Car hire from Faro airport
Discussion
We ended up with http://www.masterkings.co.uk/ - booked through a UK broker. No problems at all, brand new car in the size booked.
There are 2 areas to pickup cars at Faro, either in the terminal (the big boys) or out in a hut in the parking lot (the locals). Masterkings are out in the carpark, but it saves money!
There are 2 areas to pickup cars at Faro, either in the terminal (the big boys) or out in a hut in the parking lot (the locals). Masterkings are out in the carpark, but it saves money!
Not that it helps in this case, but last time I took the family to The Algarve I saved about £800 by flying to Seville rather than Faro, hiring a car and driving through.
Found Portugal very expensive for car hire, although to be fair Spain has caught up quite a bit now I believe.
Got to spend the day in Seville as well on the way back. Possibly the hottest city in the world!
Found Portugal very expensive for car hire, although to be fair Spain has caught up quite a bit now I believe.
Got to spend the day in Seville as well on the way back. Possibly the hottest city in the world!
For the past 10 or so years, twice or more a year, I've used Luz car
Whilst having their cars located in the near car park (about 200 yards away) they do their business from a table by the cafe in arrivals. It might feel a little 'amatuerish' sitting at a table but dont let that put you off, generally no queues (if you are unlucky you might have to wait for 1 family), cars have always been clean and tidy and prices have always been comparable or better than the cheapest.
Whilst having their cars located in the near car park (about 200 yards away) they do their business from a table by the cafe in arrivals. It might feel a little 'amatuerish' sitting at a table but dont let that put you off, generally no queues (if you are unlucky you might have to wait for 1 family), cars have always been clean and tidy and prices have always been comparable or better than the cheapest.
FUBAR said:
For the past 10 or so years, twice or more a year, I've used Luz car
Whilst having their cars located in the near car park (about 200 yards away) they do their business from a table by the cafe in arrivals. It might feel a little 'amatuerish' sitting at a table but dont let that put you off, generally no queues (if you are unlucky you might have to wait for 1 family), cars have always been clean and tidy and prices have always been comparable or better than the cheapest.
They have always been excellent. The price is the price, everything included. They will do decent deals at the end of the season too. Whilst having their cars located in the near car park (about 200 yards away) they do their business from a table by the cafe in arrivals. It might feel a little 'amatuerish' sitting at a table but dont let that put you off, generally no queues (if you are unlucky you might have to wait for 1 family), cars have always been clean and tidy and prices have always been comparable or better than the cheapest.
With the building work at Faro airport, the trek to the car park isn't great. But easy enough to go and collect and drive back to the front.
Noger said:
With the building work at Faro airport, the trek to the car park isn't great. But easy enough to go and collect and drive back to the front.
Having experienced the queues in high season, you can sign up with Luz Car and get your luggage towed to the car park by 3 lethargic snails quicker than you can get a car from the one of the 'big boys' 
Economy Car Hire - cheap fully-insured online pricing. No insurance waivers, local fees or addons attempted at collection! They are middle men for the smaller car hire firms - most deal out of the back of a transit in the carpark, although some of the fancier ones have tables at the coffee shop in arrivals. But you have to go out to the same carpark to get the cars anyway.
Travelrent via ECH - from a posh bus shelter in the carpark, but sometimes a queue. Usually decent cars but have had a couple of s
tters.
Amoita via ECH have a table inside arrivals to do paperwork and get the keys - very friendly and had a decent free upgrade from them too. No car collection queue, provided you can find the right transit.
Both take the cars back at the same carpark - which works well we find.
The bigger firms have a proper office way off to the right as you come out of arrivals, each with their own carpark to pick the car from - and the queues there are mental. And bear in mind the dropoff for the bigger firms usually involves their depots a mile up the road and a sweaty minibus trip up to the airport - not ideal if you have kids and luggage. For that reason alone I wouldn't use Avis/Hertz/Europcar etc.
Travelrent via ECH - from a posh bus shelter in the carpark, but sometimes a queue. Usually decent cars but have had a couple of s
tters. Amoita via ECH have a table inside arrivals to do paperwork and get the keys - very friendly and had a decent free upgrade from them too. No car collection queue, provided you can find the right transit.
Both take the cars back at the same carpark - which works well we find.
The bigger firms have a proper office way off to the right as you come out of arrivals, each with their own carpark to pick the car from - and the queues there are mental. And bear in mind the dropoff for the bigger firms usually involves their depots a mile up the road and a sweaty minibus trip up to the airport - not ideal if you have kids and luggage. For that reason alone I wouldn't use Avis/Hertz/Europcar etc.
Just used Economy Car Hire in Alicante and they were great.
Otherwise www.carhire3000.com are good in general.
Otherwise www.carhire3000.com are good in general.
We have a villa in Lagos and use Luz cars every time, and will continue to do so until I get off my arse and sort out a decent soft top to keep out there.
Can't fault them. I even get a discount these days! You won't be disappointed.
Do not use europcar. An total shower of sh!t. They absolutely ruined one of our stays, when we went over at the last minute and Luz cars were fully booked.
Never again.
Can't fault them. I even get a discount these days! You won't be disappointed.
Do not use europcar. An total shower of sh!t. They absolutely ruined one of our stays, when we went over at the last minute and Luz cars were fully booked.
Never again.
GALLARDOGUY said:
We have a villa in Lagos and use Luz cars every time, and will continue to do so until I get off my arse and sort out a decent soft top to keep out there.
Can't fault them. I even get a discount these days! You won't be disappointed.
Do not use europcar. An total shower of sh!t. They absolutely ruined one of our stays, when we went over at the last minute and Luz cars were fully booked.
Never again.
If you ever see some old fart bombing about in a soft-top black Chrysler PT Cruiser on Brit plates, that'll be my old man; he's usually hurtling down the Avenida from Luz for one thing or another.Can't fault them. I even get a discount these days! You won't be disappointed.
Do not use europcar. An total shower of sh!t. They absolutely ruined one of our stays, when we went over at the last minute and Luz cars were fully booked.
Never again.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff