Need review for car rental in melbourne city

[wiz]

Yes, very likely you need to car seats.

Thanks for the info

 

[Garfi3ld]

Hi all, first time to Melbourne and my itinerary as follows:

3 March arrival:

Airbnb accommodation at Elizabeth Street. Stone throw away from QVM and accessible to most city areas.

Check out on 6 march / Airbnb 6-8 March:

Collect car to start trip for GOR drive. Accommodation not booked yet but shortlist one in Apollo Bay and one at Lavers Hill cos they have koalas on-site. My concern here is the longer drive distance between these 2.. my ultimate goal is to visit Otway lighthouse and Apostles. Bearing in mind I'm travelling with wife and daughter of 18 months.. which would you advise?

Check out 8 March / check-in 8-10 March at Docklands area:
Free and easy after returning car. Chill around and visit ferris wheel in evening. Fly back sg on 10 march.

Would like some input on following:

1. Car rental company around QVM area? As I'm not starting my drive on first day, are there more convenient options to collect?

2. I'll be getting Telstra SIM cos most ppl say this provider has better coverage in ulu areas? True?

3. Rather simple straightforward trip just to sightsee. Understand that I MUST have child restrain on car.. any other issues to take note of?

Many many thanks in advance. Cheers!

 

[hermes76]

anyone know if AU restrict a max 3 car seats per car? I tried getting an iMax from Hertz but they only allow 3 car seats to be booked.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Hi all, first time to Melbourne and my itinerary as follows:

3 March arrival:

Airbnb accommodation at Elizabeth Street. Stone throw away from QVM and accessible to most city areas.

Check out on 6 march / Airbnb 6-8 March:

Collect car to start trip for GOR drive. Accommodation not booked yet but shortlist one in Apollo Bay and one at Lavers Hill cos they have koalas on-site. My concern here is the longer drive distance between these 2.. my ultimate goal is to visit Otway lighthouse and Apostles. Bearing in mind I'm travelling with wife and daughter of 18 months.. which would you advise?

Check out 8 March / check-in 8-10 March at Docklands area:
Free and easy after returning car. Chill around and visit ferris wheel in evening. Fly back sg on 10 march.

Would like some input on following:

1. Car rental company around QVM area? As I'm not starting my drive on first day, are there more convenient options to collect?

2. I'll be getting Telstra SIM cos most ppl say this provider has better coverage in ulu areas? True?

3. Rather simple straightforward trip just to sightsee. Understand that I MUST have child restrain on car.. any other issues to take note of?

Many many thanks in advance. Cheers!

I'm not sure if you're planning to visit the 12 Apostles on your 2nd day or 3rd day of the GOR part of your trip. It's not much of a drive between Apollo Bay and Lavers Hill. Even if you go to the apostles on the 2nd day, and turn back and stay at Lavers Hill, the total driving time required is less than 3 hours. If anything, the last day when you drive from Lavers Hill back to Melbourne, the drive would be just as long, if not longer.

Most of the big chains have car rentals on/near Franklin Street. Hertz, Europcar, Avis, Budget are all there. There is also a place called Melbourne Car Rental on A'Beckett Street. Never used it myself but some positive reviews. Child restraints are must haves, and they need to be from Australia as all restraints used need to comply with Australian standards.

As for sim cards, Telstra is good, but can be expensive. Optus works just as well in most of the GOR areas.

anyone know if AU restrict a max 3 car seats per car? I tried getting an iMax from Hertz but they only allow 3 car seats to be booked.

There isn't a legal maximum, but the car needs to have the restraint points for restraints to be fitted. Not many vehicles would have points for more than 2 or 3 seats. Although kids from 4 years of age may use booster seats where only the seat belt is needed.

 

[Garfi3ld]

I'm not sure if you're planning to visit the 12 Apostles on your 2nd day or 3rd day of the GOR part of your trip. It's not much of a drive between Apollo Bay and Lavers Hill. Even if you go to the apostles on the 2nd day, and turn back and stay at Lavers Hill, the total driving time required is less than 3 hours. If anything, the last day when you drive from Lavers Hill back to Melbourne, the drive would be just as long, if not longer.

Most of the big chains have car rentals on/near Franklin Street. Hertz, Europcar, Avis, Budget are all there. There is also a place called Melbourne Car Rental on A'Beckett Street. Never used it myself but some positive reviews. Child restraints are must haves, and they need to be from Australia as all restraints used need to comply with Australian standards.

As for sim cards, Telstra is good, but can be expensive. Optus works just as well in most of the GOR areas.



There isn't a legal maximum, but the car needs to have the restraint points for restraints to be fitted. Not many vehicles would have points for more than 2 or 3 seats. Although kids from 4 years of age may use booster seats where only the seat belt is needed.

For 12 Apostles, if I'm still feeling OK after the drive and check-in, should be heading on first day go check out some views.. flexible to changes depending on energy levels of wife and my daughter. So I guess Apollo Bay might be a better stop cos it's nearer to the town folks?

I'll look up the names you mentioned and inquire shortly. Thanks Andy!

 

[Awesom Andy]

For 12 Apostles, if I'm still feeling OK after the drive and check-in, should be heading on first day go check out some views.. flexible to changes depending on energy levels of wife and my daughter. So I guess Apollo Bay might be a better stop cos it's nearer to the town folks?

I'll look up the names you mentioned and inquire shortly. Thanks Andy!

Heading to the 12 Apostles on the first day - when you're staying at Apollo Bay on that night? It's 1.5 hours drive one-way. I think your best bet would be to be something like, day 1 Melbourne to Apollo Bay, then day 2, go to Cape Otway and 12 Apostles and stay at Lavers Hill, day 3, go back to something that you may have missed, and drive back to Melbourne. That's a very rough suggestion, depending on what you want to do/see.

Anyhow, the other Melbourne thread would be better suited for further discussions on the itinerary.

 

[marcus_88]

Hi all, need some advice on my Melbourne trip.

Will be going to Philip's Island for 1day, GOR for the next day before heading to Yarrar Valley for 2 days. Will there be any restrictions by car rentals like Hertz or Budget?

Will just be 2 adults. And recommended cars to take?

Thanks in advance

 

[beano]

Hi all, need some advice on my Melbourne trip.

Will be going to Philip's Island for 1day, GOR for the next day before heading to Yarrar Valley for 2 days. Will there be any restrictions by car rentals like Hertz or Budget?

Will just be 2 adults. And recommended cars to take?

Thanks in advance

No restrictions, get a fun car to drive if you can afford it..

 

[marcus_88]

No restrictions, get a fun car to drive if you can afford it..

Thanks for the reply. Which is better? Hertz or Budget. It seems that class for class, Budget is a lot cheaper.

 

[beano]

Thanks for the reply. Which is better? Hertz or Budget. It seems that class for class, Budget is a lot cheaper.

Yes you compare all the different rental co. and make a choice. If you want really cheap can go for East Coast rental.. or choose 1 which is located outside of the city (e.g South Melbourne), then you won't get charged a location fee.

 

[Garfi3ld]

Heading to the 12 Apostles on the first day - when you're staying at Apollo Bay on that night? It's 1.5 hours drive one-way. I think your best bet would be to be something like, day 1 Melbourne to Apollo Bay, then day 2, go to Cape Otway and 12 Apostles and stay at Lavers Hill, day 3, go back to something that you may have missed, and drive back to Melbourne. That's a very rough suggestion, depending on what you want to do/see.

Anyhow, the other Melbourne thread would be better suited for further discussions on the itinerary.

Thanks Andy! Yep, heading there now.. hehe

 

[beano]

Andy - do you have any code/promo for hertz?

 

[Awesom Andy]

Andy - do you have any code/promo for hertz?

There is a 25% off sale for rentals up till the end of June at the moment using CDP #2118374. Also, try both hertz.com.sg and hertz.com.au, they can give different prices. But if Budget is a lot cheaper, I doubt the 25% off would make enough of a difference.

For rentals 5 days or more, also put in the promo code 203428 for a waiver of additional driver fee. Although note that drivers who reside in the same address do not need to be added (unless you are using 3rd party excess reduction policies - in which case, you need to beg Hertz to have all drivers added in as the 3rd party policies only apply to the person(s) listed in the contract).

 

[beano]

There is a 25% off sale for rentals up till the end of June at the moment using CDP #2118374. Also, try both hertz.com.sg and hertz.com.au, they can give different prices. But if Budget is a lot cheaper, I doubt the 25% off would make enough of a difference.

For rentals 5 days or more, also put in the promo code 203428 for a waiver of additional driver fee. Although note that drivers who reside in the same address do not need to be added (unless you are using 3rd party excess reduction policies - in which case, you need to beg Hertz to have all drivers added in as the 3rd party policies only apply to the person(s) listed in the contract).

For some reason doesn't work for me, i'm only booking for the weekend of 13-15 May..

 

[Awesom Andy]

For some reason doesn't work for me, i'm only booking for the weekend of 13-15 May..

Which location? Promos can be quite picky sometimes. They usually work well in the corporate Hertz locations (e.g. airport, city downtown), but almost never work at the independent licencees (most suburbs). Types of cars can be limited as well.

 

[beano]

Which location? Promos can be quite picky sometimes. They usually work well in the corporate Hertz locations (e.g. airport, city downtown), but almost never work at the independent licencees (most suburbs). Types of cars can be limited as well.

You're right, independent doesn't work.

I selected downtown Melb and got 10% off

DISCOUNTS
CDP Name : TRAVEL FAIR SINGAPORE 2017,CDP Rate : Your rate has been discounted by 10 %,RQ: BEST

But it's still more exp than the independent licencess.

Thanks for it anyway!

 

[gts0307]

Hi, may i know for a 4 yr plus toddler, are we allowed to use backless booster seat? I have 4 adults and a toddler, is Toyota Camry good enough? Is Mitsubishi Outlander more spacious in the rear seats as compared to Camry? Thank you!

 

[beano]

Hi, may i know for a 4 yr plus toddler, are we allowed to use backless booster seat? I have 4 adults and a toddler, is Toyota Camry good enough? Is Mitsubishi Outlander more spacious in the rear seats as compared to Camry? Thank you!

Not familiar with the type of childseats but this is what they have, probably just choose accordingly?

For car size, my suggestion is go for at least an X-trail. I assume you need to put all your luggage in as well..

 

[Awesom Andy]

From https://www.kidsafevic.com.au/road-safety/child-restraints/child-restraint-laws

"Best practice recommendation:
Keep children in their forward facing restraint with inbuilt harness until they reach the maximum size limit. Just because a child has turned 4 does not mean that they are ready to safely use a booster seat with an adult lap sash seatbelt."

So legally, they can use a booster seat rather than a restraint, but in terms of safety, you might not want to do so, especially if the kid is smaller than an average ang moh kid size.

Keep in mind that child seats/restraints need to be at the left or right side (preferably left) in the back row, so if you have 4 adults, someone will need to seat in the middle.

 

[gts0307]

Thanks all for the reply. May i know if X-trail has a more spacious rear seats than Camry? Or which non-mpv has the most spacious rear seats? Am worried about driving imax around, esp the Great Ocean Road. Luggage not really an issue as we're leaving some in Citadines. Realised that Budget is much cheaper than Hertz too, not sure why. Thank you.