Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Twelve Apostles: An Amazing Scenic Journey

Great

First of all, the location is very easy to find, right across the street. When we arrived, we were informed that the Camry we booked was unavailable and were given a CHR instead. At the Hertz store, the types of cars are clearly labeled, with the Camry being a full-size vehicle and the CHR being a small-size SUV, yet they used the word 'upgrade' for this change. Upgrade?? The rear space was ridiculously small, the view was extremely limited due to the window design, and the trunk was so small it could only fit two carry-on bags and two backpacks. The Camry has a 2.5L engine, but we got a small 1.2T car, and they call that an upgrade? I had prepaid the full amount; why was there no car for me when I arrived? Shouldn't there have been a reserved car for me? The car was in good condition, with adaptive cruise control and auto hold, so it was likely a 2018-2019 model. However, the noise from the wind and tires was very loud, making the ride much less comfortable (I can compare as I drove a Camry in Sydney). Returning the car was easy, just follow the navigation, which was nice. Overall, I was quite dissatisfied as I chose Hertz for its good reputation in the car rental industry. Quite disappointed.

The car rental location at Melbourne Airport is easy to find. After collecting luggage, just cross the zebra crossing outside the airport exit to the opposite side. It takes about 5 minutes to walk there. We did the paperwork in the afternoon around 2 PM. We also paid about 70 AUD for all tolls during the 3-day trip. The return time can be anytime before 4 PM on the agreed return day. We chose to return the car at a location in downtown Melbourne, which is less than 1 kilometer from Federation Square. It was also easy to find. There are gas stations near the return location, and the return process was simple, taking about 15 minutes to complete. We got a free upgrade to a new 2018 car with just 9000 kilometers on it. Adding an additional family member as a driver did not incur extra charges.

Some foreign staff lacked enthusiasm and always seemed to be hinting at extra charges.

The service was quite enthusiastic. The entire process took about half an hour, and I waited in line behind three people. When inspecting the car, I found a small dent under the trunk. I informed the Hertz staff, and they indicated that such a small scratch, about the size of a finger, was not an issue. Later, I saw in the rental documentation from Hertz that it specifies the size of damage that requires a claim.