At Lisbon, on arrival one receives a WhatsApp text from a rep saying meet at Meeting Point 2. On exiting airside, the meeting point is not in your eye line and one is looking at signs up in the air where there is a 2 (probably indicating one of the exits). One could have wandered past the meeting point - although if one did one had the rep’s WhatsApp connection if needed. The rep, Beatriz Gonçalves, was charming and had perfect English. She escorted us to the car park where the car is waiting and hand over was immediate as I had given my passport/driving license details online beforehand. So they just looked at the documents, took a credit card charge and a credit card payment for local tax and Via Verde transponder.
Beatriz then said should I have any problem during our stay I could connect with her and she would assist.
As it happened, one morning I had a flat tyre when I was up near Óbidos. I was aware that it was my responsibility but with it being the hire company’s car I phoned them for advice. Beatriz was not immediately available but another lady who answered the phone number on the rental contract and was somewhere on the Algarve gave me the number of someone in Lisbon called Paul. He didn’t answer and so I tried another number (of which there were several in the welcome email) and was connected with a lady who had to take advice from somewhere but eventually arranged for a breakdown lorry to attend.
(About an hour later, Beatriz called to say she had missed my text but could she assist. Although, I was sorted by that time, I was impressed thst she followed up my appeal).
The recovery lorry arrived about two hours later loaded the car onto his truck and took me to a tyre changing garage about 8km away. It was by then lunch time and the garage was deserted! I took a taxi back to our accommodation and in the afternoon returned with the car key. The tyre was repaired and at 17:00 I was informed I could collect the car. I anticipated I might have to pay for a new tyre but they had managed a repair and the cost was only €20 + tax . (Auto-pneus Gasolina, Alfeizerão)
I wait to see if I get a bill for the breakdown lorry but the proprietor of the tyre company said he expected that bill would be paid for by the insurance company because recovery for blow outs has become a standard part of the cover as most cars no longer have spare tyres.
In the end it was all day of a job but calling the AA or RAC in the UK would not have been much different
On return to Lisbon, I stayed the last night at Hotel Melia across from the airport and decided to take the car back early although their instructions say you can only return it at the pre-arranged time. (This is because they need to have someone in P2 short stay car park to meet you) I sent a text to Beatriz asking whether she was on duty and whether I could return the car. She replied 14 minutes later to say she was not on duty but she had arranged for another person to meet me in the car park. This I did although I had to wait 15 minutes because he had gone to Hotel Melia to collect the car (a service, which if I had known it was provided. I would have availed myself of!)
So for a low cost company, they provide a good service which is a bit more complicated at Lisbon than at Faro where there is a communal office on the car park P4 for the local companies but the staff in Lisbon more than make up for that.
Anthony, 2 weeks ago
Tutto perfetto; nessuna sorpresa. Professionali.
Michela, 3 weeks ago
From the shuttle and communication of pick up location through the car pickup and the drop-off, it was a smooth transaction with excellent service. Even getting a ride back to our hotel after dropping the car off was an unexpected plus. Would 100% book MasterKings again and Zest facilitated the booking. I'm a very happy customer.
David, 3 weeks ago
Great service, all very clear and no hidden costs
Jonathan, 3 weeks ago
Greatfull service ! Thank you !
GISELE, 3 weeks ago
We have rented through Masterkings for 3 years and have always been completely satisfied with the cars and the service
Katherine, 3 weeks ago
Zest has been proven as my first choice over 4 years when spending my winter in Portugal
Serge, 3 weeks ago
Good service, fast and a choice of vehicle.
Alcino, 3 weeks ago
Quick easy rental and favorable pricing
Mark, 1 month ago
Thank you
That was very good experience
Wlodek from Niagara on the Lake Ontario Canada
