Any advice for renting car 3/12-3/19

[BWVPam]

We always rent a car in Orlando. Just decided to go over our spring break and I can't believe the car rental rates. We usually use National and get great rates. This time, everything is almost $300 for a week.

Should I hold out and see if the prices come down.

I would have thought that the Magical Express option at WDW would have made the car rental companies a little more hungry

 

[mareed]

We're also going in this time frame and have found prices to be much higher than we're used to. I made my first car reservation last May and the best I've found has been about $30/day including all taxes/fees where I'm used to finding one for about $20. I've also widened my search to include off-airport companies. Currently I have a reservation with Thrifty that I made earlier this month, but the prices have since gone back up again. Keep checking, and I'd recommend widening your search to include other companies. We also always used to use National, but they definitely no longer have the best price, so we're switching.

 

[BWVPam]

Thanks -- we have also been looking at other car companies. So far, the best I have found is still National, using my emerald club membership (29.95 discount) and a $30 e-coupon. The rate with all taxes is still $260. I went ahead and made resv. and am hoping for rates to drop. I will be checking daily.

 

[Ub_Iwerks]

I had the same problem at Christmas. My in-laws even decided to skip the car rental and just take cabs because of the high cost. Of course, they had my rental car to use.

Someone staying at our resort said he booked his rental car six to eight months in advance to receive a much better rate. I couldn't do that because we flew Southwest and didn't have our flight. For Easter 2008, I'm going to book as early as possible, and I'm prepared to just use Tiffany Town car for our airport trips and cabs any other time. It appears that the rental car companies are looking at the supply-demand situation.

 

[RachaelRol]

Try Priceline and name your price. We used it for our last trip in October and got a 10 day rental at $15 a day for a mid size. With tax and fees total was $189.

What I really liked is they only use the major rental places and 4 od the five are in the airport. We got Alamo, I think that was inside.

Waiting for May 13-22nd airfare from South West before we decide to fly or drive. If we fly I will go through Priceline again for the rental car.

 

[BWVPam]

I have been thinking about trying Priceline for cars. Have used them for hotels. Do you get to see a final price with all taxes before confirming? I thought I might wait until a couple of weeks before going to see if prices come down or not. Are all the companies they use at the airport? I hate taking a shuttle.

 

[anniem923]

Try Hotwire too. You see the car and the price before you book. You just don't know the company until you complete the transaction. You can get an agency either inside the Airport or outside which means you have to take a shuttle to the agency. We got Budget for $19.95 a day for an intermediate car. When we arrived there last week we got a Chevy Malibu. It was nice with a large trunk.
Anne

 

[RachaelRol]

For priceline only one rental place is outside of the airport needing a shuttle. I don't remember which, but if you go to the MCO website they will tell you which. They use Alamo, Budget, Hertz, Avis, gosh and one other. I can't remember which.... One of those requires a shuttle....

Yes, if I remember correctly you name your price in my case $15 a day. Total was $189.

Good luck!

 

[wiskband]

Ij ust posted about a good rate using dollar. I too usually use national. There are cheap and in the airport which is convienent. However, I got the same size car for hundred bucks cheaper and its also in the airport.
good luck