Anybody rented a car in Phoenix ?

[ANNABETH]

We're going to go to Phoenix over Thanksgiving time and I've been looking into rental cars. The prices look ok until you see the fees they add on. Wow, they add on about 40% in taxes and fees ! Anyway, it looks like Fox Rental has the lowest prices, but I've never heard of them. I'm concerned about getting there and being in the middle of a nightmare. Has anyone dealt with them ? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Orlando Vic]

This is the approach we took several years ago and it saved us a lot of $$$.

1.Don't rent at the airport (PHX)!. Choose an off site car rental agency. Enterprise can be very cheap, away from the airport.

2. Search online for an Enterprise coupon code (e.g. http://www.carrentalsavers.com/enterprise.html) These are not necessarily the best or cheapest ones for you. Do a thorough search and see what else you can find.

3. If you are arriving by air, consider staying the first night at a motel near the airport with a free shuttle.

4. Take the (free) shuttle to the hotel/motel, spend the night there and have Enterprise pick you up there the next morning. They will do this for you free of charge. Of course, your reservation must be with a branch location that is closest to your hotel/motel. This is the Enterprise location we used:
1131 W BROADWAY RD
TEMPE, AZ 85282-1225
Tel.: (480) 829-3970

5. Alternatively, if you don't want to spend the night in a hotel/motel, then take a taxi to the off-site Enterprise branch.

6. At the conclusion of your rental period, repeat the same process without the additional one night's hotel/motel stay. Better yet, you may be able to persuade your Enterprise driver to drop you off at the airport itself. We did! (While off-site car rental branches can't pick up at the airport, they can and do drop off if asked discretely.)

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Orlando Vic covered this very very well. I've rented there a few months ago and have booked my car for next summer. The rates at the airport are much higher than other location. A shuttle to a hotel is a great idea.

I've booked the Marriott Camelback, so a $30 cab ride and then have enterprise deliver the car the next day. Why rent on Day one if you are simply going to stay in a resort that night.

Also, take a look at the different sites to rent. Often their rates can vary. Plus some models are priced differently. I'm getting a 4 passenger truck for $139 a week which is cheap compared to other options.

 

[andymattmom]

Agree with offsite rental in PHX. I did it this past April. Rented offsite in Chandler (family out that ways so that is why that location). I rented with Budget so we picked up at the offsite location and returned to airport---no hefty airport fees and able to drop off car and catch shuttle to airport.

Make a reservation and then keep checking---summer of 2010 I was able to find a really cheap airport reservation through Alamo. It was cheaper than offsite. I must have just hit a lucky time or something. This year I had spent hours searching and ended up doing offsite which was fine and half the price of the airport.

Good luck...enjoy trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

I got a great rate at the airport National location last March. So you have to do your homework for each trip, that's for sure! (my trip even involved dropping off the car in Anaheim, but it was still a great rate!)