Avis vs. National - Rates & Service??

[hb2000]

Hi Everyone:
I have an 18 day rental coming up this summer and tried using the Priceless Contract ID & the Entertainment book coupon code. It gave me a price of $538.56 all incl.. I have now tried Avis with only my Delta code K817600 and get a rate of $387.24 all Incl.. This is a major saving right now over national. Although I know national has raised their rates in the last few weeks.

Sorry, should have mentioned that is for an intermediate sized car.

I wanted to letr the board know about the present deal at Avis and am also wondering if the avis price is about as good as I can hope for for an 18 day rental???

I read a lot about national on this board. That by being an emerald member I can bypass the line inside and select my car outside. Also a free second driver if over 25 with clean record and direct relative living at same address.

Does Avis offer similar advatages with their "My Way" membership???

Thanks
HB2000

 

[DebbieB]

With Avis, if you have a preferred card you can go straight out to the garage and pickup your keys and paperwork there, usually no line (the paperwork is already complete). Avis assigns your car ahead of time. Both times I rented with them I got a crappy Chevy Classic for an intermediate (my company requires we use Avis for business rentals). I'm using them again in Wednesday, I'll see what I get. My boss used Avis in St Paul last month, he got a new Grand Am. My company added National to the list this year but you have to pick the cheapest. Avis was $35, National was $39 (one day rental, before tax).

With National you can pick your car but for that much difference in price I would go with Avis. Ask them about the car at the counter before you go find the space it is in. How much more is a full size?

 

[mortimor]

Depending on when your trip is, the price can drop quite a bit before you arrive. My June res has dropped by close to 30% over the last few weeks. I would just keep checking the rates and go with whatever is cheapest. If you dont mind Alamo, Try using pricelessvacations.com you get a second driver for free and is usually a few dollars +/- of national. The only difference between national and alamo at Orlando airport is the line. The cars/return etc are ALL the same since they are the same company.

 

[satjs]

I reserved an 11 day rental picking up in Tampa and dropping off Orlando through Avis using a Costco code and got a full size for 233 including all taxes and fees, I am also using an entertainment coupon for a free upgrade to a premium. No other companies are even coming close!

 

[n2mm]

National's rates were pretty low a couple of weeks ago, but have recently gone up. I would watch for them to drop again. I have a 16 rental (intermediate) with National for early May and my total is $258 all taxes and fees include. I can't imagine an 18 day being too much higher. Right now their base weekly rate is high, but recently it was $110 a week. They are definitely worth watching and watching these boards for those famous words "my rates are dropping." I can't comment on Avis, as I've only used national and dollar and have had good service on both.

 

[hb2000]

Hi DebbieB
The rate for a full size for the 18 days is 409.69
Thanks
HB2000

 

[plutospup]

I've used Avis many times as a "Preferred" member. The cars have been clean, and the service has been very good. No complaints. Check www.mousesavers.com for a list of car rental codes.

 

[DebbieB]

Hi DebbieB
The rate for a full size for the 18 days is 409.69
Thanks
HB2000

From $387 to $409, I would go for a full size. You're going for 18 days, you want to be comfortable, it's less than $1.00 a day difference.

 

[DebbieB]

I was in Orlando today on business. My company requires us to use the lowest of Avis or National and Avis was a couple dollars cheaper. I noticed on the USAir website last night that Dividend Miles customers get an upgrade plus a 1,000 mile bonus for using Avis. I called Avis to make sure my Dividend Miles # was on my reservation, it wasn't. I had an intermediate reserved. They gave us a Ford Escalade SUV (myself and a coworker). I have never driven an SUV so decided to ask for a change. I got a Ford Taurus, which I assume is a full size. About 4,600 miles, very nice.