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| Stoutes Car Rentals |
Category: Car Rental
Island: Barbados
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For more pictures - Click Here
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Review
Hiring a car for a holiday or for business in the Caribbean should be as simple and easy as responding to one of the scores of advertisements on the net and in magazines. But through these methods you have no way of knowing whether the company will turn out to be a reliable one when you arrive at your destination. Caribbean car rental companies vary considerably in terms of quality, both in the standards of their cars and in their back up services in the case of a problem. It’s worth being absolutely sure.
At Definitive Caribbean we recommend Stoutes Car Rentals as the Barbados car rentals company that comes up tops. They started out in business thirty-nine years ago with two cars for hire and now they are probably the most efficient and successful car rental company on Barbados, with a fleet of over 230 cars of all different sorts, from Mini Mokes and Jeeps to people carriers. Even more impressive is that they are a home grown company rather than a franchise.
When Feona Gray, one of the creators of this site and a former UK tour operator, first set up her Barbados programme, it was to Ann Stoute that she turned to provide cars for her clients and was one of the first overseas travel organisers to use the company. She can testify that in her years of dealings with Stoutes Car Rentals she has never heard a single complaint and, perhaps more miraculously, she has never heard of a late car delivery! Ann is good enough to volunteer that this remains a challenge for them which suggests they may not always get it right, but it is likely to be service with a smile!
The founders of the company, Richard and Ann Stoute, worked together in the 1960s for Richard’s father’s real estate firm, which was based in the grounds of Sam Lord’s Castle. To fulfill a need, they started to hire out cars in 1970. The business grew of its own accord, so eventually they left real estate to develop Stoutes Car Rentals, working from their home for many years. The next step was the purchase of a gas station, which also allowed them to develop their own workshop to service the growing fleet. By 1978, the business had outgrown their home and so they consolidated everything at the gas station, where they still have their office – now also a busy convenience store and Texaco station – Kirtons Star Mart.
Stoutes Car Rentals deliver vehicles all over the island as well as to the airport and they have exclusive concession for the Barbados Port concession and the only car hire company with a booth (located just outside the Cruise Terminal itself). Son David has now joined the business and is following in his father’s footsteps. |
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Staff
Dana, Margot, Jackie and Lisa along with Ann are the ‘Reservation Team’at Stoutes for your Barbados car rental enquiries – Ann is the one in the centre of the photograph. Jackie has worked for the company for the past twenty-four years – she and Margot (who came to them from Sam Lord’s Castle) are the most senior reservation staff, competently assisted by Dana and Lisa.
Stoutes are also fortunate in having some very loyal and hardworking workshop and delivery staff, many of whom have been with them for over 15 years. The delivery staff are unfailingly polite and will go out of their way to give you any advice that you might need about the vehicle you are hiring or the driving rules on the island.
From left to right in the photograph are Dana, Margot, Ann, Jackie and Lisa. |
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Fleet
KIA-MOKES
- 4 Seater
- Automatic or Manual
- Convertible Soft Top
- AM/FM Radio
- Front/Rear Seat Belts
- Small Lockable Trunk
- No Air-conditioning
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JIMNY JEEPS
- 4 Seater
- Automatic or Manual
- 3 doors
- Convertible Soft Top
- AM/FM Radio/Cassette Player
- Front/Rear Seat Belts
- No Air-conditioning
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J20 - TERIOS JEEPS
- 5 Seater
- Automatic only
- 5 doors
- AM/FM Radio/Cassette Player
- Front/Rear Seat Belts
- Air-conditioning
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J30 – VITARA JEEPS
- 5 Seater
- Automatic only
- Power Windows & Central Locking
- AM/FM Radio/Cassette Player
- Front/Rear Seat Belts
- Air-conditioning
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C10 - SMALL AUTO A/C CARS
- 5 Seater
- Automatic only
- 5 doors
- AM/FM Radio/Cassette Player
- Front/Rear Seat Belts
- Air-conditioning
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C20 - MEDIUM AUTO A/C CARS / C25 – MEDIUM MANUAL
- 5 Seater
- Automatic or Manual
- 4 doors
- AM/FM Radio/Cassette Player
- Front/Rear Seat Belts
- Air-conditioning
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C40 – FULLY LOADED LARGE AUTO A/C CARS
- 5 Seater
- 4 doors
- Automatic
- Power Windows & Central Locking
- AM/FM Radio/CD Player
- Front/Rear Seat Belts
- Air-conditioning
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C50 – KIA CARENS
- 6 Seater
- 5 doors
- Automatic
- Power Windows & Central Locking
- AM/FM Radio/CD Player
- Front/Rear Seat Belts
- Air-conditioning
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V10 – SUZUKI APV VANS - AUTO TRANS
- 6 Seater
- 4 doors
- Automatic or Manual
- AM/FM Radio/CD Player
- Front/Rear Seat Belts
- Air-conditioning
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V20 – FULLY LOADED TOYOTA NOAH VAN
- 6 Seater
- 4 doors
- Automatic
- Power Windows & Central Locking
- AM/FM Radio/CD Player
- Front/Rear Seat Belts
- Air-conditioning
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2009-10 Prices
Description | 1 day | 2 days | 3 days | 4 days | 5-7 days | Per day Over 7 days | | Mini Moke A or M-4Str Suzuki Jimny Jeep S’top – A-A/C-4Str Suzuki Jimny Jeep H’top – A-A/C-4Str Daihatsu Terios Jeep 1500cc H’top A-A/C-5Str Suzuki Vitara Jeep 1500cc H’top A-A/C-5Str Suzuki Vitara Jeep 2000cc H’top A-A/C-5Str | 61 74 70 85 85 98 | 122 148 140 170 170 196 | 177 216 201 249 249 282 | 236 288 268 332 332 376 | 265 350 330 420 420 490 | 37.86 50.00 47.14 60.00 60.00 70.00 | | Daihatsu Charade A-A/C-4Str Toyota Yaris A or M -A/C-5Str Toyota Corolla A-A/C-5Str/fully loaded Kia Carens A-A/C-6Str | 62 67 72 95 | 124 134 144 190 | 180 195 210 276 | 240 260 280 368 | 275 325 350 450 | 39.29 46.42 50.00 64.29 | | Suzuki APV Van A-A/C-6Str Toyota Noah Van A-A/C-6Str fully loaded | 77 92 | 154 184 | 225 270 | 300 360 | 370 440 | 52.86 62.86 | All rates are quoted in US$ and are subject to 15% VAT. Str = number seated including driver. A = automatic transmission. M = manual transmission. A/C = air-conditioned. S’top = soft top. H’top = hard top. Rates valid 05 Jan 2009 -16 Dec 2010. |
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Special Offers
5-15% Discount
Stoutes Car Rental is offering a 15% reduction on all car rentals booked via DefinitiveCaribbean's Direct Email Enquiry facility for rentals between 01 May-31 October 2010. All requests must be made through DefinitiveCaribbean's site and are for direct bookings only. |
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Terms & conditions
Drivers must be over 21 and under 75 years old. Each driver must have held a valid driving licence for at least two years.
A local driving permit is necessary to drive in Barbados, and is issued by the company’s representative when you take delivery. Cost US$5 each.
Two drivers per vehicle are allowed. There is an extra charge of US$2 per day for each additional driver.
Comprehensive insurance is included in the rental rate except for a deductible of US$1,500 in case of loss, accident or damage to the vehicles - regardless of fault. A collision damage waiver (CDW) is offered to cover this deductible at a cost of US$49/week or US$10/day.
You will be charged for the petrol in the vehicles at the time of hire (delivered with US$15 of petrol in the tank), and should return the vehicles empty.
Child seats and booster seats are available for hire on request.
Car hire rates, CDW, petrol, and extras such as child and booster seats are subject to 15% VAT.
Payment is made for the hire at the time of delivery.
Credit cards are accepted - American Express, Visa, Discover or MasterCard. You may also pay by cash (U.S., Canadian, Sterling or Euros) or Travellers Cheques. |
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Delivery
One of the beauties of Stoutes Car Rentals’ service is that they not only deliver anywhere on the island but they work closely with the villa management companies and their staff to ensure that everything goes smoothly. If your flight is delayed and you are not going to reach your accommodation in time for delivery, Stoutes will know about it and make sensible adjustments to the arrangements.
We recommend that you take delivery of your car at your accommodation rather than at the airport, unless you know your way around Barbados well. At the end of your hire period, it is fine to return the car at the airport if you wish. Alternatively, Stoutes will collect the car from your accommodation.
You will find the staff helpful and the procedure efficient. If are taking delivery of your car at the airport it is worth taking the trouble to send through details of your home driving licence/permit at the time of confirming your reservation so that the paperwork can be speeded up. In any event, you will need to give the delivery man a swipe of your credit card, and make decisions about whether or not you want to take out Collision Damage Waiver , which we would recommend. |
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Reservations
We definitely recommend that you book in advance if you are intending to hire a car for longer than three days, particularly if you are travelling during the main winter season from 15 December until after Easter. Other very busy periods for Barbados car hire companies are over Thanksgiving and between the middle of July through to the middle of August.
To avoid disappointment, the best policy is to book your car at the same time as you book your accommodation or flight inclusive holiday.
To make further enquiries or reservations for your Barbados car hire, please use the WEB, TELEPHONE OR DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES link at the top of this review. |
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All the information on this site comes to you free of charge and we do not receive commission for your reservations so it is always helpful to hear if you think we are doing a good job, or if you have any constructive suggestions. Please also remember to mention DefinitiveCaribbean to your friends so that we may be of help to more people looking for an enjoyable Caribbean car rental experience.
Thank you for your interest. |
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