Rental Car Advice

[Barry Dodson]

My wife and I will be in Boquete during the period 2/27/09 - 3/11/09. Actually, Linda, my wife, will precede me and attend a two week Spanish language immersion course at the Habla Ya Language Center and stay with a local family. After her course I will join her in Boquete for a month's stay in the area. We are would like to find a short term rental accommodation (30 day) and rent a car to get around. Our initial research into the auto rentals has not been very encouraging. While the basic rental charge is fine, and our CDW coverage is provided by our credit card company, and, even adding on the liability insurance per day charge of $12 per day is OK, there remains the LDW (scratch & dent) coverage that is 'recommended'. . .another $12-$18 per day. While we would prefer the freedom of a rental car, at some point the costs of all the add-ons start outweighing the taxi and bus option. Can anyone provide some words-of-wisdom regarding what people normally do there? Are the David Airport rental companies (Thrifty is the one we're looking at) reliable? Are there any rental car agencies in Boquete that would be a better option? Thanks for the help folks. P.S. If anyone could recommend a point-of-contact regarding short term rental accommodations, that would be a plus.

[Bob Wolfe]

Hola,

Thrifty (Iris is the manager) is about the best I've found, although I haven't tried any others. A month rental can often cost close to $2,000. Depending on your comfort level with public transportation (It is much better than in the states), that is a possible option. The David-Boquete buses are alll old US school buses, most of the other legs out of David have nicer rides. Even the ones that have AC rarely use it. The bus is a good way to get to know the country. And learn and practice your Spanglish. Taxis see you coming, and since most do not have meters, if you don't know what is reasonable and customary, they may try to hit you with a very special 'gringo fare'. Once you are in Boquete, you can find a local taxi you trust and can call to be your wheels. You can do a lot of travelling by bus and taxi for what a month of rental car will hit you for. Good luck on your trip.

[Barry Dodson]

Thanks for the fast response. Much appreciated. My wife and I thought your reply was very positive and 'right up our alley'. We have traveled extensively on-the-cheap in other countries (both military and personal) and really do enjoy 'going native'. Some of best experiences have been the unplanned ones. We have often opted to take the local bus/train/taxi transportation because, as you stated, it's a way to meet the people. As my wife will be there a couple of weeks prior to my arrival, and will be living with a local Panamanian family, she will have an opportunity to learn the ins&outs of the Boquete lifestyle first hand. BTW, do you live in Boquete? Thanks again.. Barry

[Bob Wolfe]

Lived in and around Boquete almost 6 years now.

[Sieg Pedde]

Barry: I have rented cars in David, right at the airport, from Dollar, Thrifty and Avis. The biggest problem I have had is getting anyone to give the insurance exemptions if you have the appropriate credit card coverage. Not everyone understands how this works and everyone tries to up-sell you with unnecessary insurance. Before you insist on any insurance exclusions, make sure you yourself know exactly what is covered by your card and what isn't. Printing off the rules in advance will bolster your case. Having he rules in Spanish, if possible, will be a great boon because all you have to do is point.

The cars are generally as good as anything you will get in the U.S. and Canada but I had a car once, from Dollar, that had baby-bottom smooth tires. Check those carefully. Otherwise, happy motoring, and have a great time in Paradise!

[Lee Zeltzer]

I am going to go along with the advice from Bob Wolfe. If you are staying anyplace near a paved road buses and taxi's are far more cost effective than renting a car. If you decide you want to take a trip to Volcan or other remote destination rent a car for a day or two.

It is worth the extra cost of a residence in the town, Bajo Boquete where most of what you need is in walking distance to avoid the perils of driving both in cost and in the unexpected.

[Barry Dodson]

Lee, Sieg & Bob,

Thanks for the info. I'm sure you get tired of hearing from us 'newbies' but trust me, your insights are valued. At this point, we'll probably opt to wait and rent a car when needed. We think the bus/taxi scenario fits our comfort zone, plus we've always liked the adventures that come with mixing with the locals. BTW Lee, thanks for the Bajo Boquete advice. Makes a lot of sense. Hope to meet up with you folks. The adult beverages are on me.
Regards,
Barry

[Judy Sacco]

I rented a car in San Antonio for a month and someone rear-ended us. I called the credit card company to report the accident, and they informed me I wasn't covered because the car rental exceeded 15 days. I never knew this, and learned it is common practice. So don't rent a car for 30 days and depend on your credit card insurance. Fortunately this accident wasn't our fault, so things turned out ok for us.

[Barry Dodson]

Thanks Judy. You accident scenario would definitely spoil a vacation. Yes, I am aware of the 15 day rule. FYI, I use an NFCU Flagship Travel Visa Card and read the information regarding the CDW coverage on the web (and subsequently verified it with a Visa representative on the phone). Their rule is 15 days CDW coverage inside the U.S., however, if you're renting outside the U.S., i.e., Panama, the period is 30 days. I asked the rep how a person can extend this coverage past these limits and was told that all I needed to do is renew the rental contract on the end of the initial rental agreement. Apparently, by doing so you have reset the clock, albeit maybe with a new rental rate. :) Rental cars companies definitely have a racket though with all the 'add ons', i.e., 3rd party liability insurance, CDW, LDW, and deductibles. A person really has to be the Devil's Advocate when dealing with these folks. Thanks again for the info.