deals on rental cars?

[senorak]

As of now, we're planning on taking the Tiffany Town Car service to/from the airport. We're staying at the Poly, so I know that we have easy access to MK and Epcot via the monorail. However, I was considering a rental car...if for nothing else than getting from the Poly to other resorts (dinners) or the water parks and AKL. I've checked out a few of the companies using the "entertainment card" and our timeshare discount....but the cheapest rate I found (family of 5; staying 8 days) was over $240. I realize I won't find a rate that is similar to the town car...but I don't want to double that rate. Is there any car rental agency that is under $200 for the week?

[travelcoupons]

What size car & approx. what dates?

[senorak]

I guess I would need at least a mid-sized car (5 of us....myself, DH, DS11, DS4 and DD6 plus enough room for luggage). We are arriving 8/17 in the a.m. and leaving 8/24 in the late evening, so it would be for 8 days.

DEB

[FoodLover]

Okay, I just found you a rate of $184.91 including taxes and fees from National (which is right in the Orlando airport and is the "official" WDW rental agency), using an Internet coupon and I think you should be able to get an even better deal if you also use your Entertainment Book Contract ID.

Here's what you do: go to http://www.mousesavers.com/groundtrans.html#rental

Scroll down until you see the National discounts.

You want to use a Contract ID (Entertainment Book, Disney Club, etc.) AND a coupon code. I have a link there for the Buena Vista Internet coupon from the Disney Vacations site.

My guess is that you can get it down to about $160 or less. Good luck!

Mary
MouseSavers.com

[travelcoupons]

I found a rate of $177.19 including all taxes & fees at National for your dates using the above mentioned coupon and a contract ID available to everyone (at no extra charge, unlike entertainment and DC).

Here is a direct link to the coupon mentioned in the above post:
http://disney.go.com/vacations/travel/national_pop.html

http://www.travelcouponsonline.com/best.html has the details on the contract ID.

[senorak]

Thanks Mary and Travelcoupons. AFter checking mousavers, as well as other sites...and various coupons I could dig up....I got a rate (8 days) with National for $168.58 (including taxes and surcharges). I used my DC disiscount (20%) and also a 2 class car upgrade to get a full size 2/4 door w/ AC. If you know of any lower rates, plmk. Also, I recently applied for the EA club.....will that get me further discounts? Should I keep checking back for lower rates?
Thanks again for all your help. Much appreciated.

DEB

[LSuts]

If you are an AOL/AAdvantage member (AOL for internet use, and American Airlines AAdvantage member) they are running a GREAT special for either triple airline miles, or CHEAP rates if you go into their website and get the codes. I have a full size car for 8 days through Hertz for $153 total!! This just started today!!

[beattyfamily]

Senorak,

That sounds pretty good to me.

One good thing about the EA is Intermediate size is the same price as Full size so that's like a free upgrade.

Your rate is pretty good for 8 days and I think once you get your EA membership and try again before your trip you might even save a little more before you go.

[senorak]

Doing the "happy dance". I did sign up for EC and the rate for 8 days for a full size car (Emerald Aisle) is now down to $152. Thanks to all who offered advice. Think I'll stick w/ National since it is in the airport and I've heard positive things about EA. I'll continue to check out prices, tho!

DEB

[SandraC]

We booked a compact car from Hertz thru TA for about $150.00, when we got to Hertz I showed the counter fella my Entertainment Book. He gave me a special deal. We paid about $90.00 more for a HUGE Ford Explorer (SUV). I am VERY happy that we got a bigger car because with baby stroller and my over packing, I don't think we could have gotten our stuff into a compact!

[GAIL HAYDEN]

My 8 day ressie for the EA for full size at Tampa is now down to 141.

[diz*kid]

I am reading all the great rates you are getting, and I keep thinking what is wrong with what I am doing? We need a car from Nov. 1 @4.30 p.m. from MCO and need to drop it off on Nov. 10th around 11:00 a.m. in Cocoa Beach (COIC01). The best rate I can find is with AVIS @ 159.00 before all the add on taxes, etc. Is there a drop off fee, maybe?

[grammy3princesses]

after reading all these great rates iI went to work on getting one for us,

for a ford escort (just dh and me) for 1 week $85.00 yippee

with taxes etc. 100.66

used Entertainment card code.

I'm a happy camper.


oops forgot to say it was with Hertz....

jo

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Had to change my ressies from Tampa to MCO and found a full size through National on the EA for 113. for the week (including all taxes and etc.).

[senorak]

Gail-
When are you going? I checked today (National w/ EA and discounts) and the base rate for an 8 day fullsize has gone up to $143. I have my ressie for a base rate of $135.98 and with everything else (minus discounts) am paying $152.

DEB

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Deb,
I am going Sept.13 and leaving FL. 9/20/01. It is a 7 day rental.
I think we established that you also have a 7 day rental, right?
I used the Disney Club code and my 20.00 Delta coupon.
The ressie for Tampa was 8 days at 141.00. I changed my flights,LONG STORY, and managed to get a 7 day rate.

[senorak]

Gail-
I know the Sept rates are lower (we're going in Aug.) and your $20 coupon beats the one I have. My rental is for 8 days....so all those things add up to the difference.

DEB

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Deb,
Yes, an eight day does make a difference, when I had my 8 day in Tampa it was approx. 141.00.
As to the August rates being higher you are right there, approx. 20.00 more for the week.
Keep checking, they may fall yet.
Good luck.

[travelcoupons]

I have seen where you can get an 8 day rental for less than a seven day. When I booked, it was cheaper to get an 8 day rental with the first day being Jun 30th, than it was for a seven day with the first day being July 1st. I think your rental rates have a lot to do with the rate for the day you pick it up on. (Especially if it is a different month)

[Biyanna]

I got 4 days 01/10-01/13/02 intermediate size for 167.xx. I used the Disneyvacation.com link. Now how do I also use the entertainment card, dc, etc... I mean you guys are getting a week for less than my 4 days!!!!! How can that be? I have Emerald club card, Disney club card, Entertainment book, Amex., AAA, you name it. How do you continue to add more coupon codes and contract ids???? HELP me PLEASE!!!! :confused:

[lady400]

Biyanna;

Don't go through the Disney links. Visit www.nationalcar.com. Since you are already an EA member, just set up a sign in for the site.

The res form on the site will have a spot for both the contract id# and the coupon id. In many cases, both of these can be used on the res (one each, not multiple contract id's or coupons). You will probably have a contract id "default" already filled in on the form, but you can change this easily. Try different configurations of contract id's (the DC contract id is usually best) and coupons, viewing your quote each time. Make the res using whatever comes out cheapest.

Good luck!! :)

[lawgs]

are you still flying southwest Gail...or did that change too

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Was going to fly Delta this trip, but, changed that to Southwest.
Now I have a credit on Delta. But, I won't loose the one I had on Southwest, which I received because my brother did not use his tickets last Feb. Delta's credit is good for two years, while SW is only good for one year. With the airfare being only 75.00rt via SW, it seemed like the logical thing to do. I am sure this makes absolutely no sense to anyone but me. :)

[lawgs]

we just jumped at the buf- tpa fare of 94$ r/t....

for nov 30 - dec 7

national is cheaper out of tpa which is nice ( we could have dropped at mco) for same price and flown home from mco but the times for tpa are a lil later coming in and going home but with in the 7 day rental so we will do the tampa thingy this time


plus DVC MS was able to book most of what we wanted for DVC (although we are on a waitlist now for a couple of places we really wanted)....all in all another trip "snuk" into Orlando this year......by the way we are going at the end of august too for a week....

[andychris14]

I am not going until aug of next year. How far in advance did you get these great prices. Should I start looking now or is it too soon. I did hear that for airfare it has to be only 361 out. I guess I will start checking flights after aug of this year. I am going for almost 2 weeks(aug 21-sept3) Does anyone know what I will expect to pay for a rental car? Its for my family of 4(dh, me and 2 kids5&7). I used to care about size, but now we are down sizing no stroller, etc. Thanks for all the advice!

[chris1gill]

AndyChris - My flight plan would probably scare you... last year I bought our SWA tickets 3 weeks out... Our opinion, was that we were going to drive unless we got some killer fares.. well last year was the first year these 98.00 fares came out I think, and 3 weeks before our September trip, I booked the tickets!

This year, I decided I'd wanted to go just for the weekend over labor day... Well, I bought the tickets, and wouldn't you know the very next day all the 98.00 fares came out... I was able to get a credit, but now I have to use the Delta credit within the year... what a pain...

I've been waiting for about a month to book our December fare... nothing has extended for our return date.. then SWA extended to January, but the rates didn't drop... just this past Saturday our flight went down to 75.00 round trip... completely unheard of!!

The moral of the story... you need to have a strong stomach and just wait!!!

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Have done the "tampa thingie" a few times and it is really easy, and if you get good airfares and car rentals well worth the extra 30 mins. travel time.
Actually, I like the Tampa airport as much as MCO. Both are lovely and easy to navigate.

[SalandJeff]

I just booked an intermediate car for September thru Avis for 131.99 and thought I had a good deal...but I'm starting to wonder. (That was on line with Costco discount - thanks Mousesavers!)

Is there a cost to join EA? I'm not particularly fond of National, but if the rate were really cheap I might be persuaded.

Gail - where how did you get a discount coupon from Delta? We are flying Delta from Hartford and didn't get any coupon.

Thanks.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

The discount coupon came in my skymiles statement.

[Beckyts]

I reserved a Ford Focus for $18 a day! The rental company is Interamerican. I check on them and they have been in business for 20 years. They are only one mile from the airport and they have a courtesy phone at the airport. You just pick up the phone and they send someone over immediately to pick you up. The woman on the phone was very helpful. I asked her a lot of questions about the Orlando area. Very professional.

[DreamingofDisney]

Just in case you aren't aware (I wasn't) National, Budget, and Avis (not sure about others) all have pick-up and drop-off locations either in WDW or near Downtown Disney. There are no additional fees apparently for dropping off in a different location than from where you picked-up. We will be using rental car transportation to get from airport to WDW (6 in our party) and then we will drop off. 4 days later we will pick-up another car and then return to Port Canavaral for cruise. Then after the cruise we will pick-up again near the port and return to the airport. Until I started checking, I had no idea that there were drop off locations at WDW (with free shuttle service)! Good luck!