Car Hire Experts Please

[boff64]

To all you Car hire gurus.

How far in advance does everyone book their car hire?
Does booking in advance facilitate cheaper deals?

We're not going until Feb 2008 but when we go to Europe, booking in advance gets us much cheaper deals.

The other thing is there are only 4 of us in our car. DD's are 13 and 11 so we were wondering if it was worth splashing out on something a bit special, like a jeep or 4x4. Whenever we've been before we have always had fairly standard saloon type cars which have been fine but as this is the last Florida trip we'll be able to do for a while we were wondering if an upgrade would be worth.

Thanks in advance

 

[martina857]

I don't think booking in advance would help with regard the rate unless the £ took a tumble against the $ I remember car hire used to be far more expensive when there was only 1.5 to the £, I suspect that car hire is somehow linked to the exchange rate ? the thing is though you lose nothing by booking it early with car hire most allow you to cancel right up to the day before travel with no penalty.

I would highly recommend getting a nicer car than the standard saloon if you can afford it, it makes for a great driving experience )

Call Elle at Florida Homes and Travel if you want good rates and service 0500 50 50 87.

M

 

[paulh]

if booking for the usa would use a broker like usarentacar or airlinenetwork rates for a 4 door saloon would be about £125 ish a week
Paulh

 

[wayneg]

Sometimes companies give free upgrades or free platinum cover at certain times of year, I have had both thru Airline Network but not for the past year, maybe I have missed the offers, I dont know. Apart from that the prices tend to be pretty stable.
We always try to book our flights 11 months from flying, If I booked the car at the same time I would lose approx £25 in interest on a 25 night trip with full size car, so unless there is any offers I dont book until a few weeks before we travel and keep my money invested.
I usually check prices every week or so.
Personally I prefer a full size or luxury car rather than 4x4 type, I dont like being high up, but I am used to driving our BMW Sports edition at home.

 

[Boss Hogg]

We tend to do it a few months before we go. When booking it, I normally trawl through intermediairies and companies themselves. We've used a few of each over the years, this time we're using Hertz as we can get a Prestige SUV from them for the same money as the like of Airline Network/USRentacar want for a "standard" one.

Unless you are after a bespoke car, there is no real reason I can see to not leave until the last minute.

Normally we have luxury's, the best we've ever had being a Lincoln Town Car, but fancied something big for a change this time.

 

[paulh]

If I booked the car at the same time I would lose approx £25 in interest on a 25 night trip with full size car, so unless there is any offers I dont book until a few weeks before we travel and keep my money invested.
I.

Tel me where you can get £25 interest on aprox £350-£400 for 11 months so i can put my monney in that account would go 4 times a year then
Paulh

 

[wayneg]

Tel me where you can get £25 interest on aprox £350-£400 for 11 months so i can put my monney in that account would go 4 times a year then
Paulh

Full size car with platinum insurance is £504. I have all sorts of accounts earning upto 12.5% regular savers where we put £1,000/month or high interest savings at 6.5%. so easily earn at least £25 on £504. Most my money is in funds my financial advisor does for me that has doubled in 5 years.
Investments are exactly how we afford 4 holidays a year. If we could be sure the next 25 years goes like last 5 years I could retire now at 40 but the next crash could be just around the corner, last one wiped about £30,000 off me

 

[paulh]

Full size car with platinum insurance is £504. I have all sorts of accounts earning upto 12.5% regular savers where we put £1,000/month or high interest savings at 6.5%. so easily earn at least £25 on £504. Most my money is in funds my financial advisor does for me that has doubled in 5 years.
Investments are exactly how we afford 4 holidays a year. If we could be sure the next 25 years goes like last 5 years I could retire now at 40 but the next crash could be just around the corner, last one wiped about £30,000 off me

i am sorry but the most you can get for a offsre account would be 6-8%.Can you tell me where you get 12.5% lou pearlman.Would get a decent return on stocks and shares posibly day tradeing,but not on a magaged account with fees ect.
Paulh

 

[Boss Hogg]

Wanye, if you're getting 12.5% on regular savers at £1k pm, it is time to start having nicer cars than a full size

 

[paulh]

, last one wiped about £30,000 off me

good job i got out before the crash
Paulh

 

[wayneg]

Sorry it 12% not 12.5%. http://www.alliance-leicester.co.uk/savings/index.asp?page=prs3&ct=premierhome01
You cant just put a lump sum and get 12% its graduated, but you run it alongside a high interest account earning 6.5%. End of year your interest on your whole savings is better than the 6.5% but not 12% because you can only put in each month over the year not a lump sum.

 

[wilma-bride]

Wayne, that account is very similar to the one we have with Halifax. However, you can only save £250 maximum a month - you said you save £1K a month

 

[wayneg]

Wayne, that account is very similar to the one we have with Halifax. However, you can only save £250 maximum a month - you said you save £1K a month

Yes thats per person a couple can do 2 x £250, and if you have 1 child you can do 2 child saver's one in each parents name, and you can also do another child saver for each grandparent all tax free.

 

[wayneg]

Appologies to OP, gone off topic, won't post any more on money, lets get back to original subject.

 

[paulh]

yep a headline rate of 12% sounds good,But with a regular saver on £250 a month over year £1500 comes in a lot less that an apr of 12%
Paulh

 

[paulh]

Appologies to OP, gone off topic, won't post any more on money, lets get back to original subject.

only reason went off topic is that it was sateted 12% return over 12 months
Paulh

 

[wilma-bride]

Yes thats per person a couple can do 2 x £250, and if you have 1 child you can do 2 child saver's one in each parents name, and you can also do another child saver for each grandparent all tax free.

Sorry, I'm obviously being incredibly thick. According to the link you posted, this is an introductory rate if you open a certain type of current account. You're saying you can have 4 of these accounts, 2 for adults and 2 for children. Yet the minimum age for opening the current account is 21 Obviously, I'm not good enough at working the system

My apologies also to the OP but I am interested in anything if it helps me get 4 trips to Florida in a year, instead of just the 3 we're having

 

[paulh]

joh your not thick as ive just read terms and conditions.
The account is a current account linked to a saver account.
To open both you have to be over 21 for the offer saving accounts paid from Premier Current Account, Premier Direct Current Account or Young Worker Current Account then paid into a PlusSaver Account in the case of Premier Current Account, Premier Direct Current
so dont think you would be able to have gran and granddad oppen for grandchildren.You would be able to open 2 accounts in adults name
Paulh

 

[paulh]

my last word on subject honnest its only a 6.5% apr advertised AER 12% to get you to sign up
Paulh

 

[Boss Hogg]

my last word on subject honnest its only a 6.5% apr advertised AER 12% to get you to sign up
Paulh

As you say, there is a vast difference between APR and AER, and in all honesty I have yet to find someone who can fully explain the difference, especially in a savings environment where fees are not an issue.

However, we have digressed massively from the OP's request. So getting back on topic, no rush to book and check out everybody - someone who has always been good historically may not be this time.