Driving from NY, Need Car rental help

[NewDisneyLover]

Hi, We'll be driving to Disney this time around, DH just refuses to fly this time. Anyway my question is does anyone know of a good car rental company that offers unlimited mileage and has reasonable rates? in The NY/Long Island Area? Everything I find charges extra if you go over a certain number of miles. I really don't want to take our Mini-van, although I know it would be more comfortable but I also don't want to pay an exorbitant amount of money either.
Thanks in Advance! Amanda

 

[cola1068]

hi, Amanda we are also driving to Disney from Long Island in January. You can look under car rental in the yellow pages there was a couple of places that rented vans with unlimited mileage you pay a weekly price. also we found a couple of car dealerships that rent vehicles. we just found the prices were outrageous so we are driving our Jimmy. I think they wanted $1200 dollars for the week to rent a van w/ a tv. good luck.

 

[NewDisneyLover]

Hi, thanks for the tips..$1200 is a bit outrageous. If I can't find anything within our budget then hopefully I can get Dh to take our own car..I'm going to check the mileage to Florida on Mapquest and find out what the exact mielage would be. Someone told me that If I enter a full isze car rather than mini van or SUV on the car rental search I may get the car for unlimited mileage..It's worth a shot , I just thought a minivan would be more comfortable for the kids. THX Again!

 

[gymnuts]

Hi! We have driven twice from New York. Both times I used Avis. Always a mini van with unlimited miles. In Oct. of 2000 we rented a Minivan from Mac Arthur airport (Airport locations have extended hours.) For twelve days with unlimited miles we locked in a rate with tax of 650.00. I booked it through their website. If you do this make sure to make a copy of your confirmation because I know their rates change very often. Good Luck!

 

[leebee]

Gosh, it seems like alot of money to rent a vehicle. What about the train? My DH is 6'2" and we've taken Amtrak all over the east, sleeping in the coach car seats. WHile not the most comfy sleeping arrangement, it was fine for one night! Of course, I suppose that once you're in FL you'll need to rent a car, but when you add gas, tolls, overnight hotel during drive, and the time involved, maybe you CAN convince DH to fly! Also, I know that some rental car companies limit the regions/areas into which you can take their cars, so watch out for this, too.

 

[WDW4XMAS]

We are driving from CT in just 11 short days!!!! We too decided not to fly even though we already had tickets. We rented a minivan( no TV/VCR, but borrowing one from a friend!) from Hertz at the Bradley Airport location, unlimited mileage and areas, for 12 days for $800.00. We have points from our AMEX card and got the cost down to $500.00. We have 3, $60 a night hotels (incl. bkfst) reserved for the trip, 1 going down and 2 coming home. Even with gas, etc. it will still be less than flying and we had great prices on our original flights. Forget the train. When I called I was told $1600.00 for 4 of us, CT to FL! Of course that was for Christmas week, but they didn't even have any sleeping cars left when I called on Sept. 15!!!!! I've done alot of research on this so let me know if I can help some more. Good Luck!!!

 

[lillykat]

we have rented a car from hertz in hicksville - yes there are closer ones to us but they are cheaper for some reason don't know why - anyway you get a AAA discounts. They are quick, efficient and the cars have always been clean - the last time they upgraded us to a full sZE Taurus when we drove to williamsburg. They have unlimited milage and everytime we have tried to rent a car (5times now) they have always been the cheapest deal we could find

 

[NewDisneyLover]

Thanks for the Avis Tip Gymnuts! I live in Bay Shore too! So It won't be too far . I checked it out and got a rate of $433 for 7 days for a mini-van..I hope the rate doesn't change becasue I haven't booked it yet. I laways thought Dollar was cheaper but they quoted a rate of $599! That is a lot more, Thanks! Amanda

 

[NewDisneyLover]

Hi Leebee, There is no way I can convince my DH to fly right now..he didn't like it much when we went last year and was very nervous. My Dh works for the FDNY, he's a paramedic, so this whole tragedy has hit him really hard, he's lost so many friends and colleagues. He's seen the devastion at ground Zero first hand. When the plane fell over Rockaway this past November we were on our way to our daughter's school for a parent/teacher meeting and we heard it on the radio. The first thing he told me is "that's it, we're driving to florida!"

 

[NewDisneyLover]

Thanks i'll check out hertz in hicksville too!

 

[DC7800]

You could also take Auto-Train from Lorton, Va, (just south of D.C.) to Sanford Florida (about 45 minutes to WDW). This saves about 900 miles of driving in each direction, so mileage on a rental wouldn't be such as issue. It isn't always cheap (deals are often available, though) but avoids a motel and food stops (meals are included with your ticket price) on the road, which helps to reduce the cost difference.

You could also take your mini-van on the train, but larger vehicles cost extra.