Rentals by Destination | ||
---|---|---|
Antigua | Aruba | Bahamas |
Barbados | Cancun | Cayman Is. |
Cozumel | Curacao | Jamaica |
St. Lucia | St. Kitts | St. Maarten |
St. Thomas |
Caribbean car rentals often make sense for cruise and hotel visitors who want the freedom to explore.
We have several starting tips based on many trips to the Caribbean. Some of them were cruises and others were hotel stays. We have rented cars in multiple locations when staying at hotels.
Caribbean car rental agencies are typically located at airports, cruise ports and hotels and resorts for most destinations.
Agencies usually will provide pickup and dropoff if a visitor is at a villa, hotel or resort without a nearby agency.
Rates tend to be highest in the winter, drop in the spring and early summer and drop even more in the fall during the Caribbean hurricane season.
All rates should include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), but some agencies charge it separately.
Rates vary from one destination to the next.
But a rough guide is about $40-45 a day U.S. dollars for a two-door with automatic transmission, about $50-60 a day for a four-door sedan, about $70-80 a day for a mid-sized to large sedan and up to $100 or more for a minivan.
Some two-doors with standard transmission are available for $30-40.
Cars with prices lower than these often don’t include the CDW.
Prices trend lower in competitive destinations such as Cancun. But watch out for agencies that tag on extra fees or high taxes.
An international credit card or substantial cash deposit is usually required. Inquire for special rates for rentals of a week or longer.
Be aware of local taxes and surcharges depending on the destination. Examples include:
Here are a few more tips based on experience:
On a trip to Riviera Maya, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen near Cozumel, we had to fly into the Cancun airport. The resort had a shuttle service that would cost $50 one way. A taxi would cost about $95 one way.
We also knew that we wanted to visit Playa del Carmen, which had a good reputation for dining and especially for shopping. It would have required a car rental or another taxi rental.
The obvious choice for our situation was renting a car at the Cancun airport.
Although it cost more than $200 after taxes, fees and insurance (about $30 per day), the total cost was only a little more than renting for one day and paying for the shuttle. And it was more convenient.
The following requirements are common: