Looking for advice on car rental Dec 16 - Jan 6

[riu girl]

Just got back and paid $229 15 DAY National EA Dec 17-Dec 31/05.
Now checking into rates for next trip:

Dec 16/06 - Jan 6/07 and the rates are horrendous!!!!

I have starting checking all of the agencies using discount codes found on mousesavers.

Any advice on how to get an inexpensive rental (economy, standard or intermediate) for the above mentioned dates out of MCO using any rental agency???
Right now the least expensive I can find is about $1000

Thank you
Suzy V

 

[pk1959]

Looks like we are in the same boat as you are!! We got a great rate for this past December 17-27 through National and just started looking for this next December 9-20 and are coming up with rates more than double of what we just paid. Maybe we are looking too early? A few of the places that I am checking prices say that they have nothing available for those dates? We booked in February of last year for the great rate that we got in December, so I am just going to wait a bit and look again. Good luck to you and I hope we both find a great price somewhere down the road.

 

[DonnaL]

We also got a great rate of $118.00 total for a full size from National 12/10 thru 12/17 this past year. I've been checking this past week for mid October since we plan to do the F & W Festival this year and can't get even an intermediate below $225.00. When I check my paperwork for this past year
I made the ressies the end of May so I'm going to keep checking sporadically
and hopefully at about 6 1/2 months prices will go down.

 

[dvc guy]

Everyone hold on to there hats, it is a little early to book a car for Dec 06/Jan 07? How did you get airfare so far out? We have been renting over Christmas for the past 11 years and rates are high. Rental companies are putting less car on the road and charging more for what they have. I would say that you look in Feb/Mar for a decent rate.

 

[riu girl]

I haven't actually arranged airfare yet, but assume I will be able to get something decent with southwest once they release their 12/06 fares (late summer or early fall 2006)

I actually won't take this holiday unless I can find a decent rental rate. I just spent an hour trying ALL of the codes that I could from mousesavers. The least expensive rate I could find for MCO Dec 16/06 - Jan 6/07 was for an economy with Dollar ($668 including fees/taxes). I was unable to check Thrifty, Avis, Budget, Dollar since their rates for this time period are not yet available. The $668 rate is higher then I was hoping for (but still better then the $1000-$1200 National rates I found last night) , but as dvc guy mentioned it is still very early. I booked the awesome National EA rate for 12/05 during late Feb/early march 2005, so hopefully I will be able to secure a better rate in the next couple of months.

The reason I am checking this early for a rate is because I want to secure my lodging ASAP (and I have to give a 20% down payment). I don't want to make the down payment unless I am positive that I will be making this trip.

Thank you for all the input on this thread. It is truly appreciated.
Any other tips/suggestions??

Thank you
Suzy V.

 

[horsegirl]

I was stuck the last few days trying to get a decent rate over presidents week for a car. Normally an intermediate car seems to be running $150ish or less for 8-12 days. When I went to book I was getting quotes for compacts for well over $500! I was asking for help all day! Finally I looked at a rental through Alamo at WDW as opposed to the airport. By using mouse saver code and coupon, and the 15% discount by paying ahead, I am getting a great SUV for @250 for 10 days. I am thrilled! It is more than a non-holiday period, but I expected to pay about $200. Now with ME, we can rent at wdw after we are there for a few days. Try all this and see what you get. I also got a really cheap rate through budget doing the same thing, for the landstreet road orlando location, but chose not to pu there as there is a $20 taxi ride. Might be worth it for 2 weeks over xmas. Just some thoughts... PS I admire your early planning! I am already thinking about next trip and we don't leave for this one for 34 days!

 

[riu girl]

Thanks for the tip. We are actually not staying at Disney this trip so can't use the ME option.

I think we will be staying down in Siesta Key for the entire trip so need to fly into either MCO or TPA. The trip we were just on, both the airfare and the car rentals were less for MCO, so I am concentrating on finding a car rental for MCO. I should spend some time looking at TPA for a rental also though in case I can find a better rate.

My comfort level for a 3 week rental is $500 so at $668 I am only $168 over budget so I am not stressed about that. And I feel confident that I will be able to get a lower rate between now and the vacation.

Any other tips anyone??