May car rental prices

[jjj444]

Help! I am getting a rate of around $200 for 8 days and think that is high for a midsize car. I always use Alamo because they seem to be cheapest, but this seems high. Will prices go down?? Anyone have any codes they are using that they will share?? I have a code for $30 off, but I know there is usually one around for $40 off. Last year we paid $140 for 8 days, are those days over??

 

[sharona]

Hi. There are a few of us in this boat (see thread link). Hotwire seems to have the lowest prices so far. I've really been checking around and have not been able to find anything cheaper than what hw is offering. They even beat my company's corporate rate. Several have recommended waiting until the companies release their May sale codes. Also if you are a member of BJs Wholesale you can find many discount codes on their website (still not better than hotwire but close). If you find something cheaper - please let the rest of us know.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2669480

 

[jjj444]

thanks I guess I will keep trying. Yesterday when I tried on Hotwire they wouldn't take any bids less than $35 a day. I know a few weeks ago when i tried hotwire it was $10 a day but of course I was too scared to pull the trigger because it is still a few months out.

 

[sharona]

I did not do the bid option on hotwire, I don't know how that works. I just put in my dates and airport and they provided the prices based on different car sizes.

 

[C & L Shaw]

We used HW for our trip in May and have a mid-size for 9 days from Hertz. We paid $195 all fees included. It was the best rate out there when we booked, but after reading the comments here, maybe I should of waitedfor the May codes to come out. None the less, I am happy with our deal.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If you belong to BJ's Warehouse you can get a good discount from the BJs web site using Alamo.

 

[SheriB]

Anyone ever wait till last minute to rent? I've been shopping for a minivan for the last month for our May trip, and the best I can come up with with all the combo ID & coupon codes for a week is anywhere between $450 and $700. I just went on Alamo's website and pretended to book a last minute special, and it was $290 with all the taxes and fees. I usually never wait till last minute, but at this point, I might as well wait a little longer. I usually have my car rental booked by now, with a decent rate, but not this time!
Sheri

 

[jjj444]

I thought I read on here before that some people don't even start looking until a month before their trip. I wanted to get something in their system so I booked for now, but plan on checking often and hopefully it goes down before our trip. I likr that you can reserve something and change it if it goes down. I will be checking Alamo and hotwire up until we go

 

[206bones]

We are renting Apr 29 - May 10. Best rate thus far is $232.89 with Thrifty for a compact. Best rate with Alamo is $871.30. That's for a mid size SUV. National is higher than that.

We usually use National or Alamo & have been very satisfied. Has anyone used Thrifty? Wondering satisfaction for this company. Also, can you pick out your car?

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I was also thinking to use hotwire for my next trip - rates around $15/day.

 

[bbwhos]

OUCH!! Hotwire's prices have tripled since yesterday!! Do they know we are watching them? Full size went from $190 to over $400 today. Does anything know if Hotwire has a pattern like the airlines do (i.e. you can count on Southwest countering Air Tran's Monday price adjustments)?

Glad I have a back up for our May 5-12 trip.

Update: Just checked again, back down to $176 all in.

 

[puffkin]

I am seriously considering Hotwire this time. I usually book a rate by now that I can live with and I am always able to lower the week of my trip by at least $20-$30 dollars. I usually end up around $150/wk (everything included) for a midsize.

So far the best I could do was National at $290 (May 7-May 15). The others are in the $400's and Alamo shows no availability. I checked Hotwire and I can get $185 everything included. I am seriously considering it as $200 is the highest I am comfortable with for a rental.

I could live with the Hotwire price and the peace of mind of having it booked in our budget. My biggest hangup is that we have been extremely lucky with National/Alamo over the years and almost always gotten a free upgrade at the airport.

Ugh, I can't decide what to do!!!!