Florida (but not WDW) car rental **challenge**

[Tara]

I'm taking the kiddo on a spur-of-the-moment trip to Sandestin and a bit disappointed with the rental car rates I'm finding. Anyone want to test their rental car deal skillz and see if you can beat the rate I have? Here's the info:

Airport: PNS (Pensacola)
Arriving: 8/22 (starting rental at 11:00am)
Departing: 8/28 (ending rental at 3:00pm)
Compact size car (don't really need bigger but open to bigger if it's a good deal)
Current rate: $273 (includes all taxes/fees)

I am an Alamo Insider, can use Visa or Mastercard to pay for rental, have AAA and Sam's membership but not BJs or Costco.

Come on, Transportation gurus! Hit me with your best shot!

 

[Lewisc]

COSTCO is giving a rate of $280, with Budget, for a compact car. COSTCO rate is generally pretty good. Your rate is pretty good.


Hotwire is 236, you won't know the agency until after you prepay. PL is generally less then Hotwire. PLs "Name Your Own Price" might get you the best rate.

 

[njmom47]

I believe that car rental prices go down 7-10 days or so before the rental date. Ours did (although we were in Fl, but not WDW), and I'm sure I've read that has happened to others on here.

Mousesavers also seems to have a lot of info. Here's the link for Alamo:
http://www.mousesavers.com/alamo-rental-car-discounts/

 

[Tara]

COSTCO is giving a rate of $280, with Budget, for a compact car. COSTCO rate is generally pretty good. Your rate is pretty good.


Hotwire is 236, you won't know the agency until after you prepay. PL is generally less then Hotwire. PLs "Name Your Own Price" might get you the best rate.

Thanks - I've been checking daily and haven't come up with anything cheaper. I considered Hotwire or Priceline but didn't want to end up with Advantage, so I guess I'll stick with what I have.

I believe that car rental prices go down 7-10 days or so before the rental date. Ours did (although we were in Fl, but not WDW), and I'm sure I've read that has happened to others on here.

Mousesavers also seems to have a lot of info. Here's the link for Alamo:
http://www.mousesavers.com/alamo-rental-car-discounts/

Yep, Mousesavers is always my second approach after doing general pricing through carrentalsavers.com. In this case I diligently tried a ton of codes and couldn't find anything better.

Oh well...it is what it is. Guess I'll focus on more important things...like which bikinis to pack.

 

[Lewisc]

Thanks - I've been checking daily and haven't come up with anything cheaper. I considered Hotwire or Priceline but didn't want to end up with Advantage, so I guess I'll stick with what I have.

PL "Name your own price" for car rentals guarantees your reservation will be with Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz or National. I don't know if Advantage was used, when they were owned by Hertz, but you have no risk of getting Advantage.

A PL "name your own price" reservation is paid when your "bid" is accepted. You can't change your reservation. You may have to pay for an additional driver and the car classification is as per PLs description. It's possible a PL customer will be assigned a car which is smaller then the agency typically assigns to customers in that car class.

 

[Tara]

PL "Name your own price" for car rentals guarantees your reservation will be with Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz or National. I don't know if Advantage was used, when they were owned by Hertz, but you have no risk of getting Advantage.

A PL "name your own price" reservation is paid when your "bid" is accepted. You can't change your reservation. You may have to pay for an additional driver and the car classification is as per PLs description. It's possible a PL customer will be assigned a car which is smaller then the agency typically assigns to customers in that car class.

I understand how PL works when you name your own price. Since they show Advantage as an option on the regular booking page, I assumed it would be a NYOP option, but then I tried anyway (several times) and it kept saying I couldn't use it for my itinerary. I just tried again though and...BINGO! I ended up saving $50. Not too shabby.

 

[JimboCh]

I understand how PL works when you name your own price. Since they show Advantage as an option on the regular booking page, I assumed it would be a NYOP option, but then I tried anyway (several times) and it kept saying I couldn't use it for my itinerary. I just tried again though and...BINGO! I ended up saving $50. Not too shabby.

What agency?

 

[Tara]

What agency?

Hertz.