I GIVE UP!!! Rental cars are expensive!!!

[yiotta]

I have been checking Priceline and Orbitz for 3-4 months, I check the specials on all the car rental sites, I have used various codes such as Costco which I am a member and cannot get a price under $500 for 11 days!!
Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong?
We will be arriving at MCO (Orlando) on Feb 17 (AM) and will return the car even earlier on Feb 28 (6AM).
Any suggestions? Am I doing my rate and reservation requests wrong?
Do any of the companies provide good military discounts?
How is it that I see so many great rates elsewhere but can't get any myself?
HELP ME!!!
Roger L

 

[vacanut]

I rented a convertible for Feb 11 - Feb 21 Alamo website for under $300, I found not applying any codes I got the best deal, try each rental car company without codes, GOOD LUCK!

 

[DebbieB]

I think the problem is you are there over the President's Day holiday weekend. I saw on another thread that some companies are soldout.

 

[yiotta]

SOLDOUT!!
OMG, say it isn't so!!

 

[coinkc]

What size car do you want? I plugged your dates into National's website and got an intermediate car for $450 all taxes included. This was without using any discount codes at all.

 

[yiotta]

WHAT? I just plugged those dates into National with no codes and got a rate back of $719!! What size car?

 

[robinb]

Go to Mousesavers and play with their car rental codes:
http://www.mousesavers.com/rentalcar.html

I just plugged your dates into National using the AMEX contract ID and got an Intermediate for $326. Look here: http://www.mousesavers.com/national.html#codes

 

[yiotta]

I will go check those out... here is what I got from nationals site:

Rates - Time & Distance USD
Time & Distance 1 Week @ 422.39 422.39
Extra - Time & Distance 4 Day @ 70.40 281.60
Extra - Time & Distance 0 Hour @ 35.20 0.00
Unlimited Distance-time & Distance 0 Distance @ 0.00 0.00

Base Rate _____
703.99


Add Surcharges & Taxes: (subject to change)
Concession Fee Recov Chrg 9.8 Pct 69.52
Fl Schrg/tire Bat Fee 2.05 Usd/dy 22.55
License Recoupment Fee .49 Usd/dy 5.39
State Tax (6.50%) 52.09

Total Estimate _____
853.54

That is insanity!! And it is for a little car!! EEEEEKKKKK!!!!

 

[robinb]

That is insanity!! And it is for a little car!! EEEEEKKKKK!!!!

Deep breaths! Relax!

Did you check out the National link I gave you? Do you have an American Express card? This is what I got when I used the AMEX code.

Intermediate 2/4 Door Car Auto A/C


Pick-up:
Orlando Intl Arpt, FL
17-FEBRUARY-2005 09:00 AM

Return:
Orlando Intl Arpt, FL
28-FEBRUARY-2005 09:00 AM

Rates - Time & Distance USD
Time & Distance 1 Variable @ 91.96 91.96
Time & Distance 1 Week @ 160.93 160.93
Unlimited Distance-time & Distance 0 Distance @ 0.00 0.00

Base Rate _____
252.89


Add Surcharges & Taxes: (subject to change)
Concession Fee Recov Chrg 9.8 Pct 25.31
Fl Schrg/tire Bat Fee 2.05 Usd/dy 22.55
License Recoupment Fee .49 Usd/dy 5.39
State Tax (6.50%) 19.90

Total Estimate _____
326.04

 

[yiotta]

Dang, I guess I am cursed!!
The rates using those codes are even higher!!
Using the code 6600330
I got a rate of $700!!


Compact 2/4 Door Car Auto A/C
Pick-up:
Orlando Intl Arpt, FL
17-FEBRUARY-2005 07:00 AM

Return:
Orlando Intl Arpt, FL
28-FEBRUARY-2005 06:00 AM
Rates - Time & Distance USD
Time & Distance 1 Week @ 422.39 422.39
Extra - Time & Distance 4 Day @ 70.40 281.60
Extra - Time & Distance 0 Hour @ 35.20 0.00
Unlimited Distance-time & Distance 0 Distance @ 0.00 0.00

Base Rate _____
703.99

Less Discounts:
Discount -70.40

SubTotal _____
633.59


Add Surcharges & Taxes: (subject to change)
Fl Schrg/tire Bat Fee 2.05 Usd/dy 22.55
License Recoupment Fee .49 Usd/dy 5.39
State Tax (6.50%) 43.00

Total Estimate _____
704.53

 

[robinb]

Code "6600330"'s big savings is on the concession fee. The AMEX code rocks. If you don't have a card now, I suspect you can sign up for a free one over the phone and they might be able to get it to you in time.

 

[yiotta]

Well, the AMEX code did work for a pretty good rate, I got exactly what you have listed. That is an amazing discount.
Next question, I would like to use the Emerald Service quick check out option. And I saw a free way to get an Emerald Membership on mousesavers...
Do you know if I need to have the emerald membership first?

I guess I could use the quickrent instead:
"National also offers the QuickRent feature, which will allow anyone (not just Emerald Club members) to bypass the line and go straight to the car. You must provide a valid credit card number when booking online to take advantage of this feature, and there are a number of restrictions - one of them is that you can't use a coupon! QuickRent is available at 50 major airports in the US, including Orlando, Los Angeles and Orange County."

Any other advantages to Emerald Membership with National?

 

[robinb]

The advantage to the Emerald Club is picking out your car from the Emerald Aisle. You are guaranteed at least an Intermediate and sometimes they even have Full Size cars on the Aisle that you can take for the same price. I would recommend that you make your reservation now before they run out of cars, sign up for National's Emerald Club and then call National and have them add your number to the reservation and have them change the method of pick up from the Counter to the Emerald Aisle.

FWIW, I have used $$ off coupons with the EA pick up. Class upgrades always bounce me back to "Counter".

 

[yiotta]

Robin, Thank you so much, after months of frustration I finally got this done.
I used the AMEX code and got the car for $326 total.
I purchased it with the Quick Rent option.
I will now see if I can get a free membership to the Emerald Club, then I will try to add it to my reservation. So I might end up with an even better car?
Roger L
Silverdale WA

 

[robinb]

Yes. Make sure that your reservation eventally says "Emerald Aisle" on it. When you get to MCO, just go across the street to the National lot, find the row of cars marked "Emerald Aisle" and pick out any one that strikes your fancy. Then, drive it to the exit and out. I usually print off my reservation information and hand that to the employee at the exit. I usually spend too much time picking out my perfect car!

This thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=196742 tracks what kinds of cars other people have been finding on the EA.

 

[DebbieB]

Codes can be strange. My last few trips the priceless code was the least by far. I saw a post about rental rates being high around Thanksgiving so I thought I should check for my Nov 26 to Dec 2 trip. Priceless code was well over $300! I tried AMEX and got $184 total! I booked that just in case the prices go up. I usually only pay around $115 the first week of December but we're going a week earlier this year.

 

[greggt]

Yes. Make sure that your reservation eventally says "Emerald Aisle" on it. When you get to MCO, just go across the street to the National lot, find the row of cars marked "Emerald Aisle" and pick out any one that strikes your fancy. Then, drive it to the exit and out. I usually print off my reservation information and hand that to the employee at the exit. I usually spend too much time picking out my perfect car!

This thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=196742 tracks what kinds of cars other people have been finding on the EA.

I just went through that process.. I went to the Budget rent a car site https://rent.drivebudget.com. For 10 days for a mid size care the cost would be $277 you will need to enter a discount code u030174. Let me know if this helps....

 

[robinb]

greggt,

Did you check the OP's dates? 2/17 - 2/28? I get over $600 with that discount code?!?

ETA: greggt, you may want to check Thrifty for your dates using the "WALMRT" code. It returns really nice rates. I found the National AMEX rate in conjunction with a $20 per week coupon (from the Entertainment Book) the same as Thrifty and I can pick out my own car and don't have to take the shuttle.

 

[greggt]

Just checked those dates, wow what a differance. The rates went from $277 to $700
I guess I connot be much help. Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[robinb]

Just checked those dates, wow what a differance. The rates went from $277 to $700
I guess I connot be much help. Good luck and have a great trip.

No greggt, you were great help. Someone might be able to use that code for another time . Welcome to the DIS!