Car Rentals in May

[n2mm]

Thanks to everyone in this board! For Alamo, I used Contract ID 5007160, Member ID (My Continental One Pass #), and Coupon ND8578ADT and scored an awesome deal.

5/17-5/23 Minivan $208.81 (total)

Thank you so much!

Actually that would be National with those codes. That's a good price for a minivan! (Don't go to the wrong company.)

 

[lovingthemouse]

Very good deal on the minivan. As n2mm said, do make sure you go to National not Alamo!

 

[Shannon G]

Actually that would be National with those codes. That's a good price for a minivan! (Don't go to the wrong company.)

Wow - now I'm kicking myself for caving in too soon and using Priceline to get a minivan - I just checked our dates and I could get a minivan with these codes for $210.39! Would beat the $258 rate I have with PL (Avis) and I could avoid the counter!

 

[Michael623]

Yes, I am also an Emerald club member, and may possibly be given an upgrade on arrival. Not sure how much lower this might go, or what else I might try, since this is now next week!! Does Michael have any suggestions? Thanks!

I didn't realize I had become such the car rental Guru.

I also like National (EA) but I find that Alamo is typically cheaper. The 2 companies share the same fleet of cars and the kiosk at Alamo literally takes 90 seconds. Although I like National, price is usually the deciding factor so I've used Alamo exclusively for 3 years at least.

Our usual schedule is 3 Disney trips a year (Jan/Feb, May(Mothers Day), Sep/Oct. We have stuck to this schedule for 10+ years so I've had plenty of time to observe the ebb and flow of car rental prices. Keep in mind much of this is speculation and opinion based on years of observations.

The ideal leisure car renter is the family who books their air and car a year out and then never checks it again or the family that books a car as part of a package. The other good times for the agencies are the high demand periods when they can jack up rates and make some additional coin i.e. Christmas, summertime, Thanksgiving, School breaks etc. Right now there is a bit of a bonus because it is simultaneously Spring Break week in the Northeast (after a horrible winter) and Easter. This is the perfect situation for the agencies and they do not want to release any codes or anything else that will cut into their profits for this week. I know May doesn't start for a week and a half but I think the agencies are so obsessed with making their money this week that the codes for May aren't even on their radar screens. Then next week when reality sets in that it's over and the cars start piling up at the agencies they will drop rates further to try to sway ME/cab/limo crowds to rent a car at the same time hoping that we savvy renters don't adjust our rates (and many don't). I think when the last minute specials come out my midsized rental for a week starting 5/4 will be no more than $115 including all fees although I've gotten it for as low as $86. I never use a code I'm ineligible to use. I don't blame people for trying I just like to avoid stress at the airport. We travel with a 3 year old so we need a midsized but I would say if all you need is a compact (go for the economy with Alamo/National because they only have compact cars) I would imagine you can budget no more than $100 for a car for a week.

The moral of the story is go ahead and make a car reservation as soon as you book your flights if it makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside but within the last month, and many times the last few days, is really the butter zone for car rental deals. And you need to check every day. What's 2 minutes if it can save you significant money?

Here is a perfect example of what I mean. I checked a random week in Sept and Jan which are two of the slowest times of the year to travel and the rates for a midsized car at MCO is over $500. If you booked a package this is what you pay. Similar to what's happening now once summer (Sept) and Christmas (Jan) are over the rates will plummet. Honestly I'd stay home before I'd pay $500 for a car.

Finally if you're looking for a car for DL and flying into LAX the same rules apply but since none of the cars are in terminal you need to take a shuttle no matter what so I just go for the cheapest agency. I've use Advantage (I would never use them at MCO) multiple times without a problem and never paid more than $140 for a midsized for a week. I've heard that cars at LAX are notoriously expensive and it's just not true. You still need to check right up to the date of departure though. I can't comment on Orange County or Long Beach.

I'll make sure I post my final rate before I leave. It will give you the opportunity to say what an idiot or I can't believe that idiot was right. Either way good luck with your rentals and have a great vacation and don't forget to stop and smell the roses at the Flower and Garden Festival. And don't forget to wave to the folks that need to leave the parks 2 hours early so they can get to their resort 3 hours before their flight departs to catch ME.

Edited to say that my rate has dropped to $126.90 so my original prediction of less than $130 has come true. That is using the Visa ID# and the $40 off for Alamo Insiders.

 

[pyjamamama]

I didn't realize I had become such the car rental Guru.

I also like National (EA) but I find that Alamo is typically cheaper. The 2 companies share the same fleet of cars and the kiosk at Alamo literally takes 90 seconds. Although I like National, price is usually the deciding factor so I've used Alamo exclusively for 3 years at least.

Our usual schedule is 3 Disney trips a year (Jan/Feb, May(Mothers Day), Sep/Oct. We have stuck to this schedule for 10+ years so I've had plenty of time to observe the ebb and flow of car rental prices. Keep in mind much of this is speculation and opinion based on years of observations.

The ideal leisure car renter is the family who books their air and car a year out and then never checks it again or the family that books a car as part of a package. The other good times for the agencies are the high demand periods when they can jack up rates and make some additional coin i.e. Christmas, summertime, Thanksgiving, School breaks etc. Right now there is a bit of a bonus because it is simultaneously Spring Break week in the Northeast (after a horrible winter) and Easter. This is the perfect situation for the agencies and they do not want to release any codes or anything else that will cut into their profits for this week. I know May doesn't start for a week and a half but I think the agencies are so obsessed with making their money this week that the codes for May aren't even on their radar screens. Then next week when reality sets in that it's over and the cars start piling up at the agencies they will drop rates further to try to sway ME/cab/limo crowds to rent a car at the same time hoping that we savvy renters don't adjust our rates (and many don't). I think when the last minute specials come out my midsized rental for a week starting 5/4 will be no more than $115 including all fees although I've gotten it for as low as $86. I never use a code I'm ineligible to use. I don't blame people for trying I just like to avoid stress at the airport. We travel with a 3 year old so we need a midsized but I would say if all you need is a compact (go for the economy with Alamo/National because they only have compact cars) I would imagine you can budget no more than $100 for a car for a week.

The moral of the story is go ahead and make a car reservation as soon as you book your flights if it makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside but within the last month, and many times the last few days, is really the butter zone for car rental deals. And you need to check every day. What's 2 minutes if it can save you significant money?

Here is a perfect example of what I mean. I checked a random week in Sept and Jan which are two of the slowest times of the year to travel and the rates for a midsized car at MCO is over $500. If you booked a package this is what you pay. Similar to what's happening now once summer (Sept) and Christmas (Jan) are over the rates will plummet. Honestly I'd stay home before I'd pay $500 for a car.

Finally if you're looking for a car for DL and flying into LAX the same rules apply but since none of the cars are in terminal you need to take a shuttle no matter what so I just go for the cheapest agency. I've use Advantage (I would never use them at MCO) multiple times without a problem and never paid more than $140 for a midsized for a week. I've heard that cars at LAX are notoriously expensive and it's just not true. You still need to check right up to the date of departure though. I can't comment on Orange County or Long Beach.

I'll make sure I post my final rate before I leave. It will give you the opportunity to say what an idiot or I can't believe that idiot was right. Either way good luck with your rentals and have a great vacation and don't forget to stop and smell the roses at the Flower and Garden Festival. And don't forget to wave to the folks that need to leave the parks 2 hours early so they can get to their resort 3 hours before their flight departs to catch ME.

I have never rented thru Alamo, but am willing to give it a shot. What are the best combo of discounts currently thru Alamo? Still have about 9 days to play with this, BUT if Alamo has some kind of "club" card like the emerald card, I'm probably SOL, cause there is no way I'd get it that fast. Yeah, I'd like to get it under $100 too. Right now its at $138 (yesterday it went up to $141) for a midsize, 7 days. I try to keep an open mind!

 

[pyjamamama]

Sillyness.... Ran all my numbers thru again, but booked 7 days 12 noon to noon, instead of the extra 30 minutes. Went down to $133.97 (was $138.43). How ridiculous is that? Did it anyway! This is like playing an online game, but with real$$$!!

 

[lovingthemouse]

Go for the Alamo Insiders card - I simply had a letter printed off the internet with the number on it, originally. I made a copy of the letter, with the number, and showed it at the gate. I now have a card.
As I said, using my Alamo Insiders ID, I also used my $40 off coupon number, and my rate for the end of May is $113. - also used my Alamo AARP number for another $12.57 off. We have a midsize for 1 week.
For all the help others have been to me, hope this helps you too.

 

[jjj444]

try your codes again, mine just went down $10 since this morning
Using Alamo-8 days 9 hours at $170 now

 

[nascargirl]

my Alamo price came down another $3 for a full size vehicle. My new price is $157. I am picking the car up at MCO and returning it to Sanford. I used a code from BJ's and a new code that just came out for $30 off.

 

[gratton16]

my Alamo price came down another $3 for a full size vehicle. My new price is $157. I am picking the car up at MCO and returning it to Sanford. I used a code from BJ's and a new code that just came out for $30 off.

Theres a code from Alamo Insider for $40 off..did you use that one? AD4027JDO

 

[connorlevismom]

Mine just went down from 117.00 to 112.00 for a weeks rental in a compact for May 1-8th.

 

[tvangosliga]

Actually that would be National with those codes. That's a good price for a minivan! (Don't go to the wrong company.)

Haha, you're right. I was trying so hard to make it right I wrote it wrong Actually I did book it at Alamo but I used 7014139, my continental number, and AD4027JDO.

Whoops, too much multi-tasking...

 

[nascargirl]

gratton16-I used the Get one Free Day. The contract ID is 7014696 and coupon code AD3994JDO. This is a compact through full-size car.

 

[nascargirl]

sorry make that coupon code AD3994JDP

 

[ChisJo]

oooh - now I have to make a decision. with alamo, from may 2-11, i can get a mid-size for $174.90. This includes the extra driver which is nice because we want to switch off every now and then.

OR I could go with national and get a mid-size for $169.79, but this would exclude the extra driver. there are days that I want to drink, and there are days when my sister will want to have a couple of drinks, so the extra driver is worth it to us...but knowing that I could get it for a couple of bucks cheaper would be nice too.

I initially budgeted $160 for the car rental, and we would be able to do that had we only gotten a compact, but with 3 of us, we need a mid size....

 

[gratton16]

Haha, you're right. I was trying so hard to make it right I wrote it wrong Actually I did book it at Alamo but I used 7014139, my continental number, and AD4027JDO.

Whoops, too much multi-tasking...

What is a continental # and how can I get one?

 

[n2mm]

What is a continental # and how can I get one?

You can go to the continental airlines website and sign up for their FF program. It will give you an ID card to print. That's it. No one has ever asked, but it's good to have in case.

 

[gratton16]

And then what field do I put the ID in?

 

[Pumba's Truth]

Booked a National - Midsize/Emerald Aisle

May 1 - 6, 2011 @ $154.98

Hotwire.com is showing a midsize for the same period at about - $141.50

Booked National because of emerald aisle and I could end up with an SUV or something else as well.

Actually might let the booking go and take DME but we don't know yet.

 

[Pumba's Truth]

What is a continental # and how can I get one?

If you go to Mousesavers.com and take a look at their rental car section you're bound to find a number of codes and combinations that might work for you across many different rental car companies.