Posted on 06/08/2025 11:54:08 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
In this second episode of my Portugal trip I warn viewers to avoid doing something that could easily turn into a horrible NIGHTMARE. My advice, at least in Portugal, is to AVOID renting cars. It could not only end up costing you an absurd amount of money, but it could also become afn extreme annoyance. Transportation in Portugal is inexpensive plus you meet a lot of interesting people on public trasport which would not happen if you are sealed in a car. Finally, in order to navigate many of the roads in Portugal, you have to drive in a manner which is generally uncomfortable for most Americans.
p.s. During the making of this video, I had a very surreal TWILIGHT ZONE type experience which I also talk about.
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In my extensive travels all over the world..
When it comes to shady rental car systems, abandon the car at an airport parking lot. I have never been dinged because they have so many scams going on they don’t dare report it.
For those of us who lack the attention span to watch a 20 minute self-promotional video — what happened?
Try this one weird trick the car rental companies don’t want you to know.
Before leaving do you take photos of the car just in case?
Answer REVEALED in first one minute and five seconds or do I have to whittle it down to just five seconds to cater to you lack of attention span?
There are reputable car rental outfits in Portugal.
My nephew with his wife and her sister and brother-in-law shared a car rental on a trip in Portugal not long ago with no negative issues other than watching for (or missing) the right road signs during rainy weather.
They say there are several car rental companies offer reliable services in Portugal; among the reported most reputable are Europcar, Guerin, Sixt Rent a Car, Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise.
I think the reported issues depend on who are companies whose services are used and not the country generally.
True. But the problem is that even if you don't get ripped off you still have to be very careful about drinking wine and beer and then driving. I would not be crazy about the idea of waiting an hour after each meal which included wine and/or beer just to be in condition to drive. On top of that the narrow streets combined with traffic make it difficult for most American drivers. Parking is another problem. We went to the Palacio Pena in Sintra and there would have been no way for me to find a parking space there. And then there was the terrible car accident on the narrow mountain road that we witnessed.
All the above combined with high gasoline prices make using uber as well as train and bus (VERY comfortable busses) a much better option. Well, at least for me as I described.
The only two foreign countries in which I’ve rented a car are Great Britain (years ago) and the UAE (a few years ago). Didn’t have a serious problem either time.
Europcar and Sixt are well known in Europe.
Driving on the LEFT side in Britain would be a problem for me and I don't think you have to worry about drinking (alcohol) and driving in UAE.
Never been to Portugal but I have been to Italy. The narrow streets there gave me a heart attack just by being a passenger in a bus. I often drive NYC rush our traffic and have driven LA rush twice...but I’d never drive in Italy,
I just got back from a Trip to portugal, use a rental car for a week and a half. Cost me a hundred and forty three dollars. This post is definitely biased,self Serving.
I am two minutes into the video and I have learned nothing more than “don’t rent a car in Portugal.” Why? What happened?
In Portugal about 5 years ago, I rented a car. Before signing I took pictures of all sides, top, etc. then I went around the whole car with a video.
When they came to pick up the car, they started to make noise about a scratch until I showed the evidence of recorded.
Although many Westerners do so I would *never* drink in the UAE (or Saudi) at *any* time for fear of doing something that could cause me to lose my head...literally.
Oh, so you were able to drive and park at Palacio Pena in Sintra? You had no problem driving the VERY narrow streets of Lisbon during rush hour. You were fine NOT drinking wine and beer with your meals to ensure you were completely sober while driving? So I'm "biased" by laying out the very real advantages of using transportation alternatives in Portugal? Self-serving? How so? Do I somehow collect royalty payments for every American tourist who does NOT rent a car in Portugal???
Oh, it's the short attention span guy again. Well, if you are planning to go to Portugal in the near future then you would be overwhelmed with gratitude for the advice I gave despite taking up your precious time.
Wow! I can see I will catch HELL in a few weeks from Freepers when I reveal the Miracle that happened to me at Fatima. Yeah, the flack I am now getting for giving helpful travel advice will be nothing compared to when I discuss the amazing thing that happened at Fatima. (And, NO, I did NOT have visions of any sort such as maybe seeing the image of Gilbert Roland appear before me.)
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