March 2014 car rental!

[petsaregreat]

Hi!
I believe I started pricing around this time last year and actually nailed down my best price around November. In the months leading up to march break I never found a better deal. Anyone else starting to think about March car rental? I am looking to pick up & drop off at MCO.
Any deals?

 

[SandyinMonterey]

We are going to WDW in April 2014 and have been looking at rental cars since we booked in our 11 month window. Unfortunately for us, it's Spring Break/Easter time so I am expecting rates to be higher. We went to Hawaii in February 2013 and I didn't commit to a rental car until about a month out from trip. Prices were in the $700's but scored by waiting and got one for a little over $300. We usually use Avis because my husband uses them for work travel. I'm always trolling airfare and rental cars. I've noticed some people mentioning mousesavers.com on the boards and Travelocity a lot. Costco also has rental cars but I didn't find them a great bargain. Just don't do the pay up front fee because if you find a cheaper car later on, you can't cancel that reservation.

 

[richmo]

I've been able to make a trip in March most years lately, mostly for about 4 or 5 days. Its quite unlikely that the "best" car rental rate would be found this far out; in fact, in my experience, usually its about 10-14 days out, or even less. In a recent summer trip, I snagged my best rate with Alamo just 2 days before departure.

Another problem doing anything this early is that 2014 coupons generally aren't released until much closer to the end of the year, with an exception being Entertainment coupons that go out to 6/30/14.

If you are going with one of the standard car classes (compact, economy, midsize, standard, fullsize), you could make a non-binding reservation now if you have your airline info set up. I cannot emphasize this enough: DO NOT do any kind of prepay now; you will be sorry when the rates do a free fall in late February/early March (depending on your dates), and they very likely will.

If you're going for a more unusual car class (including SUV's), it would be a good idea to do a non-binding reservation. Chances are you'll do better, but sometimes those classes don't follow the rules...

 

[donkeyandshrek]

ME! We are going 3/8-3/15 and I have been looking for a few weeks now and coming up with NOTHING. Everything is ridiculously priced or even out of inventory (minivans) for my week - I understand there is a cheer competition happening, so that might be my explanation.

Of course, if airline tickets don't nosedive, I may be driving, but I can't see that happening just yet!

Let's keep this thread alive and share - I've always found good prices using codes found either here or other sites and sure plan to score this trip!

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

ME! We are going 3/8-3/15 and I have been looking for a few weeks now and coming up with NOTHING. Everything is ridiculously priced or even out of inventory (minivans) for my week - I understand there is a cheer competition happening, so that might be my explanation.

Of course, if airline tickets don't nosedive, I may be driving, but I can't see that happening just yet!

Let's keep this thread alive and share - I've always found good prices using codes found either here or other sites and sure plan to score this trip!

We are too, but airfare is crazy, thinking of Amtrak or scratching this convention.

 

[happymommy]

So far I have something booked for our week just in case nothing better comes up. We're thinking about March also, but honestly right now airfare is so high from BWI that I'm thinking of just going to an all-inclusive in the DR and just using airline miles to cover that part of it. I'm on the fence about Disney - I like it there when it's hotter (unlike most folks I guess!).

I agree - keep looking and book something you can cancel (I got something for about $250 for 8 days with National right now using the code posted here, and my friend used that one on our Hawaii trip this summer, saved a ton there).

Still, airfare is nuts or if it's good, like for me I can go for less than $250 RT from BWI but I'd have to arrive at like 11:00pm and leave to go home at 10:00pm - yeah like I want to land at midnight then still have to drive home, yuck not doing it!

Probably I'll get the new Entertainment Book for 2014 - I always get sucked into buying those! Frequently though, I save enough to pay for the book just on one car rental coupon.

 

[Mich Mouse]

Does anyone have the Entertainment Coupons for 2014 they could post? I'm wondering if its worth it to buy the book.

 

[Fundytrail]

I'm joining the March watch

Last year we did not book our April rental until Mid January so it may be a while yet

 

[jgraney106]

Subscribing.......looking for a rental from March 16 through March 23 2014.

 

[Juliet25]

I'm looking for March. We're driving down. I'm hoping to rent a minivan. I expect the price to be more expensive, but I'm running into mileage not being unlimited with that class of car. I may have to do full size, but with three kids in the back seat I really want a minivan.

 

[tinkershae]

Looking for a mini van from March 23-31. So far have one at alamo for 248 wishing for better.

 

[sammielynn]

I am looking at March 7 - 14. Want to fly down for my Spring Break. I own a condo in Orlando and don't want to spend 3 days of my trip in a car. But If the rental price is to high I will drive. Any help as we get closer to time will help.

 

[stinkpickle]

So far, the best deals I've found have been thru Costco. Reserve early! You can always drop and re-reserve later.

 

[sammielynn]

Is Costco worth joining for a car rental deal?

 

[richmo]

Is Costco worth joining for a car rental deal?

Answering from an Alamo point of view, in some cases, it can be, but the same discount is often found elsewhere. Lately it seems the Costco discount isn't any better than joining Alamo insiders. Sometimes other discounts, such as Southwest Airlines, are as good or better than the Costco discount....and you don't have to fly Southwest or join Rapid Rewards. I've found that sometimes its the Costco coupons for Alamo that set them apart, but lately it looks like Alamo has really been cutting back on the coupons, but maybe as 2014 gets closer they may come back.

 

[sammielynn]

I haven't rented a car in the last two years. I am hoping to find a car for March 7 - 14 for under $200 total. Is this reasonable? Everything I see now is over $300.

 

[rickdeni]

I need a full size car or mid size SUV for March 12 to March 26. I will pick up at Orlando Airport and drop off at Ft. Myers. The cheapest so far is $719 for the mid size SUV from Costco. The full size car was $10 cheaper. I have never paid more than $250 per week for this time period before. Let's keep this post going.

 

[SplashMom]

I have a full size car booked from March 5-17 for $493 total. I'm hoping for a bit better but I have found that the prices during that timeframe have been quite a bit higher the past few years. I used to book through Costco and get some great deals but not anymore. I keep checking mousesavers for the best codes but hopefully someone has a better one! I usually book early and keep checking back...so far the original price is best.

 

[TinkFan74]

I have a compact from March 11-18 booked using the United coupon for $30 off and Alamo Insiders for $152 all in. I will pick up at MCO and drop off at the car care center then take DME back to the airport. I am hoping for better but that is the best I have found so far.

 

[msp2mco]

Costco rates on Budget rentals seem to be going down. I am driving down and have a standard SUV booked for $461. The rate has gone down a couple of hundred dollars since I started looking. I am still hoping for a better rate.