vendor
Our carefully selected vendor in Canada is Fraserway RV Rentals.
The prices and policies presented on the IdeaMerge Website match
those of Fraserway. You aren't paying extra by going through IdeaMerge
— and if a special IdeaMerge discount applies, you're paying less.
What's more, IdeaMerge acts for you as an accessible and responsive resource
and, if necessary, as an advocate. We are on your side. But with a foot
firmly in vendor's camp as well, we carefully manage expectations so that the entire
process is maximally enjoyable for all involved.
currency
Any special IdeaMerge discount we apply is applied to the entire, tax-inclusive rate.
(Thus we effectively discount the tax as well.) And we do not require you to pay in full earlier than normal
to receive this discount.
Our motorhome and campervan rental
rates (apart from any special IdeaMerge discount) and policies match those of our vendor and therefore the rates
are calculated in Canada Dollars (CAD).
This means we do not inflate our rates to cover ourselves against the threat of
our home currency, the US Dollar (USD), declining versus the CAD.
Moreover, we do not impose a credit card transaction
fee.
And we do not truncate the exchange rate
(which is another way companies can favor themselves).
Furthermore, we use the
minimal retail exchange rate — alias the
"credit card" exchange rate
(as published
on www.oanda.com) —
to change from the vendor's currency into our currency
(USD) for actual charging.
Finally we present all this math in the detailed confirmation
voucher that we e-mail to you soon after booking the rental. …
In these and other ways we carefully save our clients from suffering
hidden costs.
reservation
In accord with the automobile rental industry standard,
reservations may be made for a vendor's particular vehicle category
(what we might call a vendor's "group") only, not for a specific vehicle.
Which is to say,
although the various images, model numbers and vehicle specifications presented
throughout the IdeaMerge motorhome rental pages — especially on the
vehicle-specification pages — are carefully selected to accurately
and precisely indicate the vehicle that you will get, the vehicle model
(and layout) you get might not be identical to what is indicated by said
information.
In the very unlikely event that
a vehicle in the reserved category is not available upon the pick-up date, the
rental company reserves the right to substitute a comparable or larger vehicle
with the same equipment and the capacity to accommodate the number persons you have delineated (in terms of, say, adults and children) as being in your party. In this case there will be no additional charge for a larger
vehicle. However, the higher ancillary costs associated with a larger
vehicle — such as ferry charges,
tolls, and fueling costs — are to be borne by the customer.
The minimum duration for a rental is 7 nights.
downpayment
Upon actually booking a client's reservation, IdeaMerge
charges a 20 percent downpayment (minimum CAD 100 + tax;
minimum CAD 300 + tax if it's a one-way rental).
This downpayment is refundable minus CAD 100 + tax (CAD 300 + tax
if it's a one-way) until 30 days prior to the pick-up date.
(These days are determined according to US Pacific Time.)
balance
The balance is charged or due 35 days prior to the pick-up
date. (If a reservation is placed within that time window, the whole
amount will be charged or due straightaway.)
We require early prepayment because the vendor
imposes further cancellations fees starting at the 30-day threshold.
Necessarily and simply reflecting that schedule of fees,
IdeaMerge's cancellation policy is as follows ...
cancellation fees
changes
Any change to a booking — especially of the rental duration, and
whether requested before, during
or after the pick-up — is subject to
authorization by the rental company. Do not expect to be able to make
such changes upon the pick-up occasion.
A change may entail a change fee, the amount of which is
usually modest/nominal yet is generally commensurate with the degree to
which the change compromises the vendor's ability to rent out the vehicle.
In most cases one booking change order may be placed free of charge,
and a CAD 30 (+ tax)
change fee applies to all subsequent booking modifications
made prior to the pick-up day (i.e. made via IdeaMerge to
reservation requests that have already been booked).
Refunds are not offered for early return of the rental vehicle.
If after the rental has commenced the client wants to
change drop-off location, the client should first obtain authorization
from the vendor and ascertain the additional charge that would
apply.
If after the rental has commenced the client wants to extend
the duration of the rental, the client should obtain authorization
from the vendor. Failure to obtain such authorization will result in
a CAD 30 per hour penalty.
taxes
The total tax consists of a federal component (GST) and a provincial component
(PST, which is
sometimes zero) and as such it is determined according to the pick-up
location. These taxes apply to all the rental costs except the cost
of the Collision Damage Reduction (CDR).
pick-up & return constraints
The depots are open for pick-up Monday–Saturday,
9 am to 3 pm.
They are open for standard return Monday–Saturday,
9 am to 12 noon, i.e. mornings.
A non-standard pick-up time is not possible.
A considerably non-standard return time (after 1 pm, let's say) entails an
extra night's worth of cost.
The IdeaMerge software accounts for such a non-standard.
The depots are closed on Sundays and on certain holidays,
which are accounted for by our online reservation software.
A fee of CAD 30 per hour applies to late return of the
vehicle. General hours of operation are 8:30 am to 5 pm
Monday–Friday, 8:30 am to 4 pm on Saturday.
Shuttle transfer is offered until 1 pm
free of charge from/to the relevant
airport, airport area hotels, and city hotels (except in Toronto city).
Sorry, but at Vancouver transfer is not provided from/to the
ferry terminals.
The vendor provides free storage of luggage at the rental depot
(but at the client's risk).
At Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto there is no room for customers to
park their cars on the depot grounds, although acceptable street parking
is available nearby. At Halifax and Whitehorse there is limited room on the
depot grounds for customers to park a car for the duration of a motorhome rental; clients
should contact the depot in advance to learn whether such room is available.
A thorough explanation and demonstration of the rental vehicle will be provided
upon pick-up. This orientation, together with completion of the relevant
paperwork, requires approximately one hour.
security deposit
Upon the pick-up occasion the vendor makes a mere imprint of the client's
credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or Amercian Express), the amount being
CAD 5000 or CAD 500, depending respectively on whether the client did not or
did purchase the Collision Damage Reducer (CDR). The vendor will not
process this security deposit of sorts unless the vehicle is involved
in an accident, in which case the vendor will hold those funds until the motor vehicle insurance company determines
responsibility for the accident. If the motor vehicle insurance company
notifies the vendor that the renter is not at fault, the vendor will reimburse
the security deposit to the client immediately after receiving said notification
from the motor vehicle insurance company.
return
Upon returning the vehicle the client should report to the vendor
all parking/traffic fines levied on the vehicle during the rental.
Per fine unreported at this time the vendor will levy upon the client
a CAD 25 administration fee, this in addition to the fine
itself. The client is responsible for all said parking-traffic fines,
but as a courtesy the vendor will ensure that these fines are paid
to the government in timely fashion if indeed the renter provides the ticket(s) and
payment (by credit card) to the vendor.
Because the vehicles are delivered with a full tank of gasoline or
diesel fuel, they should be returned with a full tank of such fuel;
otherwise the client will be charged for the absent fuel.
This rule is not true of the propane (LPG) tanks: the client paid the vendor
to originally to fill these tanks and therefore the client will not be charged
if the these tanks are not full upon return.
All the vehicles must be clean inside when returned. This cleanliness
applies to the kitchen, bathroom, and living areas. A charge of
CAD 40 per hour for cleaning will be applied to those vehicles
returned with an interior that is not reasonably clean.
Likewise the vehicle should be returned with empty gray-water and
toilet-waste-water (alias black-water) tanks. Those tanks that require dumping by the vendor's
staff entail a CAD 25 service charge to the client.
The exterior of the vehicle need not be especially clean; just
clean enough to facilitate the inspection of the vehicle. However, the vendor
recommends that clients who have traveled in the north country do
subsequently wash the vehicle prior to returning it, this to avoid
delaying the return procedure.
what's included
All our Canada rentals include liability
(i.e. third party) insurance up to a maximum of CAD 5,000,000.00 for
any bodily injury and property damage liaibility claims
arising from the operation or use of the rental vehicle.
The rentals also include collision and
comprehensive insurance inhering a deductible
(a.k.a. excess; applicable per claim/occurrence not per rental)
of CAD 5000.
The term comprehensive above signifies
accidental damage due to vandalism, fire, theft, break-in, and weather,
as well as animal impact, accidental damage to tires
and windows, and towing and recovery costs.
There is no charge for additional drivers.
All the vehicles have
automatic transmission, cruise control, stove burners, sink,
refrigerator, freezer, furnace, toilet, and 110 V hook-up.
Also included are the initial water, propane (LPG) and toilet-chemical
fills, biodegradable toilet paper,
and rubber gloves,
as well as stylized maps, brochures and postcards.
(The vendor even pays the postage on the complimentary cards if they
are mailed from their office.)
None of the vehicles have an awning.
age and license(s)
The minimum age limit for most of IdeaMerge's motorhome and campervan rentals
is only 21 years. There is no maximum
age limit.
Upon pick-up the vendor requires of the client
merely a resident-country drivers license.
But if said license is not primarily or secondarily (i.e. in parallel)
written in English, the vendor suggests that the client carry
an international drivers permit (IDP).
(Regarding such permits, see the country listings posted on the New Zealand Automobile
Association's Website.)
Basically an IDP is a means by which police in a foreign
country can know — in terms of translations in nearly a dozen
different languages —
that your domestic driver's license is indeed recognized as being valid by
the proper authorities in your country. (See the
excellent article at
Drivers.com.)
The local office of your auto club (AA, AA, RAC, ADAC, etc.) sells IDPs for
about US$10. If you need an IDP, take
your license, two passport-sized photos and the requisite cash to the club office. (Though for about US$6 the
club may snap Polaroid photos for you.) Ten minutes later you'll be able to
legally drive on any European road—assuming you're at least 18 years of age. If you
plan to operate a motorcycle in Europe, be sure to have the auto club certify your
qualification to do so.
Web searches will bring up a host of Websites selling documents that conform
to the model delineated in annex 10 of the United Nations Convention on Road
Traffic (1949); but according to Article 24 of that convention,
a truly valid IDP is one which is "issued .. by the competent authority of
another Contracting State or subdivision thereof, or by an association duly
empowered by such authority ...."
Good news: In Canada the standard domestic drivers licenses of foreign states
are, in connection with foreign tourists, considered equal to a standard Canadian drivers license.
Therefore the foreign drivers license allows the holder to drive the same
range of vehicle types as does a Canadian license. This means, for instance,
that the 3500 kg permissible-weight constraint that applies to European
Union licenses in Europe is effectively raised in Canada to match the
Canadian standards, which are invariably so high that all the vehicles
represented on IdeaMerge's Canada "Rates & Reservations" page may be driven
by a standard-European-drivers-licensed client.
(See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driver's_license and, say,
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Driving_Licence_codes.)
breakdown
If a mechanical breakdown of the vehicle renders it inoperable
for the 12 consecutive working hours after the client initially informs the
vendor about the breakdown, the client will be reimbursed in relation to
(a) the daily rental rate or (b) expenses for hotel rooms
and car rental. Receipts, of course, are required in these respects.
The term breakdown as used above does not refer to the vehicle's
air conditioning, refrigerator, microwave, slide-out functionality, radio,
and cruise control, among other functionalities not
essential to travel. For repairs exceeding CAD 50, the customer must call
the vendor to get authorization. Non-authorized repairs over CAD 50 will not
be reimbursed. Again, receipts must be presented for reimbursement to occur.
accident
In the event of an accident, the customer must obtain a local police
report as provided by the attending police officer investigating the accident.
An accident report form is supplied in the vehicle. The client should notify
the vendor about the accident as soon as possible. The vendor will
in turn process the credit card security deposit (i.e. what was otherwise
just an imprint) and hold those funds until the motor vehicle insurance company determines
responsibility for the accident. If the motor vehicle insurance company
notifies the vendor that the renter is not at fault, the vendor will reimburse
the security deposit to the client immediately after receiving said notification
from the motor vehicle insurance company.
On the aforementioned accident report form
the client should make a full, written report including the other
party's name, address, phone number and driver's license information. The client
should submit that form to the vendor upon returning the vehicle. All documents
relating to the accident should include a police report number or other
pertinent identifying number. Insurance coverage may be void if these
measures are not performed.
See our "Insurance, etc"
page for details concerning the included insurance.
exclusions
restrictions
allowances
Yes, the vendor does permit travel to Alaska, the Yukon, Nunavut
and the NW Territories — if the client declares such intention with the
booking. However, the vendor will not deliver the largest two
vehicles — Group 8 and Group 9 — to these regions, even if such is a
replacement vehicle for a rental which commenced elsewhere. Indeed, the
vendor generally recommends that these two vehicles not be used for such
northern travel.
Pets are allowed by request only, and the vendor charges
a CAD 100 fee in connection with each pet allowed.
Smoking is generlly allowed. In other words, the vendor associates
no specific fines with smoking. But the vendor does ask clients to
please smoke outside the vehicle rather than inside it.
warning
The vendor always reserves the right to refuse, at its discretion, to rent to a particular client.
Although motor travel in North America is not generally considered prohibitively dangerous, there are, of course, associated risks — including death. For quantitative measures of these risks, please see the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) http://www.asirt.org.
a slight disclaimer
IdeaMerge takes special care in representing
our vendors (i.e. the actual rental companies) so as maximally to
benefit you, our clients. Thus we present such information using
various careful emphases and an overall style which is decidedly
complementary to (i.e. in contrast with) the legalistic style
that of course constrains the actual terms and conditions
of our vendors. The information on the IdeaMerge Website is
therefore designed to resonate effectively and thoroughly with but
not be simply identical to those terms and conditions, which
terms and conditions nevertheless override the information presented by
IdeaMerge and are naturally subject to change without notice prior to the
rental pick-up occasion, on which occasion at the rental depot
the client will be obliged to sign and thus agree to them.
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