August 2016 Car Rental Rate watch

[Santiago Mol]

Let me explain how it works. Those are product codes with diferent aditionals.

* GP1: Includes CDW insurance and EP, GPS, the first gas tank, all taxes and 3 free extra drivers.
* JS1: Includes CDW insurance and EP, the first gas tank, all taxes and 3 free extra drivers.
* P31: Includes CDW insurance and EP GPS all taxes and 1 free extra driver.
* MF1: Includes CDW insurance and EP, 1 free additional driver and all taxes.
* TB1: Includes CDW includes insurance (not EP) and 1 free additional driver.
* TY1: Includes just the CDW insurance.
* AS1: Just the car.

I hope it result usefull.

 

[Santiago Mol]

Looks like a public forum. Anyone can pretty much quote anything. Sorry.

Just kidding

 

[MIChessGuy]

I've had a change of heart regarding the notorious $50-off coupon. A few moments ago, I got rid of that coupon and rebooked with the $25 coupon. The all-in price is still pretty good, and now I feel I have a better chance of escaping the Alamo garage without playing coupon footsie with the staff. Again, as PPs have pointed out, it all depends on how motivated you are to fight for the 'full' discount. Maybe I'd get it, but having read many reports here that the 50 is expired, I would not feel right arguing about it.

 

[Disney Ron]

I've had a change of heart regarding the notorious $50-off coupon. A few moments ago, I got rid of that coupon and rebooked with the $25 coupon. The all-in price is still pretty good, and now I feel I have a better chance of escaping the Alamo garage without playing coupon footsie with the staff. Again, as PPs have pointed out, it all depends on how motivated you are to fight for the 'full' discount. Maybe I'd get it, but having read many reports here that the 50 is expired, I would not feel right arguing about it.

I thought I read that the $25 coupon is an old one and might be expired also.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

The rate of minivan went up again this week from $330 to $670. Although I used the problematic $50 coupon code, but I have no choice but to keep the reservation. Just completed the on-line check in with no issue. Well, guess I will deal with it at the gate or when I return the car.

 

[MIChessGuy]

I thought I read that the $25 coupon is an old one and might be expired also.

That may well be true. But I expect to have a better chance getting that coupon honored by showing my printed confirmation. The exit gate agent is (I hope) more likely to adjust the final amount by $25, a pretty common coupon discount, than $50. My main goal is to avoid getting into either a protracted back-and-forth with a counter person or a long postrental phone/email dispute with Alamo. (Though I understand people have done both of those and succeeded.)

I'll keep an eye on the whole situation as time passes and maybe book again with the 50 code, assuming it still works, somewhere down the line. Also I have found that deals tend to get a lot better within a week or two of my travel dates without the need for dubious codes.

 

[Disney Ron]

That may well be true. But I expect to have a better chance getting that coupon honored by showing my printed confirmation. The exit gate agent is (I hope) more likely to adjust the final amount by $25, a pretty common coupon discount, than $50. My main goal is to avoid getting into either a protracted back-and-forth with a counter person or a long postrental phone/email dispute with Alamo. (Though I understand people have done both of those and succeeded.)

I'll keep an eye on the whole situation as time passes and maybe book again with the 50 code, assuming it still works, somewhere down the line. Also I have found that deals tend to get a lot better within a week or two of my travel dates without the need for dubious codes.

The $50 code doesn't work any longer.

 

[kenny]

Looking for 8/19-8/28

For full size everything seems to be between $400-$500

Looks like it may be Disney transportation!

 

[n2mm]

Still watching. Can't believe the rates are so high. Much higher than my October rental which is 5 days longer.

 

[toystoryduo]

Still watching. Can't believe the rates are so high. Much higher than my October rental which is 5 days longer.

I agree! We drive to Disney, and we are renting a car from home so that we don't put a ton of miles on our own car. The rental rates are high for us; even through Costco. Hoping prices go down in the weeks to come.

 

[Parad0x]

Agreed as well, prices without resorting to those various Brazil codes are very high compared to past years. By this time I never got my best price through Costco BUT i always had a price I booked just to have that I could 'deal with' just in case. But the prices I've consistently been seeing, are just way high.

 

[MIChessGuy]

This has been my experience as well. I booked Alamo for late August using one of those obscure big-discount codes (AS1, I think) along with the dubious $50-off which I later replaced with a more reliable looking $25-off. Fortunately, although experiences with the 50-off have varied, people have reported almost complete success with the "big" codes. Also I have found that often you need to wait 'til much closer to your trip dates before car rentals finally start getting reasonable.

 

[etail]

As has sometimes been the case, this year between car rental costs and flight costs for good flight times to MCO, I switched to TPA. This is only the second time I've done this out of about a dozen trips to Disney. I think it helps to keep an eye out for this option. The car was about $100 less and the flights were $240 less for four of us.

 

[TinkFan74]

As has sometimes been the case, this year between car rental costs and flight costs for good flight times to MCO, I switched to TPA. This is only the second time I've done this out of about a dozen trips to Disney. I think it helps to keep an eye out for this option. The car was about $100 less and the flights were $240 less for four of us.

I am also flying into TPA, as of now I have a mid size SUV from July 24-Aug 5 for $316 through Alamo.

 

[etail]

We have $184.40 (midsize, included gas option just to not stress on the drive back) from August 11th to 18th out of TPA. I used the $50 coupon and plan to pay in advance and haggle if necessary. I figure that with the sop on the gas, the Alamo gods make look kindly on me.

 

[kandb]

We are flying in/out of TPA as well. We are going to LEGOLAND for 2 days, then Orlando for 2 days, then 10 nights at Disney. Can't wait. I am so mad at myself, there was a Jeep Compass for $256 from Thrifty (total was around $430 w/tax) for 15 days and I didn't book it. Now it's over $100/higher. It was a "pay now". I am keeping my eyes open and are hoping the prices come down.

 

[emilymad]

Agreed as well, prices without resorting to those various Brazil codes are very high compared to past years. By this time I never got my best price through Costco BUT i always had a price I booked just to have that I could 'deal with' just in case. But the prices I've consistently been seeing, are just way high.

I agree. I have a just in case booking with the AS1 product code but I am not happy about it. The regular Costco rate was almost $500 for our dates. That is just crazy.

 

[lynnfitz]

I booked several months ago-Alamo from MCO. We decided to change our flight, due to a drop in prices, so we're now arriving the night before. I think at time of booking I have an intermediate for almost 2 weeks, gas included option (we pay for a tank at time of rental at normal prices, then can return empty), anyway, I paid around $335, now it's close to $700. I'm trying to get Alamo just to add the extra time onto the existing reservation, but apparently it's not that easy, I have to start a new reservation, I can't alter the existing one. I've called a few times, hoping to get someone who will do it for me!

 

[kandb]

When do prices start to come down on the car rentals? We are arriving the end of August which is not a particularly a busy time and the prices are still outrageous.

 

[Parad0x]

When do prices start to come down on the car rentals? We are arriving the end of August which is not a particularly a busy time and the prices are still outrageous.

The time period has changed in my experience the past few years. It used to be a little earlier than your visit dates, a few weeks or so, but lately I got great prices in the days leading right up to the day we were set to leave. In the past 3-4 years, I found myself rebooking and cancelling the previous reservation many times, 5, 6, 7 or more times in the weeks and days leading up to our arrival date. For now, I got a phenomenal price using the AS1 code. I've never used it before, in the past, only using Costco but SO many have said the AS1 code is a trouble free one so if prices don't come down within reason (because they are crazy high right now) I at least have that as something.