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grammaz

Aug 16, 2007, 8:48 AM

Post #1 of 13 (1864 views)

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Six Week Car Rental in PV

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Does anyone know of a car rental agency in Puerto Vallarta that rents by the month rather than the day or week. We need a car for 6 weeks in February & March. The usual agencies want over $2,000 for that long a time. Too much.

Rolly

Aug 16, 2007, 9:49 AM

Post #2 of 13 (1857 views)

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Re: [sos99] Six Week Car Rental in PV

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In Mexico rental cars plus insurance can be very expensive as you have already begun to learn.

Are you really sure you need a car? Buses are cheap and go everywhere, and they don't get lost due to poor signage on the roads. Likewise, taxis are cheap and don't get lost. You can take a lot of buses and taxis and still pay less than a rental car -- and never get lost. I keep coming back to the lost thing because it is a real issue for many folks, including me.

Best wishes on your trip.

Rolly Pirate

Ed and Fran

Aug 16, 2007, 11:21 AM

Post #3 of 13 (1848 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Six Week Car Rental in PV

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I'm with Rolly on this one (no surprise there). Even though we have our car down here, we often travel to other cities by bus and get around with local transportation just to avoid the hassle of finding our way around a place, or just to avoid parking problems. Not that we'd want to live full time without a car.

Maybe you could review your plans for the 6 weeks to see whether there are just some short periods where you really need a rental car. If you're planning on staying at a condo/hotel/etc for a long period, you may be able to get around with local taxi or bus transport for a large part of the trip.

Regards

Ed

alex .

Aug 16, 2007, 1:07 PM

Post #4 of 13 (1838 views)

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Re: [sos99] Six Week Car Rental in PV

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Lets see, 6 x 7 = 42 divided into 2000 is almost $50 per day. Perhaps you could get a local to be at the ready with his car to take you anywhere you want to go for half that amount.

For perspective, minimum wage in that zone is about 48 pesos per DAY, typical wages around 65 per day, so 25 USD less gasoline expense is a pretty good deal. Hell, I'd do it for that, in an air-conditioned Crown Victoria.

http://www.mexicanlaws.com/Minwages2005.htm

Alex

(This post was edited by alex . on Aug 16, 2007, 1:20 PM)

grammaz

Aug 16, 2007, 1:42 PM

Post #5 of 13 (1828 views)

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Re: [alex .] Six Week Car Rental in PV

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Yes, sitting down and figuring out exactly what days we will need a car is probably the route we will take. Two or three times a week might be fine and we combine shopping and touring on that day. We are staying in a condo in Nuevo so we are out a bit. Once we are there we might be able to make other arrangements as well.

sioux4noff

Aug 16, 2007, 1:53 PM

Post #6 of 13 (1826 views)

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Re: [sos99] Six Week Car Rental in PV

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The typical wage in the PV/Nuevo Vallarta area is above that 65 pesos. A guy with a car (you'd want to ride in) is most likely working to afford that car. Gas is an expense, does the person have insurance, many questions would come up hiring "a guy with a car." My opinion would be to rent for smaller periods, and shop around on the Internte. $50 US per day is really high.

alex .

Aug 16, 2007, 3:26 PM

Post #7 of 13 (1815 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] Six Week Car Rental in PV

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Think outside the box. Lots of folks have cars and nothing to do. Insurance, driver license, and the car not being fancy are pesky details. Plus you get a tour guide out of the deal.
Alex

sioux4noff

Aug 16, 2007, 5:21 PM

Post #8 of 13 (1805 views)

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Re: [alex .] Six Week Car Rental in PV

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I have not found that to be the case here at all. Perhaps the original poster will meet someone who fits the bill, but I wouldn't pin a lot of hope on it.
In the Nuevo Vallarta area, there are not that many people who would work who do not. Employment in this area is very high. Many, many more people have jobs and no car than a car and no job.

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A fancy car is no big deal, but I personally would not hire someone without a licrense and insurance to drive me around.

Ed and Fran

Aug 16, 2007, 6:25 PM

Post #9 of 13 (1799 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] Six Week Car Rental in PV

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A fancy car is no big deal, but I personally would not hire someone without a licrense and insurance to drive me around.

I understand your concern. But I might suggest that often when someone in Mexico gets into a local taxi (or combi, or local bus) that's essentially what they're doing. Or while the driver in question may actually have a piece of car/plastic that is a license, it doesn't indicate that there was either any training, testing, or certification involved in getting said license. Chofers down here are notorious for fleeing from the scene of any accident they can run away from.

(This post was edited by Ed and Fran on Aug 16, 2007, 7:02 PM)

Oscar2

Aug 17, 2007, 3:54 PM

Post #10 of 13 (1767 views)

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Re: [sos99] Six Week Car Rental in PV

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Several years ago while on a voyage, we disembarked in PV and immediately hired a guy in a large multiseat widowed van with great air conditioning for 7 people. We paid him $75.00 for the day, plus we bought him lunch and dinner and beverages because it was a hot day and he was a real nice guy.

We had a fantastic time, hitting the market places, special sightseeing locations, beaches and various restaurants, (one called the Cliff’s) which was not only breath taking but their Cadillac Margarita’s also put a little skip in your step.

It was memorable and most important; you could eat, and drink to your hearts content and not have to worry about having to park and/or drive.

nlnic

Aug 26, 2007, 8:09 PM

Post #11 of 13 (1710 views)

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Re: [sos99] Six Week Car Rental in PV

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Sorry not to chip in sooner, but I've been gone....anyway, we rent in PV from a great guy, Francisco. He is a friend of our best friends in Nuevo and has nice cars and great rates. We rented for 3 wks in June/July for a total of $500 US. Never a problem. His phone # is 322-290-0657, Cell # is 322-145-0051. He has an office in Las Juntas, picks you up at the airport and takes you back when you leave....the best part is that the car actually had a working radio and A/C. Please tell him we referred you, Nancy Niccoli. We will be going back in Sept but are driving so won't need his services. But, after experiencing the rising prices of rental cars in PV we are happy to find him. BTW, he speaks excellent English but his family doesn't, so try his cell first if Spanish is a problem. Enjoy Nuevo and hope it works out for you.
Nancy
Con mi corazon en Mexico!

grammaz

Aug 26, 2007, 8:39 PM

Post #12 of 13 (1706 views)

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Re: [nlnic] Six Week Car Rental in PV

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Thanks Nancy, we will give him a call.

nlnic

Aug 27, 2007, 3:18 PM

Post #13 of 13 (1683 views)

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Re: [sos99] Six Week Car Rental in PV

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You won't be disappointed, I don't think. He has all types of cars. Ours wasn't fancy, but we have rented from just about all of the places there, even the smaller ones in Bucerias, and this was about par for quality, but we actually had a great radio and A/C....That was a plus. Enjoy. We will be in Bucerias, my husband will be there for the entire winter, I'll be there off and on, so if you need anything, let us know. He will be working at El Grupo Bienes Raices on Lazaro Cardenes in Bucerias...Terry Niccoli. We know the area well and love to meet folks and show them the hidden gems. Enjoy your stay.
Nancy
Con mi corazon en Mexico!