August 2012 Car Rental Thread

[Darcy03231]

Spoke too soon - dollar has a cheap "city special" rate for my dates Aug 21-27. No code. When you're at the screen for selecting a car you click "city special" pop up that will show near a few car choices. THAT rate was far cheaper than any other code I found for Dollar.

Total for 7 days with tax $148 for midsize. Lowest I've found. I'm getting near to the break even point with town car rental (roughly would have been about $125 including tip)

Thank you for posting this! I'm now down to $222 for a mid-size for 11 days!

 

[sarmat1]

Spoke too soon - dollar has a cheap "city special" rate for my dates Aug 21-27. No code. When you're at the screen for selecting a car you click "city special" pop up that will show near a few car choices. THAT rate was far cheaper than any other code I found for Dollar. Total for 7 days with tax $148 for midsize. Lowest I've found. I'm getting near to the break even point with town car rental (roughly would have been about $125 including tip)

Thank you for posting this. $204 for mid-size for 10 days Aug 18-28. You not only saved me the trouble of a "split" rental to accomplish the SOG deal with National, but this is also over 50 bucks cheaper.

 

[Gorechick]

I played devils advocate and called SOG. The CM I spoke with said I wouldn't be able to get on property to pick up the car without military ID.

 

[DVC Daisy]

Spoke too soon - dollar has a cheap "city special" rate for my dates Aug 21-27. No code. When you're at the screen for selecting a car you click "city special" pop up that will show near a few car choices. THAT rate was far cheaper than any other code I found for Dollar.

Total for 7 days with tax $148 for midsize. Lowest I've found. I'm getting near to the break even point with town car rental (roughly would have been about $125 including tip)

Sweet! lowered my previous "lowest rate", which was also with dollar to $211 down from $226! 10 days 8/15 - 8/25. Every bit helps n

Thanks.

 

[m2zjj]

I've got a van reserved for Aug 3rd - 13th for 472.00 with a code through budget. Was hoping to get it a little lower but so far I haven't found anything better. still checking every day though.

 

[Snoella]

Could you please share what code you used for the van with Budget for aug 3-13. I am looking for a van from Jul 28-Aug 10 and can't get below $500. Thanks for your help

 

[goofy370]

I played devils advocate and called SOG. The CM I spoke with said I wouldn't be able to get on property to pick up the car without military ID.

I called National car rental. They will pick you up and bring you to the car rental area. Wouldn't that work?

 

[Gorechick]

That would be very convenient as we weren't sure how we were going to get to SOG for the car. Just call National and arrange a pickup?

 

[vandort]

Spoke too soon - dollar has a cheap "city special" rate for my dates Aug 21-27. No code. When you're at the screen for selecting a car you click "city special" pop up that will show near a few car choices. THAT rate was far cheaper than any other code I found for Dollar.

Total for 7 days with tax $148 for midsize. Lowest I've found. I'm getting near to the break even point with town car rental (roughly would have been about $125 including tip)

Thank you much for posting this! This is the cheapest rate that I have been able to find for my trip.

 

[Swimmergirl]

Spoke too soon - dollar has a cheap "city special" rate for my dates Aug 21-27. No code. When you're at the screen for selecting a car you click "city special" pop up that will show near a few car choices. THAT rate was far cheaper than any other code I found for Dollar.

Total for 7 days with tax $148 for midsize. Lowest I've found. I'm getting near to the break even point with town car rental (roughly would have been about $125 including tip)

Add me to the list of those thanking you for this! I still have a couple options booked, but this code made the mco to mco rental much more attractive. Now to decide which to use! We're spending 2 nights at WDW, then on to the port for a 5 night cruise. So, my options are:

1. MCO pickup and drop off for the entire trip, parking at the port (yay for no carseat in the cabin!) using the code above for around $200 total

2. SOG pickup and MCO drop off for entire trip for around $140 (we have military ID, so no problem there, but there is the hassle of getting to SOG)

3. Two one way rentals from MCO to port, then port to MCO for around $170 (but have to keep carseat in the cabin and rush to rent a car after cruise to make it to flight on time).

I'm thinking the extra cash might be worth it just to avoid the hassles!

 

[melomouse]

Great thread - I have scanned and double triple checked codes, discounts - have AARP, NASW, BJ's, Costco & whoever else to try to get an Alamo rental from 8/20 at Tampa to return on 9/2.

I need some help in rethinking the cost effectiveness of my transport plan:

Fly SWA to Tampa (RT) saved $300 vs, MCO
Pick up car at Tampa.
Drive to BLT. Stay til 8/27. Check out,
Drive to Port Canaveral, cruise 4 nights - PARK rental at port, pay $75 fees.
Disembark, drive back to VWL.
Check out 9/2, drive back to Tampa to catch 7:30 PM flight after car drop off.

This is for a compact. In 4 trips, I have gotten a free upgrade 100% of the time.Total $599.52 all fees/taxes est,.

After checking out limos, drop offs, pick ups, craziness - this seems like my best solution. Thoughts anyone??? Can I do better??

 

[Tara]

Great thread - I have scanned and double triple checked codes, discounts - have AARP, NASW, BJ's, Costco & whoever else to try to get an Alamo rental from 8/20 at Tampa to return on 9/2.

I need some help in rethinking the cost effectiveness of my transport plan:

Fly SWA to Tampa (RT) saved $300 vs, MCO
Pick up car at Tampa.
Drive to BLT. Stay til 8/27. Check out,
Drive to Port Canaveral, cruise 4 nights - PARK rental at port, pay $75 fees.
Disembark, drive back to VWL.
Check out 9/2, drive back to Tampa to catch 7:30 PM flight after car drop off.

This is for a compact. In 4 trips, I have gotten a free upgrade 100% of the time.Total $599.52 all fees/taxes est,.

After checking out limos, drop offs, pick ups, craziness - this seems like my best solution. Thoughts anyone??? Can I do better??

Are you locked in to Alamo? What about National? Did you try the KLM code and $35 coupon? (I've had no luck with any of the Alamo codes for my dates.)

 

[4Joyces]

Spoke too soon - dollar has a cheap "city special" rate for my dates Aug 21-27. No code. When you're at the screen for selecting a car you click "city special" pop up that will show near a few car choices. THAT rate was far cheaper than any other code I found for Dollar.

Total for 7 days with tax $148 for midsize. Lowest I've found. I'm getting near to the break even point with town car rental (roughly would have been about $125 including tip)

holy moly. I just used this and could get a Taurus from 8/25 till 9/1 for $98.30 (+ tax, fees- sounds like the same price you got). Now if only I could fit all our luggage and stroller in a Taurus...

Can you use ME for luggage and not take the bus?

 

[Swimmergirl]

I need some help in rethinking the cost effectiveness of my transport plan:

Fly SWA to Tampa (RT) saved $300 vs, MCO
Pick up car at Tampa.
Drive to BLT. Stay til 8/27. Check out,
Drive to Port Canaveral, cruise 4 nights - PARK rental at port, pay $75 fees.
Disembark, drive back to VWL.
Check out 9/2, drive back to Tampa to catch 7:30 PM flight after car drop off.

This is for a compact. In 4 trips, I have gotten a free upgrade 100% of the time.Total $599.52 all fees/taxes est,.

After checking out limos, drop offs, pick ups, craziness - this seems like my best solution. Thoughts anyone??? Can I do better??

One tip - for our cruise we plan on parking our rental at the port. But instead of using Port Canaveral's official parking, we'll use Park 'n Cruise. They only charge $5.99 per day if you reserve online in advance. They are only a couple miles from the port and run continuous shuttles. We haven't used them yet, but the reviews I've seen have been good. And its a whole lot cheaper than the port's parking!

 

[MrsDoubtfire]

Spoke too soon - dollar has a cheap "city special" rate for my dates Aug 21-27. No code. When you're at the screen for selecting a car you click "city special" pop up that will show near a few car choices. THAT rate was far cheaper than any other code I found for Dollar.

Total for 7 days with tax $148 for midsize. Lowest I've found. I'm getting near to the break even point with town car rental (roughly would have been about $125 including tip)

I plugged my dates into the Dollar site, and was offered a city special rate as well- total base rate or a full size car was impressive = $126.12 for 9 days, until the taxes and surcharges were added in = $191.71. Still not bad but I'm sticking with my Alamo rate since we have rented with them in the past and have had good luck. I'm not too familiar with Dollar, as far as the customer service, cars, whether it's on site or you have to reach them by shuttle, and so on.

 

[minnie55555]

I plugged my dates into the Dollar site, and was offered a city special rate as well- total base rate or a full size car was impressive = $126.12 for 9 days, until the taxes and surcharges were added in = $191.71. Still not bad but I'm sticking with my Alamo rate since we have rented with them in the past and have had good luck. I'm not too familiar with Dollar, as far as the customer service, cars, whether it's on site or you have to reach them by shuttle, and so on.

Exactly what I am doing - keeping my National rental! I am going to suck up the difference of 44 bucks and not having to worry about toll charges, gas receipts for a full tank return, etc...

But I will continue to monitor the rates for my dates for last minute deals

 

[buffettgirl]

Oh yeah, that's quite a difference - mine was $148 including taxes.

dollar is on site. No shuttle.

 

[kamanda]

Does anyone know whether Dollar charges for an additional driver fee (spouse) and if they do how much?

They have really good rates for my dates.

 

[poppypetal]

Anyone rented or booked with EZ rental? I booked with them yesterday as they have a minivan the week I'm going for 249.00 But I'm not sure about them as I've never dealt with them.
I am going in Sept, so sorry to jump in here, but trying to get some reviews.

Is Dollar rent a car any good either?

 

[pesto78749]

Does anyone know whether Dollar charges for an additional driver fee (spouse) and if they do how much?

They have really good rates for my dates.

Yes they do and it is $10.00 a day. Mousesavers has info on all of the rental car places and if they do and do not charge.