Is Hertz Still Number One?
Written: May 16 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very fast service even for budget travelers
Cons: None, if you are careful
The Bottom Line: Knowledgeable and efficient staff, great service. If Hertz is price-competitive, they are my first choice!
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| cchan006's Full Review: Hertz |
On my recent trip to Los Angeles, I rented a Hyundai Accent from Hertz at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). It really wasn't my choice to pick Hertz - Priceline.com chose them based on my request to rent a car for $18 per day. I've rented from Avis and Budget before, so I was looking forward to my first time renting from Hertz.
Getting Out of the Airport
As I left the arrival lobby onto the ground transportation area, I spotted not one, not two, but at least three Hertz shuttles coming my way. There was literally no waiting! As the bus headed toward Airport Blvd. about a mile away from the airport, the driver asked to see if there were any Club Members on board, so they could be dropped off at a special location.
At the Rental Terminal
I got to see firsthand how Club Members were dropped off first, their cars already in a designated parking spots (trunk already open), with their names displayed above for easy spotting. They probably left the terminal in less than 5 minutes. As for cheap travelers (me), we were dropped off at the front of the check-in counter. There were more than a dozen counter personnel on hand, minimizing the wait in line (less than 5 minutes). I declined additional insurance and pre-paying for gas (they charged $4.96 per gallon!) and I was happy they didn't give me a sales pitch. They gave me a freeway map of Los Angeles (which I used extensively) and told me about radio station KNX 1070 to get live traffic information. The parking lot was numbered sequentially, so I had no problems spotting the Hyundai. In less than 15 minutes, I was on Hwy 405.
The Car Itself
The car was very clean, with no trash left from previous renters. Owner's manual was in the glove compartment, which I used right away to figure out all the controls. Although the interior was spotless, there were some dried water spots on the exterior - the car wasn't washed for a few days. I looked around and noticed that more expensive cars were clean inside & out.
I've written a separate review on the car, the Hyundai Accent GL
Returning the Car
I was in bit of a rush to return the car as I was goofing around the windy roads in the hills of Hollywood a little too long. Hertz gave me a separate sheet of paper explaining how to find them, which I found to be extremely useful (I found them the first try). After I drove up to the return area, I started to gather my belongings and the check-out person showed up (in less than 30 seconds) and asked for paperwork, which I had ready. He checked the fuel level, the mileage, and had me checked out even before I had a chance to get the rest of my luggage in the trunk. That was the quickest check-out I've ever experienced!
Summary
Of course, there was a shuttle already waiting to take the Hertz customers back to the airport, again no waiting on my part. The bus driver asked everyone ahead of time which airlines to stop for, and dropped each one of us at the correct locations. This was probably the most pleasant car rental experience I've ever had, even though I paid only $18 per day. I was thoroughly impressed with the efficient and knowledgeable staff. If they are still #1 in the rent-a-car business, I experienced firsthand why they are.
I've already planned to rent from Hertz when I return to Indianapolis to watch the Formula One race this September.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
cchan006
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Location: Los Altos, CA
Reviews written: 54
Trusted by: 30 members
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