In October I need to hire a car to drive Boise / Salman / Boise. Would be holding the vehicle for 21 days as I am hunting before return to Boise. Would anyone care to recommend a great car rental firm to contact ? Or, could anyone suggest an alternative to avoid the cost of car rental for that long. Thanks to anyone willing to help.

You can fly from BOI to Salmon. Don't know if that helps.

Thanks for the flying suggestion which I will check out. Would you happen to know which airline / s fly that route ?

21 days?
I would land, buy a used 4x4, drive it for 21 days and sell it before I got back on the plane.

Ski+3

Askcar rental agencies about long-term rates. I rented a car for about 45 days for my aunt to drive when she flew to Tucson to care 24/7 for my dying mother. It was considerably less than the company's regular rates.

Bill Quimby

Did you ask the guide?

I don't know what your situation is,
but have you thought about a drive from Missoula, Montana to Salmon, Idaho?
Are you on a direct flight from Kiwiland to Idaho?
October is long time away, wait till August to bum a ride. I am sure it would be a worth while time to almost anybody in Idaho to listen to a New Zealander gay accent for 4.5 hour's.
Just a thought.

Thanks all for the genuinely helpful suggestions. Some good ideas I had not thought of and I'm sure some eill bear fruit.
Norseman, I did ask the outfitter whose advice was to drive from Missoula. I chose not to as getting there involved three flights ( Auck - San Fran / San Fran - Denver / Denver - Missoula ) and decided Auck - San Fran / San Fran - Boise was quite enough flying for me. A charter flight from Boise to Salmon might work if cost is reasonable but a drive or ride might be equally pleasant.
As you suggest I wouldn't rule out bumming a ride but suspect if I had to converse in an NZ "gay" accent for 4.5 hrs I could be discarded well short of the destination !

New Zealand Air has direct flight from Auck to Portland, Oregon. Portland, Oregon has direct flight to Missoula, Montana.

Perhap's Idaho Sharpshooter could be of service?

Getting all my ducks in a row before I get too busy later in the year, so have my flights already booked. I did check Portland but at least for the dates I wanted all Portland flights were either via San Fran of LA. Hence booking Auck - San Fran - Boise. Another advantage of this is on the return through Boise we should have enough time to visit Cabelas and find a few goodies to take home. Anyway, keep any suggestions coming please. Been some helpful ones so far. Thanks again.

Who are you hunting with out of Salmon?

Contact McCall Aviation; I am guessing you can charter the round trip for a lot less than leaving a car for 21 days.

HI AAZW
Hunting with Dave Melton, Bighorn Outfitters. Me & my son.
I'll contact McCall Aviation for a quote. Thankyou

I would collect you in an emergency but 10 hours each way is a stretch. PM me if you get in a bind.
As stated, your outfitter should have some ideas.

Ski+3

Ski+3
That is truly generous of you sir, and greatly appreciated. Currently I am working through options and am very confident arrangements will fall into place eventually. I would hate to have to call on anyone but at the same time it's reassuring to know there's a possible lifeline if we really get backed into a bad corner. Again, I appreciate the offer.
Grant

06,
Why don't you look at an additional flight from Boise to Idaho Falls and then drive from there? It is only a 2.5 hour drive from IF to Salmon. then you could still visit Cabela's when you get back to Boise. In a pinch I could pick you up and deliver you to Salmon from Idaho Falls.

24mb,
That's another possible option and thankyou for suggesting. Very kind of you to also offer transport should we get stuck. Appreciated.
Grant

Right now, you can rent a smaller car, such as a Corolla, for 3 weeks in October for $175/week at Enterprise. Note: I just checked with Enterprise first, not a special deal or anything. I think that will be your cheapest route. Plus, if you're anything like me, I like to have my own transport available if possible.

Gatogordo
Funnily enough I am coming to the same thought I think. Been checking out options with flights which are either scheduled awkwardly or unavailable, and if available seem somewhat pricey. We arrive in Boise about 9:30'ish in the evening, so I think we will overnight there and in the morning collect a rental car for the drive to Salmon. We would like to be in Salmon reasonably early so it will be a very early start from Boise. Got onto a car rental firm ( Dollar Rentals ) which has a deal very close to the one you found with Enterprise. I anticipate booking a vehicle later this month so will price out both before deciding. Thanks very much for your interest in helping out. I have been amazed at all the tips, suggestions, advice offered here on AR. A first class community for sure !

Don't forget, Americans drive on the "right" side of the road and not the wrong side of the road.

Perhap's you should take a Deutsch Drahthaar from Idaho back to New Zealand and help your fellow country mens?

be advised arriving at BOI 9:30 pm one of the few places to get a meal will be Denney's

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Norseman:
Don't forget, Americans drive on the "right" side of the road and not the wrong side of the road.

QUOTE]

Investigated a crash where only reason we could figure out why it happen the guy was an Aussie and forgot what side to drive on. he was killed so we well never know for sure.

quote:

Originally posted by Norseman:
Don't forget, Americans drive on the "right" side of the road and not the wrong side of the road.

Perhap's you should take a Deutsch Drahthaar from Idaho back to New Zealand and help your fellow country mens?

And the road there are twisty and not the greatest. A lot of two lanes, no shoulders.

Grizz

Gentlemen,
We are accumulating quite a fund of knowledge thanks to the help and advice that keeps coming ! I assure you I am very mindful of which side of the road to drive on in the USA, having done so several times previously. The first day is usually trickiest but thereafter it becomes more routine. Still have to stay alert though. Often I open the wrong drivers door and activate the wipers instead of the indicators ( reversed stalk positions ) but so far at least have managed to stay on the "right" side of the highway. In some ways I wish we would change to driving on the other side of the road, as most of the world population does. I note the increase in fatal road accidents here by tourists visiting NZ in ever increasing numbers. Very tragic. With thorough planning one of the Nordic countries moved traffic to the opposite side of the road some years ago with zero repercussions, so it could be done. Sure don't want to end up the same as that unfortunate Aussie driver.
We have about 6 hours layover in San Fran before flying to BOI so will probably eat there rather than Denny's. Thanks for the heads up.
A Deutsch Drahthaar.....?? Sorry, I don't quite follow that one but I'm sure it's well intended. I need to think on that a bit longer perhaps....

Actually, with all this Idaho roads reference, could anyone recommend a / the best route frmo Boise to Salmon ? Been looking at Google maps and see several options but it doesn't necessarily indicate which is best or which the locals would use. Cheers.

Should have mentioned will be driving Boise / Salmon in darkness mostly.

It is a beautiful drive, it would be a shame to drive it at night and miss the scenery. Spend a night in a motel in Boise. In the morning find a local mom and pop diner and have some biscuits and gravy with all the fixings then cruise up the road with a couple of cd's of your favorite music and forget about the distance. Drive towards Sun City, Idaho go up the scenic route through the Saw Tooth Range towards Stanley eventually to Challis then 93 north to Salmon. At night be especially careful from running into deer or big horn sheep on the road. It could ruin your trip. It is not the quickest route but well worth it. A quicker route without the curves of the mountains and the rushing river is to cut across towards Twin Falls to Arco and straight north to Salmon. Have binoculars and camera ready at all times. The trip is part of the hunt and life's memories don't lose it.

30.06King,
There are a lot of decent Deutsch Drahthaar breeder's in Idaho and perhap's you could take several Deutsch Drahthaar puppies back home to New Zealand.
Yes it was well intended.
I use to know of several New Zealander's that would love to have a Deutsch Drahthaar but didn't have the time, resources or funds.
I believe the first hunt test for Deutsch Drahthaar in New Zealand was last year.
WWW.VDD-GNA.ORG

Norseman,
Now I understand you Deutsch Drahthaar suggestion. I had no idea this breed existed or that there is strong interest in NZ. I like dogs but personally am not a dog owner. Our Quarantine regulations are rigorous. Importation would be best left to those who know the ropes.
MLF,
The return trip to Boise will be during daylight so I might well take that scenic route. Agreed, gotta record those precious moments on camera. Every journey and hunt is a precious moment of time unlikely to be lived again. Thanks for the route suggestions.