August 2012 Car Rental Thread

[MEM]

I had an Alamo reservation through Costco for August 5-12 at $355 for a full-size, Impala or similar. I checked yesterday and it had dropped to $176, a savings of $179.

 

[webworm]

I had an Alamo reservation through Costco for August 5-12 at $355 for a full-size, Impala or similar. I checked yesterday and it had dropped to $176, a savings of $179.

Using Costco ID 7014627 and E-Coupon AD2359FDF for $35 off you can book a Standard for $126 inc taxes. There is no Standard aisle at MCO so will automatically pick from full size aisle.

 

[gmeh1]

I got a great deal through Enterprise. I just went on the website today with no codes and got a 15 passenger van for 418 after tax!!!

We are a party of 11 going to the vacation club for the first time. Sometimes the codes are higher. Doesn't hurt to check it out

Good rate!!! Please, keep in mind the 15pax van has virtually no luggage space and the back seat does not fold down and you cannot remove it.

 

[disneychic]

Using Costco ID 7014627 and E-Coupon AD2359FDF for $35 off you can book a Standard for $126 inc taxes. There is no Standard aisle at MCO so will automatically pick from full size aisle.

Thanks again for the Costco code -still no discount for me. Maybe because I'm picking up mid-week? But, I'm keeping it over a weekend and for 9 days?? Or maybe because it's the end of the month? I need it for 8/30. I'm just not sure how I got such a better rate in May over Memorial Day weekend?! It's making me crazy.

 

[gmeh1]

Thanks again for the Costco code -still no discount for me. Maybe because I'm picking up mid-week? But, I'm keeping it over a weekend and for 9 days?? Or maybe because it's the end of the month? I need it for 8/30. I'm just not sure how I got such a better rate in May over Memorial Day weekend?! It's making me crazy.

Maybe it is because you have it for 9 days and the rate you got from the poster was for 7 days. Are you going through the Alamo site and putting the code in there? Some say it works better if you go to the rental site rather than booking it via Costco. You are going to be there over Labor day, bigger travel time than Memorial day.

 

[bzzelady]

I'm delighted with my Alamo rate...locked in a few weeks ago for $158 including all fees for a full size for 9 days from 8/9-8/18
This is with the Insiders code and $35 Visa coupon.
It took a lot of patience, checking, and rechecking rates.
Now lets hope that aisle is full of nice selections, but 6:30 in the evening can be rather hit of miss in my past experience. This may require us dividing up to check both the A and B side at MCO

 

[pigletto]

Maybe it is because you have it for 9 days and the rate you got from the poster was for 7 days. Are you going through the Alamo site and putting the code in there? Some say it works better if you go to the rental site rather than booking it via Costco. You are going to be there over Labor day, bigger travel time than Memorial day.

I think it's just timing. My rental is over Labour Day and I got 11 days for 196.
So the discounts were there, but I haven't seen them go back down. I managed to snag this rate the first week in July.

 

[MrsDoubtfire]

I'm delighted with my Alamo rate...locked in a few weeks ago for $158 including all fees for a full size for 9 days from 8/9-8/18
This is with the Insiders code and $35 Visa coupon.
It took a lot of patience, checking, and rechecking rates.
Now lets hope that aisle is full of nice selections, but 6:30 in the evening can be rather hit of miss in my past experience. This may require us dividing up to check both the A and B side at MCO

I'm very happy with my Alamo rate as well = $152 w/taxes and fees, unlimited miles, and 1 extra driver for a full size car for 9 days, 8/7 to 8/16, picking up and dropping off at MCO. It also took patience, and daily checking, but so worth it, IMO. I ended up using Alamo insiders and a AA code for an additional $35 off. This was actually cheaper than using a BJ's corporate code.

I, too, hope I see a few decent selections on the Alamo isles as our flight arrives at MCO pretty late, 10 p.m. Where is the "A and B" sides? I'll check both as well if necessary. Last year we rented a mid-size SUV for a week ($160 = not bad) but ended up with a dud for a vehicle - very bare bones. I didn't know there was a "B" isle to look in. Hopefully we'll have better luck this year.

 

[bzzelady]

There are rental garages on both sides-Terminal A and Terminal B.
Rental car garages are located on both the A and B sides...see the attached map.

http://www.orlandoairports.net/ops/images/maps/wayfinding_maps.pdf

 

[Darcy03231]

I was able to book a compact for 11 days (8/4-8/14) tonight with Alamo using the Insider's code and the $35 off coupon for $195 inclusive of all taxes and fees. While it's a bit of a downgrade (I had a mid-size booked with Dollar for $222 inclusive) there are only two of us so I think the compact will be fine.

 

[MrsDoubtfire]

There are rental garages on both sides-Terminal A and Terminal B.
Rental car garages are located on both the A and B sides...see the attached map.

http://www.orlandoairports.net/ops/images/maps/wayfinding_maps.pdf

Thanks so much for the map !!! We are flying SWA, so based on the map, I will be first checking out the "A" side ... then if that bombs out, I'll have to find the "B" side.

 

[mrstomrice]

I am thrilled with the deal we got from Dollar . com. We got a mid size car with 1 driver, all fees and taxes included for about $135 from Aug 14-22. We put in our original dates and then chose Check City Specials. We did not have to pay upfront. The full size car was only $8 more for the week!

 

[Mousemom234]

You're welcome.
If I can get a lower rate with Dollar, I'll go for it! Do you have a code or coupon? The city discount didn't give me a good rate for my dates.

No, just the City Special - but I booked that a few weeks ago. It's about $50 higher now.

 

[DVC Daisy]

I am thrilled with the deal we got from Dollar . com. We got a mid size car with 1 driver, all fees and taxes included for about $135 from Aug 14-22. We put in our original dates and then chose Check City Specials. We did not have to pay upfront. The full size car was only $8 more for the week!

Did you just book this today?

 

[gmeh1]

Thanks so much for the map !!! We are flying SWA, so based on the map, I will be first checking out the "A" side ... then if that bombs out, I'll have to find the "B" side.

B side is quite a hike from A side, you have to reenter the terminal go to the 3rd floor, cross over and then go back down to the first floor and out to the B garage. B side is always busier than A side. It takes me almost ten minutes to complete the trip and I am not lugging luggage.
If you don't see something you like in the full size section, ask the customer service rep or greeter for something you will like. The only time there are really slim pickings is during a holiday rush.

 

[gmeh1]

I'm very happy with my Alamo rate as well = $152 w/taxes and fees, unlimited miles, and 1 extra driver for a full size car for 9 days, 8/7 to 8/16, picking up and dropping off at MCO. It also took patience, and daily checking, but so worth it, IMO. I ended up using Alamo insiders and a AA code for an additional $35 off. This was actually cheaper than using a BJ's corporate code.

I, too, hope I see a few decent selections on the Alamo isles as our flight arrives at MCO pretty late, 10 p.m. Where is the "A and B" sides? I'll check both as well if necessary. Last year we rented a mid-size SUV for a week ($160 = not bad) but ended up with a dud for a vehicle - very bare bones. I didn't know there was a "B" isle to look in. Hopefully we'll have better luck this year.

Why didn't you ask for something different? We usually have a very good selection of mid SUV's. It is not a B isle, it is B garage, quite a hike from A garage.

 

[barbliny]

Anyone traveling mid-August hurry and check the Dollar rates - especially the City Specials (no code)

Just came up with $99.96/wk ($14.27/extra day) for 8/15 early am - 8/22 evening for FULL size at ORL

Midsize was $91.55/wk at ORL

We actually fly into Tampa, and our rates were even cheaper!! Just cancelled our suv that I booked a couple of weeks ago (and that was a great rate back then, much lower than the suv rates now) - but, I'll gladly pocket the $200 savings and go for the full size!!

Recheck again - rate just dropped again out of TPA for my dates!!!

 

[mrstomrice]

Did you just book this today?

I booked about 3 weeks ago but I just checked the deal and the price went from $109 to $91.35 for the week for a midsize car for the week with the city special. It is $144 with all the fees and taxes.

 

[Darcy03231]

Since I don't "need" a car for the entire 11 days we're there I decided to try picking up at MCO and dropping off at the Dolphin, keeping the car for week. We really only need it the first three days (we're doing US/IOA), but the price for three days vs a week is the same. We arrive on 8/4 (early am) and leave on 8/14 (late pm). I made arrangements for ME for the way back to the airport.

Using the Alamo insiders code and the $35 off coupon I was able to book a compact for $120 all inclusive of taxes and fees.

The lowest I could get the 11 days for was about $200 so for an $80 savings we just won't have a car for the last 4 days.

 

[MrsDoubtfire]

Why didn't you ask for something different? We usually have a very good selection of mid SUV's. It is not a B isle, it is B garage, quite a hike from A garage.

I didn't know I could ask anyone for another vehicle when we rented last year - this is yet another reason why I love these boards = so informative Last year our flight to MCO was delayed by 2 hours so we did not arrive at the Alamo counter until after midnight. At that point we just wanted to get into a vehicle then drive an hour+ to our destination.

@gmeh1 ... If there is not anything decent in the standard Alamo isle the evening we arrive, would it be better to check the standard isle in the National section (of garage "A") since it's such a hike to get to garage "B"? I don't want to look in the National isle if it is against the rules - and we will go the the Alamo section first. I'm not anticipating any problems, but you never know .......