Holy high rental car rates for LGA 5/23-5/27 -- any suggestions?

[mom2mikel]

Is LaGuardia *always* so expensive? We can get great airfare into LGA, but the rental cars are really expensive OR higher airfare into Newark (EWR) but rental cars are more reasonable.

Alamo doesn't operate at LGA (I think) so that limits our options. I've tried Costco rates, hotwire, various codes found on FatWallet and the best I've found is $284 for a compact or economy car.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

TIA!

Oh - the details: pick up 5/23 3pm, return 5/27 6pm

 

[bumbershoot]

As a person who is dealing with high rental car prices because of a holiday (president's day) that happens to fall at the end of our trip (the holiday was not taken into consideration while booking), all I can say is...reschedule the trip away from Memorial Day weekend.

I know, helpful, right?



But also know that rental car prices tend to come down. I started looking at cars when the prices were *several* hundred dollars for our time period, and I've since gotten a lower rate. I'd still like it to be lower, and at 12 days from rental I'm still checking, since in the past things have come down mere days before my rental starts. Hope hope hope! (in my case, it's not the pickup that's over the weekend, but the dropoff, which makes it even more annoying for me)

Best of luck!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Um... You can't compare pricing in Orlando to NYC. Yes, it is generally going to cost a lot more. It is a high cost area.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Where are you staying? There are a ton of rental sites throughout the NYC area. You may be better off taking a cab to your hotel and finding a rental elsewhere or just using mass transit if you are staying in Manhattan.

 

[Lewisc]

Where are you staying? There are a ton of rental sites throughout the NYC area. You may be better off taking a cab to your hotel and finding a rental elsewhere or just using mass transit if you are staying in Manhattan.

Good suggestions. Neighborhood locations might be closed on Memorial Day. Orlando rental rates dont relate to rates in places like NYC
WAIT and there might not be cars available

 

[bru_ellman]

I live here in NY and rent a car when we need one. That's a pretty good rate for Memorial Day weekend and like another poster suggested, if you wait too long you might not get anything. Though you still have plenty of time right now.

BTW, in NY the airport usually has better prices and availability than the local rental locations.

 

[dsneprincess]

I also think that is a pretty good rate for a holiday weekend in a major high rent district! I would snap it up. You can always rebook and cancel if you find for less.......

 

[Lewisc]

The OP is renting a car for 4 days + 3 hours. You're being charged for 5 days. Some agencies charge you a weekly rate. Others charge the daily rate. 5 Days at the daily rate will generally cost more then the weekly rate.

Giving the matter some more thought, I think the rates you got were pretty good.

There are people in NYC who don't own a car. They rent a car for vacation. Memorial Day is the start of the summer. Book something now. Keep checking. If I'm wrong you can rebook and save a few dollars. If I'm right the rate will keep going up until there aren't any cars available.

 

[mom2mikel]

Thanks everyone I was more frustrated with the difference between LaGuardia ($400) vs Newark ($200). We decided for several reasons to fly into Newark so I was able to get the lower rate there.

Oh, and that $284 for compact was not correct -- my friend sent me bad info. The best I found was $384 out of LaGuardia.

I do love MCO rates though

Thanks again!!!