Europcar SCL
 

Any issues with Europcar SCL?

We are heading down at the beginning of September and plan to head up to Valle Nevado to ski for the night. My current plan is to just drive straight from the airport (we are on early AM flight on KLM from EZE), grab an AirBNB (already secured), ski in the PM and following AM, and then head back into Santiago to the Renaissance where we are staying for the rest of our visit.

Europcar is the best option -- comes to about $150 and they have a drop-off in the city that's within walking distance of the Renaissance and closes at 5pm (so plenty of time to ski the AM and then head back to SCL after lunch to return).

Want to make sure there are no issues going with Europcar direction -- will likely spring for the automatic though was raised driving stick (and only just changed on my last car 18 months ago) so could do the manual but the cost differential is minor.

I have rented from Europcar many times in Chile. In my experience they're not a fly-by-night operation and are no better and no worse than the other car rental companies there.

The airport is in the western sector of the Metropolitan Region and the ski areas are in the Andes to the east, so you will have to cross the city. Make sure you get a car equipped with a "TAG" (road toll transponder) as the quickest way through/around Santiago is either the Costanera Norte highway or the Vespucio ring road, both of which are tolled electronically. The ski areas are not well signed within the city but if you find Av. Las Condes and follow it east, eventually you'll get there.

I wouldn't count on great skiing this year if I were you. They've had little rain in the city so far and not a lot of snow in the mountains, so the ski season could be all but over by early September. Of course, a couple of late season storms and you'll be in great shape, just remember to take your sunscreen...

Okay perfect thank you and thanks for tip on the "TAG" when we get the car! I will keep an eye on the ski conditions -- the AirBnB that I booked was relatively cheap ($90) and I still have full reservation at the Renaissance so if things are looking back I'll back out.