Costco - Budget or Alamo car rental? Experiences?

[WDWorld2003]

I am holding two reservations for a full size car through Costco at Budget and Alamo. We have not rented a car for several years but used to always rent with Alamo and had their Insiders Program. There is no place to enter this on the Costco site but there is for Budget (which I joined).

We used to love being able to just select our car and go but we will be adding an additional driver so I know we will have to go to the counter.

Any big difference between the two? The prices are similar.

 

[wdwsue]

I have never rented from Budget but I rent from Alamo all the time through Costco. Costco includes an extra driver for free. You can go to the Alamo website and sign in to your account and then put the Costco code which is 7014627 or 7015309. We were there in February and rented a mid size car. There were a lot of minivans in the compact aisle. We asked one of the workers and he said we could take a minivan.

 

[Fangorn]

The confirmation emails you got from Costco for the Alamo rental will have two confirmation numbers. One is the Costco number and one is the Alamo confirmation number. Use the Alamo number to find your reservation on the Alamo site. One there, you can add the second driver and do their online check-in. You do not have to go to the counter! I do this all the time.
You will not be able to change or cancel the reservation through Alamo, however. There will be a notice to that effect when you call up your reservation. It's worded strangely and sounds like you can't do anything, including online check-in, but that's not the case. You just can't cancel or change vehicle type.

Changes or cancellation had to be done through Costco's travel site.

Oh, and you can add your Insider number to the reservation as well. No problem.

Steve

 

[richmo]

I've found the rental experience with Alamo to be the best. I also have Alamo Insiders and usually book thru the Alamo site. The Costco code is mentioned above and the rate you get by going thru the Alamo site and plugging in the Costco contract ID and coupons is generally the same. Its pretty easy to find the coupon codes on the Costco site also. Going thru the Alamo site gives you the advantage of attaching your Alamo Insider ID, get the Costco rates and the ability to make any changes on the Alamo site.

If you haven't rented with Alamo for awhile, be sure to do the online checkin before you leave home - you'll give your drivers license and credit card info (you still won't be charged until you pick up the car). When you get to the airport, skip the Alamo counter and kiosks entirely -- just bring your printed online checkin and head out to the garage. Show your printout to an Alamo employee out there and they'll direct you to the proper row from which you'll pick your car.

The Budget process is better than it used to be. If you're going with them, make sure you join their FastBreak. That way you can at least skip the counter in the airport terminal. You will need to stop at the FastBreak desk in the garage, but the line there is usually quite short...much better than inside.

I believe with both Alamo and Budget you get the second driver for free. You will be able to enter the second driver info during the Alamo online checkin; not sure about Budget. In both cases, both drivers will need to show their licenses as you exit.

One more thing: if you go with the automatic toll pay, Alamo charges I think $3.95 each day you use the toll + the toll costs, Budget charges I think the same (or maybe its $4.95), but each day of your rental, whether you go thru a toll booth that day or not. It tops out at about $20.

If all is equal, I'd go with Alamo...