March 2012 Rental Car?

[greenclan67]

Alamo Rates have gone down AGAIN!!

So is there anything special you are doing to get your prices down with Alamo? Mine haven't changed at all. We are flying into Sanford though, and we have 13 days. March 10th to the 23rd. Picking up at 8 pm dropping of at 7 am! I have a rental for $303.00 which I am happy with through Avis(never rented through them) does anyone think I will get it any lower then that? We have always flown into MCO, this is the first year not doing that. I am so used to the prices dropping a week or two before hand. I keep checking and checking and yes checking again. NOthing, everything is far more then what I have right now! That is for a mid-size as well! So if anyone has any hints, pass them along!
We paid $243.00 last year for 12 days at MCO for a midsize in March so I keep comparing that to this year, which I think is apples to oranges, as we are flying into a much smaller airport.

 

[richmo]

So is there anything special you are doing to get your prices down with Alamo? Mine haven't changed at all. We are flying into Sanford though, and we have 13 days. March 10th to the 23rd. Picking up at 8 pm dropping of at 7 am! I have a rental for $303.00 which I am happy with through Avis(never rented through them) does anyone think I will get it any lower then that? We have always flown into MCO, this is the first year not doing that. I am so used to the prices dropping a week or two before hand. I keep checking and checking and yes checking again. NOthing, everything is far more then what I have right now! That is for a mid-size as well! So if anyone has any hints, pass them along!
We paid $243.00 last year for 12 days at MCO for a midsize in March so I keep comparing that to this year, which I think is apples to oranges, as we are flying into a much smaller airport.

SFB can be completely different game than renting at MCO (so can Swan/Dolphin and Car Care Center, for that matter). That said, you have a two week rental for $300, which is quite good...especially for Avis, which tends to be expensive. Keep looking though...

 

[springandmac]

So is there anything special you are doing to get your prices down with Alamo? Mine haven't changed at all. We are flying into Sanford though, and we have 13 days. March 10th to the 23rd. Picking up at 8 pm dropping of at 7 am! I have a rental for $303.00 which I am happy with through Avis(never rented through them) does anyone think I will get it any lower then that? We have always flown into MCO, this is the first year not doing that. I am so used to the prices dropping a week or two before hand. I keep checking and checking and yes checking again. NOthing, everything is far more then what I have right now! That is for a mid-size as well! So if anyone has any hints, pass them along!
We paid $243.00 last year for 12 days at MCO for a midsize in March so I keep comparing that to this year, which I think is apples to oranges, as we are flying into a much smaller airport.

I'm flying into SFB too and have found the prices to be much higher too. I have two reservations that I'm watching one at Alamo for 4 days @ $153 (for a full size) and another at National for 4 days @ $131. I'm hopeful one of them will go down some more but I doubt it.

 

[nannette]

Hmm the rates are dropping for everything but my convertible... so sad! I'm not willing to change though so I'll just have to keep checking!

~Nannette

 

[GinCar]

Hmm the rates are dropping for everything but my convertible... so sad! I'm not willing to change though so I'll just have to keep checking!

~Nannette

Prices are higher for our SUV at Alamo than my Avis rate. We are reserving March18-24. I will just keep checking along with everyone else.

 

[Tisha_PA]

I checked one more time today and using the entertainment code and the mousesavers $35 coupon code, I now have an 11 day rental of a full size at National for $147!!!

 

[doublea211]

Like so many of you, my Alamo rates have been dropping recently too. Yay! I do have a question, though.

When I rebooked on Friday, I logged into my Insider account, and used an Entertainment contract id and their 2 free day coupon. My rates showed not only the 2 free days, but also another line item for "Discount," presumably the general Entertainment percentage off discount. The total amount off was over $86.

The base fullsize rate dropped $30 yesterday. I logged into my Insider account and entered the same codes. However, now, I'm only receiving the 2 free days. The general "Discount" line item is not included. The total amount off is only over $61. (I do understand that the amount off for the 2 free days would be less due to the lower base rate.)

Has anyone else had this happen with their recent rebooks? Not that I'm complaining about "only" saving $61, but, what happened to the other discount? When the base rate went down $30, I only saved $8. Was I just super lucky to get that extra discount on Friday?

 

[richmo]

Like so many of you, my Alamo rates have been dropping recently too. Yay! I do have a question, though.

When I rebooked on Friday, I logged into my Insider account, and used an Entertainment contract id and their 2 free day coupon. My rates showed not only the 2 free days, but also another line item for "Discount," presumably the general Entertainment percentage off discount. The total amount off was over $86.

The base fullsize rate dropped $30 yesterday. I logged into my Insider account and entered the same codes. However, now, I'm only receiving the 2 free days. The general "Discount" line item is not included. The total amount off is only over $61. (I do understand that the amount off for the 2 free days would be less due to the lower base rate.)

Has anyone else had this happen with their recent rebooks? Not that I'm complaining about "only" saving $61, but, what happened to the other discount? When the base rate went down $30, I only saved $8. Was I just super lucky to get that extra discount on Friday?

I had a similar thing happen using a Costco code and coupon. The weekly rate dropped a lot and the discount line disappeared. I think that's something that happens as you get close to the rental date. In my case, the weekly rate dropped about $30, but my total dropped by only about $5.

 

[greenclan67]

I was just able to get my car rental down to $263.00 for 13 day rental on Alamo.com! Picking up in Sanford and drop off the same! From March 10 to 23rd! I am very happy with that!

 

[eeyoreland]

I pretty much have my heart set on Alamo and since I'm now at a decent rate, I'll stay with them. But, I don't get them. I booked yesterday, 7 days, for $240. When I look today, it's back up to $270. Used the same codes each time. I have been looking on an almost daily basis and waiting to see if there are any last minute specials.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Was I just super lucky to get that extra discount on Friday?

Yes. Alamo's software is rather weird to say the least. The pattern of discounts at times makes NO sense. I have found lower prices and additional discounts at different days of the week and at different times of day and night. Sometimes it is a roller coaster.

 

[richmo]

I pretty much have my heart set on Alamo and since I'm now at a decent rate, I'll stay with them. But, I don't get them. I booked yesterday, 7 days, for $240. When I look today, it's back up to $270. Used the same codes each time. I have been looking on an almost daily basis and waiting to see if there are any last minute specials.

If the supply of cars is low, I have noticed that Alamo's rates do start to climb back up. Since it is spring break season, I imagine most cars will be rented. Could be your $240 will be what you go with, but it could just as easily go back down.

Alamo's "last minute" window only goes out to today, I believe, so we should see some new last minute (IG) rates later this week that go into March...so, don't give up and keep looking.

 

[kathyseb]

Hi Everyone,
This is our first time flying and first experience renting a car. Flying into Sanford.
The prices have gone down quite a bit since I first started looking.

Our dates are arrive Sunday, March 11 and depart at 7:30AM on Saturday, March 17.

OK, so now I know the next time to get a good rental rate, you pretty much need to include a Saturday.

My question is, is it worth it to order an Entertainment book to get the Alamo coupon or do I need a Saturday in the rental to use that offer?

Thanks for any help anyone can give as I am feeling like a duck out of water.

 

[doublea211]

Hi Everyone,
This is our first time flying and first experience renting a car. Flying into Sanford.
The prices have gone down quite a bit since I first started looking.

Our dates are arrive Sunday, March 11 and depart at 7:30AM on Saturday, March 17.

OK, so now I know the next time to get a good rental rate, you pretty much need to include a Saturday.

My question is, is it worth it to order an Entertainment book to get the Alamo coupon or do I need a Saturday in the rental to use that offer?

Thanks for any help anyone can give as I am feeling like a duck out of water.

I just checked the Entertainment website, and the only Alamo offer that is available without a Saturday night is a two car class upgrade. You can get the same offer if you sign up for the free Insider program at Alamo's website. Other offers might come out for Insiders, too.

If you're only thinking of ordering a book for the Alamo coupons, I wouldn't do it. I'd sign up for the Insiders and go from there!

Hope this helps!

 

[spideyspence]

Thanks to everyone here again!! I got a $240 total rental with the Costco Codes for a Mini-Van with Alamo. I am really happy with that. But if anyone thinks I can still do better, we leave in a week and a half, I don't mind continuing the obsessive watch!

Thanks again

 

[audracooper]

Wow! Can you tell me what the code for that was? I have tried several different ones and the best I can come up with for a mini van for 5 days is 450. Thanks!!!

 

[spideyspence]

Ya I just grabbed them from the Costco Travel site as directed by this forum.
Just checked now, the rates have gone up this evening for mid-March so keep looking.

Good luck.

 

[kathyseb]

I just checked the Entertainment website, and the only Alamo offer that is available without a Saturday night is a two car class upgrade. You can get the same offer if you sign up for the free Insider program at Alamo's website. Other offers might come out for Insiders, too.

If you're only thinking of ordering a book for the Alamo coupons, I wouldn't do it. I'd sign up for the Insiders and go from there!

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the info, that is a huge help.

 

[richmo]

Ya I just grabbed them from the Costco Travel site as directed by this forum.
Just checked now, the rates have gone up this evening for mid-March so keep looking.

Good luck.

Yeah, I'm seeing the same thing. I'd like to see them come down a bit more, but I'm ok with it, if this is it.

 

[nokidz]

I am happy with this rate -
Pick up MCO - March 4th, 11pm - drop off - MCO - March 10th, noon.
Mid-size car $120 inclusive.
ALAMO.
I joined thier insiders last night, started my booking, then backed out and clicked on the $30 week discount and brought it down to $120. This is my first time renting in Orlando, is this good?