Cheap car hire in France - can you recommend any? Plus which car to go for?

[Hulababy]

Any ideas anyone as to car hrire companies, and also recommendations for the larger of the two cars needed.

Off to South of France at the beginning of August for two weeks, flying ina nd out of Nice.

Need two cars:

(1) a small car, suitable for two people plus luggage

(2) a larger car that can hold up to 4 adults and one child (in booster with back style car seat). Will have three in back, inc DD, and we want to be comfortable!

Both must have air con!

Thanks.

We used Budget last time we went they were really good. At most major air ports.We had similar gropu size had an Astra and a People carrier.

Easyjet car thingy is cheap

we used our tesco clubcard points for car hire when we were in France recently...covered the car hire which was fantastic (and basically meant we could afford the holiday!)

We don't have a Tescos clubcard, neither do PILs.

Easyjet so far looking cheapest, thanks.

If you go with Easyjet remember these things:

They tell you that you need a Credit Card to pay the deposit for the car, a Debit card will not do.

We were able to use a Debit card easily.

We booked a 5 door car online but when we arrived we were given a 3 door car.

The check-in places do not open until 9am. So even if you have booked to pick up or drop off earlier than this, they won't tell you that it will not be possible.

They never answer their emails.

Can you not book directly in France?

Flights are mid day arrival/departure.

Will def need 5 door for the bigger of the two cars - currently looking at the Scenic one.

Will be using a credit card.

Who do I book with direct?

ADA car hire. here

They work out dearer sadly.

Oh well, go with Easycar then but do insist you get a 5 door car when you arrive.

Will do. DH and FIL can be pretty good at getting what they need. The small car can be 3 door that isn't an issue. But the bigger one must be 5 door so will make sure that is what we get!

Have a good holiday! [smiley]

Hi Hulababy, we recently went to France (flew to Bordeaux) and I spent ages looking for the cheapest car rental - for what we were looking for it was carhire3000.com - although when we received our voucher it was actually Avis where we got the car from.

We use this company for car hire in Spain and so far they have been fantastic, they cover France too.

Slight hi-jack, Hulababy, can you tell me which booster with back car seat you have, and how big the child who travels in it is? I have to buy a carseat in the UK to take to France as we are there quite often and French carseats are really weird in my opinion! My DS will be 3.3 when we go and is average-sized - I can't work out if he is big enough for a booster with back, and if he is, which one to go for. All advice gratefully received.

It depends on his weight MuminBrum rather than his age/size 15kg minimum - they have similar Britax (Roemer) and Maxi Cosi ones over there.

He is just over 15kg. Do you think it would be more sensible to buy one there? Could you recommend an outlet - Le Halfords?!

lol we got our M-C Rodi in Carrefour ! There is also a chain called something like Autour de Bebe and others more like Toys R Us which you often find on the out of town retail parks See here for a price comparison.

Thanks, that's very helpful; there isn't an Autour de Bebe in our Departement but I am sure there must be a Carrefour nearby.

Ooooh, do they have Carrefour in France too? Fab shop!

MuminBrum - we will be taking our Jane isofix one as it is the only one we have that comes apart into two pieces, so easier to take. The Hi-liners we have don't split.

lol at "do they have Carrefour in France too"

Wish we had Carrefour here, could give ASDA and Tesco a run for their money.