Well, it was the hot summer of 2004, and we were taking the vacation of a lifetime or so we thought! All of our previous travels were domestic, primarily on the East Coast of the USA. So, as it would occur, we didn’t exactly know what to except on our Bahamian escape. We were certainly in for a few surprises
LESSON 1
Make sure you’re specific when requesting your rental car. If you prefer a modern vehicle, state that initially. We had the unfortunate experience of driving a 1994 Nissan. Also, request that your vehicle be equipped with a FUNCTIONAL air conditioning/heat. This was another issue with our pristine Nissan either the air was full speed or it didn’t work at all. The last thing we needed was trouble with the a/c in the dead of summer while visiting the equator. Additionally, place early requests for car seats if those are necessary.
LESSON 2
Call the rental company several days before your trip to verify your specific requests – Go over all particulars that were requested, and be sure to speak to someone who is fluent in your language. When we complained about issues with our fine ride, they acted as if there was a language barrier. We eventually gave up.
LESSON 3
Try the car out before leaving the rental location, and remember to stay on your side of the road – Before taking a test drive, check all fluid levels as well as tires and mechanical functions. This will also prevent charges for damages when you return the vehicle. Our little jewel was low on just about everything except gas. Apparently, someone remembered to partially fill the tank before parking it.
LESSON 4
Get an emergency number for after-hours service – Oh, yes trouble with a car in an unknown area with no one to notify. This may be the worst nightmare of all, and yes, it happened to the Nissan. Thankfully, we were at a restaurant, so making a call for a tow wasn’t an issue.
Most of our experiences with renting a vehicle in a foreign country weren’t favorable, but I believe that’s because we weren’t truly prepared for issues that may arise once we arrived in the Bahamas. It was a beautiful place, but I doubt that we’ll ever return no specific fault of the Nissan, which is probably cobbled up and still on the road. Happy travels!