How can a foreign tourist enjoy the Triangle & NC without a car? (Raleigh: car rental, rentals) - Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary - North Carolina -The Triangle Area - City-Data Forum

momix76 · 05-06-2009, 08:40 PM

Hello beautiful people,
any help will be really appreciated!

We are Londoners and will be coming on holiday next month to check your amazing cities out!

Thanks to this wonderful forum I've been able to jot down plenty of places where to go to sleep & eat and strolling around the shopping areas.

I also know all the buses available to travel within the Triangle and from/to the Airport.

Pity is that I haven't found out anything yet about daily trips using public transport apart from Greyhound buses!

For instance I'd love to go to Wilmington just for the day and come back in the evening, but Greyhound only offers me the chance to get the bus at 4.45am (!!!) or at 3.20pm only. Let's say I'd take the afternoon coach, I wouldn't have any chance to come back at night cos the last coach form there leaves in the early afternoon as well!

The same applies to many other cities, such as New Bern, etc etc etc.

You could argue with me that I don't have necessarily to go back to Raleigh any night. Fair enough! The point is: I don't want to spend my whole holiday carying around my luggage like a donkey and stressing out packing/unpacking my suitcase. It's meant to be a holiday! Without a car!

It's so weird for me to understand how can either young Americans or the elderly put up with this CAR-ONLY system!

I mean, when I was just a teenager (14y.o. onwards) during the summer I used to take the coach with my mates to go to the beach (2.5 hours away) almost every day!

All my European friends (Italians, German, French, Spanish) did the same!

So how come that in the USA you're absolutely f***ed if you don't have a car or if you're not so rich to afford taxis to go anywhere?!

Sorry about my rant, I promise I will shut up now, eheheh!

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

All the best, and thanks again for your help!

Monica & Tonica

North_Raleigh_Guy · 05-06-2009, 08:44 PM

You will need to rent a car while you are here if you want to be mobile. Europe has a great transit system. Unfortunately you will not find that here (USA). Good Luck!

hula · 05-06-2009, 08:45 PM

It's tough to get around here w/out a car unless you're in a big city. It certainly is a pain in the butt! You could always post an ad on craiglist.com and hire someone to drive you there and back if you can come to an agreeable pay. I've seen ads like that before...

DanielChang · 05-06-2009, 08:54 PM

Yes, we are very dependent on our cars. Car rentals are not terribly expensive. When are you coming?

momix76 · 05-06-2009, 08:55 PM

I've already looked at the car-renting options. I can't do it because I don't have a credit card. And I never will, seen that I have had 2 debit cards for the last 15 years that have been working just fine!

i'll follow hula's advice though. any idea about the starting price for the daily private chauffer's rent?

crifever · 05-06-2009, 08:57 PM

To continue with your ranting....yea you are 'screwed' if you cant drive here in the good ol US or A.

Renting a car is the only way to be mobile here. Sorry buddy, no double-decker buses here. ;-)

DanielChang · 05-06-2009, 08:58 PM

Not all car agencies will refuse to rent to you with only debit card. You will need to ask around.

I hope you guys do come here and have a great time

nashwolfpacker · 05-06-2009, 09:52 PM

Trying to get around this area by bus would not be a very fun vacation. Riding the bus to get to class at UNC and NC State was a pain. It was always easier to walk than wait for the bus. Our bus system is a little screwed up. Sometimes the buses just pull over and sit on the side of the road for a while. They say it is because they are ahead of schedule or some lame excuse if you ask them why you are just sitting there.

You may want to check with AAA Carolinas to see how you could rent a car without a credit card.

MissDollie · 05-07-2009, 07:29 AM

You need a car. Try -Triangle Rent A Car- Takes Debit cards.

adlnc07 · 05-07-2009, 08:42 AM

I'd pick a different city to visit that had better public transportation. For example, you'd have no problem getting around Washington DC or New York City without a car!

I had a friend come visit from Australia who didn't have a credit card - he wound up getting one as he was unable to rent a car at any of the major agencies without it. He didn't try Triangle Rent A Car, though.