January Car Rental Rates

[JayhawkFans]

Can't believe the prices I'm seeing for car rentals in January. Am I missing something? Do you think the rates will come down?

I'm currently getting quotes of $180+ for 3 days or over $250 for 7 days. We really only need the car for 3 days but will reserve for a full week if it's cheaper. We are flying into Orlando .. then flying to Cancun for a wedding .. then returning to Orlando for a couple of days before flying home.

 

[jlovesee]

Its four months out that's why. I have gone down to Disney in January every year for the last 11 years. I haven't even booked plane tickets yet. I wont even start seriously looking at those until next month or so. I wont look at car rentals until 2 months out. I haven't paid more then $100 for a compact for 7-9 days for the last 3-4 years. You will be fine.


Jennifer

 

[LuvLDM]

I agree with the above poster, it's too soon for discounts. Rates will likely change drastically between now & January .

Last January I rented a full size vehicle from Alamo, I paid $88 for 6 days.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We arrive December 31st, and are toying with the idea of a rental car. Our last trip to Orlando in January 2009 was a Disney-only vacation, so we used Disney transportation and ME, negating the need for a vehicle. This trip, we are doing Discovery Cove, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and a plethora of shopping (with our hotel on I-Drive) so a car would be pretty darn handy.

The best rate I have found so far is an economy car for $204 per week plus taxes. Both Thrifty and Dollar offer this rate if booked via the Hawthorn Suites Universal Orlando website. JayhawkFans, that's a bit of an improvement from your $250 for the week, so there's hope for us yet .

If I could get a weekly rate in the $100 range, I would book without hesitation! Fingers crossed that we can find comparable rates to what the two previous posters found!!!

LuvLDM and jlovesee, do you have any "great rate finding tips" that you'd care to share? We've never rented a vehicle for a vacation before, so this process is all new.

 

[LuvLDM]

Gina, I always use www.mousesavers.com for car rental discount codes.

I prefer to rent from Alamo, you can join their insiders club for free.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

JayhawkFans, have you popped your dates into carrentalsavers.com ?

I just ran our dates through their system, and have come up with much more favourable rates than I have found thus far. We can get an economy car with unlimited miles including all fees and taxes for $171.62 for seven days. Their site says "no booking fees, cancel anytime, no credit card at booking, guaranteed rates". Might be worth checking into.

When round-trip airport transportation is going to cost us $125, and I-Drive trolley passes will be $30 for the three of us, plus taxi fare to and from the Universal parks ... I am thinking that the $171 rate would be easy to handle indeed. And the flexibility! Ah, that would be wonderful in itself.

Now someone tell me that there isn't something bad I should know about booking through this site. After seeing almost $300 rates (with taxes) .... or worse! .... for the same dates up until now, I can't help but wonder.....what's the catch?