Holy moly, late Jan Nat'l rates are high!

[jenjersnap]

At least they seem so for me! Full-size is $494 for 9 days with no codes or with the Walmart or Emerald Club codes, intermediate is about $30 cheaper. The Amex codes pushes a full-size to $955.57.

I thought the rule of car rentals was the "the further out you book it the better"?!?

Should I hold out for better rates? I am asking this because I wondered if, like Disney hotels, if National sees lots of bookings they would have no incentive to lower rates and I don't want to be part of that since we will not pay $500 for a rental in Orlando. Are the rates likely to get better? Is there some reason for high rates at that time of year? Any help or advice is appreciated.

I am far from an expert about car renting, but the highest I've ever paid for a National rental in Orlando was $200 for 10 days so that is why I am puzzled.

 

[n2mm]

National has been so high this past year I have had to go elsewhere for several of my trips this year. Alamo was cheaper most of this year and for my next trip in October I had to choose Dollar right now. Yes, I'm like most folks here and am a member of National, but when it comes to a huge price difference I can't justify using National. I used them for a long weekend in August and happened to snag a cheap rate, but for my next trip in October I had a choice of Dollar for $313/full size; Alamo $380/suv; or National $404/intermediate -- this is for a 2 week stay. My next trip is only 3 weeks away and as in the past the rates would start to drop by now, but no such luck. Even the folks in September got a little cheaper rate, but not anything like we are all use to. Sadly, you are going to have to look elsewhere for a cheaper rate, or suck it up and pay the high rates of National. When I log into the disboards each morning, the first place I go is to the transportation board and hope I see a posting about falling rates....that's why I'm here now.