Weekly Car Rental Rates and Alamo!

[briane]

I have a weekly compact rental with Alamo for $98.59 - $20 coupon - 5% discount = $74.66

I can get Budget for $113 - $25 coupon - 5% = $83.60

Would you pay the extra $9 plus tax to avoid the 5 mile Alamo shuttle? I may only gain 10 minutes but at the same time $9 could buy food or a gift.

Is there a better rate out there? I think Thrifty's web site has an $83 deal for an economy car.

[sgtdisney]

In my opinion, and this is just my opinion. I would definately pay the extra $9 to stay at the airport. That, coupled with the fact that I personally will NEVER use Alamo again, due to the long lines and horrific customer service experiences I have had with them. Of course, as I said this is just my opinion and my experience. I know others here have had no problem with them. The last two times I used them the experience was horrific and letters to customer service went unanswered. That was it for me.

[Lewisc]

Last time I took Alamo (a few years ago) I literally waited 1 hour to get to the counter. I'd spring for the extra money. How many people are you travelling with? A compact may not have enough trunk space for more than 2 people.

[briane]

We are a party of 9 and are getting three cars.

Sgtdisney,

Could you be more specific with your complaints? I thought *********** might help the situation.

[sgtdisney]

*********** probably would have helped in the one case. This was where we waited in line for over 1 1/2 hours at the Alamo counter in Orlando to pick up the car. This was before ***********. And, being that Alamo is a long bus ride away, I couldn't just walk away from a counter and go to another agency. The other problem was worse. This time it was in Atlanta. I had reserved a Midsize car and specifically the four door. When I got to Alamo, again, I waited for 1 1/2 hours. When I got to the counter they told me I would have a 2 door Cavalier. I balked, argued, showed them the chart where it shows that cavaliers are compacts. The agent basically told me, either you take the Cavalier, upgrade to a fullsize or get out of line. And she was rather rude about it. Now, normally, I would have walked. But, after waiting close to 2 hours and being late for a wedding rehearsal, I felt stuck. I could not take a 2 door car as I had inlaws tagging along and could not force them in the back of a tiny car. Like a fool, I paid the upgrade and got into the most trashy car I had ever seen in my life. Lights burnt out, didn't find that out until night, and everything. I could go into so much detail, but it doesn't belong here. Anyway, we were far from the airport and only in town for a couple of days for a wedding so I didn't even try to take it back. I was afraid I would wait in another long line. I complained when I turned the car in. They told me tough luck. I wrote letters all over Alamo and NEVER got a response. Never. I will NEVER rent from them again after that experience. I don't care if they are 1/2 of what National or any of the others charge. As I said before though, this was just my experience. Others have had fine experiences with them. I am just a little suspect after repeated letters never got a reply.