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Does anyone have any experience with renting a car from Hertz at the Albany Amtrak station? I have a confirmed reservation for 8/9-8/12 which I made on-line, but I have conflicting information on EXACTLY where I go to pick up my car.
The Amtrak input says I pick it up at the station, while the iSeatz input says I pick it up at 30 Lodge Street.
Guess I'll call up there tomorrow morning to try and speak to a Hertz agent directly.
I will be tooling around Saratoga that week with some old racetrack buddies, and I need a car to get from Albany, etc. Schedule/fares to Albany were a lot easier to work with than to Saratoga Springs, so that's why I'm going to ALB.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Rensselaer Amtrak EOAG: ALBX12 From Hertz website;
quote:Address: East Street Rensselaer PLEASE NOTE: There is not a vehicle rental office at this location. This vehicle may need to be coordinated for pick-up and/or drop-off. Albany, New York Phone : 518-454-9701 Hours of Operation: Mo-Fr 0800-1700, Sa 0900-1100, Su Closed Location Type: Corporate More Location Details
I rented through this location during June 2001 (ten years ago). The autos were at the Omni Hotel in Downtown Albany, however it does not appear they are as specific nowadays. However, it would appear that they will pick a renter up at the station and transport to "undisclosed location" as well as do same on the return.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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I'm sure Enterprise could pick you up at the ALB station if you arranged it with them ahead of time.
Judy McFarland Member # 4435
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Hay Mike - Have a great time in Saratoga. I grew up in the area & remember it well. One neat thing to do is have breakfast at the clubhouse at the track (if they still let you do that). You can pretend you are a Vanderbilt or a Rockefeller watching the morning workouts while you dine with white tablecloths. If you want to do a little rail fanning - drive up to Fort Edward to see the "cute as a bug" Amtrak station in Fort Edward. Actually taking a train there is not so much fun as the train just stops in the middle of the road for you to board & often they don't have a step stool - you need extremely long legs to manage it! And if you decide to do that & want another transportation experience, drive out to the locks on the Champlain canal - only a couple of miles from the station - you may be able to watch some vacationing houseboaters locking through as part of their leisurely float on the canal.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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Judy, I worked at Saratoga Race Track for many years during Augusts (1978-1990) in my capacity as a Pari-Mutuel Tax Auditor for NY State. Used to stay on the cheap at a friend's cabin in Bolton Landing on Lake George, but I know the town a little bit.
Will be staying right downtown on Ballston St. next month for a few days. Hope to visit Barn 25 on the backstretch where my friend Norman Casse's son Mark will have a string of horses coming down from Canada.
By the way, I wound up taking Hertz's offer; have to take a cab to the Crowne-Plaza Hotel (fare partially reimbursed) to pick up the car, but I'll be able to drop it off at the station. The dealbreaker was that Enterprise's daily rate was SUBSTANTIALLY higher than Hertz's, like roughly $70 a day instead of $40 a day. Hard to believe!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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As likely anyone who follows the material I post here knows, Hertz is my #1.
Quite simply, they once bailed me out from my own negligence when I left the headlights on and parked at Riverside Ct station for some seven hours. They sent a tow truck out at 1145PM, and had me on the way to Hyatt some five minutes later (well, I drove to Norwalk and back on I-95 just to get some charge).
I don't really wish to find out if "insurance rental' outfits like Enterprise would be about to match that customer service. Somehow I think the response would be "call us in the morning".
Enterprise is somewhere the insurance company sends me, and knocking very hard on Elmer - my 100ft tall Siberian Elm - the other guy's insurance company.
sojourner Member # 3134
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Last time I was in Albany the Hertz in the station seemed to be closed down, so you had best check with Hertz (they have a tollfree number). If that is the case, I would very much recommend Enterprise if they will pick you up. Or, if going to the Omni, check on using their free shuttle. If neither pans out, you will need to take a cab--I recommend check a few cab companies in advance; only one has the concession at the train station, but others can pick you up if you phone ahead. At any rate, be sure to get a quote from the company or concession desk inside the station before you travel, else the cab driver might overcharge you.
If you have to take a cab to Albany airport, that's a hefty fare.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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Thanks for the tip about calling the cab company in advance, sojourner, and, yes, the cab fare to the Albany Airport came to $30 when I made that move in 2007; probably $40 now.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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Yellow Cab (Albany) rep just quoted me a cab fare of $10.25 from the RR station to the Hertz car rental location. Will find out in about two weeks how that goes down.
Hard to believe(but true) that an important city like Albany, full of state government types, has an entire taxicab fleet without meters.
palmland Member # 4344
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Mike - looks like the Saratoga & North Creek started operations last week. They advertise cross platform connections with Amtrak. Apparently are using some heritage engines - might be worth a look.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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palmland, I've been keeping up with that operation, and I'll probably at least get to the Saratoga Springs RR station to have a look around. Unfortunately, I probably won't get a chance to "take the tour" up to North Creek and back; too busy doping out the ponies at the track.
I hear from another thread that it is quite a trip. They're using 60-year old diesels painted up in the old D&H colors, incidentally.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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quote:Originally posted by Ocala Mike:
too busy doping out the ponies at the track.
Come on Mike, isn't there enough of that in professional sports nowadays?
Likely you mean "handicapping the ponies".
(this posting will be killed should you choose to edit).
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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You're right, Gil; bad choice of words especially given some of the problems facing the "sport of kings" these days (not to mention many two-legged sports, as well).
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