December 2015 Car Rental Rate watch

[robinb]

Has anyone had any experience with Dollar and error messages? I booked my car through them a few months ago, and when i went to check our reservation online, i get an error message thats says "not a valid code"and won't show me my reservation details. i hope it is referring to the car and driver magazine code that i used at the time of booking. I got the confirmation email when i booked, and i never got anything afterwards saying there was a problem with my reservation. I'm really hoping its just because whatever code i used at the time is now expired and that i won't have any problems when i show up at MCO in a few weeks

I didn't think that Dollar had a code from Car and Driver Magazine. I thought Hertz was the one with that code.

 

[DVC1991]

I didn't think that Dollar had a code from Car and Driver Magazine. I thought Hertz was the one with that code.

they do, but it's for "underaged" renters. when we go to disney, i won't be the age they require to not have to pay an extra fee for renting a car. we're going earlier in december, so the rates weren't that bad. i think we ended up paying just under $300 for a week for a full sized car

 

[prairiesarah]

Am wondering what time everyone puts as their pick up time for their car rentals? Is it the time you arrive at MCO, a bit later etc? And what is the period of time in which you have to pick up your car? I found a great rate for December 16th to 27th for a mid-size SUV through Alamo. I am debating getting my brother in law to pick it up and putting him as the second driver as they arrive about 18 hours ahead of us, and it would save my FIL from having to pick them up at midnight. Then he could just come out and pick us up the next day and add me as a driver and change the credit card if needed. Anyway, the issue is that they get in at 11:40pm. I can get a great (IMO) rate of $289 through Alamo if I book it for 11:30pm on December 16th pickup. If I book midnight on the 17th or 12:30, then it jumps up to $800. I've actually only every rented a car once before ever and that was for a one day while in Orlando on our honeymoon 15 years ago so I'm not sure the protocol for this kind of thing. My other 2 options are a Premium Car through Budget from the 17th to 27th for $290 or a mid-size SUV through Dollar for $320. And both of those rental companies seem to have pretty dismal reviews.

 

[ilovevacation]

Happy thanksgiving everyone! I wanted to let you all know that I arrived last night. I did online check in for alamo for a midsize. The ENTIRE row was mini vans except one jetta. The car smelled of stale smoke. I spoke to the agent since I did not want a mini van and I really didn't want the smelly car. So, they upgraded me to a full size without an extra charge.

I hope those of you that need mini vans find this helpful.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Happy thanksgiving everyone! I wanted to let you all know that I arrived last night. I did online check in for alamo for a midsize. The ENTIRE row was mini vans except one jetta. The car smelled of stale smoke. I spoke to the agent since I did not want a mini van and I really didn't want the smelly car. So, they upgraded me to a full size without an extra charge.

I hope those of you that need mini vans find this helpful.

If someone needs a mini van, though, they should be booking one rather than hoping to find one on the aisle of a different class. When we travelled in October, we had a standard/full reserved, and there were NO mini vans in that aisle or any that we could see in the other rows adjacent to ours. There is certainly no guarantee of a vehicle upgrade, so if a family really does need the space of a mini van, they should bite the bullet and reserve that.

 

[robinb]

Am wondering what time everyone puts as their pick up time for their car rentals? Is it the time you arrive at MCO, a bit later etc? And what is the period of time in which you have to pick up your car? I found a great rate for December 16th to 27th for a mid-size SUV through Alamo. I am debating getting my brother in law to pick it up and putting him as the second driver as they arrive about 18 hours ahead of us, and it would save my FIL from having to pick them up at midnight. Then he could just come out and pick us up the next day and add me as a driver and change the credit card if needed. Anyway, the issue is that they get in at 11:40pm. I can get a great (IMO) rate of $289 through Alamo if I book it for 11:30pm on December 16th pickup. If I book midnight on the 17th or 12:30, then it jumps up to $800. I've actually only every rented a car once before ever and that was for a one day while in Orlando on our honeymoon 15 years ago so I'm not sure the protocol for this kind of thing. My other 2 options are a Premium Car through Budget from the 17th to 27th for $290 or a mid-size SUV through Dollar for $320. And both of those rental companies seem to have pretty dismal reviews.

The issue with the 12/17 SUV is that rates go up on the 18th and even if you say you'll pick up at a certain time the contract won't officially start until your BIL picks up the car. There is a no chance that he will make it to the car by midnight if he gets in at 11:40. If you put his flight info into the reservation they might honor the rate even if he picks up after midnight but he won't know until he picks up the car.

Did they tell you you could be added as a driver? I believe that with Alamo you need to add the extra driver when you pick up the car *and* they charge $10 per day so that increases your rate by $100. There is also a very slim chance they will change the credit card after the car is picked up.

I would go ahead and book the other two while you still can. You can always cancel later. Frankly, I have not had a problem with Budget or Dollar and would not hesitate to use them again.

 

[prairiesarah]

The issue with the 12/17 SUV is that rates go up on the 18th and even if you say you'll pick up at a certain time the contract won't officially start until your BIL picks up the car. There is a no chance that he will make it to the car by midnight if he gets in at 11:40. If you put his flight info into the reservation they might honor the rate even if he picks up after midnight but he won't know until he picks up the car.

Did they tell you you could be added as a driver? I believe that with Alamo you need to add the extra driver when you pick up the car *and* they charge $10 per day so that increases your rate by $100. There is also a very slim chance they will change the credit card after the car is picked up.

I would go ahead and book the other two while you still can. You can always cancel later. Frankly, I have not had a problem with Budget or Dollar and would not hesitate to use them again.

Thanks for the response. Second driver wouldn't be an issue as the rate I booked under (Costco) gives a free second driver. Anyway, it is a non issue now as my rate dropped significantly for Alamo as of today for my pickup time and day and is comparable to the rate I have with Dollar.

 

[prairiesarah]

After months of absolutely no movement in prices for my dates, Alamo started dropping yesterday and I managed to snag a rate that was even cheaper than the Dollar rental I had booked way back in May that I thought was really good. December 17th to 27th - midsize SUV for $298 with Alamo. If you've got Alamo booked, I would double check your rates in case they have dropped.

 

[ashleyrm]

Dollar is having a flash 25% off sale today. Code is BLKFR. I got my four day rental for next weekend for mid-size for $82.90.

 

[loveswdw]

Just rebooked again. Pickup TPA, dropoff MCO 12/18-12/22 full size Alamo. Booked on Alamo site using Costco ID and VISA code. Went from $192 to $179+. Keep on dropping!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

After months of absolutely no movement in prices for my dates, Alamo started dropping yesterday and I managed to snag a rate that was even cheaper than the Dollar rental I had booked way back in May that I thought was really good. December 17th to 27th - midsize SUV for $298 with Alamo. If you've got Alamo booked, I would double check your rates in case they have dropped.

Awesome price! We would LOVE to get a similar rate with Alamo for our dates (December 19th to 26th). Alamo prices have been exactly the same....and I mean, to the penny.....for months. You are giving me hope that a Christmas miracle might still be possible .

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

Used AAA / Hertz - 141.00 total - free spouse driver - rate is 25/day - compact (27/day for mid)
No Coupons
No Codes
No hassles (hopefully)
I won't get to pick my car off the aisle and I will have to pay taxes and fees portion at the counter (bummer)

 

[prairiesarah]

Awesome price! We would LOVE to get a similar rate with Alamo for our dates (December 19th to 26th). Alamo prices have been exactly the same....and I mean, to the penny.....for months. You are giving me hope that a Christmas miracle might still be possible .

. It is down to $238 now. I think I have rebooked 8 times in the last 4 days. I had almost lost hope in the rate changing as it sat at $609 for months and months. I would definitely keep checking.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

. It is down to $238 now. I think I have rebooked 8 times in the last 4 days. I had almost lost hope in the rate changing as it sat at $609 for months and months. I would definitely keep checking.

Are you using any codes or coupons for that rate .

 

[kg66]

We got a rate on car rental savers dot com for $608 for a full sized car from Dec 23-Jan 3 out of Fort Lauderdale....today when I tried to compare it, the site says "no vehicles meet your search"....seriously they are all booked up? Anybody else experience this?

 

[robinb]

We got a rate on car rental savers dot com for $608 for a full sized car from Dec 23-Jan 3 out of Fort Lauderdale....today when I tried to compare it, the site says "no vehicles meet your search"....seriously they are all booked up? Anybody else experience this?

It's working now, but I don't see rates that are really any better .

 

[bop28]

December Alamo rates thru CarRentalSavers have dropped again. For dates Dec 11-18, my Fullsize rental was originally booked for $230 several months ago, and today I rebooked for $130! I used the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards code 7016558 plus the 1 Free Day coupon code from car rental savers Af4469SDU.

 

[momto4obkids]

December Alamo rates thru CarRentalSavers have dropped again. For dates Dec 11-18, my Fullsize rental was originally booked for $230 several months ago, and today I rebooked for $130! I used the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards code 7016558 plus the 1 Free Day coupon code from car rental savers Af4469SDU.

Thanks! I used the southwest contract id and the $30 off with visa and it ended up being about eight dollars less than the free day code. Dec.10-15th full size for 117.38. I bumped us up from an economy i had at 94.00

 

[budbeerlady]

I was just popping over to post that the rate I was stalking for a friend dropped finally. Used the SW code and the $30 off to get her from $223 to $174 with Alamo. The free day coupon was $8 more than the $30 off so you do need to try both to see what works best for you. Dec 19-26 dates.

 

[bop28]

Thanks! I just used the Visa code for $30 instead of the Free Day code, and I rebooked a Fullsize @ $111 instead of $130.