January 2011 car rental

[Maliki2]

Thanks for the info!!

No problem. The garage is set up that it has lines for economy, cimpact, midsize, SUV etc....it's not hard to find your place, we had no problem, other than fighting the other family for the car we wanted...wasn't to bad either. We just ran to the Patty, they were as surprised as we were

 

[mzozzietj]

I'm part of the INsiders club, and did all my check in in one of the kiosks. The Patriot is considered a Midsize vehicle as well as the HHRs and the Cobalts etc that I saw there, I just picked the car, entered and drove it out to the check out area.

Could I ask you about the INsiders club? When you sign up for this, do you have to provide your credit card information online? What information do they ask you to fill out online versus what information do you enter at the kiosks? I like the advantage of not having to wait in the long lines at the airport but I never prepay for car rentals because I don't want to be charged if their are flight changes or cancellations etc. Thanks so much for any info you can share!

 

[KLWST16]

I can't seem to find a thread for February but the code I have a question about ends on Feb. 6 so maybe someone here could help?

I found a phenomenal rate but I'm a bit scared it's too good to be true.

We have a BJs wholesale club membership but we will not be staying over a saturday night so we used the BJs corporate ID but none of their coupon codes since none are valid without the Saturday night stay.

I did however find a coupon code (AD4027JDO) on mousesavers.com that is $40 off

So our grand total for a midsize car for a week with all the taxes is only around $92.

On Mousesavers, it says:

It says no coupon required but i'm a bit nervous about having to pay an extra $40 when we show up. Has anyone else used this code successfully?

Thanks so much for your help!
-Stacey

Wow. What dates are you using? I tried my dates - 1.22 - 1.29 - with that code and got no where near that good of a rate.

Currently, I have a full-size rental from National but the total is $260.80. I used the $35 coupon from the Entertainment Book. And I need to rent two car seats for a total of $99.90, but the taxes and other charges are just so high!

Does $260.80 sound like a reasonable amount for a full-size (or it would be ~$160 without the car seats) for a week? Or is there a better deal out there and what are the codes?

I would love to get a price like the one about where taxes are included!

 

[Maliki2]

Wow. What dates are you using? I tried my dates - 1.22 - 1.29 - with that code and got no where near that good of a rate.

Currently, I have a full-size rental from National but the total is $260.80. I used the $35 coupon from the Entertainment Book. And I need to rent two car seats for a total of $99.90, but the taxes and other charges are just so high!

Does $260.80 sound like a reasonable amount for a full-size (or it would be ~$160 without the car seats) for a week? Or is there a better deal out there and what are the codes?

I would love to get a price like the one about where taxes are included!

Did you think about bringing your own car seats? We bring ours on Jetblue all the time as long as it says its rated for airlines. Saves us a ton of money plus the kiddo is strapped in good on the airline.

 

[Maliki2]

Could I ask you about the INsiders club? When you sign up for this, do you have to provide your credit card information online? What information do they ask you to fill out online versus what information do you enter at the kiosks? I like the advantage of not having to wait in the long lines at the airport but I never prepay for car rentals because I don't want to be charged if their are flight changes or cancellations etc. Thanks so much for any info you can share!

Well when I signed up awhile back I don't think I had to provide my CC information but you do have to provide your license information. They didn't charge my CC until I returned the vehicle. But they already had my CC info on check in. I cancelled and redid my reservation about 6 times prior to leaving so I never prepay. But that is a option if someone wants to. The lines weren't long but I did the Kiosk and it was super quick and easy, the instructions print out and tell you where to go. So I went to Alamo parking garage a lady asked what size car on my way by and I said midsize, she directed me to the area (which was labled on the wall, Midsize line all the way down), I picked the car, got in and drove off to the checkout booth. And I was on my way!

 

[KLWST16]

Did you think about bringing your own car seats? We bring ours on Jetblue all the time as long as it says its rated for airlines. Saves us a ton of money plus the kiddo is strapped in good on the airline.

We did think about that, but decided against it because it would mean two more pieces of bulky item to bring with us to the airport. Kids are 5 and 3, so they don't need to sit in a car seat on the flight down. 5 year old is very skinny and I'm not comfortable having her in a normal booster seat yet (she currently uses a 5 pt booster seat, not the type with a lap belt) and there just aren't any that are travel friendly!

 

[mzozzietj]

Wow. What dates are you using? I tried my dates - 1.22 - 1.29 - with that code and got no where near that good of a rate.

Currently, I have a full-size rental from National but the total is $260.80. I used the $35 coupon from the Entertainment Book. And I need to rent two car seats for a total of $99.90, but the taxes and other charges are just so high!

Does $260.80 sound like a reasonable amount for a full-size (or it would be ~$160 without the car seats) for a week? Or is there a better deal out there and what are the codes?

I would love to get a price like the one about where taxes are included!

The dates I am using is 2/6/11 10am to 2/12/11 9am so it's technically only 6 nights but it's based on a weekly rate. With Alamo before taxes the weekly rate is $103.74 then I used the BJs wholesale club Corp ID 7014696 which gives us 10% off and a free additional driver (spouse) and coupon code AD4027JDO (which I found on mousesavers) which is $40 off so the discounts are total of $50.37 then taxes surcharges and fees are $39.60 = $92.97.

I ran the exact same codes through Alamo for your dates and a full size comes out to $137.80 before adding the car seats. When you add the two car seats it brings it up to $254.83 so they are actually adding the taxes and fees to the cost of the car seats as well. Ultimately renting the car seats will cost you $117.03 in this case.

I am bringing my own car seat saving that $50. I'd suggest bringing at least one of the car sears as the airlines do not charge you to check them even if you don't need them on the flight. Specifically where you mention the 5yo needing a 5 point booster, it may be difficult to find something that specific from the car rental agencies.

 

[mzozzietj]

Well when I signed up awhile back I don't think I had to provide my CC information but you do have to provide your license information. They didn't charge my CC until I returned the vehicle. But they already had my CC info on check in. I cancelled and redid my reservation about 6 times prior to leaving so I never prepay. But that is a option if someone wants to. The lines weren't long but I did the Kiosk and it was super quick and easy, the instructions print out and tell you where to go. So I went to Alamo parking garage a lady asked what size car on my way by and I said midsize, she directed me to the area (which was labled on the wall, Midsize line all the way down), I picked the car, got in and drove off to the checkout booth. And I was on my way!

Thanks so much for the info. I've just always been leery of providing CC info when most car rentals don't require it in advance but the perks of bypassing the lines are really tempting... I have to think about it, lol

UPDATE: I just tried to enroll in their INsider program and they require a credit card to sign up now.

 

[staceyj2]

I used the same code and coupon the other day and got a midsize from 2/2-2/8 for $83 TOTAL!!! I couldn't believe it.

Just rechecked my rental using the same codes and it went from $83 to $69!!

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

I booked a compact car from Alamo for 2/3-2/6/11 for $63.42 using the $20 a day weekend rates and a $20 off coupon. The $15 a day weekend rates do not allow you to combine a coupon with it.

 

[elgerber]

My Alamo rate for Jan 28-Feb. 2, just dropped by $11!!

I see a lot of talk of Mid size, do they have a full size aisle at MCO?

 

[mzozzietj]

My Alamo rate for Jan 28-Feb. 2, just dropped by $11!!

I see a lot of talk of Mid size, do they have a full size aisle at MCO?

They do, when I was checking the fullsize was only about $11 more for the week for us. The midsize just kept it under $100 which made us feel like we were saving so much more, LOL... mental block

OMG, my rate dropped again too! Now it's total of $84.35 for one week with a mid-size!

 

[elgerber]

They do, when I was checking the fullsize was only about $11 more for the week for us. The midsize just kept it under $100 which made us feel like we were saving so much more, LOL... mental block

OMG, my rate dropped again too! Now it's total of $84.35 for one week with a mid-size!

Great rates arent' they? I am at $95 for a week (well it's only 5 days, but the price is the same either way) for a full size! Now I hope we can get 5 people and our bags in there. I know it's going to be tight and we may all be holding bags all the way to the hotel LOL.
I would love to do National, so I can chance somethign bigger in the EA, but their rates aren't even close.

 

[staceyj2]

Great rates arent' they? I am at $95 for a week (well it's only 5 days, but the price is the same either way) for a full size! Now I hope we can get 5 people and our bags in there. I know it's going to be tight and we may all be holding bags all the way to the hotel LOL.
I would love to do National, so I can chance somethign bigger in the EA, but their rates aren't even close.

I am at $69 for mid size for 6 days. If the rate drops much more they are going to be paying me to take the car off their hands.

 

[schriverl]

Just upgraded my mid-size for 1/21 to 1/31 for $140 to a full size for $150!! Just $10 more and more luggage space, I couldn't pass it up!

 

[mzozzietj]

Just upgraded my mid-size for 1/21 to 1/31 for $140 to a full size for $150!! Just $10 more and more luggage space, I couldn't pass it up!

I know, I'm so tempted to upgrade too. For us, it's just DH, DD, and I but DD will be in her car seat and have a stroller plus we will have 3 medium bags. I still think we can do it with the mid-size... I think just the trip from the airport will be cozy. We will check our luggage with RAC for the return flight so that won't even be a bother. I'm trying to hold back... that $84 WITH taxes and fees, is so insanely cheap!

 

[mzozzietj]

I am at $69 for mid size for 6 days. If the rate drops much more they are going to be paying me to take the car off their hands.

I know, seriously! My rate after discounts before fees is $46.01, it's the $38 in taxes and fees that bring it up to the $84... I have never seen rates so low, but I sure as heck am not complaining!

 

[schriverl]

I know, I'm so tempted to upgrade too. For us, it's just DH, DD, and I but DD will be in her car seat and have a stroller plus we will have 3 medium bags. I still think we can do it with the mid-size... I think just the trip from the airport will be cozy. We will check our luggage with RAC for the return flight so that won't even be a bother. I'm trying to hold back... that $84 WITH taxes and fees, is so insanely cheap!

We have 4 of us, 2 in carseats. With 2 large and 2 medium suitcases. I figured with the mid-size if the luggage didn't all fit in the trunk I would put one in the backseat between the kids. lol! We're only bringing the umbrella stroller to get from plane to rental car. We'll be renting one from magicstrollerrentals while there. So for just the little bit more $, I think it'll be well worth it not having to struggle just getting luggage and kids in the car!

 

[mzozzietj]

Just got a minivan from 1/24-1/30 for $177. Used code 7014667, and $40 coupon from mousesavers. Thats much, much better!!!!

Whoaaa, I just used this code with the Mousesavers coupon code and got mine down to $69 INCLUDING taxes/fees for the week. What is this corporate code for? Just so I know if I need to use a specific type of credit card or something else when we get there?

 

[elgerber]

Wow, mine just came down another $10 from last night. $85 full size!