Recommended Car Rental in Gold Coast?

kikuzushi

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Hi hi,

Any recommended car rental in Gold Coast from fellow hwzians?

Is Thrifty or rentalcars.com ok?

Thanks in advance!
 

Yuzann

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I'm planning to do a 1day self-drive tour and need some help from you guys here

1. Do I need to top-up for excess reduction if my rental vehicle coverage from ACE is capped at $500?

2. Around how much is the petrol and parking prices?
 

lampano

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I am planning for a trip to Gold coast.
Any suggestion for a car rental?
Can collect car at airport right?
 

solelabel

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I am planning for a trip to Gold coast.
Any suggestion for a car rental?
Can collect car at airport right?


Big car companies like Avis, Thrifty, Hertz able to collect in the airport. If you are looking for budget ones, you may have to travel a bit further to collect. Same goes when you return the car. You have to plan properly how's the transportation to the venue for collection / returning.

Since it is only a short holiday trip, IMO would rather save the hassle and collect in the airport. But the amount $$ difference is A LOT! :D
 

acetylcholine

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I'm planning to do a 1day self-drive tour and need some help from you guys here

1. Do I need to top-up for excess reduction if my rental vehicle coverage from ACE is capped at $500?

2. Around how much is the petrol and parking prices?

1. Depends on your level of comfort and whether you are a risk taker. If you don't take up excess reduction, generally the standard excess will be around AUD$2000-3500, depending on the company you hire from. If you are comfortable with that, then by all means go ahead without paying more for excess reduction. Gold Coast, and Australia in general, is quite an easy place to drive in because the drivers are normally quite accommodating (apart from some instances of tail-gating). So if you have driven overseas before and are comfortable behind the wheel, maybe you can consider going without the excess reduction option.

2. For fuel prices, check MotorMouth. They have the prices for most stations in Gold Coast. Prices should be about the same, or only marginally cheaper, than Singapore after currency conversion. Parking is generally not a problem as street side parking is plentiful. Some do not come with time limits while others do so remember to take note of the signs. Paid parking is generally found in major areas such as Surfer's Paradise...apart from that, you most probably won't find yourself paying for parking often (i.e. free parking at most shopping centres, casino, theme parks, national parks).

Hope this helps!
 

lampano

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Big car companies like Avis, Thrifty, Hertz able to collect in the airport. If you are looking for budget ones, you may have to travel a bit further to collect. Same goes when you return the car. You have to plan properly how's the transportation to the venue for collection / returning.

Since it is only a short holiday trip, IMO would rather save the hassle and collect in the airport. But the amount $$ difference is A LOT! :D
thanks for the info!!! :)
 

lampano

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Hi something to check.

As I will be stayign in Broadbeach, it is necessary to rent a car or just take the public transport for the surfer paradise/main site seeing /shopping area?

Would it be better to rent car( 4pax) instead as i heard the public transport aint cheap either.

Movie/Sea world theme park no parking charges?
Wow thats really unbelievable
 

acetylcholine

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Hi something to check.

As I will be stayign in Broadbeach, it is necessary to rent a car or just take the public transport for the surfer paradise/main site seeing /shopping area?

Would it be better to rent car( 4pax) instead as i heard the public transport aint cheap either.

Movie/Sea world theme park no parking charges?
Wow thats really unbelievable

I think it would depend on where you are staying and what attractions you are going for. If you are confining yourself to the coastal stretch of GC (and the surrounding theme parks), I believe public transport will be fine. They have many bus services available and there are services which go straight to the various theme parks. Surfer's Paradise is only a short distance away from Broadbeach so it will at most be a couple of bus stops away.

But given that you have four persons, if you have the budget, I say go for a car rental. It opens up a lot of options (e.g. the national parks are inaccessible by public transport) and frees up your schedule by quite a bit since you don't have to wait for buses all the time.

Like I said above, parking at theme parks is free of charge (and there are MANY lots available). The major shopping centres such as Pacific Fair and Robina also have free parking. The only place where parking might be an issue would be Surfer's Paradise (including the shopping centres) and the central area of Broadbeach (near to The Oasis). If you are driving to Surfer's, you may want to consider parking at Bruce Bishop carpark. Free parking for the first two hours when I was there. Cheers! :D
 

lampano

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I think it would depend on where you are staying and what attractions you are going for. If you are confining yourself to the coastal stretch of GC (and the surrounding theme parks), I believe public transport will be fine. They have many bus services available and there are services which go straight to the various theme parks. Surfer's Paradise is only a short distance away from Broadbeach so it will at most be a couple of bus stops away.

But given that you have four persons, if you have the budget, I say go for a car rental. It opens up a lot of options (e.g. the national parks are inaccessible by public transport) and frees up your schedule by quite a bit since you don't have to wait for buses all the time.

Like I said above, parking at theme parks is free of charge (and there are MANY lots available). The major shopping centres such as Pacific Fair and Robina also have free parking. The only place where parking might be an issue would be Surfer's Paradise (including the shopping centres) and the central area of Broadbeach (near to The Oasis). If you are driving to Surfer's, you may want to consider parking at Bruce Bishop carpark. Free parking for the first two hours when I was there. Cheers! :D
Thanks!! Your info are sure helpful.
 

chuanfatt

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Hi something to check.

As I will be stayign in Broadbeach, it is necessary to rent a car or just take the public transport for the surfer paradise/main site seeing /shopping area?

Would it be better to rent car( 4pax) instead as i heard the public transport aint cheap either.

Movie/Sea world theme park no parking charges?
Wow thats really unbelievable

I believe rent a car is better choice, i just come back to singapore from Gold Coast with 6d5n trip, i got a car rental with local car rental company, cheap and free GPS, only cost me AUD236 for 5 days, public transport not cheap and u need to wait for buses. Most of the place u go will have free parking, like theme parks and shopping. If u wan to eat lunch/dinner can also park roadside normally have 1/2,1 or 2 hours free parking. I did not pay any parking fee during my stay at all and i can travel with more freedom. Since you have 4 pax, car rental is even more worth it. Btw, do you hotel/apartment provide free parking ?
 

J3333

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hey chuanfatt can share the contacts for the car rental company. and the address? will they send the car to u? and do u need to driv to their place to return?

thanks.
 

chuanfatt

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hey chuanfatt can share the contacts for the car rental company. and the address? will they send the car to u? and do u need to driv to their place to return?

thanks.

He will meet u up in the airport, then bring u to the car in the carpark.
When return time, you just need to park to the carpark (GPS will bring u), he wait for you and collect. Their website is CAR2GO® Australia [Official Website]- Gold Coast & Brisbane Airport Rental Car Hire 3xFREE HireBaby Seats/Boosters, Airport Car Hire,QLD,Brisbane,Surfers Paradise,Coolangatta,Cheap Car Hire, Australia. You can go TripAdvisor to see some reviews done by some singaporeans.
 

surpize

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Thinkin of rentin fr Avis. Any review or experience?

Btw, any1 happen to hav Australia map for PaPago GPs to download?
 

jtec14

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Hi,

Sorry if it sounds stupid. How do I know whether parking free or paid allowed in any street in gold coast? First time going and intend to drive.
 
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