Thread: Rental Car Recommendations

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good car rental agency either in Panama City or somewhere around 1.5 to 2 hours down the Pacific coast if we can take a bus there from PC. Does anyone know how expensive car rentals are for just a small no frills compact automatic? Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Planning the trip next year Mar or Apr.

We just got back from 11 days in Panama. We rented a Toyota Yaris (automatic) from Budget and traveled about 1,500 km in six days. We got a corporate rate of about $19/day for the car itself, which is really cheap. Adding insurance really jacks up the cost. Having heard all the horror stories about driving in Panama City, I didn't want to mess around with credit card insurance and loaded up with property and liability insurance. We also paid their sky-high rate of $11.95/day for a GPS unit. Thrifty was only $5/day for the GPS. Budget did throw in a free cell phone (for incoming calls). We only made one out-going call. All total, the bill was about $485 for six days. Overall, I think Thrifty would have been a little cheaper if we hadn't gotten the corporate rates. Next time I would forgo all additional insurnace as well and take the chance.

Good luck.

On one of our trips we rented a "mini-van", a Hyundai H1. It seats 11!! It was $250/week. We checked with our insurance before leaving and it was covered. THRIFTY all the way. We were recommended Thrifty by a friend who comes to Panama at least 4 times a year if only for 3 days. He's been coming here since the late 80's.

Thanks much for the info. Sounds like a good price, especially for a van! How do you like Panama? What areas would you recommend for our first trip coming up in Mar or Apr next year? Have you done the Pacific coast towns? Thanks again.

Did you get my message I just sent in reply to yours? I looked for it and couldn't find it; I'm new to this forum so maybe I goofed. Let me know if you received it.

The last time we were in Panama, I rented our vehicle through Thrifty. We saved 20% by pre-paying before our departure from home. It also makes it much easier/faster at the rental counter when all you have to do is just show them a paid voucher

See previous posts, but here it is again:

Ancon rent a car quoted me $333 for 2 weeks (economy/compact) with Panama minimum insurance included some time ago. It was $120 more for the same time period if you wanted full coverage.

Right across the street from Ancon you have another budget rental place.

Hi!
There is a National Car Rental Office at the Decameron in front of Lobby 1.

What I do is go online and reserve the car and use the location "COCLE CITY" I also recommend you join their Emerald Club and you give them a credit card. When I reserve the car they charge my account $1.00 as 'pending". I put all of the insurance on my US credit card and just have to purchase the "DAILY 3RD Party insurance".

Sometimes I will rent the cheapest automatic and it comes to $31./day with the insurance and my 15% discount by belonging to the Emerald Club.

You might want to prepay if you are going to be here during Easter and you will miss carnival here in PANAMA

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Originally Posted by TennVol

The last time we were in Panama, I rented our vehicle through Thrifty. We saved 20% by pre-paying before our departure from home. It also makes it much easier/faster at the rental counter when all you have to do is just show them a paid voucher

We are leaving for Panama tomorrow. We have a car reserved at the Thrifty in Chitre. We did not see an option to pre-pay. Did we miss this? We would love to save 20% and there is no reason we can't pay it before we leave. Any info would be appreciated!

Hopefully, TennVol will answer you regarding the pre-pay. This is Sheridan and I was wondering if you are taking the bus from PC to Chitre where you are renting the car? Could you let me know what their rental prices are per day and if that is with or without insurance. Will you be exploring the Pacific coast area? We are planning a trip to Panama around Feb or Mar next year for about 8 days and are trying to figure out what area(s) to concentrate on. We are not interested in big tourist resort high-rise type areas which I assume is not the case in the southern part of the Pacific coast, correct? Any info would be greatly appreciated, and have a wonderful trip!

I called them and asked them about a pre-payment option. I also joined their frequent renters club, although I don't know if that's a prerequisite.

Originally Posted by sheridan

Hopefully, TennVol will answer you regarding the pre-pay. This is Sheridan and I was wondering if you are taking the bus from PC to Chitre where you are renting the car? Could you let me know what their rental prices are per day and if that is with or without insurance. Will you be exploring the Pacific coast area? We are planning a trip to Panama around Feb or Mar next year for about 8 days and are trying to figure out what area(s) to concentrate on. We are not interested in big tourist resort high-rise type areas which I assume is not the case in the southern part of the Pacific coast, correct? Any info would be greatly appreciated, and have a wonderful trip!

Our total for the rental car is $242 for 11 days ($117 wk) , but the insurance has not been added yet. I called the 800 number and they said the 20% option is available at some locations, but it only applies if you are paying 14 days or more in advance. Still not sure if this location offered it or not, but (unfortunately) we missed the deadline anyway.

We will take a taxi from the airport to Albrook bus terminal, and we will then take the bus to Chitre and then take the rental car from there. We are staying at Playa Uverito. I found a great price on a home rental there. Time will tell if was truly a 'bargain'. We will use it as a base to check out the area, including Las Tablas, Pedasi, Veneo, and Isla Iguana. I would love to go to Bocas too, but we're not sure there is enough time in the 11 days we have. We plan to play that by ear.

We are a couple from Texas. My husband is retired, but I've got a few years left. We're very excited about our trip. We'll be happy to share our experiences.

Thanks so much for the info. That's what we plan to do is take the bus down there and get the car there since we don't want to drive in PC! Sounds like a good thing you got that rental home. Have a great time. Would love to hear how it all went when you return. My personal email is: chris8634@gmail.com. I'm retired also, but we still run a scuba diving business out of our house here in Coconut Creek, FL. on a part-time basis. Hope to hear from you after your trip. Using my personal email would probably be better. Cheerio and have a safe trip.

Call your credit card companies and ask them if they cover rental car insurance if you use their card to rent a car in Panama. I did and two of my card carriers said they would. I do not pay rental car insurance.

You should call them anyway to let them know you are going to be using their card in Panama. Otherwise, you may get a charge rejected.

Thanks for the tips. It sure helps to know so as not have to pay additional car insurance if your credit card company covers that!

Thanks for the info. Could you explain what is meant by " daily 3rd party insurance?" If you are using your coverage through a credit card, I don't understand what this 3rd party insurance is and what it's for (???). On another topic, since you live in El Valley, can you recommend any accommodations that are decent for under $100? I've been looking at a lot up there, but there many mixed reviews. Any recommendations would help. Thanks again.

Originally Posted by whypanama

Hi!
There is a National Car Rental Office at the Decameron in front of Lobby 1.

What I do is go online and reserve the car and use the location "COCLE CITY" I also recommend you join their Emerald Club and you give them a credit card. When I reserve the car they charge my account $1.00 as 'pending". I put all of the insurance on my US credit card and just have to purchase the "DAILY 3RD Party insurance".

Sometimes I will rent the cheapest automatic and it comes to $31./day with the insurance and my 15% discount by belonging to the Emerald Club.

You might want to prepay if you are going to be here during Easter and you will miss carnival here in PANAMA

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Hey Sheridan!

The 3rd party insurance is required and runs about $13/day if you don't get the rest of the rental car insurances. If you buy other insurances through the rental company I think it is $6/day. They will NOT rent a car unless you purchase the additional insurance. As I tell people that rent cars here if you have a choice of hitting the car or avoiding an accident and hitting a pole or going in the ditch - HIT THE CAR!!! You are not covered if you roll the car in the ditch or hit a pole!!

The only hotel I recommend in El Valle is Hotel Anton Valley. The Golden Frog Inn is no longer a bed and breakfast hotel, as of July 15 they are long term stay hotel with kitchens in each room. They are currently closed doing the renovations. The Hotel Anton Valley is on the "main drag" and across from the the Cathedral, a block away from the GREAT bakery, and about 2 blocks from the market.

I hope this helps!!

Mary

Originally Posted by whypanama

Hey Sheridan!

The only hotel I recommend in El Valle is Hotel Anton Valley. The Golden Frog Inn is no longer a bed and breakfast hotel, as of July 15 they are long term stay hotel with kitchens in each room. They are currently closed doing the renovations. The Hotel Anton Valley is on the "main drag" and across from the the Cathedral, a block away from the GREAT bakery, and about 2 blocks from the market.

I hope this helps!!

Mary

Mary,
Did the Hotel Campestre ever re-open? The last time we were there, it was closed for some very extensive remodeling.

Hi!
I have heard that they are open, but haven't been by there in a long time.

Mary

TennVol:
I checked out the hotel Campestre this afternoon. They are now open and they are charge $65/night.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Originally Posted by sheridan

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good car rental agency either in Panama City or somewhere around 1.5 to 2 hours down the Pacific coast if we can take a bus there from PC. Does anyone know how expensive car rentals are for just a small no frills compact automatic? Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Planning the trip next year Mar or Apr.

You might want to check out Sixt Car Rental, I paid $268 for 2 weeks including insurance.
Picked it up at the airport and drove to Pedasi, Playa Venao etc. then over to Bocas.
($25 for the ferry each way)
Capt

If you quote two weeks on their webpage with ALL insurance options it comes out to $739.16. Down to $359.52 with minimum insurance whatever that is.

Originally Posted by Captain

You might want to check out Sixt Car Rental, I paid $268 for 2 weeks including insurance.

Originally Posted by whypanama

TennVol:
I checked out the hotel Campestre this afternoon. They are now open and they are charge $65/night.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Thanks. We always try to drop by whenever we are back for a visit.

Originally Posted by Captain

You might want to check out Sixt Car Rental, I paid $268 for 2 weeks including insurance.
Picked it up at the airport and drove to Pedasi, Playa Venao etc. then over to Bocas.
($25 for the ferry each way)
Capt

Do they have a website? What type of vehicle did you rent?