car rental few days vs. entire week?

[kimber23ks]

Trying to figure out what would be the less expensive way to do this. Upcoming trip 10/30 - 11/6. Will be at Pop 10/30 thru 11/3, then driving to Sanibel for few days on the beach.

Originally planned on getting rental car early morning of 11/2 to do Universal, then leave DW on 11/3 to head to Sanibel.

To pick up at the CCC from 11/2-11/6 finding rates, at National anyway, to be @$250, and wondering if it would pay to just get a car when we arrive at MCO on the 30th? But, not planning on using it until the 2nd so will it be worth it to have it sit a few days? Just wondering if it would be cheaper.

Also, returning the car to the Ft Myers airport on 11/6 and wondering if that is bumping up the price?

Any thoughts on how to make this a bit easier and more cost effective?

TIA !
Kim

 

[alice99]

It's been my experience that weekly deals can come out cheaper.

But....if I really wanted to save money, I would bid on Priceline for the individual days and take ME to airport early in the am to get car.

 

[LovesTimone]

Trying to figure out what would be the less expensive way to do this. Upcoming trip 10/30 - 11/6. Will be at Pop 10/30 thru 11/3, then driving to Sanibel for few days on the beach.

Originally planned on getting rental car early morning of 11/2 to do Universal, then leave DW on 11/3 to head to Sanibel.

To pick up at the CCC from 11/2-11/6 finding rates, at National anyway, to be @$250, and wondering if it would pay to just get a car when we arrive at MCO on the 30th? But, not planning on using it until the 2nd so will it be worth it to have it sit a few days? Just wondering if it would be cheaper.

Also, returning the car to the Ft Myers airport on 11/6 and wondering if that is bumping up the price?

Any thoughts on how to make this a bit easier and more cost effective?

TIA !
Kim

That does sound kinda high for rental... but then again what type/size of car are you renting.. We have used Enterprise several times and gotten pretty good rates. We also have booked early, and I think by renting for the week we got a pretty decent price. Like 150.00 for a midsize for a week, don't forget to check what the mileage charge is, and add in gas to the total price. I mentioned the mileage, my friend got a car for a week for 99.00 at either Dollar or Budget, and thought the mileage was free.. well they got a real surprise when they returned it. - My husband company offers a discount thru 2 rental companies, so you might want to check to see if they have any program like this.

 

[havaneselover]

According to Costco travel it's over $300 for the week so not a huge difference. Costco's prices are usually pretty good.

Renting a car in Florida is expensive in season. My parents are in Naples and occasionally rent one when they have company in town and it can get very expensive depending on the time of year. I'm in Central VA and can rent one for a week for $160 year round.

 

[kimber23ks]

Only need economy car, just me, DS15yo and DD12yo.

Bidding on Priceline is an idea, so then I could take Disney transport to MCO to pick up on the 2nd? Hmm, didn't think of that. Never bid on Priceline so not sure how that works, but I'll def check into it.

Did get a price with a BCD code thru Budget for the entire week (10/30-11/6) of $227, with fees etc, TOTAL comes to $306.....is that reasonable??

Thanks

 

[kimber23ks]

Found a discount through my job, pick up car at the CCC on 11/2 and return to Ft Myers airport on 11/6.....total of $257. Best price for what I need so far so reserved it, but will keep looking

 

[Pumba's Truth]

Alamo - coupon id 7014926 get's about 20% off .. not knowing your hours of pick up and return I got about $225 for CCC to RSW for 11/2 - 11/6. Give it a go.

 

[amomma23]

Try checking prices from the Dolphin hotel, too. We're doing 2 one-way rentals for our cruise. So far, it's cheaper to go Dolphin-Cape Canaveral and Cape Canaveral-CCC.

 

[Pembo]

Post over on the transportation board or look at the November rental thread.

 

[sarmat1]

If you have AAA, Dollar using the AAA code will get you an Economy for the week MCO pickup/Ft Myers drop off for $249 total. Just plug in your AAA code. And yes, the different drop off is likely causing a surcharge. The AAA rate I mentioned would be $206 total for that week MCO to MCO.

 

[mrsboz]

As you get closer it will get way cheaper. Everyone on the transportation board kept saying that when we went in March and it was true. Came down hundreds within two weeks of our trip. I am going to VA beach and not finding that true so far for this destination but I will keep trying. Good luck. It takes a lot of time planning to get a good price....

 

[manning]

Weekly rates are usually cheaper per day. Now realize you are paying for 7 day use.

The question is how many of those days will you be using the car. If you pay for the days you actually use the car and it is cheaper total than total for the weekly rate then the daily would be the way to go.

Years back when we would fly to Disney I would rent a car to get to Disney and again to get to the airport. Didn't have a need for one otherwise. It was cheaper than a weekly rate or a cab.

 

[scrapquitler]

Trying to figure out what would be the less expensive way to do this. Upcoming trip 10/30 - 11/6. Will be at Pop 10/30 thru 11/3, then driving to Sanibel for few days on the beach.

Originally planned on getting rental car early morning of 11/2 to do Universal, then leave DW on 11/3 to head to Sanibel.

To pick up at the CCC from 11/2-11/6 finding rates, at National anyway, to be @$250, and wondering if it would pay to just get a car when we arrive at MCO on the 30th? But, not planning on using it until the 2nd so will it be worth it to have it sit a few days? Just wondering if it would be cheaper.

Also, returning the car to the Ft Myers airport on 11/6 and wondering if that is bumping up the price?

Any thoughts on how to make this a bit easier and more cost effective?

TIA !
Kim

Weekly may turn out to be less expensive, but either way consider how much time and hassle getting to the place to pick up/drop off the rental car will be on the day that you have to do that. And yes, picking up and dropping off in different places probably adds to the cost.

 

[SEA333]

Weekly may turn out to be less expensive, but either way consider how much time and hassle getting to the place to pick up/drop off the rental car will be on the day that you have to do that. And yes, picking up and dropping off in different places probably adds to the cost.

Ugh... DH works for a fleet management company that owns one of the major car rental companies, so we get a hefty discount. Weekly rental for full size Malibu last year for $97/week.

I've found that per dar pricing usually is better than weekly pricing because if we only need the car for, say, 5 days, it automatically bumps it up to the higher weekly rate, which we rarely need. I'd try for just the days you need.

OTOH, we loved having our car in WDW. We got close spots at the parks and resorts, never waited for a bus, and were able to zip over to walmart for benedryl when DS8 woke up with hives from an allergic reaction to the bedsheets in our room. You might want to consider the weekly rental.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We are doing something similar, OP. Planned to fly into TPA, go to Marco island for a week, then drop the car off at Wdw at check in and use busses all week, and fly home from MCO. Well...it was significantly cheaper...almost 50% less, to rent a case at mco than rent the car than TPA. So I changed our flights to mco, small savings there as well, and we will drive the extra 90 mins. Got a premium rental for $266 all in, mon-sun, over thanksgiving. Dropping it off near Disney after we check in at GF.