car rental and other advise

[ginaandy]

are you aware where i can book a car for cuba (in Moron) from here in Canada at the best price possible (i dont care for car size- as long as it has four wheels :)), how to go about it? All ive been finding costs over 60US dollars a day...

other option is to rent on the premises, but how are the prices there (would taxi be cheaper?)- from the resort the price was 70us (excluding gaz)- i plan to go to a casa particular this time.

This will be my first visit off-resort, a bit nervous as I will be on my own (although meeting my novio over there- but dont know what we're allowed and not allowed to do together, i.e., hold hands, hug, sleep in same casa, be in my car, etc... He is new at this too as I am his first foreign girlfriend ;D)

Thanks in advance for any advise you can offer
Gina 8)

[greslogo]

VIA has a rental office in Moron, based on the following web site.. For prices, check

http://www.nashtravel.com/carrental.html

I would not recommend booking through this travel agent though.

Oh, Havanauto also has rental offices in the are. Check

http://www.havanautos.cu/frames/esp/punt.htm

for locations and phone numbers.

If I am not mistaken, it sounds like your boyfriend works at a resort. I find it extremely difficult to believe that neither he, or any of his co-workers, would not know what is "allowed" and what is not.

[ginaandy]

thanks for all info...

so happens that he does know "the rules" i had just misundertood him :-[

[mike5606]

Don't quote me but I think its cheaper to deal direct rather going through an agency.... That has been my experience.
try cubacar rental.

[Rick]

D.K. if it's that much cheaper but the problem in going thru a non-Cuban agency is trying to make changes to your itinerary or upgrades when you are actually there in Cuba. We rented an "economy" car which was a European model they don't have here in Canada. When we saw how small it we realized there was no way 4 people and luggage could have fit in it! Trying to make changes was impossible and we had to rent an additional car instead! >:( Just make sure you know what you want and when you want it if you use an outside agency! :P

[greslogo]

The advantange of booking ahead is getting the car, in the price range, you want. I have often seen tourists show up at the rental desk only to find the only cars available are the most expensive ones.

It's not cheaper renting when you get to Cuba, unless you have a working relationship with one of the rental agents. They'll often cut you a deal but expect a "tip" in return. I have no problem with that. We both profit in the exchange.

Cubacar is by far the most expensive.

I have in the past changed cars after booking and paying for it in Canada. They credited me and charged me the difference. I didn't lose a cent.

I'm not saying you didn't have a problem but it sounds more like they didn't have a larger car available so you had to rent an additional small car. Am I right ? Just curious.

[Rick]

No... it's been the same in booking hotel rooms and trying to alter details when we arrive. The Cubans gave us the same reason over and over again that they can't change what's on the paper because the paper did not originate in Cuba. No matter how many options we gave them they remained rigid and eventually made a phone call to a "superior" and the answer always came back "Lo siento, no podemos!". ::) :P Maybe it depends on the rental company you use. Unfortunately, i can't remember which one it was! :-[

[greslogo]

Hotels would probably be a problem.

With cars, you get a voucher saying you paid for a xxxx car for xx days. The rental agency actually does the paperwork, contract when you arrive. The arrangements can be changed at that time.

I've done it with VIA and, if I recall, with Havanautos.

I also once arrived and the car was not there. I was going to have to wait an 1.5 for it, so they told me. I really couldn;t wait. I had an important event to attend that day.

I told them to keep it, went over to another booth and rented a car. When I got back, I called my travel agent and had a refund in 3 days.

[Rick]

I guess we could have gone the refund route but that thought never occurred to us. The Cubans just kept saying that they can't change anything because the voucher was not theirs. We used some company in Miami to pre-book. Maybe the company you choose does make a difference. I guess we should have asked more questions ahead of time. :P :-[

[greslogo]

The voucher will be from the wholesaler in the country you book from. The travel agency doesn't matter.

All the travel agents book and get the voucher from the wholesaler. The wholesaler pays the Cuban car company and gets a confirmation number.

In the case of Havanautos, in Canada, it's Hola Sun.

It is proof of payment and booking. The Cuban end of it, at the front desk where you said you were going to pick up the car, know this (the car is paid for). They can change it because the actual contract does not get written up until you actually show up.

I'm not saying that you might not have a problem, as you did, but it could be an agent looking for some "incentive".

Also, booking through a US agent may pose different problems. That I have not considered.