Sir, - The Irish hoteliers are concerned about the lack of growth in tourism. One place they might focus their ire is at the Irish car rental industry. The prohibitive cost of renting even the smallest car in high season coupled with the additional "insurance" charges which effectively doubles the cost, tends to chase the family holiday market elsewhere. Bus tours are not for everybody and for the family who wants to take advantage of beaches, castles and B&Bs as well as hotels, a car is a necessity. A decent smallish car with an automatic and all the ancillary "insurances" costs close to US$1,000 a week. Add to that the cost of petrol and the VAT and I'll holiday in France or Germany, thank you.
Visa Corporation will not insure cars in Ireland (or Israel) so your gold-card advantage is nullified. On two occasions I was charged for an extra day's rental even though I had returned the car well within the time limits allowed. Both times I was told it was an "accident" and had the charges removed.
To bring tourists back to Ireland, because once you come you want to return, make the holiday "family friendly" and give us a break on those usurious car rental fees. - Yours, etc.,
Patricia H. Brennan, Fairport, New York.