is $260 a good price for Full size at Alamo/6 nights

[meg8017]

Hi, I have never rented a car before so I am a little nervous! We are going to Disney 1/31-2/6 and the best rate I found is with Alamo for a Full size car for $260 with taxes and fees or $268 for a small SUV. This is with the Walmart code on Mousesavers. I checked several sites and this was best by far. Is it a good rate though? Any idea what would be better space wise, the Full size car or small SUV? We have 2 adults, 1 toddler. Also we plan on stopping for some groceries (need to fit with luggage). Thanks so much!!

 

[JennSaint]

$260.00 is high!!
Hotwire.com has a full size car for your dates for $147.00 including all taxes etc .

 

[SuzyQue]

Try combining your Walmart code with one of the coupon codes on Mousesavers to get a better price. I'm having no luck at all leaving Feb. 2nd, all the good codes end Jan. 31st.

 

[robinb]

Why do you have such a big car with only 2 adults and a toddler? We are 2 adults and a 10-year old and we fit into a compact with no problems. Heck, we even rented a VW Beatle on our last trip and our 3 suitcases, 2 laptops and my DD's backpack all fit fine.

 

[robinb]

Go to http://www.carrentalsavers.com/index.html and punch in your dates. You can get an intermediate from Enterprise for $182 inc taxes and it's in the terminal or an intermediate from Payless for $155 if you're willing to take a shuttle.

 

[meg8017]

thanks for the input. We'd like fullsize just for personal preference. I used to drive a Ford Focus and hated it, so we know we want something bigger. Having never rented, we'd feel more comfortable booking directly through an agency, than through Hotwire or Priceline.
SuzyQue, I don't think we can use a coupon, we don't have a Sat/ night stay. (Sun-Sat. is our vaca). But thanks!
I'll check back a few times before we go, maybe price will drop.

 

[robinb]

thanks for the input. We'd like fullsize just for personal preference. I used to drive a Ford Focus and hated it, so we know we want something bigger. Having never rented, we'd feel more comfortable booking directly through an agency, than through Hotwire or Priceline.

The link I sent you was not Hotwire or Priceline. It was an agency that will make the reservation for you using codes that are available to the general public. Your reservation will be with the rental car company that you choose from the list. Many people here on the DIS have used Car Rental Savers in the past with great success.

I hate to tell you that the difference in size between an intermediate and a full size is mostly in the trunk. The interior of the car is just about the same. I would definitely rent an intermediate to save $100. How long are you going to be in the car anyway? Is it really worth the extra $15 per day?

FWIW, Hotwire only deals with Avis, National, Alamo, Budget, Enterprise and Hertz. So, it's not like you will get Bob's Happy Car Rental instead. I wouldn't hesitate to rent using Hotwire or Priceline ... and I have in the past.

 

[JennSaint]

thanks for the input. We'd like fullsize just for personal preference. I used to drive a Ford Focus and hated it, so we know we want something bigger. Having never rented, we'd feel more comfortable booking directly through an agency, than through Hotwire or Priceline.
SuzyQue, I don't think we can use a coupon, we don't have a Sat/ night stay. (Sun-Sat. is our vaca). But thanks!
I'll check back a few times before we go, maybe price will drop.

I'm the one who sent you the link to hotwire. We've used hotwire for hotels and car rentals and have never had a problem. Using hotwire would save you more than $100.00 over the $260.00 price you found. I think most people on this board will tell you hotwire is a great discount travel site and I don't know anyone who has run into any issues with them.
Good luck!

I've edited this to add a quote direct from the hotwire site to confirm what robinb said:
"You're guaranteed a car from a major car-rental agency: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar (International only), Hertz, or National. "

 

[Nancy_in_CA]

My dates are almost identical to yours - I am leaving on the Feb 5 instead of Feb 6. A few hours ago I booked a Full Size car on Hotwire for $130.18 including all taxes and fees. The car company ended up being Avis.

 

[meg8017]

thank you for the info. I will definitely talk with my husband about it and giev it some thought. I know we wouldn't get Bob's car rental with Hotwire, I just don't want to get the one where you have to take a shuttel. (Hertz?).
and thanks for the info about the difference between intermediate and full size, I didn't realize that. I'll chalk it up to being a rental newbie

 

[dioxide45]

I paired the Walmart code from Mousesavers with the Entertainment two car class upgrade coupon. It provided me with a rate of $201 for a standard car class for your dates. Standard car class is always the same price as full and MCO doesn't have a Standard isle.

 

[meg8017]

thanks dioxide! I went and tried it and booked a compact with 2 class upgrade for $185! I am happy with that, much better than $260! So just so I got it right, 2 classes up from compact is standard, right? are they pretty much the same as full size? I can book a santard with the upgrade for 207. I don't know what I'd be upgraded to then.
Either way, glad I'm saving some money here! Thank you everyone for your help, I really appreciate it!

 

[dioxide45]

I have limited experience reserving a standard at MCO. We did reserve a standard on our last trip and picked out a Malibu from the full size isle since there is no standard isle (Malibu is what is listed online for a standard car). If we tried to pull out with an Impala perhaps they wouldn't have let us, don't know. I don't see why they wouldn't have, the base prices are the same for standard and full size.

 

[dioxide45]

thanks dioxide! I went and tried it and booked a compact with 2 class upgrade for $185! I am happy with that, much better than $260! So just so I got it right, 2 classes up from compact is standard, right? are they pretty much the same as full size? I can book a santard with the upgrade for 207. I don't know what I'd be upgraded to then.
Either way, glad I'm saving some money here! Thank you everyone for your help, I really appreciate it!

The $201 I quoted was using a 12pm to 12pm pickup/dropoff time. So if your times are different you may get a slightly different rate. I am guessing the $185 rate is actually reserved for a standard (upgraded from compact). You can only use the two car class upgrade coupon on a compact and a standard, which upgrades to a standard and full size respectively.