March 2013 Car rentals

[greenclan67]

I pre-payed on Budget yesterday for a 13 day rental. Total for the 13 days in a full size from March 2nd pick up at 11 am to March 15th drop off at noon for $234 all taxes and fee's in. I thought that was pretty fair. I did join fastbreak last night after making a reservation. I wrote the number for fastbreak on my reservation, can I go right to the parking gargage with that?

 

[a1tinkfans]

Hello Again
Looking for a bit of input aka Help, lol

I have a hold on a budget standard car at the irlo bronson Hway location (old town?)
POR will get me a taxi which they say will run about $20 to get there
I will have the vehicle 3/18-3/26 (but dropping at rsw)
my price is 216. with taxes etc, which I think? is good..

Heres My Q's
*Already getting some "concerns' about taking a taxi there and alleged taxi cost? Does that sound reasonable to you if you know area somewhat.
*Anyone actually use this llocation? Is it safe/lots of cars available, or like a lot with 20 cars?

Right now Alamo for same time (insiders) is 332. which is quite a jump
BUT
its at car care center and I *believe* we can get shuttle..., right?
*Any other Discounts coupons I can use for alamo to get that down??...

I have to say Im getting nervous about going Budget after people have said they get really hassled and pressured there, plus that whole taxi thing...that will Not go over well with Dh for a vacation....
Can anyone put my mind at ease. or
What would You do...........???

TIA, Very Much!.

 

[robinb]

Hello Again
Looking for a bit of input aka Help, lol

I have a hold on a budget standard car at the irlo bronson Hway location (old town?)
POR will get me a taxi which they say will run about $20 to get there
I will have the vehicle 3/18-3/26 (but dropping at rsw)
my price is 216. with taxes etc, which I think? is good..

Heres My Q's
*Already getting some "concerns' about taking a taxi there and alleged taxi cost? Does that sound reasonable to you if you know area somewhat.
*Anyone actually use this llocation? Is it safe/lots of cars available, or like a lot with 20 cars?

Right now Alamo for same time (insiders) is 332. which is quite a jump
BUT
its at car care center and I *believe* we can get shuttle..., right?
*Any other Discounts coupons I can use for alamo to get that down??...

I have to say Im getting nervous about going Budget after people have said they get really hassled and pressured there, plus that whole taxi thing...that will Not go over well with Dh for a vacation....
Can anyone put my mind at ease. or
What would You do...........???

TIA, Very Much!.

http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main....770+W+Irlo+Bronson+Memorial+Hwy++Kissimmee,+F ... $20 plus tip seems to be about right.

I rented from Budget at the Maingate location last December and had ZERO pressure.

 

[gmeh1]

Hmm ... I don't ever recall specifically adding my DH's info for him to drive (or visa versa). I thought that if you were an Insider/Emerald Club member your spouse was automatically a free extra driver.

That is the popular thought, however, all additional drivers need to be listed on the contract. If that add. driver was to be in an accident or stopped by the police, your contract would be null and void and you would be liable for the damage in an accident. There are exceptions to this rule depending on the state.

From the Alamo site:
Additional Driver


What is your policy regarding additional drivers?
· All additional drivers must meet all rental qualifications.

· Must appear at the rental counter with the primary renter.

· Must present a valid driver's license.

· Must sign the rental agreement.

· An additional daily fee may apply for any Additional Drivers. Click Here to see additional driver requirements and information on the fee.

The additional driver can only be added to the contract at the pick up location.

Note: State law in California, Illinois, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, and Wisconsin allow the spouse to be an automatic authorized driver as long as renter qualifications are met.

National's rules are pretty much the same, unfortunately, their link is not working so I cannot post them.

I was trained on both National and Alamo and this was a rule that was drilled into our heads.

 

[robinb]

So what happens when you rent a car but don't stop at the counter? How is my DH authorized to drive? Does that mean I need to stop at the counter to add him?

 

[richmo]

So what happens when you rent a car but don't stop at the counter? How is my DH authorized to drive? Does that mean I need to stop at the counter to add him?

I *think*, in the case of Alamo anyway, you're supposed to enter the 2nd driver's info at the kiosk, then the gate attendant asks to see both licenses as you exit the facility. I kind of remember doing this, because what I'll usually do is go to the Alamo kiosk while the rest of the family waits for bags...and the kiosk prompted me for the second license, which I didn't have on me. So I went back to get it. This was a few years ago, so its possible it has changed.

I also wonder if you can add the second license if you do online checkin?

No idea how it would work with Emerald Club. I would guess the 2nd license would have to be entered on your profile or linked to the reservation somehow.

 

[richmo]

Tweaked it a little more. The midsize was a little less expensive last night, but today the compact (which is all I need) was slightly less. Now for the 5 days I'm at $86.97 base/$116.23 total.

Drat! I think I bottomed out.

Tweaked it a little more this morning (basically, I switched from a one free day coupon to a $20 off week -- I've had that happen before if the base gets low enough). Anyway, for my compact 5 day (at weekly rate) with Alamo turned out to be $83.94 base/$114.34 total. (Last year for 3/17-21 I had $42.79/$77.83, but that was unusual).

Anyway, checked again at lunchtime and the rates are creeping up, for the first time in a couple weeks. Not surprising since I hit the one week mark later tonight.

What I take from this: once again, rates dropped a lot in the past couple of weeks (a similar Alamo rental was over $400 just a couple of weeks ago). While it is important to check rates pretty much daily, it seems especially critical 7-10 days out and in that period, rates can change multiple times a day. Still not giving up, but I wouldn't be surprised if what I have now is gonna be it.

 

[dis2cruise]

My problem is we are NOT staying over night on a Saturday which lots of codes give you extra $$ off your bill. We are arriving Monday 3/18 to Saturday 3/23 and we're paying $251.00 @ National car rental with a klm code.....wondering too if Priceline might help?

 

[richmo]

My problem is we are NOT staying over night on a Saturday which lots of codes give you extra $$ off your bill. We are arriving Monday 3/18 to Saturday 3/23 and we're paying $251.00 @ National car rental with a klm code.....wondering too if Priceline might help?

I guess it could, but I'd be inclined to wait. I'm not sure how big a factor not having a Saturday night will hurt you. Not sure of your time of day, but you very well may qualify for a weekly rental. You're about a week away from seeing some nice declines (I hope) in your rate...in the meantime, that National rental you have, while not ideal, isn't awful.

 

[trstno1]

What size SUV? Some are actually smaller than a full size. Also, if you are an Emerald Club member, you would be smart to select the midsize as you can select from the Emerald Aisle.........mid size or above.

I tried this code for my Fort Myers rental, and it is an, "elite" SUV, which is a Ford Explorer, sound like it is fully loaded. It cost more than my reservation for a minivan with National, though, so I passed. I love the Emerald Aisle, but I also like the security of knowing that I'll have a car that can fit my family.

 

[Redarrow5150]

I just booked Alamo 3/8-3/12 compact car for $109.33.

 

[richmo]

I tried this code for my Fort Myers rental, and it is an, "elite" SUV, which is a Ford Explorer, sound like it is fully loaded. It cost more than my reservation for a minivan with National, though, so I passed. I love the Emerald Aisle, but I also like the security of knowing that I'll have a car that can fit my family.

This might help some of you:

I received an email from Budget tonight for a $219/week "Standard Elite SUV". The example they use is Ford Explorer.

I'm only renting a compact, but just for laughs I plugged it in and it gave me the $219 for my early March dates.

This vehicle might be good for those of you looking for an SUV or might be a decent alternative for the minivan set.

This was a Budget email code, so its public and electronic. The BCD is D495500. Not sure if you can combine with other Budget coupons.

Don't know if it'll help you, but did you try the Budget code above?

 

[Pembo]

Don't know if it'll help you, but did you try the Budget code above?

Triple that for late March dates...

 

[robinb]

My problem is we are NOT staying over night on a Saturday which lots of codes give you extra $$ off your bill. We are arriving Monday 3/18 to Saturday 3/23 and we're paying $251.00 @ National car rental with a klm code.....wondering too if Priceline might help?

What size car do you have booked?

 

[wdwfan1]

Wow. Great rate. I hope mine will come down too.

 

[Redarrow5150]

I cancelled as I got Enterprise for $7 bucks cheaper. Hoping to save another $20 by next week.

I just booked Alamo 3/8-3/12 compact car for $109.33.

 

[dis2cruise]

What size car do you have booked?

I booked with national...midsize.

 

[DCTM]

I am hoping someone will be willing to help me! We have rented cars several times to go to Disney and the boards here have been very helpful. This year we decided to go on a cruise out of Jacksonville, Fl. We would like to rent a smaller type car from March 15-March 22, but I have been checking prices and the cheapest I can find is around $220. Picking up and dropping back off in Birmingham, Al. We have only rented from National in the past but their rates were terrible for this trip? Anyone willing to see if they can come up with a better rate??? Thank you!

 

[Pembo]

From Flyer Talk I found National Contract id #xz45uaf. Total is $254 for 3/21-29. This is the best I've found.

My only question is this a University of Alaska Fairbanks code. It's easily found on google. Can anyone use it?

 

[JPhotoz]

I am hoping someone will be willing to help me! We have rented cars several times to go to Disney and the boards here have been very helpful. This year we decided to go on a cruise out of Jacksonville, Fl. We would like to rent a smaller type car from March 15-March 22, but I have been checking prices and the cheapest I can find is around $220. Picking up and dropping back off in Birmingham, Al. We have only rented from National in the past but their rates were terrible for this trip? Anyone willing to see if they can come up with a better rate??? Thank you!

Maybe I am missing something but why don't you rent from Birmingham to Jacksonville. Return car and then do the same on the way back. Why would you pay for the car while on the cruise? Pay for parking on a rental car?

Just a though. I did this before when I went on a cruise I rented a car for 1 day, picked up at airport and then dropped off at the port. Then did the same on the way back. With codes, etc. It was about $30 per day.
Hope this helps.
Jordan