December 2014 Car Rental Discount Watch

[Syndrome]

I am looking for a rental Dec. 13-17 from Sanford airport. The cheapest I have found so far is with dollar for $166 for a compact. There are only 2 of us do size doesn't matter but I was hoping for a cheaper price since it is only 4 days. Can anyone offer some tips?

Actually, its a little pricey because its only 4 days. Rental car companies give the best deals for full weeks. Thats how they work. You are being penalized in essence because you only need it for 4 days . Too bad you couldnt keep it for longer because you would get a better rate. I am getting a full size car for 11 days for only about $35. more than what your quote was.
Just keep looking, I bet you can find something a bit cheaper.
FYI .......... Sanford will generally be more expensive than MCO to rent a car.

Good Luck !

 

[Syndrome]

This may be the best I am going to get, but I will keep trying !

December for 11 days Pick-up and drop off at MCO .
Thrifty , using only the AAA # (listed on Thrifty's website).
Full Size car ........ (we need a full size or I could get it down to about $170 ish)
I am at $201. all in , including all taxes and fees .

I am happy with that , but will keep on looking !

Thanks ALL !

 

[tiggerjenn]

Are you penalized if you return the car early?

 

[karliebug]

Actually, its a little pricey because its only 4 days. Rental car companies give the best deals for full weeks. Thats how they work. You are being penalized in essence because you only need it for 4 days . Too bad you couldnt keep it for longer because you would get a better rate. I am getting a full size car for 11 days for only about $35. more than what your quote was. Just keep looking, I bet you can find something a bit cheaper. FYI .......... Sanford will generally be more expensive than MCO to rent a car. Good Luck !

What if I booked it for a full week but returned it early? Would I be penalized for that?

 

[rackerlee92]

Just wanted to pass along that I was on the Southwest website today and was able to book a full size car through Dollar for $281 inc taxes for the dates of 12/24/14-1/6/15.

This was almost a $100 savings from my previous "best" rate booked directly through the Dollar site.

 

[rlduvall]

Are you penalized if you return the car early?

What if I booked it for a full week but returned it early? Would I be penalized for that?

There is the definite possibility you could be penalized. Especially if you return it at a time that falls inside/outside of a specific parameter the company sets for that rate. What that parameter might be might not be known.

Or you could be just fine.

 

[buckeev]

Our rates during the Christmas/New Years season have been dropping all week...about $3-$5 dollars every day...
Total drop in the past few weeks over $100. I guess holiday bookings may be down for them..?

 

[pigletto]

I'm holding two reservations at the moment. I have a Standard booked with Dollar for $161.00 and a Standard with Alamo for $190. While the cheaper price is appealing, I really like using Alamo and being able to use the kiosk and choose my own car. I think I will probably go with the Alamo one if they both stay at this rate. I can eat the $29 difference to go with a company we've had so many good experiences with. I had kind of sworn off them when they stopped accepting coupons for quite awhile there. But I used a Visa contract ID and a Visa coupon today with no problems.

ETA) For anyone interested in checking their rate with Alamo it is Contract ID 7015504 and Coupon Code AD2338FDF. It is for Visa Card holders.

 

[rlduvall]

ETA) For anyone interested in checking their rate with Alamo it is Contract ID 7015504 and Coupon Code AD2338FDF. It is for Visa Card holders.

Thanks pigletto. I was using the Disney AP and 1 free day for $144. for a standard vehicle 8 day rental, but using the Disney AP and the visa coupon code it's down to $124. And I have the AP card and will use a VISA to pay for it.

As for Dollar over Alamo: I had this same issue last December and went with Alamo even though slightly higher. I never regretted it once and never thought about that extra $30 it cost me. I am so comfortable with Alamo and/or National that I don't even consider the other rental agencies.

 

[madaboutMickey]

(ETA) For anyone interested in checking their rate with Alamo it is Contract ID 7015504 and Coupon Code AD2338FDF. It is for Visa Card holders.

Could you tell me where you found the Coupon Code? I've looked on the Visa website and all I'm seeing for Alamo is a special package coupon.

 

[pigletto]

So glad it worked out for you rlduvall!
I did a DIS search for Alamo Visa coupon codes and found a post from 2013 on the Disneyland forum with the contract ID and code. I figured I'd give it a try as I had used that combo in the past and to my surprise it still works. When I used it before you had to be a Visa card holder and had to pay with your Visa, but no physical coupon is required (it also stated that in the post). It says it's a Visa Contract ID right on my reservation as well.

 

[madaboutMickey]

Thanks for the info, pigletto! Just wanted to make sure I didn't need a physical coupon. I haven't gone to the counter in years. LOL Love using the kiosk or using on line check-in.
I already have a minivan booked using the vroom code for Nov. And this will take off $40 more. $354.94 for a 10 day rental.

 

[buckeev]

I'm holding two reservations at the moment. I have a Standard booked with Dollar for $161.00 and a Standard with Alamo for $190. While the cheaper price is appealing, I really like using Alamo and being able to use the kiosk and choose my own car. I think I will probably go with the Alamo one if they both stay at this rate. I can eat the $29 difference to go with a company we've had so many good experiences with. I had kind of sworn off them when they stopped accepting coupons for quite awhile there. But I used a Visa contract ID and a Visa coupon today with no problems.

ETA) For anyone interested in checking their rate with Alamo it is Contract ID 7015504 and Coupon Code AD2338FDF. It is for Visa Card holders.

These car companies .....Using those Alamo codes..it knocked about $400 off...that's the good new...So now, Alamo is "only" $850 more than Dollar..go figure!

 

[pigletto]

These car companies .....Using those Alamo codes..it knocked about $400 off...that's the good new...So now, Alamo is "only" $850 more than Dollar..go figure!

Holy cow!! You must be going for a Van or Large SUV I am assuming? And for a looonnnggg trip? That's staggering.
We haven't rented a minivan since 2012 but back then 10 days with Alamo came in around $225 I think. It wasn't bad at all. I'm glad we can get away with a regular size car these days.

 

[3redheads]

Thanks, pigletto!

I used the Alamo codes and dropped my reservation by $26 to a total of $126!

 

[Barbi]

Dollar prices are dropping, using AAA code - new total $112.83 Compact car for Dec 9-15 (7 days), pick up at MCO and drop off at Holiday Inn Wyndam (DTD)

 

[buckeev]

Holy cow!! You must be going for a Van or Large SUV I am assuming? And for a looonnnggg trip? That's staggering.
We haven't rented a minivan since 2012 but back then 10 days with Alamo came in around $225 I think. It wasn't bad at all. I'm glad we can get away with a regular size car these days.

Just a Full Size..but for 20 days...and the kicker...Christmas/New Years season. What amazes me is the differences between the car classifications...
Dollar is down to $371 today for a Full Size, but the Van is still in the $2400 range from them...($1400 from Alamo).
Regardless...I'll make do with the Full Size, as that has worked out fine for us the past few trips.

 

[Pembo]

Thanks Barbi. I need a rental for Dec 12 -15 and with AAA and Dollar got a mid-size for $68!!! I was going to use a car service but even with parking fees (we are staying at Universal) this is cheaper.

 

[karliebug]

What is the AAA code for Dollar?

 

[Barbi]

The code depends where you live. On the Dollar website there is a AAA ad, click on it and it opens a window with regional AAA codes. I live in the Boston area so mine is TB 7146. Good Luck, love to save a few $$ !