Anyone Every Book the "Drive out of Florida" deal that National and Alamo Offer?

[n2mm]

We are thinking of doing this on our next trip. Both companies offer a special promotion that you pick up a car in Fl and drive it out of Florida (home) for a fantastic low price....$9.95 for car, $19.99 for SUV. Unlimited miles. My husband wants to try it. We've never driven home before (outside of Wash. DC) and are both retired, so not on a time schedule, but do plan to stop over night. I booked it and I've emailed National a few questions, like are there any hidden fees. I would love to hear if anyone has booked this promotion in the past since these companies have offered this promotion in past years. I just don't want to drop off at Dulles and go into shock when they pull out some huge undisclosed fee that I'm not expecting.

 

[loveswdw]

I saw this earlier and if we had not already booked our flights home, I would do it. It was quoting me at $35 total for the drive from MCO to SDF (Louisville). That's a deal!

 

[trying2photo]

I booked this deal this morning. I noticed in small print that they could charge a "one-way" fee. I called the car care center and they told me the quoted price would be what I was charged. I am actually holding two reservations right now. One is the Drive-Out special. It was around $29 for a 2 night rental. I also booked one using the $20 off weekend code (must be booked for 3 nights) and it actually came out a little cheaper - around $23. It will work out good because we can get pretty good rates to fly down but our return flight was just crazy expensive.

 

[n2mm]

I booked this deal this morning. I noticed in small print that they could charge a "one-way" fee. I called the car care center and they told me the quoted price would be what I was charged. I am actually holding two reservations right now. One is the Drive-Out special. It was around $29 for a 2 night rental. I also booked one using the $20 off weekend code (must be booked for 3 nights) and it actually came out a little cheaper - around $23. It will work out good because we can get pretty good rates to fly down but our return flight was just crazy expensive.

Yes I too saw that small print and sent them an email because I wanted the answer in writing. They told me also that if there was an additional one way fee it would be in my quote. We already booked our flights down.

 

[trying2photo]

I would also like that in writing. Where did you send your email?

 

[n2mm]

I would also like that in writing. Where did you send your email?

I went to the support section where their FAQ were and choose the contact/email and they got right back to me within the day

 

[SmallWorld71]

I did this a couple years ago through Alamo (in April).

I was supposed to be driving round trip to FL with a friend and the kids. Then, my oldest couldn't go due to sports and at the last minute my friend ended up in the hospital. Being the only driver (with a 13 year old and a 9 year old) round trip would have eaten up so much vacation time. I was able to get last minute (day before) flights down but the return trip costs were huge (over $600 one way, per person).

Anyway, we payed $12.95 a day for an Impala. It ended up taking me 3 days to drive back due to a really bad storm from VA to MA. I was so tired when I got back to MA that I actually kept the car a 4th day and returned it to Boston a day after the contract stated. (DH had called the company for me.) They only charged me another $12.95 for the additional day.

I was not charged any hidden fees. Just what it said on the contract. (+ 12.95 and tax for keeping it an extra day)

 

[pershing]

I'm thinking of doing this in January. I'm hoping that's not the wrong season to have this kind of promotion. Budget has this offer too and I'm hoping that its the 9.95 rate as I would like to rent the car when we land and park it at cruise parking for 5.95 a day for a DCL cruise. Probably cheaper than a one way rental to Port Canaveral!

....but just in case I'll make that reservation as a back up.

We drove both ways last January but my car just had alot of work done on it (2002 Camry), which it needed before we took it to Florida and back, but I want to watch the wear and tear on it now that I've put alot of money into it rather than buying a new car.

I have True Blue points to use and Wallet Money so the flight down is paid for if rates are low so its gas money, fast food and cheap hotel left to pull together.

I just need that Drive out of Florida deal in January and I'll be all set!

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm thinking of doing this in January. I'm hoping that's not the wrong season to have this kind of promotion. Budget has this offer too and I'm hoping that its the 9.95 rate as I would like to rent the car when we land and park it at cruise parking for 5.95 a day for a DCL cruise. Probably cheaper than a one way rental to Port Canaveral!

....but just in case I'll make that reservation as a back up.

We drove both ways last January but my car just had alot of work done on it (2002 Camry), which it needed before we took it to Florida and back, but I want to watch the wear and tear on it now that I've put alot of money into it rather than buying a new car.

I have True Blue points to use and Wallet Money so the flight down is paid for if rates are low so its gas money, fast food and cheap hotel left to pull together.

I just need that Drive out of Florida deal in January and I'll be all set!

I would not expect to see this deal in January. March/April would be about the earliest I would expect it.

 

[n2mm]

Just an update. We returned last Sunday and this promotion worked perfectly. No hidden fees. We were actually directed to take an SUV from the executive aisle (we are executive level members). We had booked a standard SUV. We drove home in a ford edge. It was the first time we ever drove. It took 15 hours. Not sure if I would do it again. A little too long for me. We did stay overnight in jonesville, nc.