TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Unity Car rental

I have tried to verify I rented a car from unity by email but only get verbal when I call. How do I get confirm and price by email?

I have always communicated with Michael via email. I ask for a price and provide my dates of travel and arrival flight. He always replies with the pricing and a confirmation his team will meet us.

Same here: I handle it by email, Michael verifies by email, and they pick you up at the airport. Just got back from 3 weeks, and renting from Michael's went off without a hitch. (Except for all that traffic from the airport to his lot, but it's on my way, and he has no control over the traffic!) <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

I emailed Micheal for our rental in March and got a confirming email back the same day.

Evidently Michael is inconsistent with how "formal" he is regarding confirmation of rental. Make sure you get a confirmation # in the email. When I was there last year the patron in front of me had sort of a "handshake" email without a number and Michael didn't have a car for him. He seems pretty laid back. One time I sent him a note telling him he must have entered my credit card info in wrong because I didn't charged and I got an auto response saying we have your car reserved and will pick you up at the airport. I like doing business with him but this trip when he didn't respond within a few days to my email I called, he said he was booked solid. I booked online with rentalcars.com. A day or so after that I got an email response saying that he has my car reserved. I'm going to stick with the Avis car I reserved online because the price was similar and I can pick it up at the airport. I'll probably use Unity again next time, assuming he gets back to me quickly the way he normally does.

Avis actually offers cars AT THE AIRPORT now? Or does that mean they pick you up there and take you to their office? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Pat--I would like to know the answer to that too. I do recall seeing some rental cars parked at the airport the past couple of times, close to the airport roundabout, but I don't know whose cars they are..

I'll call to find out. The site may have been misleading in that regard. I got the sense that there is a kiosk at the airport. After I call, I'll post an update.

There are a whole bunch of the car guys that have kiosks at the airport. That is NOT the same as having CARS at the airport.

Yep, I get that.

Speculation on my part but I think those are excess cars and a rental company has made a "deal" to park them there. I know exactly what and where you are talking about.

Oh, ok.

Rastamojo,

Were you able to get through to them, and if so, any word on the pick-up location where you actually get your Avis car and are free to drive away in it? Our normal rental company actually puts you in your car at the airport so I'm wondering if this is the case with Avis, too

Used them 2 months ago, no cars at airport - their van picked you up and took to off site lot.

TY. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

It is illegal to transfer a vehicle to the renter at the airport. Every so often the government says it is going to crack down on violators but they never do.

In all honesty, and as a renter who prefers airport pick-up of my chariot for the stay, I hope they never do.

I understand the taxis need their piece of the pie, but IMHO, this is an archaic rule. As long as the rental car companies are not filling up the lot or depriving others of parking spaces then really, what harm does it do? Beyond providing a service that many vacationers prefer, that is.

And for sure, it's not like it's the first rule that's ever been ignored on our favorite island. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

pat
Only a few companies do the exchange at the airport. If all of them did then the situation that you say is not happening would and then there would be a crack down. Also, and I have no idea that this is the case, the renters that do might do it only for certain customers that are long-term and big spenders.

I'm not going to argue the merits and demerits or the whys and why nots of airport pick-up of rental cars but it's a service I appreciate and kudos from me to all those companies that do go the extra mile and provide the service. And I think there are more that do it than some might believe. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />