Route 1

Picking up and returning the car was very convenient. Car pickup was done through self-service under the guidance of staff, and I was free to choose additional options as needed, which was quick and easy. Returning the car in Los Angeles was also very convenient, as staff attended to us immediately upon parking. The staff checked the car and gave a slip, allowing us to leave right away. There was even a shuttle service to take us to the hotel or airport.

There were quite a few people in line, but there were multiple counters, so it only took us 5 minutes. The rental process was handled by an African American gentleman, who was polite and efficient. Very satisfactory service.

The car rental company wasn't very helpful. When the tire had a leak on the highway, we were stuck for a long time because there was no Chinese-speaking customer service. They didn't offer any constructive suggestions. Finally, I suggested swapping the car at the nearest location, and only then did they agree. Communication was really difficult, but the replacement car was fine.

The pick-up process was a bit slow, but everything else was great.

We booked a Jeep Grand Cherokee or similar model, but when we arrived, the staff said there were no Grand Cherokees available and gave us a Hyundai Santa Fe instead. However, we saw a Grand Cherokee parked at the exit. We specifically told customer service that we needed a car for Death Valley and Yosemite, but they didn't give us the Grand Cherokee and instead recommended an upgrade for an additional $30 per day, which we refused. On the way to Las Vegas, the weather was very hot, and the car's RPM would exceed 3000 every time we accelerated slightly, forcing us to stop frequently. Moreover, when climbing the eastern entrance of Yosemite, the car nearly didn't make it, with the RPM close to 4000, scaring us quite a bit. We've rented from NATIONAL and AVIS before; the cars were always in great condition and matched the models on the website. This time, the experience wasn't great, which might be a case of 'you get what you pay for'. Buying directly from the rental company's website is almost twice as expensive, so I accepted it. I won't choose ALAMO again.