June 2014 Rental Car Deal Watch Thread

[bookwormde]

For those looking to get a car around Disneyworld look at Hertz at Disneyworld Kissimmee HLE location.

With the over 50 discount I got an intermediate for a week for $160.

cancelled my Alamo reservation for $220 at the Dolphin.

 

[CaFeeney]

Price dropped again today at Costco travel! I am now at $108 taxes included for an intermediate 6/11-6/16. Alamo.

If you are a Costco member you should check it out!

 

[richmo]

I think most of you reading this thread can see that the rentals are following the classic pattern of price drops happening in the last two weeks before departure.

I've been seeing price drops, usually not huge, sometimes 2 or 3 times a day as I'm now well inside a week to go (June 4). I think I rebooked with Budget about 5 times over the weekend and now have a weekly rate for a compact at $43, $82 total (Costco codes). The rates were the same for 'Lock Low and Go' and I think Standard was only a few dollars more. I'm sticking with the compact because for the two of us, that's really all I need. While I haven't booked them, I've seen similar pricing patterns with Alamo and Dollar, although they are still well above Budget.

Although different times can mean different discounts, I would strongly encourage those of you looking to minimize your rental costs to check often, especially in that last week.

 

[puffkin]

Still no drops and I am 9 days out. Seriously, they haven't budged at all. Neither up or down. Same price I booked at a month ago. Weird

 

[CaFeeney]

Dropped again to $96 taxes included. Costco travel - Budget intermediate 6/11-6/16. Keep looking!

 

[richmo]

Still no drops and I am 9 days out. Seriously, they haven't budged at all. Neither up or down. Same price I booked at a month ago. Weird

A little more patience...hopefully you'll start seeing some action in 2-3 days.

 

[Police]

It's been a number of years since I rented from Budget. I have a two week reservation late June for full size, around $300. with both Budget and Alamo. I will be using the vehicle almost daily. Budget is about $17 cheaper at this point. Last time I used Budget (Fastbreak) they assigned a vehicle so you got what what they gave you unless you wanted to go back to the counter and ask for another vehicle, kind of a hassle. Is that still the same system?

 

[MiaSRN62]

Dollar has 24 hr sale going on now:


Act Now! Take 24% off, time and mileage only, your next rental of three (3) days or more of a Economy through Premium car at participating locations nationwide. Offer valid for booking today only, for rentals from June 2, 2014 through June 24, 2014.
Promo code : 24OFF

Still not for my dates.....holding steady.....I need June 27-July 4

 

[richmo]

Dollar has 24 hr sale going on now:


Act Now! Take 24% off, time and mileage only, your next rental of three (3) days or more of a Economy through Premium car at participating locations nationwide. Offer valid for booking today only, for rentals from June 2, 2014 through June 24, 2014.
Promo code : 24OFF

Still not for my dates.....holding steady.....I need June 27-July 4

Nice call on the Dollar promo! That took another $5 or so off my Dollar backup. It's still a little higher than what I have with Budget though.

In some cases, the 'City Special' or other promos (like AAA) with Dollar may be less than the 24% off, so check both ways.

Am I correct that with Dollar you can't stack both a Promo code and a Corporate code (like the AAA codes)?

 

[richmo]

...Last time I used Budget (Fastbreak) they assigned a vehicle so you got what what they gave you unless you wanted to go back to the counter and ask for another vehicle, kind of a hassle. Is that still the same system?

I believe you are correct that they assign a vehicle. I think if you're in Fastbreak, you can probably make the switch by going to the counter in the garage. I don't think you have to go back to the counter in the terminal. It's been awhile for me with Budget also, so I'd like to hear confirmation on that as well.

 

[emilymad]

I believe you are correct that they assign a vehicle. I think if you're in Fastbreak, you can probably make the switch by going to the counter in the garage. I don't think you have to go back to the counter in the terminal. It's been awhile for me with Budget also, so I'd like to hear confirmation on that as well.

That was how it worked in October. We are Fastbreak so we went directly the counter in the garage. We got upgraded to an SUV because they were out of mid size cars. Everything was fine but we still much prefer Alamo/National where you get to pick your own car. The car they gave us didn't seemed to be washed so we weren't sure we were supposed to take it even though we had the keys. It was just a little more disorganized than Alamo.

 

[richmo]

Well, I'm one of those on here preaching "don't prepay". So what did I do? Prepay. Of course, I leave in 2 days, so I don't feel too bad about it.

Budget was showing a $16 drop for prepaying and this close out, I like what I have and is one of the best rates I've had in recent times.

For Budget, I have a compact for 5 days (Weekly rate) starting June 4 at $27.60 base/$64.79 total. Yes, the fees and taxes are more than the base rate. But it works out to about $13/day including fees. The rates were using Costco discounts. (Larger cars, midsize or standard, were very slightly higher and I think Lock Low and Go was the same, but a compact is fine for me)

Not thrilled that its Budget, but I signed up for Fastbreak/RapidRez, so hopefully I can just go out to the garage and will have been assigned something halfway decent. If Dollar or Alamo was a little higher, I'd take one of them for the convenience, but close to double just isn't worth it.

 

[Shannon G]

Budget rates are down this morning using codes other than costco as well. I'm using U072700 (Southwest code) and coupon code MUGZ165, and now have a full size for 7 days, 8 hrs (6/15 - 6/22) for a total of $145.54. Prior to this my rate was about $173 for a mid-size.

 

[richmo]

Budget rates are down this morning using codes other than costco as well. I'm using U072700 (Southwest code) and coupon code MUGZ165, and now have a full size for 7 days, 8 hrs (6/15 - 6/22) for a total of $145.54. Prior to this my rate was about $173 for a mid-size.

Shannon, I received an email from Southwest yesterday with a Budget code: U072756. I don't know if its any better than the one you have, but might be worth a try. There's also a coupon with it for bonus Rapid Rewards points MUAZ023 ...keep in mind they might charge extra for the points

 

[Shannon G]

Shannon, I received an email from Southwest yesterday with a Budget code: U072756. I don't know if its any better than the one you have, but might be worth a try. There's also a coupon with it for bonus Rapid Rewards points MUAZ023 ...keep in mind they might charge extra for the points

Thanks - I checked and the rate with just the code is the same, but the coupon for bonus points brings the cost up by about $41. Points are nice, but a lower rate is better! Thanks for passing the info along though. Still hoping to get an even better rate by the time we leave - we still have 12 days!

 

[richmo]

Thanks - I checked and the rate with just the code is the same, but the coupon for bonus points brings the cost up by about $41. Points are nice, but a lower rate is better! Thanks for passing the info along though. Still hoping to get an even better rate by the time we leave - we still have 12 days!

Of course some things are different, but I observed daily and sometimes more frequent decreases at Budget (and Alamo and Dollar) once I was inside the 7 day mark. Finally at two days out, it looks to have stabilized. I wish I had documented it better, but I think I'm at about half of what it was at two weeks out. Your $145ish is fairly good, my guess is you'll at least get under $120...but as June goes on, the crowds increase. Just keep looking...

 

[CaFeeney]

RICHMO thanks for the tip on Budget prepay! I had been going through Costco travel but going directly to Budget using the Costco Codes and prepay I was able to get an intermediate car June 11-16th for $85.74 taxes included.

Like you, I hate locking in a prepay but I honestly don't think I am going to go lower than $85 for a weekly rental!

 

[3Phase]

Enter promo code 24hrs good now though the 24th

 

[Shannon G]

Enter promo code 24hrs good now though the 24th

I think you meant Dollar.

 

[3Phase]

I think you meant Dollar.

I changed it. My bad.