View Full Version : 7 STR Mini Van Dollar
Claire M
13-03-2004, 13:33
Hi
Has anyone recently hired a 7 seater Mini Van through Dollar? The reason I ask is that we always have a 7 seater to accommodate two children. On our previous trips we have been given a dodge caravan or grand caravan. These vehicles always have car seats for the children in them. Last time we were told that Dollar had changed their fleet and the 7 seaters no longer had car seats built in! We had to upgrade to a town and country (very nice DVD for the kids) to get the built in kids seats.
My point is a town and country is virtually identical to a dodge grand caravan, were we misled?
Could someone please confirm what vehicle they were given when they hired through Dollar.
Thanks
Claire[msnsmile]
dollar bit of bugbear at the we booked an 8 str van with them about 10 days ago but as yet had no confirmation from them yet, we fly to orlando in 4 days, being on the dollar website and they don't list list any on their fleet of cars do they have to cross hire them from another company
Tony :D:D
Claire M
13-03-2004, 14:29
Tony
I dont think they cross hire, saying that we usually find that you have to book these vehicles in advance. ( I am presuming because they are quite popular)
How did you pay? If by credit card, check with the company to see wether payment has been taken. Who did you book through?
Dont panic too much, as it will sort it'self out. Last year our holiday company went bust, 4 weeks before we were due to go[msncry]. I still managed to go on the same dates![msnsmile]
Claire
We had a Town & Country (no DVD in it) from Dollar in Nov/Dec last year, seats were 3 in the back, 2 in the middle but in the centre of the vehicle not off to one side like the Dodge so the ease of access to the back was worse and no extra bit of luggage space needed for the return trip to the airport:(
All 7 seaters have 7 seats, perhaps they thought that you ment Child Seats as instead of ordinary seats?.
Who did you book with?, the Dollar website (UK) rates are very expensive, the platignum package for a 7 seater through the site linked at the top of this page http://www.floridahire.com/ or http://www.airline-network.co.uk/CarHire/index.asp are a lot cheaper for the same thing.
Unfortunately, all car rental companies don't specify a particular make or model will be available for your rental. All you can really do is ask when you get to the car rental reception desk but you can always take your own child seats with you as most airlines will allow you to do this free of charge.
Claire M
13-03-2004, 18:54
Hi
In the Town and Country and The Dodge Caravan, you had 7 seats, the middle two seats had pull down sections which had a 5 point harness on them coverting them into child seats. We have always used these instead of hiring a car seat, as at one time we would of needed to take 2 car seats or hire 2 car seats, we now only need one. Perhaps this time I will accept the vehicle and check it out first, if I am not happy I will go back and change. We also booked through airline network.
The DVD was brilliant, I knew the words to The Wild Thornberrys before I had seen the film[msnsmile].
Claire
steph_goodrum
13-03-2004, 19:45
We booked last year through Airline Network for our Dollar car hire in LA, and I still think my husband was conned at the counter because they told him we would need to upgrade (we had booked a 7 seater for 4 of us as we knew we would be travelling a lot) to the next size (which as far as I know is 8 seater minivan , the upgrade was $150 but they said if we had the 7 seater there was no luggage space behind the back seat which wouldn't be very convenient when travelling a lot. However we were given a Dodge Caravan which had 7 seats (2 x 2 x 3) so I don't think we did get an upgrade at all.
Claire M
13-03-2004, 20:39
Steph
Thats more or less what happened to us, but our point was the car seats! We were upgraded for about the same price for what I would class as the same vehicle, work that one out!:(
Claire
ctgirlscout
14-03-2004, 00:09
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Claire M
Hi
Has anyone recently hired a 7 seater Mini Van through Dollar? The reason I ask is that we always have a 7 seater to accommodate two children. On our previous trips we have been given a dodge caravan or grand caravan. These vehicles always have car seats for the children in them. Last time we were told that Dollar had changed their fleet and the 7 seaters no longer had car seats built in! We had to upgrade to a town and country (very nice DVD for the kids) to get the built in kids seats.
My point is a town and country is virtually identical to a dodge grand caravan, were we misled?
Could someone please confirm what vehicle they were given when they hired through Dollar.
Thanks
Claire[msnsmile]
[/quote]
Claire--
The Chrysler Town and Country and the Dodge Caravan are identical vehicles, both are made by Chrysler (Chrysler is the parent company of Dodge) , but the Town and Country is the "luxury" version.
clair M
going back to your earlier post, we booked through this website, Roger has e-mailed us back saying Dollar cannot supply us with an 8 str Van, not bad its only taken Dollar 7 days to tell us and we fly out in 4,we used a credit card would we need to contact dollar direct to see if they have debited our account, any way we are just waiting for Roger to contact us again and try and arrange something else
Tony[msnmad]
Claire M
14-03-2004, 03:30
Tony
I would speak to your credit card company and see if dollar have taken payment. See if there is any way of you cancelling through the card. If not speak to Dollar direct and cancel with them. I dont think that there are any penalties when cancelling car hire (I may be wrong).
I am sure that Roger will be able to arrange car hire quite quickly for you and you should go on to have a wonderful holiday[msnsmile].
Keep me posted!
Claire
Claire M
14-03-2004, 12:22
Tony
I was thinking! If you have booked through this website, then your payment will be taken by florida car hire who will in turn pay dollar. If this is the case then your payment should in theory be transferred to pay the relevant people. As you have said Roger is trying to sort something out for you, so It will be ok[msnsmile].
Claire
dick wroe
14-03-2004, 15:17
i have booked with dollar direct is USA and they dont t ake ANY deposit
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote: i have booked with dollar direct is USA and they dont t ake ANY deposit[/quote] They also don't include anything so there will be taxes, insurance, any additional drivers and fuel to pay when you pick the car up!
The car rental on this site charges £25 deposit with the balance payable 8 weeks prior to collection and includes all taxes, insurance and additional driver(s).
Clair M
tried to contact roger over the weekend but to no avail (everyone needs a break)we have now decided to book two cars and pay the diff which is not that much, this may work out better for us as me and linda have a few things to sort out regarding our villa and all the others are on hols so having the 2 cars frees us up a bit
Tony:D:D
Claire M
14-03-2004, 19:35
Tony
Makes more sense to have 2 cars. You do not have to feel guilty if you keep dissapearing for business[msnsmile2].
Have a good holiday!
Claire
Naughty Dollar, they tried the same thing with us. I had booked a 7 seater in advance with a gold package when we got there they said the same thing that our luggage wouldn't fit. so they offered my husband an upgrade...
... to another 7 seater!!! I went back in and gave them hell, told them we wanted the original vehicle that was allocated to us and a refund of our upgrade charges.
What are they playing at???
Think we'll be booking with Alamo this year to see if they're any different.
Dollar always try to sell you an upgrade, We always hire a 7 seater Dodge Caravan and they try to get us to pay for the Grand Caravan which is longer, we always refuse an upgrade but still get the Grand Caravan anyway.
huckleberry house
15-03-2004, 17:26
Ive never had that problem when using Dollar from this site either in to Mco or Tampa they have always just signed me in and handed the keys over with never a hint of an upgrade.Maybe because after a 9 hour flight and one hour immigration queue I have my "angry dont you dare eyes" on or because my kids are playing me up so much by then they just want shut of me,you guys must be just too nice :D
Lesley
Ah Lyn, is that what it is then?
Next time I'll go in for the hire car complete with all the kids in tow then they'll definately want to get rid of me!!!
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
15-03-2004, 17:38
I find this extremely hard to believe as the Caravan and Grand Caravan are both in the 7 seater class and therefor if you have paid for a 7 seater you could get either, but can express a preference at the Dollar desk and they will accomodate you if they can.
What you are saying just does not make sense.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Lyn
Dollar always try to sell you an upgrade, We always hire a 7 seater Dodge Caravan and they try to get us to pay for the Grand Caravan which is longer, we always refuse an upgrade but still get the Grand Caravan anyway.
[/quote]
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
15-03-2004, 17:44
Roger and myself are in Florida at the moment although we are in full contact with our UK office...as I type Roger is busy working his way through the car hire queries that have come in today and is keeping on top of things several times a day so service will appear as normal [msnsmile]
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by sully62
Clair M
tried to contact roger over the weekend but to no avail (everyone needs a break)we have now decided to book two cars and pay the diff which is not that much, this may work out better for us as me and linda have a few things to sort out regarding our villa and all the others are on hols so having the 2 cars frees us up a bit
Tony:D:D
[/quote]
imported_n/a
15-03-2004, 17:46
Hi claire
We returned from Orlando on the 4th March and hired a 7 seater through Doller.. we got a 'Town & Country' (having asked the agent what was available before he completed the paper work) but it was the same car in most details as the dodge caravan.. certainly no DVD, and at the same price.
Unfortunatly I think that if you book a 7 seater, thats what you will get,not a specific 'make' of car.
Regards
Clive
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
15-03-2004, 17:58
That's right - they will only guarantee you will get a car in the "class" you booked and not a particular make or colour (although you can request these at the Dollar desk and they will do their best to accomodate you).
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by bush
Hi claire
Unfortunatly I think that if you book a 7 seater, thats what you will get,not a specific 'make' of car.
[/quote]
On talking with my husband Bill who always deals with the collection of the car - It was San Fransisco that wanted extra for the Grand Caravan. Sandford tried to upgrade us to a 4 x 4 jeep.
Hi,
I am renting a 7 seater from dollar in may, I contacted dollar regarding the intergrated child seats and was told only 90% of their fleet have these, am I right in saying my 2 child old wouldn't be allowed to travel using a booster with back on it in florida??
And if not what alternatives are there?? can I hire one for 2 days so I can buy one (gotta to be cheaper than renting for 3 weeks) and if so can I drop it off at any dollar location??
Can any help me please[msnsmile]
Claire M
20-03-2004, 20:57
Hi
I would of thought that if you hired the car seat for the 3 weeks and then took it back to one of their offices (one on the 192) you could get a refund, car seats are cheaper. On every occasion we have been apart from the last we have always had the integrated car seats. I think that we were just unlucky on that occasion.
Claire
P.S. We have hired one of their car seats before, I was not immpressed. It was like one of our Britax ones but with no cover[msneek]. Also very dirty. I dropped that off at another location and picked a clean one.