What type of car hire in Ireland

thecoolcat

I live in the US and my family is planning a trip to Ireland. (So please excuse any American-isms that I use.) There will be four adults and one toddler in car seat.

So we are looking at bigger car, but had a concern about navigating Irish roadways. Is something like an Hyundai Santa Fe too big to navigate city streets? I feel that I am a good driver and would probably be able to drive under most conditions, but the roadways here are alot bigger.

Thanks

Captain Slow IRL

Sante Fe is fine - even on "R" roads (regional, or back-roads) it'll be fine.

Mac 3

What part of Ireland will you be visiting?

You shouldn't really have any problems, at least with something like a Santa Fe, there'll be plenty of room for your luggage.

The roads here aren't as wide in the States but you'd get used to that. Sat Nav might be useful though.

thecoolcat

We are planning on going from Dublin to Limerick to Galway, really all over. We'll be there for 3 weeks.

For navigation I picked up the Nokia N810. It supports SatNav (review on YouTube). My hope is that it should be good enough for what we will need.

Thanks for the help.

colm_mcm

I'd book a satnav in advance anyway, I think you have to pay for using satnav on the Nokia anyway?

thecoolcat

That is correct that you have to pay for the satnav in the Nokia. I just ordered it so it should be here by Tuesday. That will give me a few months (trip is September) to try it out to see if meets the navigational needs.

colm_mcm

what I mean is you pay for the usage of the turn-by-turn GPS, (essential in Ireland) as well as the up front purchase of the phone. the more you use the more you pay. would imagine that would get quite expensive if outside the US?

I think that was the case when was enquiring about satnav for the N95

JoeA3

Yes, to use the full turn-by-turn voice-assisted "NokiaMaps" software that comes bundled with the N95 (and others models?), you have to pay a subscription to Nokia (you can choose week/month/year sub). I think a year is around €50-€60 depending on the regions you want covered.

Alternatively google "GarminXT" and install that on your phone. No subs required.

crosstownk

Four adults & one toddler? What age is the toddler? Will he/she need a baby seat or a booster seat. A baby seat is recommended up to 15kg or so.

Either way, you should get two adults and the wee one in the back row, so depending on the amount of luggage you have, a standard saloon or small MPV might do- the type listed as Large - Standard and Large - Small MPV.

If you're worried about navigating the smaller R roads then maybe get the smallest car that suits your needs. A Santa Fe is an SUV so is on the larger side.

On another note, be sure to try sites in other markets - you could well get get different prices between hertz.ie, hertz.co.uk, hertz.com, hertz.es, etc, etc. Same goes for other rental companies.

enyabeba

we are travelling from town to town for 12 days in ireland next may 2013.
we are 4 adults and i would like a roomy car since we will spend so much
time in it while sight-seeing. is the santa fe too wide for the narrow country
lanes? any feedback would be appreciated kind regards

MrDerp

enyabeba wrote: »

we are travelling from town to town for 12 days in ireland next may 2013.
we are 4 adults and i would like a roomy car since we will spend so much
time in it while sight-seeing. is the santa fe too wide for the narrow country
lanes? any feedback would be appreciated kind regards

Where the country roads are narrow, they're too narrow for every type of car. I wouldn't worry about the width of a santa fe - just take out the extra insurance in case you scratch the paintwork on the passenger side against the overgrown bushes that flank these roads.

puppetmaster

If they can get a milk lorry (truck) down em you'll get down em in a santa fe no worries.
Get the full insurance anyway.

Try www.argusrentals.com to have a look at whats available in each size.

mad muffin

I was reading this thread and thinking, wtf?! Paying for Nokia maps?!

Then I see the date…2008 :pac:

enyabeba

thank you for your reply. santa fe it is! and i will definitely take the extra
insurance that you suggested. : ) thanks again

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