Just can't seem to figure out the rental car

[kessieann]

I have planned and booked our whole trip but I must admit I am really stumped on the issue of rental cars. The things we know are that we want one because we are at HIFS and need to get around on our own. I also know we would like one that is located at the airport.

That is about all I know. I have been to Mousesavers and researched all over the place and I will be darned if I can figure out the best way to get the best rate on a rental car. We are going in late Jan. 2004. I have read that we should book early but I don't even see any discounts for that time frame.

I have put in codes and discounts and tried it without codes and discounts and every site is different in how they label their vehicles and I am just so very confused. Many times it won't accept the codes I have put in. We have two adults and one child and prefer not to be cramped but don't need a ton of extra space just for the sake of having it.

We are hoping to pick up at noon on a Fri. and return it at 11 a.m. on the following Sat. I know some rental places this makes a difference.

All I am really trying to achieve is finding a decent rental car for around $200 for Jan. where they don't try to rip you off and the cars are clean.

This is the only aspect of this trip that has truly thrown me off my game and any help would be appreciated. Thank you, Thank you , Thank you!!!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

You have an eight day rental, it will be interesting to see if you can keep it under 200.00 I am holding a reservation now for an intermediate in Jan. from National. The total price for 7 days is 175.00. The mousesavers site is really explicit on how to insert codes. There are a couple of other sites to visit.
http://www.pcpages.com/rentalcodes/
http://www.rentalcars.com/index.shtml

If that fails, I would call a Travel agent.

 

[seashoreCM]

Travelocity.com will give you the current regular low prices of several rental agencies (no coupons or codes) with one fell swoop.

To find the best coupon or code discounts, I'm afraid to say you will have to do the going shopping. That is, flit from one web site to another trying the rental companies one at a time and plugging in the codes from Mousesavers.com or wherever.

I'm not sure whether travel agents will do the going shopping for you coming up with the one final answer as to who has the cheapest car, without adding on a commission.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[kessieann]

Thanks for the extra websites to try out. It looks as if I will have to wait for Jan. coupon discounts to come out so I can try to get the best deal.

 

[mcnuss]

No, don't wait. Book something now that you can cancel. You'll kick yourself if the rates go up instead of down!

Do you belong to BJs or Costco or AAA? You could use their travel agents if you don't have one of your own. I also like to shop on Orbitz bc of the way the prices display.

 

[kessieann]

Ok I am not waiting I am looking. Most of the coupon codes I use actually come out to more then the base rate at the site. For example at Alamo I was trying to input the Entertainment Rates from my 2004 book and the price kept coming up higher then with no coupon codes. When you have a 20% off coupon for a place why do they jack up the price and then take off the discount? It does no good to even have a coupon then-or is that their point? I think I will book the rate at Alamo and then just keeping an eye out. With taxes etc. I have a rate of $214.00 for a midsize car which from what I have seen looks pretty good.

 

[mcnuss]

That rate actually sounds pretty darned good. I doubt you'll do much better.

 

[inkkognito]

If you really want to be sure that you've got the best rate, find the absolute lowest rate that you can and then bid less on Priceline (don't forget to figure in the $5.95 Priceline fee). If something better pops up, cancel your reservation and use the Priceline ressie. If nothing better pops up, you're not out anything except a few minutes of time. We have used Priceline may times, and we always specify an MCO location. We usually get Alamo or Avis, although we did get Hertz one (involves a short bus ride, but I loved them because they upgraded us from an economy car to a Rav4).
Good luck!
Barb
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