Saturday, September 12, 2009
Icelandic Rental Car Service
Renting a car in Iceland is the one of the most expensive things one can do, but I managed to get a great deal. Unfortunately, I still managed to screw myself in the end with regards to my travel budget.
I had been in contact with a travel agent for over two years now. Ever since I really started to plan for Iceland. At first I had planned to take a group of 12 people over, then it became 4, and then finally it was just me and Dave. I could imagine the tour guide, Oli, must have been a bit upset. In the end, I didn’t even hire him as a guide, but I wanted to rent a car from him.
He didn’t have any 4WD vehicles left to rent when Dave and I finally made our decision, and solidified our plans, but he rented me his personal Nissan Patrol 4WD, at half the going rate for rentals. I just had to promise to take care of it, and fill it up with gas when I was finished with it. Of course, I leapt at the chance to take this offer.
When Oli dropped off the car in Reykjavik, we were out sightseeing. The hotel manager gave me the keys when we returned, and said the car was outside in front. There was no paperwork, no deposit, no credit card number given. Just the keys.
Oli asked me to call him when I was on the road. We talked a couple of times but never met up in our travels. I heading out East, and he taking a tour group up North.
When Dave returned to Canada, I had the car for two extra days. I was on my last legs for cash, and was budgeting really tightly. Suddenly, it dawned on me that I didn’t have the money to pay for the total rental price of the car. I was short $200 USD.
Oli was still working on tour so he had his friend pick up the car and the cash. I was really starting to sweat. I had realized this 20 minute before returning the car. I didn’t have an ATM card with me ( forgot it in Taiwan ), and this guy was not going to accept a credit card for the difference, because I wasn’t taking it to a proper rental service office or anything.
Well, this guy, he didn’t know what to say. He called Oli on his cell phone, and there was a discussion in Iceland. Probably with Oli saying why the hell did he ever get mixed up with me in the first place 2 years ago. Oli said that I could just wire him the $200USD when I got back to Taiwan.
This amazes me. I could have ditched his vehicle anywhere in Iceland, or at this point, just leave and he’d never find me ever again. He has no way to really get the money, and he hasn’t even SEEN me. He doesn’t know what I even look like. And yet, his buddy, in the t-shirt and jeans, is standing before me, saying it’s all ok.
In the end, I calculated that wiring him the money would cost me and him some unnecessary banking charges. So I offered a suggestion. Not the greatest mind you, but feasible. I had some USD, NOK ( Norwegian Kroner ) that I gave him. Both of these were my emergency money to get me through a couple days in Norway before Dallas arrived. I gave it to him, plus an extra $20 CAD because I was still a bit short.
I also threw in a bottle of 58% Gaoliang wine ( powerful, Taiwanese hooch ). I had brought it for emergency use. In case I needed to bribe someone, or perhaps just a night drinking with locals whom I may meet up with.
So in the end, this guy, Oli’s friend, is walking away with three different currencies, none of which he can really use ~ but perhaps Oli as a travel agent can, and a bottle of spirits. I felt like a total idiot. I was at this point, extremely broke.
For the last two days at the guesthouse, I was eating other guests’ leftover food in the kitchen after they had checked out. I had hoarded the cookies, and instant noodles in my room; leaving only the instant coffee and milk, and eggs in the fridge for use during my meal time. I was making all three meals a day in the kitchen. I Used the free internet at the guesthouse, and searching for free activities ~ the one free museum in Reykjavik, hiking outside the city, and a free outdoor jazz concert.
I had been in contact with a travel agent for over two years now. Ever since I really started to plan for Iceland. At first I had planned to take a group of 12 people over, then it became 4, and then finally it was just me and Dave. I could imagine the tour guide, Oli, must have been a bit upset. In the end, I didn’t even hire him as a guide, but I wanted to rent a car from him.
He didn’t have any 4WD vehicles left to rent when Dave and I finally made our decision, and solidified our plans, but he rented me his personal Nissan Patrol 4WD, at half the going rate for rentals. I just had to promise to take care of it, and fill it up with gas when I was finished with it. Of course, I leapt at the chance to take this offer.
When Oli dropped off the car in Reykjavik, we were out sightseeing. The hotel manager gave me the keys when we returned, and said the car was outside in front. There was no paperwork, no deposit, no credit card number given. Just the keys.
Oli asked me to call him when I was on the road. We talked a couple of times but never met up in our travels. I heading out East, and he taking a tour group up North.
When Dave returned to Canada, I had the car for two extra days. I was on my last legs for cash, and was budgeting really tightly. Suddenly, it dawned on me that I didn’t have the money to pay for the total rental price of the car. I was short $200 USD.
Oli was still working on tour so he had his friend pick up the car and the cash. I was really starting to sweat. I had realized this 20 minute before returning the car. I didn’t have an ATM card with me ( forgot it in Taiwan ), and this guy was not going to accept a credit card for the difference, because I wasn’t taking it to a proper rental service office or anything.
Well, this guy, he didn’t know what to say. He called Oli on his cell phone, and there was a discussion in Iceland. Probably with Oli saying why the hell did he ever get mixed up with me in the first place 2 years ago. Oli said that I could just wire him the $200USD when I got back to Taiwan.
This amazes me. I could have ditched his vehicle anywhere in Iceland, or at this point, just leave and he’d never find me ever again. He has no way to really get the money, and he hasn’t even SEEN me. He doesn’t know what I even look like. And yet, his buddy, in the t-shirt and jeans, is standing before me, saying it’s all ok.
In the end, I calculated that wiring him the money would cost me and him some unnecessary banking charges. So I offered a suggestion. Not the greatest mind you, but feasible. I had some USD, NOK ( Norwegian Kroner ) that I gave him. Both of these were my emergency money to get me through a couple days in Norway before Dallas arrived. I gave it to him, plus an extra $20 CAD because I was still a bit short.
I also threw in a bottle of 58% Gaoliang wine ( powerful, Taiwanese hooch ). I had brought it for emergency use. In case I needed to bribe someone, or perhaps just a night drinking with locals whom I may meet up with.
So in the end, this guy, Oli’s friend, is walking away with three different currencies, none of which he can really use ~ but perhaps Oli as a travel agent can, and a bottle of spirits. I felt like a total idiot. I was at this point, extremely broke.
For the last two days at the guesthouse, I was eating other guests’ leftover food in the kitchen after they had checked out. I had hoarded the cookies, and instant noodles in my room; leaving only the instant coffee and milk, and eggs in the fridge for use during my meal time. I was making all three meals a day in the kitchen. I Used the free internet at the guesthouse, and searching for free activities ~ the one free museum in Reykjavik, hiking outside the city, and a free outdoor jazz concert.
# posted by jason @ 5:03 PM 
