Crystal Auto Rental Belize
Crystal Auto Rental Belize
5
About
Do not feel like driving? Crystal Auto Rental now offers a great shuttle and transfer service. Don’t miss a moment of excitement while on your vacation. Hire a professional, a well experienced driver to take you to your Belize destination. Crystal Auto Rental now does transfers from the Belize International Airport or to any of the main district locations in Belize.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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- sonora77Rollins, Montana23 contributionsGreat rental experienceExcellent car, excellent service. No wait to pickup car. When I returned the car, they came out to check me in and brought me an outer garment that I left there when i came in to rent the car a week ago. Very smooth experience.Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 4 October 2023
- Cruiser53345019 contributionsGreat experience and happy with the rentalThe office closes at 5:00 PM and our flight was scheduled to land at 4:30 PM, I emailed Crystal Auto and made a note on the reservation (you can provide the flight information on the reservation) regarding the flight landing late and received an email from Crystal Auto stating that someone would wait for me to pick up the car. Our flight landed late (at 5 PM) and the office was still open at the airport. Another couple was also there with us who had flown in on the same flight. There was no issue receiving the car we reserved and the car was a newer model and in excellent condition. We did not, however, get offered the "cooler and cell phone" and I completely forgot about it until we were miles down the road. The cooler would have been helpful when traveling from purchasing groceries to the location where we were staying and next time, i will definitely ask for that offered cooler ! We returned the car to the Belize City location with no issues and were chauffeured to our hotel immediately after by one of the guys who assisted in the return (we were told when picking up the car that they would drive us to our hotel in the car we returned). Some reviews say that the $850 security deposit (Crystal Auto's insurance deductible if the car is damaged) was not released from their card but this was not the case for us, it was released after we returned the car. Also, we were able to use the "Google Maps" app on the phone to find our way. We had previously made sure we would have data available while in Belize and so that worked for us. We were also told that if we connected to the Wifi at the Crystal Auto office, we could input the destination address, start Google Maps and then once we left the Wifi range, the maps would keep us on track to our destination without having to use the data. We did that on another part of our trip (started it while near Wifi) and headed off-grid; it worked perfectly.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 6 November 2023
- Barbara C6 contributionsTerrific service in office and reliable car rentalWow, what nice and personal service from the outset -- unlike many other car rental experiences. The car was reliably good (though not quite as we might expect in the States), no problematic issues at all, and quite affordable. We highly recommend Crystal!Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 31 December 2023
- mnp1914821 contributionsHighly recommend!Very good experience! Friendly front desk service and well working car! We picked up our rental on arrival at the airport and were able to return to their alternate location, where a driver brought us directly to the water taxi so we didn't have to worry about a cab. I would definitely use Crystal again and recommend to others.Visited January 2024Travelled with familyWritten 24 January 2024
- canadianbacon12Jordan, Canada267 contributionsOutstanding Customer Experience!!We rented a Kia Sol for 2 weeks in February and they went above and beyond for us. After 3 days I was doing an early morning run from Hopkins to Dangriga to get some fresh fish when after getting stopped behind a bus for a couple minutes the engine light came on and the engine started to misfire and labour and lose power. I immediately pulled over and called Crystal and let them know what was happening. The lady that grabbed my call listened to what was going on and immediately called the manager. I told the manager what was happening and where I was. He told me it was OK for me to drive back to our AirBnB and he would send a driver down with a new vehicle. 3 hours later the driver showed up at our door with another newer Kia took the old one and headed back to the shop. It is a 2 hr drive from Belize City to Hopkins! They had my replacement on the way within yhe hour!!! The gentleman that brought the replacement said that they do periodically have problems with bad gas ( leaded, or water? Just my speculation) at one of the stations around Hopkins and have had problems before. I had not added any fuel up to that time so the problem was something else. The point should be made for other drivers to be aware of. The replacement car was full when it was delivered it to me so Crystal adsorbed the cost of the half a tank of gas for our troubles. We had no issues with the replacement vehicle and returned it to the airport at the appointed time. Crystal also gave us a complementary ride to the Water Taxi terminal to continue the next phase of our trip! Thank you Crystal Team for top shelf customer service and for doing the right thing without having to be asked!Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 22 February 2024
- Chelsey PLondon, Canada21 contributionsHighly recommendAfter reading so many great reviews we chose Crystal for 5 days. They were so helpful answering all of our emails and adjusting our reservation. We booked about 3-4 months in advance. Our chevy equinox was perfect to get us around SI and sweet songs. The inside was so clean and the A/C was perfect. No issues upon return- very easy. Highly recommend.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 26 February 2024
- Mayan_BrianShawnee, Kansas94 contributionsBest choiceCounter agent was smart enough to make sure our later flight to Caye Caulker was from BZE. It was from TZA. So she let us return in Belize City and their guy even gave us a ride to TZA. Great experience all around and should be anyone's first choice in Belize.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 27 February 2024
- Emily VCollege Station, Texas103 contributionsHighly recommend, very professional staff and high quality cars!Incredible service, friendly staff, immaculate vehicle!! We arrived on the ferry to Belize City and were picked up immediately. It was about a 30 minute drive to the rental lot and you will absolutely need to take the time to walk around the property. It is very unique and bit surprising! The leasing process was straightforward and quick, we completed a walk through for damages, and were off the lot in no time. The vehicle was perfect and very updated. We had CarPlay, strong A/C, and 4 wheel drive. They even gave us a free plastic cooler to use during our rental. Returning the car was just as easy and we were dropped off at the ferry. Will absolutely be recommending in the future to anyone who wants to rent a car in Belize!Visited March 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 23 April 2024
- Sarah c4 contributionsWould definitely recommend Crystal autoI don’t even know where to start! Crystal auto is really amazing. My sister came the week before and said crystal auto is a must and she was right. We are a big family so we rented 2 cars and both worked well. Adriana, Ms Chaplin & Ms Michelle were amazing! Professional and easy to work with. We got a complimentary pick up from the ferry. There was some difficulty when we got there because our luggage didn’t fit and they were able to get us a larger car. They are easy to reach and reliable. We left something and it was waiting for us in an envelope upon return. We would definitely rent from crystal auto again if we return. Thank you for making the process so easy and enjoyable.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 6 May 2024
- Hrant P2 contributionsBest in BelizeI compared the three major Belizean rental agencies, and Crystal provided the most competent service as well as a very good rate. The actual rental and return of the car was very smooth and professional, and they provided a free shuttle between their office and our hotel. As an aside, Crystal seems to be the only agency that allows you take a car across the border. We went to Tikal (Guatemala) with our car and they made sure all the paperwork was in order.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 22 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Diane G
Baxter, TN186 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
From the moment I first made plans to visit Belize, (that had to be changed) until the time I finally arrived and drove the 4WD vehicle I reserved, this company was excellent ! Employee "Aimee" emailed me, kept me informed, politely made requested changes, canceled ones previously confirmed, made new arrangements, and finally helped me rent the vehicle I needed. Never once did I feel anything but acceptance and kindness. Excellent customer service. Thank you.
I was confused about how much insurance I needed.
They helped me, and I ended up paying less than I had signed up for on my own. I was met at the Belize water taxi and safely transported to the Crystal office (Ok , so the older gentlemen who met us was harmlessly grumpy) Then we smoothly got our vehicle. It was an older model, (2016?) shiny and clean, black Jeep. It looked good. The company was good about going over the vehicle, I never felt tricked or worried. Everything was clear and upfront. They even have a cute little museum in part of their building.
I returned the vehicle to the airport, which was a different location than pick-up, for a fee that wasn't unreasonable. I had absolutely zero trouble with the return, and no delay in catching my plane.
I was confused about how much insurance I needed.
They helped me, and I ended up paying less than I had signed up for on my own. I was met at the Belize water taxi and safely transported to the Crystal office (Ok , so the older gentlemen who met us was harmlessly grumpy) Then we smoothly got our vehicle. It was an older model, (2016?) shiny and clean, black Jeep. It looked good. The company was good about going over the vehicle, I never felt tricked or worried. Everything was clear and upfront. They even have a cute little museum in part of their building.
I returned the vehicle to the airport, which was a different location than pick-up, for a fee that wasn't unreasonable. I had absolutely zero trouble with the return, and no delay in catching my plane.
Written 7 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
plankmaker
Chico, California34 contributions
Feb 2023
Crystal has locations at Belize Airport and on the main highway about five miles south of the airport. I have rented three times over the past ten years and had very satisfactory experience each time. Highly recommend them as their older cars with moderate mileage have been just as dependable as major rental agencies and at lower cost.
Written 15 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Loyalty means a lot to us and we thank you so much for your continued support and business over the past 10 years. We do keep some of our older stock with moderate miles as mentioned to accommodate our high-season bookings and cost efficiency. Hoping to see and hear from you soon✌🏽🙂
Best Regards,
-Anthony
Written 18 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alice G
New York City, NY12 contributions
Dec 2019
We rented a Chevy Equinox SUV for six days in Belize from Crystal Auto Rental. We picked up the car from the international airport (right across the lot from where you come out) and the process was fast and efficient. No long waits and they pulled the car around right away. Vehicle was in good condition and they showed us where the spare tire was, gave us a map and info on what gas stations to use and told us to watch out for the speed bumps. Crystal also provides you with a free cooler to use during your trip and offers you a cell phone for emergencies. Picking up the car was a breeze compared to getting rental cars in the States, the whole process was shorter than it took my sister to get the Belize SIM cards next door.
Driving and navigating in Belize is pretty easy but you have to constantly watch out for the speed bumps, which are so annoying. That's why we chose to get an SUV so we'd have more clearance if we hit a speed bump unexpectedly, which did happen once or twice. We did not get a 4-wheel drive vehicle. It's not necessary if you're sticking to the main roads, just get a vehicle with high clearance. We were able to take the car into the tiny town of Crooked Tree down some dirt roads and were okay. The only place you really need 4-wheel drive is in the Maya Mountains, so if you want to drive to Caracol, it's probably safer to have 4-wheel we were told and so unfortunately did not go.
We returned the car to their main office on the Northern Highway and again it was quick and efficient service from the second we pulled into the Crystal lot. They even gave us a free transfer to the San Pedro Belize Express ferry in Belize City. Again, the entire transfer process of unloading the car and checking it in took no more than twenty minutes.
Highly recommend Crystal Auto Rental for professional Belize car rental.
Driving and navigating in Belize is pretty easy but you have to constantly watch out for the speed bumps, which are so annoying. That's why we chose to get an SUV so we'd have more clearance if we hit a speed bump unexpectedly, which did happen once or twice. We did not get a 4-wheel drive vehicle. It's not necessary if you're sticking to the main roads, just get a vehicle with high clearance. We were able to take the car into the tiny town of Crooked Tree down some dirt roads and were okay. The only place you really need 4-wheel drive is in the Maya Mountains, so if you want to drive to Caracol, it's probably safer to have 4-wheel we were told and so unfortunately did not go.
We returned the car to their main office on the Northern Highway and again it was quick and efficient service from the second we pulled into the Crystal lot. They even gave us a free transfer to the San Pedro Belize Express ferry in Belize City. Again, the entire transfer process of unloading the car and checking it in took no more than twenty minutes.
Highly recommend Crystal Auto Rental for professional Belize car rental.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PDB01
Aberdeen, UK6 contributions
Jan 2023
Hiring a car is often a choice between booking through one of the more expensive international companies or the usually cheaper local firms. On this occasion we went with Crystal, a local company and were pleased that we did. We hired a 4x4 Jeep. If you plan to travel anywhere in Belize I would recommend getting a 4x4. The surface roads are excellent (except for the speed bumps and occasional pot-hole) but the unsurfaced roads are highly variable and without a 4x4 we would not have been able to go where we wanted.
Booking on line with Crystal was easy and we got an email response confirming the booking. Arriving at the airport their office is just across the road from departures and everything was in order and ready for us when we arrived.
The car was a well used Jeep, it rattled a bit but all worked perfectly and we had no problems with it.
Dropping the car off at the international airport we had to make our way to the Municipal airport for a flight to one of the Cayes. We were going to use a taxi but Crystal very kindly offered to drive us across to the airport at no extra cost. That is fantastic service.
Would we use Crystal again... Definitely,
Based on our experience we would recommend Crystal
Booking on line with Crystal was easy and we got an email response confirming the booking. Arriving at the airport their office is just across the road from departures and everything was in order and ready for us when we arrived.
The car was a well used Jeep, it rattled a bit but all worked perfectly and we had no problems with it.
Dropping the car off at the international airport we had to make our way to the Municipal airport for a flight to one of the Cayes. We were going to use a taxi but Crystal very kindly offered to drive us across to the airport at no extra cost. That is fantastic service.
Would we use Crystal again... Definitely,
Based on our experience we would recommend Crystal
Written 16 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve W
1 contribution
Jun 2021
The staff at Crystal bent over backwards to help us when flight plans changed. They allowed two vehicles (including a 15 seater) to have dates changed on the fly and even issued a refund (unexpected) when one of the vans was returned a day early due to more flight issues. Vans were safe and modern and I couldn't recommend them highly enough if you need to rent in Belize.
Written 14 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maider I
Chicago, IL16 contributions
Mar 2020
Location right outside the airport. Friendly staff. We got the permit to Guatemala to visit Tikal and they explained everything to help us cross the border without any problems. They told us exactly what fees to expect etc.
We dropped off the car at their other location in the city and they offered us a complimentary shuttle to the Ferry for Caye Caulker.
The car was clean and we didn't have any problems! We highly recommend this rental company in Belize!
We dropped off the car at their other location in the city and they offered us a complimentary shuttle to the Ferry for Caye Caulker.
The car was clean and we didn't have any problems! We highly recommend this rental company in Belize!
Written 12 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Maider,
Sunshine greetings from all of us at Crystal Auto Rental. Thank you so much for renting from us. Our agents are here to assist in coordinating your rental needs. Do not hesitate in contacting us directly. Thank you for the high recommendations of our services; we profoundly appreciate you!
Warm regards,
Rina Esmalla
Written 18 June 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Raroboy
Canada533 contributions
Feb 2020
It was unfortunate that our 4x4 broke down, but it was fortunate we rented with Crystal Auto rental. They were quick to respond to our needs. After a quick investigation, they sent another 4x4 to our Hotel in Hopkins from Belize City in 3 hours. They reembursed our money we paid to have 2 local "Mechanics" get us a temporary fix to drive back to our hotel. A very positive experience.
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jon T
Saskatoon, Canada15 contributions
Feb 2020
5-Star all the way! Very easy to deal with, friendly, and professional.
Ok, we did have an issue with our SUV's battery. BUT these things happen. How Crystal dealt with it is what gives them my 5-stars.
We had the SUV (otherwise great) down in Placencia, which is about 3 hours south when we had issues. I called Crystal first thing in the morning, and was met with competent employees who were genuinely concerned and wanted to make things right. Before long, they had an employee on an airplane down and had the issue resolved quickly, that afternoon.
I can't say enough about the service and professionalism. I wasn't made to feel like i had done anything wrong and the caring they displayed made things right.
I would recommend Crystal Auto in a heartbeat. Thanks guys!
Ok, we did have an issue with our SUV's battery. BUT these things happen. How Crystal dealt with it is what gives them my 5-stars.
We had the SUV (otherwise great) down in Placencia, which is about 3 hours south when we had issues. I called Crystal first thing in the morning, and was met with competent employees who were genuinely concerned and wanted to make things right. Before long, they had an employee on an airplane down and had the issue resolved quickly, that afternoon.
I can't say enough about the service and professionalism. I wasn't made to feel like i had done anything wrong and the caring they displayed made things right.
I would recommend Crystal Auto in a heartbeat. Thanks guys!
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Jon T,
Sunshine greetings and warm smiles from Belize!
Your gracious and kind words have brought an instant smile on my face. I am sure it will do the same once I share this with my colleagues.
Positive feedback like your are what makes our day and inspire us to keep on improving our services for you, our valued customer.
We do apologize for the inconvenience with the battery of the vehicle. I am, however, glad to hear that our team took care of you, and we will render the same, if not better, service to you on your next visit.
Warm regards,
Rina Esmalla
Written 19 June 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hal M
8 contributions
Feb 2020
Our rental of an AWD 2014 Chevrolet Equinox was perfect. The vehicle was ready upon our arrival, ran perfectly and had new beefy tires for our off-roading adventures, of which there were many. And they gave us a cooler to use during our rental which we used every day. Our Chevy had over 60,000 miles but was tuned correctly and ran great with good gas milage. Other rental companies do not allow their vehicles to be taken off road which keeps you from much of Belize.
Written 20 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
amigo77
New York10 contributions
Dec 2019
Conveniently located close to the terminal, reliable and good prices. Also note that in Belize for most drives you *need* a 4WD. The car we got was well maintained and could take on the *roughest* terrain I have ever driven on (remote mountains in Cayo, down mountains in the rainforest). They were also very communicative and answered questions we had about the car through the trip.
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Did anyone skip all of the extra insurance and regret it? You know-tire damage, windshield damage, etc.
Written 27 August 2019
We didn't take the insurance. But our insurance company would have covered us if anything had happened. The roads in Belize are bad. And in some areas there are big speed bumps that don't show up very well. Please also note that they put a pretty hefty hold on your credit card. $1.700.00
Written 28 August 2019
Has anyone rented the large 15 passenger vans? Looking to rent for a group of 9 to spend 5 days in San Ignacio area exploring the town and surrounding sights.
Written 15 May 2019
Yes they Crystal Auto rental is the way to go. They also have free coolers and local phone rentals.
New and reliable vehicles and amazing customer service. I’ve been a client for 7 years !
Written 17 May 2019
Is the Crystal Rental pick up and drop off right at the airport terminal or do you they have to pick you up and bus you to the car? Travelling with 2 young kids I much prefer to pick the car up right at the airport and not have to wait around for a shuttle. Thanks
Written 30 April 2019
The Crystal Auto office is just across the parking lot from arrivals. And it's not a big parking lot - or a big airport.
Written 30 April 2019
Is the Crystal Rental pick up and drop off right at the airport terminal or do you they have to pick you up and bus you to the car? Travelling with 2 young kids I much prefer to pick the car up right at the airport and not have to wait around for a shuttle. Thanks
Written 30 April 2019
they have an airport location within a shot walk right there, car pick up and drop off can happen at the airport, no issues at all
enjoy!
Written 30 April 2019
How easy was it to cross the border by yourself/not using a tour company?
Written 11 March 2018
Its not worth it and most car rentals in Belize do not allow you to take a car out of the country. You can get a great tour guide in San Ignacio who will take you to the border where you will meet another driver. They walk you through customs each time, it was stress less.
Written 16 June 2018
Hi All,
Thanks for the great reviews. Could anyone please breakout the general costs related to renting the car as well as the taxes and fees with regards to crossing the border? We are debating renting a car or taking a tour bus. We would prefer renting a car, but want to make sure its not unbelievably more expensive.
We will be spending ~4 days in Belize / Guatemala.
Our plan would be:
Day 1 Arrive in Belize City and then drive toward San Ignacio
Day 2 Time in San Ignacio and then cross border into Guatemala
Day 3 Time in Tikal
Day 4 Return to Belize City
We don't really plan on going off the beaten path for now.
Thank you!
Written 27 December 2017
Good evening,
I would contact Crystal direct as rates change and they will give you a specific breakdown. Crystal are the only company that allows you to take cars over the border...so you do have no other choice.
Written 28 December 2017
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