vendor
Apart from any IdeaMerge special 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, if necessary, as an advocate.
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
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 match our vendor's rates and are therefore
calculated in US Dollars (US$ or USD). And because we are
based in the US, we also charge the downpayment and balance in
US Dollars.
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.
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.
downpayment
IdeaMerge charges a 20% downpayment
upon actually booking a client's reservation.
This downpayment is fully refundable
until 44 days prior to
the pick-up date.
(These days are determined according to US Pacific Time.)
balance
The balance is charged or due 60 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 within that threshold.
Necessarily and simply reflecting that schedule of fees,
IdeaMerge's cancellation policy is as described below.
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.
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
If via IdeaMerge a client rents separate Apollo
vehicles in the USA and/or in Australia and/or in New Zealand and the pick-up dates are
within 92 days of each other, IdeaMerge will
apply to each rental a rate or rates based on the sum of the
durations (thus perhaps effecting long-term discounts).
Note: Given this policy and
the cost of transporting a vehicle between Australia and New Zealand,
such transport is prohibitively costly. Our online reservation software,
although highly specialized, does not
allow customers to place more than one reservation at once. Therefore
IdeaMerge will manually and at the client's request account
for multiple rentals as described above.
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 4 calendar days.
One-way rentals will be possible starting April 2009.
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 authorizes/blocks on a client's Visa, MasterCard,
EuroCard, or American Express card a US$ 2500 security deposit
plus a US$ 40 administration fee.
This security deposit is reduced to a mere authorization (i.e. card imprint but not actual charge) of
US$ 200 (with no associated administration fee) if the client purchases the damage waiver (alias VIP option),
as described on the "Extras" and "Insurance" pages.
Without exception a valid credit 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.
All the Apollo USA motorhome rentals also include collision and
comprehensive insurance
inhering a deductible
(a.k.a. excess; applicable per claim/occurrence not per rental) of
US$ 2500.
This 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 addition to the deductible, Apollo will charge
an administration fee of US$ 75 per insurance claim and per
speeding ticket, parking fine, traffic ticket, or toll-road fine.
The term comprehensive above signifies
vehicular damage due to vandalism, fire, theft of the vehicle, break-in, and weather.
However, in the event of a single vehicle accident
(i.e. an accident which occurs when no other motor vehicle is involved, e.g. animal impact,
or when the client cannot provide Apollo with the full details of any motor vehicles that were involved)
an additional deductible of US$ 1000 applies.
The client is responsible for replacing damaged tires (for example, blowouts, punctures, sidewall damage, tire staking etc)
unless caused by normal wear. The US$ 2500 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:
All Apollo's USA rentals include 100 miles per day,
with extra miles being available as described on the "Extras" page.
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.
For pick-ups in California or Nevada in conjunction with the
Burning Man
festival, e.g. pick-ups there from 24 August 2008 to 2 September 2008:
a special US$ 500 fee applies (as calculated and presented by the
IdeaMerge software).
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 requires 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.) 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 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$ 50, the client must call
Apollo USA to get authorization. Non-authorized repairs over US$ 50 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, and the NW Territories is strictly prohibited.
No special authorization from Apollo is required for travel elsewhere in Canada,
although travel to the greater metropolitan areas of Montreal and Quebec City
is prohibited. Apollo reserves the right at its own discretion to restrict
vehicle movements in certain areas due to adverse road or weather conditions.
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.
Upon returning the vehicle the client should report and pay to Apollo
all parking/traffic/toll-road violations
(and the documentation thereof,
i.e. the ticket itself)
levied on the vehicle or driver
during the rental.
Per such violation unreported on that occasion, the vendor will levy upon
the client a US$ 75 administration fee — in addition to the fine
itself. The vendor takes these fines and charges and fees very seriously,
so you are advised to be forthcoming in this respect upon returning
the vehicle.
apollo terms and conditions
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
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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