Alamo Car hire

[PaulaSB12]

I have priced up alamo's car hire for 2 weeks, it would be £200 on the ordinary insurance and £238 with the gold, now as I am going solo and taking my tomtom with me is it worth going for the gold insurance with the tank of petrol or not? Also how do you get to use the discount with the brits guide do you have to phone through? Do the cars have a cigerette lighter to power the tomtom with or a power point?

 

[dtm316]

I used Alamo this year (March) and everything was OK with the rental. However if you book with the brits guide contract (I had to phone them as the reservations website was down for a few weeks) be warned that although the advert says it's all inclusive, it doesn’t actually include the petrol. We had a full tank when we picked up the car and hadn’t been told otherwise so we returned the car with ¼ of a tank and were charged $106 (we have since been refunded after a few weeks of giving them grief).
Apart from that though I actually preferred them to Dollar simply because you could choose the car you wanted from the range you book and the one we picked up had a power outlet in the front. They also don’t stock that many smaller/mid range cars so if you book one there is a good chance you’ll get an upgrade (we booked a luxury and had to get an SUV instead as they were out). Be prepared for a walk though as they’re the furthest away from the terminal

 

[Hilary]

it would be £200 on the ordinary insurance and £238 with the gold, now as I am going solo and taking my tomtom with me is it worth going for the gold insurance with the tank of petrol or not?

At that price for 2 weeks, it sounds as though you're bookig one of the smaller cars and the £38 difference is probably about the same as you would be charged for a tank of petrol, so it's a 'swings / roundabouts' choice! If you're booking a bigger car, I think the petrol cost would be more (like dtm316's $108) and would make the £38 a better deal.

 

[PaulaSB12]

At that price for 2 weeks, it sounds as though you're bookig one of the smaller cars and the £38 difference is probably about the same as you would be charged for a tank of petrol, so it's a 'swings / roundabouts' choice! If you're booking a bigger car, I think the petrol cost would be more (like dtm316's $108) and would make the £38 a better deal.

I am going for the smallest car, I am taking DME to the resort and back to the airport and using a car for 2 weeks having no car for the first 4 days and the last 3 days. As there is only going to be me driving I saw no nead for a bigger car.

 

[wayneg]

I doubt its worth £38 for you in a small car, just take back the car full, dont let them charge you their prices for fuel.
I dont know how much the small car holds but can't see it being $75 worth, I can only get about $40 in a full size.

 

[mikki.young]

Agreed - I nearly always use Alamo and in your situation would not get the gold. Fill up at Hess before you take it back and it should save money. The prices they charge to fill are dreadful! You can have an option just to fill the tank when yu collect the car and take a view depending on what price they quote. This can sometimes be worth doing but probably not if you are dropping off back at Disney car care centre.

 

[terrynewpack]

Anyone booking via a villa owner, the Brits Guide or anyone else like that should know that those will be receiving commission from your purchase and you will be paying for it.
Cut out the middleman (well one of them!!!) and book with a car rental broker for the very best price.

 

[ThingOneThingTwo]

Anyone booking via a villa owner, the Brits Guide or anyone else like that should know that those will be receiving commission from your purchase and you will be paying for it.
Cut out the middleman (well one of them!!!) and book with a car rental broker for the very best price.

So far, the best price I've seen for Alamo has been with the brits guide discount. Does anybody have any recommendations for brokers or otherwise that are cheaper than the brits guide?

 

[wayneg]

So far, the best price I've seen for Alamo has been with the brits guide discount. Does anybody have any recommendations for brokers or otherwise that are cheaper than the brits guide?

Give details of your hire and quote and I will do a few searches.

 

[ThingOneThingTwo]

Give details of your hire and quote and I will do a few searches.

That's kind of you!

I need two vehicles, in september, for 14 nights, from MCO. I need several additional drivers.

Here's what the alamo/brits 10% and free additional drivers quotes were:

Vehicle 1
Minivan - (Toyota Sienna) - $720

Vehicle 2
Mid size 4 door - (Pontiac G6) - $414


The quote has all these things included.

* Unlimited Mileage
* Collision Damage Waiver
* Extended Protection (EP) ($1 million liability coverage)
* State/local taxes
* State/local surcharges
* Airport fees

It's not the 'gold' option, it's the fully-inclusive option plus free additional drivers.

 

[wayneg]

That's kind of you!

I need two vehicles, in september, for 14 nights, from MCO. I need several additional drivers.

Here's what the alamo/brits 10% and free additional drivers quotes were:

Vehicle 1
Minivan - (Toyota Sienna) - $720

Vehicle 2
Mid size 4 door - (Pontiac G6) - $414


The quote has all these things included.

* Unlimited Mileage
* Collision Damage Waiver
* Extended Protection (EP) ($1 million liability coverage)
* State/local taxes
* State/local surcharges
* Airport fees

It's not the 'gold' option, it's the fully-inclusive option plus free additional drivers.

Working on $2/£1 its £567 total

Looks pretty good pricing for Alamo. Airnet.co.uk and Dollar I thought were only £20 more including a tank of gas in each car but its only a 7 seater not 8 like the Toyota Sienna.
Maybe someone else can post if they see them cheaper.

 

[ThingOneThingTwo]

Thanks wayneg, I'm also a cost co member, and see they offer 25% off Alamo and others on the US website, not sure if I qualify as a UK resident?

Also, I do need to add several additional drivers (3 more) so even if I could get 25% off, with the cost of each driver the Alamo quote could still come out cheapest.

 

[wayneg]

Thanks wayneg, I'm also a cost co member, and see they offer 25% off Alamo and others on the US website, not sure if I qualify as a UK resident?

Also, I do need to add several additional drivers (3 more) so even if I could get 25% off, with the cost of each driver the Alamo quote could still come out cheapest.

Yes it probably would, each additional driver with Dollar is appox $150 for 2 week. Will be similar with Alamo. Its a lot cheaper to get a package with them included. I am just looking to book for 4 nights in Vegas (Oct), Platinum cover costs £8 extra, for that I get a tank of fuel and additional drivers, to pay for driver and fuel would be about £50.

 

[ravtino]

We have hired a 4x4 from alamo from well known villas site at a cost of £423 for 3 weeks, with gold insurance, we think this is a good price.

Hey Weyneg. I don't live far from you and we are also going on the 2nd Aug - Virgin from Man on the afternoon flight.