Apart from any IdeaMerge discount, the prices and policies presented on the IdeaMerge Website match the prices and policies of our vendors. You aren't paying extra by going through IdeaMerge — in fact you may be paying less.

IdeaMerge facilitates the whole rental process, presenting a single total cost you can count on and acting for you as an accessible resource and, in some cases, as a mediator.

With a foot naturally in the vendor's camp, we carefully manage expectations so that the entire rental experience is maximally enjoyable for all involved.

currency

Moreover, unlike our main competition we do not impose a credit card transaction fee. What's more, being a USA company, IdeaMerge charges the USA total price in USD. Therefore if you are from the USA you suffer no retail foreign exchange transaction; and if you are from outside the USA (i.e. if your funds are not in USD), you avoid involving in the overall transaction a third (i.e. middle) currency (that of a non-USA-based competitor of IdeaMerge) and the concomitant retail foreign exchange thereto from USD, which avoidance saves you about 2% on the total cost. Of course neither IdeaMerge nor the vendor is responsible for exchange rate fluctuations and the consequent variances that are possible in a particular foreign currency's value relative to these USD charges.

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 (i.e. due to unforseen circumstances), 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 campground fees, tolls, and fueling costs — are to be borne by the customer.

Of course IdeaMerge will not charge your credit card unless the vendor you select does have availability in the particular vehicle category you select. After you place a complete online reservation request with IdeaMerge (i.e. including your credit card details), IdeaMerge will straightaway query the vendor. If a vehicle in the selected vehicle category of that selected vendor is indeed have available, we will immediately book the rental with that vendor and charge your card — binding you per the cancellation policy noted below. Either way, we will then inform you as soon as possible, often within an hour but most certainly within 24 hours (or perhaps 48 hours if you enter the reservation request on a Friday or Saturday, since the booking facilities of some vendors are closed on weekends).

The USA rental motorhomes presented on this Website are designed to safely transport the number of occupants which equals the maximum number of sleeping places stated as characterizing the vehicle. To transport in such motorhome more than said maximum number of people is to risk violating traffic safety laws in this respect and, due in part to the cumulative weight of the passengers, causing mechanical failure or accidental damage to the vehicle and injury to the occupants and other persons. The rental client (i.e. the customer) will be held fully responsible for such damages and injuries. Of course all driver's seats and front passenger seats of these vehicles have safety belts, and these devices should be worn whenever the vehicle is in motion. Although many motorhomes accommodate passengers in places where safety belts are perhaps not required by law (e.g. at the dining table), any safety belts present in the rear area are at least significant of a recommended rear seating position. Rear occupants of a moving motorhome should oblige themselves — and any rear occupants dependent on them — to sit in such places only and to use appropriately the seatbelt gracing such seat. Riding in a place which is not equipped with a safety belt increases the danger of injury to one's self and others.

cheapa campa brand

downpayment

balance

cancellation fees

changes

If a client requests an official change to a booking, the flex rates that will apply to the changed booking are the higher of the original versus the current rates. The following alterations are considered official booking changes: (a) change of booked date for vehicle pick-up; (b) change of booked date for vehicle return, unless that change is an extension of just one or two days; (c) change of booked vehicle category, (d) change of name in which the booking is made. (The addition of extra drivers is not considered such a booking change.) If such a change to the booked dates or vehicle is made within 14 days of the pick-up date, no refund will be made if the length of the rental duration is shortened (i.e. the rental will remain charged at the number of days originally booked) or if the client chooses a lesser vehicle. There are no exceptions to this set of change-order rules.

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 the client being charged doubly for each unauthorized day. The extra cost of an extended rental must be paid by credit card over the phone or directly at an Apollo depot, this immediately upon confirmation of the extension.

multiple rentals

taxes

Apollo USA applies a general 10 percent fee to all its prices, this to cover state and local taxes, duties and administration fees. The total price generated by the IdeaMerge software of course includes this 10 percent fee and any other fees that might apply.

pick-up & return constraints

The minimum official rental duration is 7 calendar days for rentals commencing July–September, otherwise the minimum is 5 calendar days. The general exception is that the Elite Traveler vehicle entails a minimum 14 calendar days. If you select a shorter duration than the applicable minimum, our software will compute the price based on the minimum duration.

One-way rentals are possible for a fee of US$ 200.

IMPORTANT: Clients arriving on flights from overseas are indeed allowed by Apollo USA to pick-up on the day their flight arrives.

Apollo USA does not allow clients to store luggage or other personal items at the rental depot for the duration of the rental. Note: for motorhome travel soft-sided or collapsable bags are the best sort to use.

Clients must arrive at the rental depot by their own means, e.g. by taxi. Clients cannot park a car on the Apollo USA rental depot grounds for the duration of their motorhome rental.

Motorhome pick-up (or return) is not possible directly at locations other than the depots; e.g. it is not possible at airports or hotels.

The depots are open for pick-up or return Monday–Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Which is to say, Apollo — unlike with our other USA vendors — calculates rental cost according to calendar days, meaning the booked pick-up and return times do not affect the cost.

Sorry but Sunday pick-up or return is not possible with Apollo USA. The depots are closed during certain holidays, which are accounted for by our online reservation software.

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 pick-up, the vendor charges to a client's Visa, MasterCard, EuroCard, or American Express card a US$ 1000 security deposit plus a US$ 20 administration fee.

Without exception a valid credit card is required for each rental pick-up; debit cards or Euro checks are not accepted.

Naturally the security deposit is refundable depending on whether the vehicle is returned on time, to the correct location, undamaged, with a clean interior and with a full engine fuel tank. The vendor reserves the right to retain a minimum US$ 75 fee if the vehicle is not returned with the interior in a clean condition and the exterior reasonably clean (e.g. free of mud). The toilet and waste water tank should be emptied prior to the return of the vehicle, or the vendor will retain a separate fee.

what's included

The vehicle will be delivered with a full tank of engine fuel; and it should be returned with a full tank. The water tank, propane tank, and any toilet chemical repository will be full; but you will not be charged if they are returned less than full. No refunds are given for unused water, propane and toilet chemicals

By the way, the client is responsible for checking all vehicle fluid levels at each refueling during the rental. Refills of all these fluids — except of course the engine fuel and the propane (LPG) — will be reimbursed by Moturis upon the return occasion if the client presents receipts for such.

All the Apollo USA motorhome rentals include US$ 1,000,000.00 of liability (i.e. third party) insurance, covering bodily-injury and/or property-damage liability claims brought on by a third party (other than a passenger in the rental vehicle) against the client (i.e. customer, or any other driver listed on the rental contract between client and vendor) as a result of the operation of the rental vehicle. If you own and operate an automobile, please check with your auto insurance provider to determine the coverage which that insurance extends to you while you are operating a rented recreational vehicle in the United States, Canada, and so forth.

These include collision and comprehensive insurance inhering a deductible (a.k.a. excess; applicable per claim/occurrence not per rental) of US$ 1000.

The deductible applies regardless of who is at fault, and it must be paid at the time the accident is reported to Apollo, not upon completion of the rental. Moreover, the deductible applies to the cost of demurrage for the duration the vehicle is unavailable due to repairs after the rental. In connection with the deductible, Apollo will charge a special administration fee of US$ 75 per insurance claim (and similarly per speeding ticket, parking fine, traffic ticket, or toll-road fine).

For rentals with pick-up prior to 1 April 2010, clients cannot reduce this deductible; no optional damage waiver is offered.

For rentals with on pick-up 1 April 2010 or thereafter, clients can enhance the default insurance coverage by purchasing Apollo's damage waiver (alias Liability Reduction Option, LRO) for US$ 15 per day (maximum US$ 375). That option reduces the US$ 1000 deductible/excess all the way to zero for both collision and comprehensive insurance.

The term comprehensive above signifies vehicular damage due to vandalism, fire, theft of the vehicle, break-in, and weather.

The client is responsible for replacing damaged tires (for example, blowouts, punctures, sidewall damage, tire staking etc) unless caused by normal wear. The deductible applies.

In the event of an accident or breakdown in a remote area, or any area not permitted under the rental agreement, it will be the client’s full financial liability to pay any salvage, towing and/or recovery costs, perhaps to the nearest Apollo depot.

Of course said insurance coverage is void if the client fails to file a relevant and timely accident/damage police report or fails to inform the Apollo pick-up depot within 24 hours with a full written report or if the client uses the vehicle in violation of the rental contract he/she signs with Apollo. Likewise said coverage is void in connection with the "exclusions" and "further restrictions" noted farther down this page.

Also included by default is 24/7 assistance by way of calling tel. 310 486 4651.

All the Apollo vehicles have a gasoline engine, automatic transmission, dash (i.e. engine-powered) and roof (i.e. 110 V, 60 Hz) air conditioning, stove burners, microwave oven, sink, refrigerator, freezer, furnace, toilet, shower and 110 V hook-up. All the Apollo vehicles apart from the Cheapa Campa brand have a slide-out, awning, rear-vision camera, LCD TV/DVD player, and generator.

Included in the preparation fee are the first tank of propane, the first supply of toilet chemicals, and the final cleaning of the outside of the vehicle. (All Apollo motorhomes should nevertheless be returned in a reasonable state of cleanliness, completely free of mud, lest the client be charged a cleaning fee. Of course Apollo will deliver the motorhome in a clean condition both the inside and outside.)

The following items are also included by default at no extra charge:

Regarding miles, see the "Extras" page. The IdeaMerge online reservation software will determine and suggest to you the optimal mileage/km solution for the number of miles/kms you plan to drive.

The rentals also include 24/7 nationwide roadside assistance via a toll-free helpline. The IdeaMerge-generated total price also includes the tax and any other fees that might apply (i.e. the vendor's vehicle preparation fee, charges for optional extras, any applicable one-way fee, etc).

There is no charge for additional drivers.

If you intend to travel to the Burning Man festival with the Apollo rental vehicle (including the Cheapa Campa brand), Apollo will charge you a a special US$ 500 surcharge upon the pick-up occasion. If a client travels to the Burning Man festival with the vehicle and does not advise Apollo/Cheapa Campa of this beforehand, Apollo would consider such travel a breach of their rental agreement and as such the client would be held responsible for any and all loss of or damage to the vehicle from any cause, regardless of fault, and for all related expenses, this is in addition to the US$ 500 Burning Man surcharge.

age and license(s)

The minimum age limit for Apollo motorhome rentals is only 21 years; the maximum is 75 years. Upon pick-up Apollo requires of the client a valid non-provisional resident-country drivers license held for at least two years (and of course valid for the duration of the rental). But if said license is not primarily or secondarily (i.e. in parallel) written in English, Apollo recommends that the client have an international drivers license — i.e. an IDL, otherwise known as an international drivers permit or 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$ 20. 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.) If you plan to operate a motorcycle, 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 the USA the standard domestic drivers licenses of foreign states are, in connection with foreign tourists, considered equal to a standard USA drivers license. Therefore the foreign drivers license allows the holder to drive the same range of vehicle types as does a USA license. This means, for instance, that the 3500 kg permissible-weight constraint that applies to European Union licenses in Europe is effectively raised in the USA to match the USA standards, which are invariably so high that all the vehicles represented on IdeaMerge's USA "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 makes a timely report to Apollo USA about the breakdown, and if this breakdown is through no fault of the client, Apollo is responsible to refund the client but that responsibility is limited to refund of the daily rate or a portion thereof. In the unlikely event that no replacement or alternative Apollo vehicle is available for the client, Apollo's liability is limited to a refund of the rental charge or in the case of mechanical failure (unless caused by the client) the remainder of the rental duration. Clients assume full responsibility for any additional expenses incurred by reasons of a breakdown of vehicle. The term breakdown as used above does not refer to the vehicle's air conditioning, plumbing, refrigerator, microwave, other appliances, slide-out functionality, automatic step, awning, radio, CD player, TV/DVD, generator, and cruise control, among other functionalities not essential to travel.

For repairs exceeding US$ 100, the client must call Apollo USA to get authorization. Non-authorized repairs over US$ 100 will not be reimbursed. Receipts must be presented for reimbursement to occur. Repair to damage caused by the client is not reimbursible.

See our Apollo USA "Insurance" page for details concerning the included insurance and assistance.

geographical restrictions

Apollo does not allow travel into Death Valley and certain similarly extreme desert areas during May through September; and at other times of the year, clients who visit these areas do so at their own risk and are responsible for all consequent recovery and other charges. Due to restrictions on vehicle heights, propane gas and parking, vehicles bearing propane are not permitted in Manhattan. Travel to Mexico, Alaska, Yukon, NW Territories or New Foundland is strictly prohibited. No special authorization from Apollo is required for non-Canadians to travel elsewhere in Canada, although travel to the greater metropolitan areas of Montreal and Quebec City is subject to special permission from Apollo. Apollo reserves the right at its own discretion to restrict vehicle movements in certain areas due to adverse road or weather conditions.

Again, if you intend to travel to the Burning Man festival with the Apollo rental vehicle (including the Cheapa Campa brand), Apollo will charge you a a special US$ 500 surcharge upon the pick-up occasion. If a client travels to the Burning Man festival with the vehicle and does not advise Apollo/Cheapa Campa of this beforehand, Apollo would consider such travel a breach of their rental agreement and as such the client would be held responsible for any and all loss of or damage to the vehicle from any cause, regardless of fault, and for all related expenses, this is in addition to the US$ 500 Burning Man surcharge.

IMPORTANT: Canadian residents are not permitted by Canada to rent a motorhome in the USA to travel in Canada. A similar restriction applies to Mexican residents renting in the USA and wanting to travel in Mexico.

further restrictions

accident

In the event of an accident, the client must obtain a local police report as provided by the attending police officer investigating the accident. The client should notify the Apollo pick-up depot about the accident as soon as possible. On said accident report 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 pick-up depot within 24 hours of the accident. 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.

parking tickets, etc.

apollo terms and conditions

For pick-ups through March 2010:

For pick-ups after March 2010:

warning

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