agree with all that you have discussed. My research has shown that both have it included so it is just a matter of who is lowest cost at the time. I use the Platinum CC for phys damage also.

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