Car rental, Mayan Riviera

[Belmont]

I will be diving the cenotes next March 1st and I will need a pick-up truck with seating for four passengers.

We will be carrying 6 sets of twins plus all the gear, hence the truck.

I had some problems getting that model from Hertz last year and it doesn't look promising this time. They have all kinds of tourist cars to rent but not what I am looking for.

I have been offered large SUV's like Suburban but at 1500$ a week plus insurances.:shocked2:
A minivan is not better because with all the gear and passengers it runs low and I don't want to drop an axle on some jungle road.

Any one here has suggestions on a local rental shop or on a way to resolve my problem.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ShakaZulu]

Let each person rent their own cars and take their own gear?

 

[TSandM]

I got a Dodge Dakota from Hertz the last time we were down there, but I have no idea what it would have cost to rent it. I had reserved a smaller car, and they had none of them, and gave me the Dakota instead. I swallowed my irritation and graciously took the substitution

We rented a minivan the first time we went down. It was almost $700 for a week with the insurances, and actually didn't have that much room for gear.

ShakaZulu's suggestion really isn't a bad one -- we have found we can get four sets of doubles into the smallest four-door sedan they have, along with two people's worth of gear. Two such cars might very well be cheaper than renting a truck.

Note that, when you are researching rental cars, the price you will see will be about half of what you will pay, once insurances are added. We do not get the insurances any more, which annoys the heck out of the rental folks. We have confirmed with Amex (and have the written papers) that we have liability coverage through them, and the rental agency puts a hold on a large sum against our credit card toward collision damage. Peter found an agency through Orbitz that will sell you collision insurance that's good in Mexico, and it was considerably less than what the Mexican agencies charge.

My advice would also be NOT to go with any kind of second-tier rental agency to reduce your costs. The condition of the vehicles from those folks can be scary (our van had very poor brakes, among other malfunctions) and the service can be downright awful. Which is why I'm a Hertz Gold Card member now

 

[jollivee]

goodluck!