Car Rental for Short Stay

[RweTHEREyet]

We are making an unexpected short trip this month, arriving early afternoon on Friday and departing early afternoon on Sunday. I generally book with National and am member Emerald Club. It looks like all the coupons I see do not apply to short stays, minimum of 3 days, which we are not.

Anyone have suggestions as to how to get a really cheap rate, doesn't have to be National? At this point, I am thinking Meares may be the best way to go for 2 people, although we really love the flexibility of having our own wheels.

Almost forgot that the cheapest I found on National was right at $80 with taxes and fees, that was using the Carlson Wagonlit contract code.

 

[safetymom]

Selected Vehicles
Compact / $26.09 USD -Weekend Day
Total Approx. Charges: $ 60.69 USD Rate Details
Other vehicles available at this location
Intermediate / $28.99 USD -Weekend Day
Total Approx. Charges: $ 66.87 USD Rate Details
Full-Size / $33.63 USD -Weekend Day
Total Approx. Charges: $ 76.75 USD


If you are a member of AAA these are the prices you can get with Hertz. There is also a coupon you can use

PC # is 943692



[currency converter]
Approximate charges for the vehicle you selected:

Selected Vehicles
Compact / $26.09 USD -Weekend Day
Total Approx. Charges: $ 48.34 USD Rate Details



Charges are in US DOLLARS

So you could rent a compact for the 3 days for less than $50. If your times of pickup and return are shorter try changing them to earlier on pickup and later on return and see what happens.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Thanks so much. I have not rented from Hertz before, are they in the terminal like National? Do I need to sign up for whatever club they have to expedite check-in?

 

[safetymom]

No they are not in the terminal. They are a short shuttle ride away. We used to use National but find Hertz is quicker even when riding the shuttle.

We wait no longer than a minute or two on the shuttle and am driving out of the lot in less than 10 mins. When we go to leave we do curbside check in and then return the car.

Hertz has a #1 Club you can join and there is also the better #1 Gold that you can find free memberships for.

You can't go wrong with Hertz.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Thanks again, you know I need to be able to get to Property Control.

 

[safetymom]

I could stand a property control visit right about now. I was kidding my daughter that when we move to Florida we should furnish one of the rooms in Property Control furniture. That would we would feel like we were at the parks or resort all the time. She didn't second my idea.

Daughter can't wait till me move down there. Hopefully by the end of the year so she can go back to work for Disney.

Enjoy your trip. I did a short trip once. Flew down on Saturday, flew back Monday morning in time for work. I did the parks quickly but did see what I needed to see.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Am having trouble coming up with same rate you did at hertz. Everything I try comes back and tells me not valid with the coupon, etc. I admit I am not accustomed to Hertz's site, they are all so different. I clocked on the AAA $20 off offer and it took me right to Quote it, completed information, but it came back with an error. What else did I need to do? Please help, lost in car rental cyberspace.

Need to head to work right now, so will check in later. Thanks for all your help.

 

[safetymom]

Did you put your AAA club code in where it asks if you have any discounts? Then you put in the pc code for the additional $20. The AAA code number is a three digit number that is the first 3 digits on your card. For ex. mine is 123 then 12345678.

If you are putting in your AAA code then you shouldn't be getting an error. You could always try calling them and telling Hertz you have an AAA membership. It might be a little higher since you are calling but not sure.

Hope this helps.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Thanks going to give that a try and see what i come up with. Really appreciate all the help.

Will think of you while at Property Control. I seem to have good luck with picture frames, those with a little ding here or there that can be touched up and never even noticed while on a shelf. Can't wait for the new building to open up, I overheard a couple of comments that lead me to believe they are holding back merchandise for their opening.

 

[safetymom]

Hmm, that is interesting about holding back the stuff. We have gotten many good buys at Property control. I got lots of scrapbooks, enough T shirts to start my own store. Also some weird stuff in the lost and found like cell phone chargers for $1.

Also some ornaments and this last trip I bought a light up monorail that talks for the tree.

IYou will have to let me know what you get.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

O.K., mission accomplished. My total was not quite as good as yours, but not enough difference to matter, yours was $48.34 and my total came out to $52.16. Thanks a bunch, the convenience alone will be worth $52.16.

I have never had to use my AAA card before, so I was entering the 3 numbers that start on the left side of the card. Discount kept saying it was Telecommunications, Inc. After looking at card a little closer, I saw that the numbers that are the acct no. start like to the right of the middle of the card. So, finally got AAA-Carolinas disc. and I did put the coupon in, too. Will I need a hard copy coupon from somewhere to substantiate this? If so, I may be in trouble.

Really appreciate your guidance in this process. Each site seems to be different and if you aren't familiar with it, then it is almost impossible to figure out where you went wrong.

Am sending a PM regarding Property Control.

 

[safetymom]

I am glad to see that it worked for you finally. AAA doesn't make it easy trying to figure out the numbers that you need for the discount. I have just done it so many times I could do it in my sleep.

Our AAA is a very big one so maybe we get a little better rate.

You just tell them when you return the car that it was an internet coupon and there isn't a paper version. I never had a problem with that.

Now if you get Captain Jack the shuttle bus driver you will get a real treat. He is in to Elvis Presley and sings on the bus. He also tells jokes. He makes the ride go very quick.

If you have any more questions about Hertz let me know. I know my way to that lot in my sleep I have used them so many times at MCO.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

One more question. When we return the car, do we return it to an offsite lot also, or is there a spot at the airport? Have always returned to National, so not sure about the offsites.

 

[safetymom]

You return it to the offsite lot where you picked it up at. We do curbside check in first so we don't have to lug our suitcases on the shuttle. You are usually back at the airport quickly also as there is always a shuttle sitting there for each terminal it seems.