Help! Would you choose Hertz or National?

[Carolc]

Hi Friends,

I currently have a ressie for 7 days thru Hertz at a really good rate of $118.20 including all taxes (full size).

National has dropped their rates for my time frame - intermediate would be about $15 more than Hertz (based on each company's 'estimated' price).

Should I keep Hertz or go National? Thoughts in my mind:

- I've rented thru National, never Hertz. Used Emerald Aisle on last visit, so I know how it works...should be really quick.

- onsite vs. offsite. Does it take a long time to pick up or drop off with Hertz?


Just me and three kids. Are there any things I should consider? (any 'hidden' advantages/disadvantages of either that would far outweigh the price difference?) Is it worth it to pay more for Emerald Aisle or is Hertz better? I signed up for Hertz 'Gold', but never rented with them before, so I won't have a car waiting for me. My instructions are to go to the Gold canopy and fill out some (1 time) paperwork.

Help!

 

[wdwfan1]

I would go with National. The convenience of picking the car up at the airport is worth the extra $15, especially when traveling with children.

 

[safetymom]

I would go with Hertz. We used National several times and found Hertz much quicker. The shuttle bus is always waiting outside. You are driving away from the lot in less than 10 mins.

The cars are in great shape at Hertz. When you go to leave do curbside checkin then return the car.

If you get Captain Jack as your bus driver you will be entertained on the ride. You will hate to get off the bus.

 

[beattyfamily]

Absolutely I'd go with National!

 

[Disneyjosh229]

After reading many many posts, I was very curious about Hertz. So I joined the #1 Club Gold ($50 fee) and tried it out. By FAR Hertz was faster, even with the shuttle ride. There is literally a shuttle bus 95% of the time I walk out of the baggage claim. If you are #1 Club Gold they drop you off at a large board that has your name and stall number, you walk to your car, contract is on the seat and drive away (after stopping at the booth). I was getting tired of inconsistant upgrades and poor vehilce quality over at National. Hertz customer service is nothing short of amazing. I really enjoy using them....

 

[goofy!]

After reading many many posts, I was very curious about Hertz. So I joined the #1 Club Gold ($50 fee) and tried it out. By FAR Hertz was faster, even with the shuttle ride. There is literally a shuttle bus 95% of the time I walk out of the baggage claim. If you are #1 Club Gold they drop you off at a large board that has your name and stall number, you walk to your car, contract is on the seat and drive away (after stopping at the booth). I was getting tired of inconsistant upgrades and poor vehilce quality over at National. Hertz customer service is nothing short of amazing. I really enjoy using them....

I agree. We always use Hertz. We have an Excursion (now a Yukon XL) reserved for the Thanksgiving week and with the Costco codes, we couldn't find a better price.

We love the convenience of Hertz. I have never understood the onsite vs. off-site debate.

We get our luggage and take a few steps to the elevators. Go down one floor and take a few steps out the door. The big yellow bus is always right there. The driver checks us in and helps us haul the luggage onto the bus. Then we sit in a nice air-conditioned bus for a short ride to the Hertz lot. They drop us off at the board, we check where the car is, walk over, load the luggage and drive off. No lugging all the luggage and kids across the road and through the hot, humid parking lot to go find our car. Just a couple of steps out the door and I am sitting on my behind, in an air conditioned bus, being driven to my car
.

 

[goofy!]

sorry - double post

 

[szymon]

If it was the same price, I'd pick National for the convenience of picking my own car. For $15 less, Hertz it is.

Szymon

 

[Disneyjosh229]

If it was the same price, I'd pick National for the convenience of picking my own car. For $15 less, Hertz it is.

Szymon

That was my main problem was not getting to choose your own car, but most locations are very generious with upgrades (especially for Gold members). Also, they sometimes run upgrade promos, one of which i took last rental. I reserved a Midsize car (Ford Fusion, Toyota Corolla) and was offered a Volvo S80 with NeverLost navagation for $5 more per day. Needless to say, I pulled out of the lot in a Volvo

 

[Carolc]

That was my main problem was not getting to choose your own car, but most locations are very generious with upgrades (especially for Gold members). Also, they sometimes run upgrade promos, one of which i took last rental. I reserved a Midsize car (Ford Fusion, Toyota Corolla) and was offered a Volvo S80 with NeverLost navagation for $5 more per day. Needless to say, I pulled out of the lot in a Volvo

DisneyJosh-
What kind of "full size" cars does Hertz have? I reserved using the "SOUTH" promotion..no coupon needed. I have a bunch of coupons (Entertainment, Hertz Gold membership packet). Will they accept any coupons once I get there? (I'm guessing not, since I didn't use them at reservation time)

 

[Carolc]

Whaaaa!! Now to make choices MORE complicated, now Thrifty has dropped their rates. With the WMRT code, it is $99 inclusive. So now which one should I use??

How is Thrifty MCO? I have only used Thrifty once... in Miami - they overbooked the minivans, but luckily we got the last one (walked past all the people waiting in line, since I signed up for Blue Chip).

 

[Disneyjosh229]

DisneyJosh-
What kind of "full size" cars does Hertz have? I reserved using the "SOUTH" promotion..no coupon needed. I have a bunch of coupons (Entertainment, Hertz Gold membership packet). Will they accept any coupons once I get there? (I'm guessing not, since I didn't use them at reservation time)

Im not sure about the coupons, as Ive always just entered them into the ressie at the time ive made it. Hertz has a very broad range of vehicles. Here are the most common full sizes...

Ford Tauras
Ford Five Hundred
Toyota Camry
Chevrolet Impala
Pontiac Grand Prix

If you are gold and you don't like what they gave you, simply walk up to the gold service desk and ask if there is anything else avaialble in your class. If not, ask what the "upsell promo's" are today. Trust me, it sounds like you know what your talking about

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Whaaaa!! Now to make choices MORE complicated, now Thrifty has dropped their rates. With the WMRT code, it is $99 inclusive. So now which one should I use??

How is Thrifty MCO? I have only used Thrifty once... in Miami - they overbooked the minivans, but luckily we got the last one (walked past all the people waiting in line, since I signed up for Blue Chip).

Thrifty is, well, Thrifty Don't expect good customer service or the possiblity of an upgrade as they usually don't just hand these out. They are also offsite at MCO along with Hertz, so both do require a shuttle ride. I can't really comment on shuttle times etc as ive never rented from Thrifty at MCO, only at SFO and LAX. I just tend to avoid most companies, unless they are National, Avis or Hertz because they are the only compaines i Havent had a problem with!

 

[Carolc]

Thrifty is, well, Thrifty Don't expect good customer service or the possiblity of an upgrade as they usually don't just hand these out. They are also offsite at MCO along with Hertz, so both do require a shuttle ride. I can't really comment on shuttle times etc as ive never rented from Thrifty at MCO, only at SFO and LAX. I just tend to avoid most companies, unless they are National, Avis or Hertz because they are the only compaines i Havent had a problem with!

Oh, hey, my bad... I forgot to continue to next screen. Final price with Thrifty is $123. Well, at least it makes the decision easier! So - back to just Hertz or National...

 

[smcbaker]

I've never had any trouble at all with National...no matter where I rent. Used them several times at MCO....walked out the door, got my car and off we went...no hassle, no waiting. The time savings is worth it!