Alajuela Car Hire

Cons: On your website when booking the car youare advised to pay for insurance, which we did as per this recommendation. When we turned up to collect the car, Ace told us this insurance we bought through your recommendation didn't count and we had to pay an extra £400 for their insurance otherwise we couldn't leave. This was not mentioned anywhere at booking and should never have been advised by you online to purchase an insurance that didn't work for the car!! So not only did we waste £144 on insurance that was totally redundant, but the car itself was 3 times more than proposed. Rest assured we will never use yours or Ace's service again

Cons: Took a half hour to get picked up from airport and by the time we arrive to the company 1.5 hours late they had already cancelled our reservation! Only available car was smaller and more expensive.

Cons: When making the reservation I thought Ace would have a counter at the airport for easy pickup. That was not the case. Their pickup location was off site. We ended up using a different rental car company that we could actually find at the airport.

Cons: we had to pay 600 $ more for the insurance that what mandatory even if it was not indicated on the contract made with you we tried to negotiate with the car rental office but they would give us the car unless we paid for the insurance finally the final price went up to 999$ instead of 324$ if with the insurance of our american express card and even if we had accepted your insurance the car company argued it was a government which had to apply we ask you for the refund of half of this overcharge

Cons: The SUV that I reserved was not available. I flew all the way from the states with a surfboard and they couldn't provide the vehicle I reserved to fit my board. The service team did not show any remorse. They offered to pull up a standard car to see if the board would fit. We waited 30 minutes for this occur before we left and rented from another company. From my research, this happens quite often. I suggest spending the additional money and renting somewhere else.

Cons: They added an extra required $20 a day fee I did not expect. They had no shuttle waiting for us at the airport. We had to get other car rental representatives to call them for us.

Cons: If you use this company, be prepared to be ripped off. I purchased insurance beforehand when I made the reservation, but when we arrived they said that I had to purchase a different one for nearly $300. Then, after we drove off with the car, I noticed that the fuel tank was only half full, but they had marked completely full on the paperwork. Finally, since I declined additional insurance (beyond the $300 above), they put a $3000 hold on my card.

Cons: Please read on - 2 items to watch out for! We returned the vehicle, removed our luggage and left the emergency car kit with a flasher, yield sign, etc. in a bag in the car. I went inside and returned the key. the attendant came and inspected the vehicle and everything checked out except the emergency car kit was missing. I told him that only minutes earlier the kit was there. I asked if it was possible that they removed the kit from the vehicle and he said no. I talked to other employees and got the same response. ACE was determining the charges when I loudly protested the event. Unfortunately I don't speak or understand Spanish (shame on me!). Then I saw one of ACE's employees that came from a different direction and returned the kit. There was no explanation from ACE, just a sorry statement. I am not accusing ACE staff of a set up to charge me more but why would you remove a kit that stays with the vehicle and when I asked if they could have removed it and I was told no by more than one person. Issue #2. We did not purchase insurance from Kayak since it did not say it was mandatory or I missed it. My rental charges were $73 and ACE demanded $549 for the full insurance coverage for 6 days. At Kayak site it was $54. I have insurance coverage with my own policy and with my credit card but ACE insisted that I had to purchase their policy or they would not rent to me. I finally paid $200 and a $3000 deductible charged on my credit card. It was my bad not to buy it online for the lower amount but to charge 1000% is robbery.

Cons: Bought supplemental insurance from Allianz from Kayak site that Budget in Costa Rica didn’t accept. Wasted $90

Cons: They made me purchase insurance even though I already had pay it ahead of time thru a third party company. They said that the minimum amount I had to pay per day was $40 dollars otherwise I couldn't rent the car.

Cons: Pickup location "insurance" requirement - see my previous post.

Cons: The Costa Rican mandatory insurance was not included in part of the cost. Also, the brakes were very spongy, forcing me to use the emergency brakes down steep hills.

Cons: The cost that was presented during the online booking process did not remotely come close to the actual cost during the car rental pickup. I ended up paying close to $1,000 overall. Also, I paid for full coverage for car insurance online as part of the online booking process so it can be ready upon pickup. But Payless did not honor the online car insurance purchase and therefore in order to finalize the car rental transaction with Payless I had to purchase their car insurance. Although Payless provided great service and had excellent cars for rent I did not appreciate the blatant disparities in cost and having to purchase 2 full coverage car insurances. I don't see myself renting from Payless again.

Cons: Windshield wipers were useless. Interior light was broken. Had to lock and unlock car with the key ie the key buttons were broken or battery was dead.

Cons: Paid $800+ for 5 days, but when I stated the riding, the ride was really bad. Still choose to use it for 5 days. During 5th day driving down from Irazu Volcano, the break failed suddenly.. Holding the hand break and pressing break pedal didn't stop the car. To avoid life threatening accident, I had to hit a post to stop the car. Still wife is suffering with pain. When I called Payless to report the incident, amazed to know that no question about if the passengers are ok.. After 2:45 hours got a replacement car, with dirty smell from the rear side. After reaching the payless rental place to return the call, when I explained these incidents, their reaction was the worst, it's almost like who cares if the break failed or the replacement call smelled.. Will find out the options to take action. Don't rent from Payless if you are going to Costa Rica.

Cons: Knowing that insurance for three weeks would cost $1,500 and that I needed letters from my insurance company and credit card company to verify insurance would have been honest. I was very unhappy to learn this at the counter after a day of traveling. Dishonest practice.

Cons: Car rate with Insurance is a RIP. Spent more on car rental than hotel for a week.

Cons: The reservation was booked on Kayak.com for approximately USD $144 for 2 days. Upon arrival they claimed to have absolutely no inventory, then, after waiting ~2 hours, they colluded with a partner rental company and charged my credit card USD $1,000.00 for a 2 day rental. Criminal!