European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 24, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tum of Gibraltar above. North african coast that Morocco claims Joseph j. Gaggero owner of the local airline a hotel and other businesses armed Spain s position a takeover bid that undermines economic development. On the other Side a Small group favors turning Gibraltar Over to Spain. If we Don t hand Gibraltar to spam now and if political fortunes change As they inevitably do then Spain could one Day dictate ils own terms said Jose Manuel Triay a lawyer who has run for office twice on a pro Spain platform winning Aboul 12 percent of the votes. But so Joshua Hassan head of the locally elected government who favors a continued Bulish presence. Offered an optimistic View in diplomacy there s never a dead end he said. There Are More things that unite us than Divide  the fact that americans Are returning to Europe in huge Waves leads Spanish officials to believe that this will be their record year. Nearly 60 percent of visitors to Spain Como Dom France great Britain and West Germany. Last year us tourism in Spain dropped off by 22,8 per cell to 769,785, Down from 997.774 in 1985 that Ligure is Only a Small portion of spam s Overall tourism bul americans Are bigger spenders than their european counterparts. Officials said americans spend an average of $500 per person per stay compared with s400 Tor each West German or j346 Lor each French or British citizen. No place is completely free from terrorism and mos1 people except americans who tend to see Europe As a whole would t think of cancelling their vacations because of this said general tourism Secretary in i Scio Futejo what most affects tourists coming to Spain is the lick of Security on oily sir eels said Jose Maria Carbo resident of the Spanish hotel federations officials say police have stepped up patrols in All tourist areas where purse snatching and car break ins have become endemic. Bul a recent poll conducted by the general secretarial for tourism indicated 81 4 pm cell of tourists questioned were satisfied Wilh their vacations in spam among the negative aspects cited Wei the bad stale of Spanish highways. The Noich m has and res Laurants and spaniards Lack of knowledge of foreign languages is photo by b and hot lbs 77� car rental counter Are grouped together at the Frankfurt Germany  Airport shop around before renting a car from wire services arid local reports r enting a car can be a convenience but it also poses Pitfalls for unwary customers warns an american consumer group urging careful comparison shopping or rental Smarty Auto rental companies offer substantial Price differences from one another according to the consumer affairs Commilles of americans Lor democratic action. The committee surveyed 27 National and local ear rental companies in the Washington . Area for prices specials and the kinds of information Given to Consumers. Some of their findings Are also applicable to renting cars in Europe. Be wary of Holiday special oilers urged Ann Brown head of the group since they May in last nol re Piesens a saving from regular prices. For example she said Tho Survey found 17 companies in the Washington area advertising some sort of so called special rate Lor the Independence Day weekend but a closer inspection of the prices found that Only seven actually offered lower Rales she said. Two companies considered a savings of five cents Over three Days to he a special and eight were charging the same Rale As Normal weekends or More 1 the responsibility to shop around rests squarely with Hie consumer brawn said. But Auto rental firms should not be advertising specials which do no exist " Tho group also reported substantial references in the prices for weekend Aulo rentals in washing Ion Good reason to shop around the Range varied from a Low of $18-87 a Day. Which would total $s6 61 for three Days to a High of $99 95 Tor three Days rental conditions vary from company to company so ask questions before renting the car. Ii is a Good idea to make a Chart for easy comparison of different companies. Among the things you May want to know is a Deposit acquired if so How much Musi Tho Deposit be Cash or can i use my credit card is there unlimited mileage or a mileage Lee mileage fees Are especially important Lor anyone planning to do a Toto driving it May pay Oft to rent a car Loi a higher Basic Chaitt but Wilh unlimited mileage Check out special Rales. Ii the special is Lor a limited Pend. You May nol gel a Price break Lor keeping the car longer for example if you Are paying $100 01 10 Days Don t assume Hal you la Gol an huh Day for ii a $10 More. Wnok end rills Aie usually lower valour packages Are also available Guch As Happy weekend a cooperative arrangement in Europe Between euro car and Besl Western hotels As Well is longer Holiday programs in Europe find out if tax is included in the Price quoted. Many european countries attach Sliff lanes to car rentals. When planning your itinerary remember that the lax is assessed according to where the car is picked up. Here Are the current Ian rates on rental cars Austria 21 percent Belgium 25 percent Canary islands 4 percent Corsica 25 percent Cyprus none Denmark 22 per cell Finland 19.05 percent Franco 33.33 percent Greece 20 percent Brilain. 15 percent Ireland 10 percent Italy 1b percent Luxembourg. 12 percent Malta none the Netherlands 20 percent Norway 20 percent Portugal 16 percent Mainland Spain 12 percent differs from Canary islands fee Sweden. 23,46 percent Switzerland Nono to Icey. 12 percent Yugoslavia 15 percent. Find out if you can drive the car out of the stale or in Europe Inlo another country. Taking a rental car from the continent o Britain or vice versa May not be permitted ii it is. Special insurance May be required also inquire Aboul Dop Oil fees. You could be charged extra for resuming the Carlo a location other than the one where you rented in Europe some companies require no drop off Lee Between certain cities even in different countries. Many have one Way rental plans among Aboul a dozen cities in Europe but 1he base Rale is higher than renting a Carlo use in just one country. Several companies let you drop off a Caf in Brussels. Amsterdam and Luxembourg at no extra charge bul collect a Muraji As $160 if you leave the car in Paris and $150 in Milan in one Way rentals read ail of the rental agreement before you sign admittedly this can be difficult and Lime consuming bul when you have read one rental agreement you Haven 1 read them All. For example Hertz contracts refer to the roller As you while Avis refers to the Render As i and itself As  some companies cover loss by fire hell vandalism or storm Only if you buy the damage waiver others Larj responsibility Lor such tosses it is a Good idea especially in Europe to fill up the car with Gas before you turn it in. You might be charged an Chor Bilal Price for gasoline if the companies i sell Lills n out make sure if Al you gel the car Bach a Hen it is flue a Lull Day s a Enlil May be charged in you return in Only a couple of hours Lalo keep a record of your reservation nun Bui and the name of ii person who handled the books in Case of problems often agencies do not have the car you icon Rcd especially if you chose a cheaper Model insist on a belter car Al the original Price Check your Bill Hel orc you pay make  you understand All the charges you May wish to pay by credit card so in Case disputes arise you Dnn i have to pay until they Are sol led August 24,1987 the stars and stripes Page 15