July 2013 car rentals

[eeyorepixie]

Well , I just got my mini van for half of my Budget rental ... I work a lot with rental companies and did not want to ask for any favors. I did not want to put anyone in an awkward position and ruin a good working relationship. During a conversation with one of them I mentioned my trip and he said " you will Not be in my competitors rental. Why didn't you call me first?" So now my price is $300 total for two weeks with no second driver fee . Yeah!

Lesson learned ! Next time I will go to my source.

I am green with envy, but congrats

so I am still really in a tizzy, booked quite awhile ago the vroom, vroom code with budget in March, in May I heard buzz about concerns about the vroom, vroom code...but thought well I am going to get something better anyways so I am not going to worry...
Well I have never rented during a peak month before...the minivans are disappearing as an option from many of the sites.

I have to have a minivan with all of our luggage and 6 people...ugggh, I am hoping my obsessive compulsive nature save my butt.

I have read on the June thread of people having no problem with the Vroom, vroom. But I just do not know and I hate not knowing if it is not going to be fine. I am a Uber planner because I do not like nasty surprises! Especially on vacay So as the stomach turns, so want my own personal saga.

 

[Indy Denise]

I am green with envy, but congrats

so I am still really in a tizzy, booked quite awhile ago the vroom, vroom code with budget in March, in May I heard buzz about concerns about the vroom, vroom code...but thought well I am going to get something better anyways so I am not going to worry...
Well I have never rented during a peak month before...the minivans are disappearing as an option from many of the sites.

I have to have a minivan with all of our luggage and 6 people...ugggh, I am hoping my obsessive compulsive nature save my butt.

I have read on the June thread of people having no problem with the Vroom, vroom. But I just do not know and I hate not knowing if it is not going to be fine. I am a Uber planner because I do not like nasty surprises! Especially on vacay So as the stomach turns, so want my own personal saga.

Thank you for the congrats! Have you tried the Budget code for Travelocity?I was so excited to have saved so much over Hertz Aaa ( which was the cheapest I could find at the time) . I have read many forums all over the net and not one person has any issues using that BCD code.

I know what you mean about using a code that could give you grief . It would be very costly to have to pay rack rates at the counter if they refuse to honor the code. Not only am I a über planner like you , I am also a major worrier.

 

[TamaraQT]

Rates are dropping slowly. I am going to just keep cancelling and rebooking. Right now I have a full size at Alamo for 10days for $388.71. Not the best price but it sure beats the $500 rates I was seeing before. Of course with the Vroom rate I was in the $200 range but I am afraid to use that. So I have cancelled that. I am hoping for a rate of under $250 within the next few days. But considering I paid $139 last year for a full size for 10 days, these current rates are a little hard to adjust to.

 

[kimpossible]

Rates are dropping slowly. I am going to just keep cancelling and rebooking. Right now I have a full size at Alamo for 10days for $388.71. Not the best price but it sure beats the $500 rates I was seeing before. Of course with the Vroom rate I was in the $200 range but I am afraid to use that. So I have cancelled that. I am hoping for a rate of under $250 within the next few days. But considering I paid $139 last year for a full size for 10 days, these current rates are a little hard to adjust to.

What are your days and codes if you don't mind sharing. I can't get less then $409 for 9 days with Alamo.

 

[andychris14]

A compact for $263/week is not a bargain. I would expect a compact to eventually wind up at less than $150/week and possibly closer to $100. No guarantee, but that's what I would expect.

Please keep in mind that what I'm going to explain is generally true, but not in all circumstances.

I just checked undiscounted Alamo compact for 7/17-23. The price is $430. Makes Hotwire/Priceline look good, right? That is a Wednesday thru Tuesday. The rates tend to come down about 7-14 days out. So, change the dates to 6/19-6/25. Also a Wednesday thru Tuesday. The undiscounted Alamo rate is $220. (In fact, you can also get a Dollar city special for those dates at $145 total) Already well below Hotwire and its non-binding. That's 7 days out, which might be a little on the late side...usually around 10 is when you do best.

Does that mean that the Alamo rate will be $220 (or below) for the actual dates? No. Probably better? Yes.

When you quote Hotwire or Priceline this far out, yes, the rate will be less than the going non-binding rate. However, there are almost always discounts to be had on the normal car classes closer to the date, once the agencies see what inventory they have left. It may be true that the 7/17-23 dates may have more demand than the 6/19-25 dates I used as an example, but since we're already into the summer season, I doubt it would be significant.

My advice, as always, is book something non-binding in case rates go up instead of down. Then keep looking and really get vigilant inside the two week window, usually down to about a week. I almost guarantee the rates will go down. I can't remember a time, in my experience, that they haven't.

Wow you know a lot on how to book a car. I am trying to follow your advice. We are flying into mco on 7/30(going to universal first) and will need the car until 8/3(over to Disney and drop the car off on Disney property). So for 5 nights I am finding crazy high prices. I was even looking to see if it may be cheaper just to keep the car until 8/8(drop off at mco)but the prices are crazy high.
What do you recommend I do?
Thank you

 

[richmo]

Wow you know a lot on how to book a car. I am trying to follow your advice. We are flying into mco on 7/30(going to universal first) and will need the car until 8/3(over to Disney and drop the car off on Disney property). So for 5 nights I am finding crazy high prices. I was even looking to see if it may be cheaper just to keep the car until 8/8(drop off at mco)but the prices are crazy high.
What do you recommend I do?
Thank you

It's not really that hard.

The most important thing is don't get sucked into a pre-paid rate (Hotwire, Priceline, etc. The major agencies also have pre-paid rates that are lower than the posted rates. Stay away from them.)

For your dates, look around now. Whatever you find to be the best rate for your needs, put in a reservation. All you need is an email; you will not have to give a credit card.

As time goes on, keep looking. Once you get a few weeks out from your departure date, you should see prices start to slowly drop. When that happens, either modify your existing reservation or create a new one (then cancel the old one).

As has been said, there are no guarantees, but if you're doing a typical MCO pickup/dropoff with a standard car type, there's a very good chance you'll see some major price drops about 10-14 days before your trip. Good luck!

 

[kimpossible]

I thought I had a better rate with Alamo, but I realized that I entered the wrong starting date. Still nothing cheaper then $409 for July 5-13th.

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[Happy99]

The issue is also that a lot of people have more than one reservation for car rentals and the closer to their travel dates the more people cancel what they do not need and therefore the companies now have all these cars they thought were rented and probably why the last minute discounts.

That being said I reserved a minivan for aug for one week and NYE for six days and I can't even get close to the prices I have with any company even the one I am booked through now. I have $370 for AuG and $320 for Dec

 

[andychris14]

It's not really that hard.

The most important thing is don't get sucked into a pre-paid rate (Hotwire, Priceline, etc. The major agencies also have pre-paid rates that are lower than the posted rates. Stay away from them.)

For your dates, look around now. Whatever you find to be the best rate for your needs, put in a reservation. All you need is an email; you will not have to give a credit card.

As time goes on, keep looking. Once you get a few weeks out from your departure date, you should see prices start to slowly drop. When that happens, either modify your existing reservation or create a new one (then cancel the old one).

As has been said, there are no guarantees, but if you're doing a typical MCO pickup/dropoff with a standard car type, there's a very good chance you'll see some major price drops about 10-14 days before your trip. Good luck!

Thank you- will do

 

[TamaraQT]

What are your days and codes if you don't mind sharing. I can't get less then $409 for 9 days with Alamo.

My dates are 7/17 9am to 7/27 6am. I am an Alamo Insider and I use BJ's discount code for a free upgrade from standard size to full size. (AU3Z64SDG)

 

[kimpossible]

Check your Alamo dates. Our dropped $100. Still have a cheaper reissie with Hertz, but I am hoping that Alamo keeps dropping.

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[swashy]

What are your dates? My reservation isn't moving at all

 

[kimpossible]

What are your dates? My reservation isn't moving at all

July 5-13th. Still $311 though.

 

[swashy]

I have July 6 to 13 for approximately $151 which i booked about 3 weeks ago Now its up to $170 for the last week and a half. Would like to have the car longer but rates start going through the roof, so at least we have the car for a short while!

 

[jadejazzkayla]

I have July 6 to 13 for approximately $151 which i booked about 3 weeks ago Now its up to $170 for the last week and a half. Would like to have the car longer but rates start going through the roof, so at least we have the car for a short while!

which car rental company do you have? did you use any codes or coupons?

 

[swashy]

Alamo with code ad2492acx for $30 off which i believe is the visa code and Costco discount code of 7014627. Coming up on the two week mark and I hope the 13th to the 20/21st opens up for lower fares!

 

[kimpossible]

Alamo with code ad2492acx for $30 off which i believe is the visa code and Costco discount code of 7014627. Coming up on the two week mark and I hope the 13th to the 20/21st opens up for lower fares!

Still $315 with these codes for July 5-13. What a difference a day makes!

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[kimpossible]

Alamo with code ad2492acx for $30 off which i believe is the visa code and Costco discount code of 7014627. Coming up on the two week mark and I hope the 13th to the 20/21st opens up for lower fares!

I just punched in your dates and still got $273...

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[TamaraQT]

DATES: 7/17 (9am) to 7/27 (6am)
Company: Alamo
Vehicle: Full-size
Coupon Codes: 7014627(Costco) AD2492ACX ($30 off)
Price: $331.79

Hoping to find prices in the $200 range very soon!!!

 

[dumbodame]

Try Budget BDC U112000 with coupon MUWZ020. That combo worked best for my dates of July 13-20