January 2014 Rental Car Deal Watch

[KRFillion]

I booked a minivan with National using the KLM code. I also have the code for the $30 off Entertainment 2013 coupon. The website says I have used a coupon code that requires the coupon to be present at check in.

I do have the KLM membership card, but I don't have the $30 Entertainment coupon. Will they really want to see it? Should I try to see if anyone has one they have not used that I can have?

 

[keishashadow]

I booked a minivan with National using the KLM code. I also have the code for the $30 off Entertainment 2013 coupon. The website says I have used a coupon code that requires the coupon to be present at check in.

I do have the KLM membership card, but I don't have the $30 Entertainment coupon. Will they really want to see it? Should I try to see if anyone has one they have not used that I can have?

fyi, entertainment has coupon codes & actual coupons. what you see on the website is a disclaimer as to fact they may ask to see any coupons used to book the reservation, as well as ID as to corporate codes, to verify that you are eligible. When using entertainment coupons past years I've generally been asked to show the corresponding card for restaurants, etc. and occasionally with rental cars (Alamo).

If you don't have the necessary back up, it's definitely a YMMV situation, in this situation it appears at most you'd be out $30. Corporate codes are another matter, anecdotal accounts abound as to people being denied and reverting to rack rate.

good luck

 

[keishashadow]

I was playing around on priceline today and put in a bid of $17/day for a minivan for Jan 21st - Feb 3rd, 13 days and it was rejected.

I was offered a rebid, and they said if I bid $20/day it would be accepted. So being me, I put in a bid of $18/day and it was accepted, with all taxes and fees, my total for a minivan for 13days is $371. Avis is the rental company.

I'm happy with that as my current reservation was $540 with Alamo.

Thank you so much for posting!

I followed ur strategy, bid $17 for 8 days beginning 1/10 and got counter offer for $19 per day and jumped on it!

$230.24 out the doorthru Hertz onsite. Savings approx. $100 for me and I can cross off the daily hunt for a better deal - priceless

note went thru a reward site and will earn 4% rebate in my next big fat check too

notice there is some verbage on confirmation as to credit card for security. Not quite sure how that works as to amount etc., plan on calling Hertz to verify res and what the security deposit will be just for my records.

 

[yxe dad]

Thank you so much for posting!

I followed ur strategy, bid $17 for 8 days beginning 1/10 and got counter offer for $19 per day and jumped on it!

$230.24 out the doorthru Hertz onsite. Savings approx. $100 for me and I can cross off the daily hunt for a better deal - priceless

note went thru a reward site and will earn 4% rebate in my next big fat check too

notice there is some verbage on confirmation as to credit card for security. Not quite sure how that works as to amount etc., plan on calling Hertz to verify res and what the security deposit will be just for my records.

Perfect, I'm glad I could help!

I agree that it's more more thing to stoke off the list for the trip but we are planning our WDW wedding and I'm still keeping an eye on car rentals for our guests. Only 13 more vehicles to watch for.

 

[tpick]

I've never been asked for my Costco card at Budget in Orlando but I did need to show it earlier this year in Maine. I just assume I'll need to show proof.

 

[keishashadow]

Perfect, I'm glad I could help!

I agree that it's more more thing to stoke off the list for the trip but we are planning our WDW wedding and I'm still keeping an eye on car rentals for our guests. Only 13 more vehicles to watch for.

good luck!

for other not familiar w/priceline & the rental car procedure. I did call Hertz corp & MCO office to verify the vehicle would be guaranteed. They both indicated that indeed, their cars are assigned vs going to aisle and picking one out. Also said that prepaid weekly reservations are held for minimum of 48 hours jik travel issues.

They were both rather vague as to the amount of security deposit that would be required via CC hold but it appears to be comparable to the cost of the priceline rental, not their rack rate.

Now i'm curious as to whether their is an actual security deposit/authorization utilized on whatever CC used when picking up a normally booked reservation thru the agencies. Never noticed anything on my statements, maybe a 'soft' authorization is used? Going to post in transportation thread to see if anybody knows.

 

[jmasgat]

Just booked an impromptu trip over Marathon weekend to cheer on friends and got a Dollar car for $10/day. 3 days with tax cost $51. The base rates were low enough, but also used code 5c11m to get an extra discount.

 

[lolobug]

Hi! We don't NEED a car but I'm considering getting one. We are vacationing Jan.22-30 , flying in and out of MCO. Where do I start? I have a costco membership and AAA. Thanks!

 

[jmasgat]

Hi! We don't NEED a car but I'm considering getting one. We are vacationing Jan.22-30 , flying in and out of MCO. Where do I start? I have a costco membership and AAA. Thanks!

In general, you can look at Costco discounts/coupons by checking rates on costcotravel.com I also then like to look (using the Costco coupon and code) on the car rental company's site. Reason is sometimes you can stack another discount , e.g. Alamo Insider, or use a better contract code.

Also, check out Dollar. I plugged in your dates and saw a rental for compact for $211 total with tax. Dollar also now offers AAA discount (but the regular rate "check city special" was best)

A great reference site for discounts on car rentals is Mousesavers.com Check under Transportation.

And finally, Alamo used to be good. But there web site is so bad now that it seems to barf on most of their own coupons (even the one they sent me for my birthday!). Example, I checked your dates this morning, then tried another rate code and then couldn't get back to the original quote because it gave a message about coupon capacity. SO dreadful!

 

[nutty4wdw]

i agree jmasgat about alamo. use to get good rates with their coupons but now coupons are far and few and some are not accepted at mco. i'm an insider member and i am looking at other companies for the first time in years. also the last two times i rented at alamo their final price when i returned car was higher than the contracted price. i know it says estimated but again i never had an issue until recently. i did argue and they did honor the original price

 

[goofyfigment]

Alamo sent me email today as a thank you for using them 2 weeks ago, I enter the code and it saya coupon capacity reached why bother sending the emails if we can't use them

 

[gcarney]

Alamo sent me email today as a thank you for using them 2 weeks ago, I enter the code and it saya coupon capacity reached why bother sending the emails if we can't use them

I've gotten that as well as coupon no longer valid at this location. I'm telling you I haven't found 1 coupon that works at Alamo for Jan11-18.

 

[bumbershoot]

Just went to book Alamo (because apparently National has lost its mind with what they want to charge) only to find it had dropped in rate since last night*. Got MCO pickup and drop off, 1/4-18, Standard car, for $266. Just using the normal Alamo Insiders code. Pretty happy with that!



*ETA: nope, no drop as far as I know...I was looking at dropping it at the Four Points when I was checking last night but changed my mind to drop at MCO...silly me.

 

[gcarney]

Just went to book Alamo (because apparently National has lost its mind with what they want to charge) only to find it had dropped in rate since last night*. Got MCO pickup and drop off, 1/4-18, Standard car, for $266. Just using the normal Alamo Insiders code. Pretty happy with that! *ETA: nope, no drop as far as I know...I was looking at dropping it at the Four Points when I was checking last night but changed my mind to drop at MCO...silly me.

Now try Dollar and use promo code 5C11M

Good luck

 

[DisneyFEB2013]

Just went to book Alamo (because apparently National has lost its mind with what they want to charge) only to find it had dropped in rate since last night*. Got MCO pickup and drop off, 1/4-18, Standard car, for $266. Just using the normal Alamo Insiders code. Pretty happy with that! *ETA: nope, no drop as far as I know...I was looking at dropping it at the Four Points when I was checking last night but changed my mind to drop at MCO...silly me.

Thank you! What code did you use? I'm not sure which one to use.

 

[gcarney]

Thank you! What code did you use? I'm not sure which one to use.

Please try dollar using code 5C11M. You WILL save $$$

 

[DisneyFEB2013]

Now try Dollar and use promo code 5C11M Good luck

Holy moley! That's a lot cheaper. I'm not familiar with Dollar-- pretty reputable?

 

[bumbershoot]

It was the one that came up when I signed in and went to the Insiders deals area. Ends in VAN.

Holy moley! That's a lot cheaper. I'm not familiar with Dollar-- pretty reputable?

Wow, I agree. And I have the same question. I know nothing about Dollar at all, and definitely nothing about Dollar at MCO.

 

[gcarney]

It was the one that came up when I signed in and went to the Insiders deals area. Ends in VAN. Wow, I agree. And I have the same question. I know nothing about Dollar at all, and definitely nothing about Dollar at MCO.

Yes they are affiliated with Thrifty whom I've used several times and have been great. They are right in the airport with the other big names.

 

[gcarney]

Yes they are affiliated with Thrifty whom I've used several times and have been great. They are right in the airport with the other big names.

They are also part of the AAA network of reputable vendors.