Car Rental - how does this sound?

[Straitlover]

Posted this on the Budget board and didn't get much feedback, so i'll try here

Will be renting a car at the Faytetteville NC airport for our WDW trip (driving down). I'm getting a little nuts wondering if I can do better than this! What do you think?

Alamo
4dr midsize, but have a coupon for a free upgrade
Pickup 10/3 7PM, return 10/12 7PM: 9 day rental
Cost: weekly rate $131.74 + 2 days @ 33.99/day = 199.72
taxes, surcharges, fees = 46.60
Total cost $246.32

Price includes one free additional driver and unlimited miles.

That works out to $27.37 per day including taxes for (hopefully) a full size Buick Century (or similar). So far, I haven't even been able to get that good of a price on Hotwire. Don't want a compact or economy on a 500+ mile trip because we are staying offsite at OLCC and will be bringing food, etc in addition to our luggage.

Would it really be worth the time/trouble hunting around to see if I can get better? I tried making a change to my existing reservation (bumping to a full size and using a different coupon, and the price would have gone up by around $100!). They don't have the good deals in Fayetteville like they have in Orlando.

If nothing else, I may try Priceline the week before we leave.

TIA for the advice!

 

[Letsbgoofy]

It seems a little high to me; especially since you aren't guaranteed an upgrade. Have you checked mousesavers.com for codes? I know that National will let you combine coupons and discount codes (we used Sams Club code and the $20 Entertainment coupon - $323 for a minivan - 10 days - tax included). Good luck!

 

[Straitlover]

I checked last night w/ National using the Carlson Wagonlit code and using a $20 Entertainment Book coupon, and it was still around $20 more. Granted I was guaranteed a full-size, but we can get by w/ an intermediate if we ahve to .

I will definitely be trying Priceline in the next week or so, though.

I will ahve to say that that Carlson Wagonlit code sure knocked off a lot! The price w/o that code was over $200 more!

 

[dorisdvu]

Originally posted by Letsbgoofy
It seems a little high to me; especially since you aren't guaranteed an upgrade. Have you checked mousesavers.com for codes? I know that National will let you combine coupons and discount codes (we used Sams Club code and the $20 Entertainment coupon - $323 for a minivan - 10 days - tax included). Good luck!

Did you get unlimited mileage? Did you rent this at DW or use this for transportation to DW and home (NY?)? Do you know what Sams Club cancellation policy is? Did you book this on National's site or Sams?
What does this mean? RATE CODE DESCRIPTION:
WEEKLY RATE FOR 8 AND 9 DAYS.

 

[Tigger Fans!]

Best one week rental rate I found was at Thrifty. In early December their rate for Standard size - 7 day rental - was $94.88. There's also a link to click on at www.rentalcars.com that should entitle you to a free upgrade at rental (based on availability). We haven't rented from Thrifty in Orlando but my DH has rented from them several times on business trips with no problems. (Actually, our worst experience on a rental was with Alamo.)

I'm still checking rates daily.

Hope you have a great trip!
TTFN!

 

[NavyDotz]

well, i'm going to piggyback on this thread

i booked SUV 12/12 - 12/21 (9 days) & the total is $342 or $38/day taxes included

do you think this a good rate

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by dorisdvu
Did you get unlimited mileage? Did you rent this at DW or use this for transportation to DW and home (NY?)? Do you know what Sams Club cancellation policy is? Did you book this on National's site or Sams?
What does this mean? RATE CODE DESCRIPTION:
WEEKLY RATE FOR 8 AND 9 DAYS.

If you use the Sam's code don't book via Sam's travel agency, it always seems to be higher. There is a place for their rental code on every agency web site that honors their code.
I have no idea what Sam's cancellation policy is, you would need to call them to find out.
Rate code description means you are getting a weekly rate for 8 and 9 days. That is versus a daily rate which is always higher.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

dorisdvu,

I booked through National using the Sams Club code. Yes, it is with unlimited mileage. Our rental is at DW not NY. The weekly rental was $199 plus $33.99 per extra day; 10% off with Sams Club code and $20 off with Entertainment coupon. I'm not sure if you get the $199 rate without the Sams Club code, I didn't try that.

 

[Straitlover]

There is no Thrifty in Fayetteville, NC, so that's out.

Can't use Sam's because I'm not a member, but I did try BJ's (am a member there). Also tried AAA discount, my State Employee Association discount, Carlson Wagonlit discount, Entertainment Book discount - all are more than what I got.

On my Alamo ressie, I keyed in my BJ's code but checked the box for it to search for the best code/price. It ended up w/ a rate code ZT, whatever that is! When I searched just using the BJ's code, the price was higher.

We tried Priceline last night for $18 fullsize but we were rejected. We will try a couple more times between now and 10/1.

Thanks for the ideas!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Straitlover
There is no Thrifty in Fayetteville, NC, so that's out.

Can't use Sam's because I'm not a member, but I did try BJ's (am a member there). Also tried AAA discount, my State Employee Association discount, Carlson Wagonlit discount, Entertainment Book discount - all are more than what I got.

On my Alamo ressie, I keyed in my BJ's code but checked the box for it to search for the best code/price. It ended up w/ a rate code ZT, whatever that is! When I searched just using the BJ's code, the price was higher.

We tried Priceline last night for $18 fullsize but we were rejected. We will try a couple more times between now and 10/1.

Thanks for the ideas!

Where on the Alamo site is the box to check for the best rate?
BTW, BJ's has a free day coupon fb20. Might save you some money.

Also, make sure you can take the car out of state for this rental, there are sometimes restrictions on where you can take the vehicle.

 

[DaveH]

I don't knowif the rates are good or not. Make sure you can take the car out of state with unlimited mileage. Some car rental companies for out of state give you like 500 miles than charge for the rest.

 

[Straitlover]

Gail, I must have confused Alamo w/ another one. i lloked back and did not see it, but I know I saw it on one of them! I do know that I used the BJs Assocaiate code but my ressie has Rate Code ZT rather than BJs code of BY (which is the same as WalMart's!!!). Maybe ZT was some special they were running at the time??? I kinow I didn;t key it in when I made my ressie.

My ressie specifically states 1 free additional driver, guaranteed Base Rate and unlimited mileage. It does not say anything about driving out of state. Guess I should call and ask.

 

[prncess674]

you might want to check with rental car locations not at the airport. Many airport locations have additional fees because they are an airport property. Have you tried Enterprise rental car?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Straitlover
Gail, I must have confused Alamo w/ another one. i lloked back and did not see it, but I know I saw it on one of them! I do know that I used the BJs Assocaiate code but my ressie has Rate Code ZT rather than BJs code of BY (which is the same as WalMart's!!!). Maybe ZT was some special they were running at the time??? I kinow I didn;t key it in when I made my ressie.

My ressie specifically states 1 free additional driver, guaranteed Base Rate and unlimited mileage. It does not say anything about driving out of state. Guess I should call and ask.

For some reason after you make the reservation often that BY code changes to some sort of rate. I would imagine that it is their way of coding a rate for the specific time you are renting.
It has happened to me in the past also.