I need serious transportation help! Airfare & Car Rental!

[kkmcan]

I started looking up airfares for our Dec trip and about fell off my chair! $400+ per person from Tucson or Phoenix. We have 50,000 miles on our Capital One acct that we've been saving forever and those won't even cover 2 airfares!

Next I checked out rental cars. We need one from that covers our whole trip- airport to port, leave at hotel and take back to WDW and turn in back at airport when we leave so basically Dec 19th-29th. Small car is fine as long as it holds 4 people and luggage.

Any ideas on how to get these cheaper? Do you guys know of any rental car coupons or sales? Should I wait to be booking these and when would be a good time to book- like how far ahead?

TIA,
Kelly

 

[RMAMom]

You are traveling one of the busiest weeks of the year. I wouldn't expect prices to come down and they may go up. I would find an airfare that you could live with and book it. don't forget to check on luggage fees and add that into the price of your tickets.

Have you searched the internet for discounts on rental cars? I would do a few searches and see what you can find. Call your car insurance and see if they'll cover a rental, not have to purchase car insurance from the rental company will save you a lot over a week.

Good luck!

 

[CarolA]

I think you may have waited too late. A couple of suggestions

1. Can you shift the dates.... try moving one way or the other
2. Take DME and dump the car. Over the past few years all the "deals" have expired right about the day you plan to land. Then you only need a car to the port... look into dropping it at the port and not keeping it!
3. Be sure to check the "low cost" carriers that aren't on standard booking engines (SW for example)
4. Consider Tampa to fly into?

 

[uva185]

Like CarolA said you might want to consider alternative airports. Tampa, Fort Lauderdale or even Atlanta. Then you could rent a car (maybe get a lower rate) and drive to the port as a one way rental. Right now on your dates you can fly PHX-ATL for $259 with taxes on Delta nonstop and $280 with taxes to PHX-ATL-TPA on Air Trash err... Air Tran.

You are traveling to Orlando during the Christmas Season which is a high demand period. Especially so this year because all the airlines have reduced capacity.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I think you may have waited too late. A couple of suggestions

1. Can you shift the dates.... try moving one way or the other
2. Take DME and dump the car. Over the past few years all the "deals" have expired right about the day you plan to land. Then you only need a car to the port... look into dropping it at the port and not keeping it!
3. Be sure to check the "low cost" carriers that aren't on standard booking engines (SW for example)
4. Consider Tampa to fly into?

Exactly! Why pay to rent a car that will sit for days at the port while you pay for parking? If you're staying off site and need a car, at least use a company that you can pick up at MCO and drop off at PC: Budget, Avis, & Hertz.
Check www.mousesavers.com for car rental discount codes and coupons.

Sorry but you really picked the most expensive time of year to travel. $400 really isn't that bad considering how far they're taking you and the season. Waaaay worth not driving, eh?