May 2012 Car Rentals

[pigletto]

So my grown daughter who no longer lives at home cannot be my free additional driver? I am renting the mini van for the both or us and children to go to a dance competition. It seems totally crazy that we have to pay additional for her to drive, I hate driving at night. If she registers for Alamo insider will she still have to pay the additional fee?

If you look back at the last few pages and posts on this page we were discussing this issue. My understanding from the wording on the Alamo site (copied and pasted above) is that as long as you are both Insider members you can add her for free, though it may require going to the rental counter. Some people are reporting that checking in online for your reservation or using the Kiosks automatically adds the fee and they have to have someone correct it.

 

[K9pal]

So my grown daughter who no longer lives at home cannot be my free additional driver? I am renting the mini van for the both or us and children to go to a dance competition. It seems totally crazy that we have to pay additional for her to drive, I hate driving at night. If she registers for Alamo insider will she still have to pay the additional fee?

I emailed Alamo Customer Service with this same question over the holidays last year - I was meeting my brother (who lives in another state) and we wanted to share the car. I was told that since we were both Alamo Insider members, he could be added to my reservation as additional driver at no extra charge. Both drivers do need to be present at the time of rental. So just have your daughter enroll as an Alamo Insider and you'll be set.

 

[K9pal]

What is going on with Alamo?? I am looking at May 5-10 for a family member, which includes a Sat nite stay - and right now it's well over $300 for the base rate!! Several weeks ago I caught it when it was down to $159, but that's still higher than we normally get it. This is for a midsize. Any hope of a better rate than $159 at this point?

 

[pigletto]

What is going on with Alamo?? I am looking at May 5-10 for a family member, which includes a Sat nite stay - and right now it's well over $300 for the base rate!! Several weeks ago I caught it when it was down to $159, but that's still higher than we normally get it. This is for a midsize. Any hope of a better rate than $159 at this point?

It fluctuates daily with no rhyme or reason. My standard rental went as low as 125 the other day for 10 days. It's 100 dollars more today. Just make sure to check several times a day for the next little while. It can change 3 times in a day.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I just got a rate drop on Alamo for my dates, April 28-May 5. Mid SUV for $205. Same price I was getting for an intermediate. I like the small SUVs for the space. I have seen $175 for an intermediate, but I will pay $30 for a bigger vehicle.

Will keep looking!

This was using Costco codes, we are members.

 

[n2mm]

I just got a rate drop on Alamo for my dates, April 28-May 5. Mid SUV for $205. Same price I was getting for an intermediate. I like the small SUVs for the space. I have seen $175 for an intermediate, but I will pay $30 for a bigger vehicle.

Will keep looking!

This was using Costco codes, we are members.

That's great. I know over the weekend both National and Alamo were running the exact same sale. They do seem higher this morning. We leave this Thursday and our rate dropped exactly one week prior, so you have time for even more savings!! I'm thrilled that we snagged a minivan for a base price of $140 a week! Other then the bigger cars being offered, there were never any great prices on the smaller cars and I'm 3 days away and checked many times a day for the last few months.

 

[pigletto]

That's great. I know over the weekend both National and Alamo were running the exact same sale. They do seem higher this morning. We leave this Thursday and our rate dropped exactly one week prior, so you have time for even more savings!! I'm thrilled that we snagged a minivan for a base price of $140 a week! Other then the bigger cars being offered, there were never any great prices on the smaller cars and I'm 3 days away and checked many times a day for the last few months.

I am hoping to see a drop on minivans. Right now we have a standard for 140 or so all in. That's great for us. We need it to drive to Universal, where it will sit for the 3 days, and then drive over to Disney. At that point my inlaws get there and the plan is to add FIL to the rental. We're staying at different resorts and FIL and MIL can drive over and meet us in the morning. There will be 6 of us, and we don't mind using Disney transportation.. but it would be nice to get a van that fit all of us just to have the option for all of us to go back and forth to the parks.
It's simply not worth the 350 or so it would cost to book the van outright for the 10 days but if those rates drop in the next 10 days I would rebook.

 

[the4fishes]

I just got a rate drop on Alamo for my dates, April 28-May 5. Mid SUV for $205. Same price I was getting for an intermediate. I like the small SUVs for the space. I have seen $175 for an intermediate, but I will pay $30 for a bigger vehicle.

Will keep looking!

This was using Costco codes, we are members.

Mid size SUV is now $179.63 for those dates, only using insiders code and coupon 7015135.

 

[gmeh1]

I am hoping to see a drop on minivans. Right now we have a standard for 140 or so all in. That's great for us. We need it to drive to Universal, where it will sit for the 3 days, and then drive over to Disney. At that point my inlaws get there and the plan is to add FIL to the rental. We're staying at different resorts and FIL and MIL can drive over and meet us in the morning. There will be 6 of us, and we don't mind using Disney transportation.. but it would be nice to get a van that fit all of us just to have the option for all of us to go back and forth to the parks.
It's simply not worth the 350 or so it would cost to book the van outright for the 10 days but if those rates drop in the next 10 days I would rebook.

If you are using Alamo or National please be aware that we do not have a "Standard row". You will be choosing from the Full size rows for both brands.

 

[gmeh1]

That's great. I know over the weekend both National and Alamo were running the exact same sale. They do seem higher this morning. We leave this Thursday and our rate dropped exactly one week prior, so you have time for even more savings!! I'm thrilled that we snagged a minivan for a base price of $140 a week! Other then the bigger cars being offered, there were never any great prices on the smaller cars and I'm 3 days away and checked many times a day for the last few months.

Have a GREAT vacation n2mm!!!! Thursday is one of my days off, bummer. I had hoped that I would run into you.

 

[n2mm]

Have a GREAT vacation n2mm!!!! Thursday is one of my days off, bummer. I had hoped that I would run into you.

I was also hoping to run into you too!! The information that you share with us is always welcomed! I'll miss not being able to choose from the Exec. aisle this time, but happy that I have a guaranteed minivan reservation!

 

[dishguy1977]

can anyone help me figure out a decent deal? I am looking at 5/3-5/15

getting in the $400. we only need room for 3 in the car plus luggage, but would need a 4 door

thanks

I'm in the same boat as you - my dates are 5/3-5/12 and getting really high rates as well. I don't know what is going on with that week but it seems to be so much higher than dates before and after!

 

[the4fishes]

Mini vans under $200 with Alamo. Full size for $151.89 with insiders id for dates 4/28 - 5/5. Also used $35 coupon.

 

[pigletto]

Mini vans under $200 with Alamo. Full size for $151.89 with insiders id for dates 4/28 - 5/5. Also used $35 coupon.

Thanks! I went and checked before supper. Booked a mini van at 265 all in. It was down 7 dollars after supper, so I rebooked. Just checked again and it's down to 250. Mines a little higher because it's for 10 days. But it MUCH better than what I was seeing. Going to watch like a hawk the next few days and see if I can shave some more off.
I played this game with our full size rental last week, but I really wanted a van so if it comes down enough I'll cancel the car.
This is addictive

 

[PatMcDuck]

Interesting, the larger vehicles coming down on Alamo for my dates, April 28-May 5. (I have a 3 hour overage that makes my week total go up a bit)

I now have the crossover for $190, again that is for a week plus 3 hours. It was $25 more for the mid SUV. The standard SUV was the same price as the crossover.

edit: switched to this E coupon, Alamo: AD2359FDF

Now $184 for week Crossover SUV, one week plus 3 hours (the 3 hour overage is a $15 charge, included in my $184 total)

 

[the4fishes]

Thanks! I went and checked before supper. Booked a mini van at 265 all in. It was down 7 dollars after supper, so I rebooked. Just checked again and it's down to 250. Mines a little higher because it's for 10 days. But it MUCH better than what I was seeing. Going to watch like a hawk the next few days and see if I can shave some more off.
I played this game with our full size rental last week, but I really wanted a van so if it comes down enough I'll cancel the car.
This is addictive

Yes, it is addicting! Good thing my trip is in 12 days, as my husband is tired of me constantly checking the rates!

 

[pigletto]

National and Alamo are dropping a few dollars every few hours tonight for my dates. I want to go to bed but I am afraid to miss an even lower price

I am down to 235 for a 10 day rental on a minivan starting April 28th.

I would LOVE to see that around 200 or so, but I am happy with it as it is and will be keeping this rate. That won't stop me from checking though

 

[the4fishes]

My standard SUV with Alamo just dropped from $227.40 to $201.72....I'm liking this! This is with insiders and $35 coupon only.
National standard SUV went from $227.41 to $201.75 using AARP and $35 coupon.

 

[joe-aka-papabear]

All the rate drops must be at MCO. I still can't get it below $220 for my dates. Hopefully they will drop or someone can give me some tips.

My dates are 5/5 @ 1p.m. till 5/12 @ 7 a.m. We are using MME so we will be renting offsite. The size of the car doesn't matter. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[pigletto]

All the rate drops must be at MCO. I still can't get it below $220 for my dates. Hopefully they will drop or someone can give me some tips.

My dates are 5/5 @ 1p.m. till 5/12 @ 7 a.m. We are using MME so we will be renting offsite. The size of the car doesn't matter. Any help would be appreciated.

I looked at dropping off at the CCC and taking ME back to the airport and it put my total up over 100 dollars more. So I decided to stick with the rental to and from MCO. I am sure you could get it lower if you used MCO for the car rental, but then you are giving up ME, which can be a toss up.
I'll keep my eye out for you though.