National Rates

[Candlelady]

Has anyone noticed they went up? Reserved a full size for 2 weeks @ $182.19 p/wk before discounts last week. I didn't use the discount coupon on the DC site because it wasn't valid for the time we were going. Now that they have a new coupon # for DC members the price of a full size went up $67.80 p/week to $249.99! Tried with an intermediate and the price was still $249.99. Think they'll go down after the holidays??

 

[Sheree]

go back to your ressie and try to add the coupon as a modification and see what happens. I did that also, changing the emerald club contract ID to the DC one. I also added an entertainment book coupon, the base rates stayed the same.

BUT, when I went to add an extra day, then things did change for the worse. So I didn't confirm that change, and called Nat'l cust service. after 20 minutes they were able to just add the extra day without changing my base rates.

Good luck

 

[pbhunt]

Candlelady, if you're not going right away, I would just wait, the rates will go down, just as quickly as they went up. And yes, they will probably go down after the holidays, in Feb. of last year we were able to reserve for about $113/week (w/DC discounts).

 

[ibleedblue]

I made a 5 day reservation with National for our trip this weekend, 12/7 to 12/12. I originally booked in late October using the free Emerald Club deal and associated Emerald Isle contract ID and using the one free day when booking for 5 day coupon available to anyone through LBV travel (I think) that I got from Mary's site. The total for an intermediate came out to $148 with fees and taxes for 5 days. I recently received the new DC newsletter and they had a new deal with National where you could get one day free when renting for only 3 or more days. Monday night (12/3) I tried this new coupon and the same contract ID and up'ed the reservation to a full size. The total came out to $98 with fees and taxes!!! I'm getting a bigger vehicle and saving $50 to boot!! I don't know if it was because of the new coupon or because the rates fell.

On my earlier reservation I was booked at a week for $128 then had 1 free 'disney day' removed at $25 or so. On this reservation I am booked for 2 days at $18 per day and then for 3 days at $18 per day and then they remove the 1 free 'disney day' at $18. For comparisons sake, I checked using the DC contract ID and the quote was exactly the same.

I was thrilled with that price! I've heard that National tends to drop prices the closer you get to your departure date, but since this is the first time I've used them I can't confirm that. I would definitely keep checking back to see if you can get a lower rate closer to your departure time.

As another note, I originally booked this lower rate at as an intermediate. Since intermediate and full size are the same price with Emerald Club, I tired to modify the reservation and go from intermediate to full. When I did, the estimate price increased to $121, so I cancelled the upgrade. I then made a new reservation using the same contract ID and coupon ID for a full size and it came out to the same $98 that I was quote for intermediate, so I booked that and then cancelled the intermediate. I don't know why they wanted more money to upgrade, but offered the same price with a new reservation?!? Just a way of trying to make an extra buck I would suspect. Good Luck to all!!!

Greg

 

[pbhunt]

The modify, change and even view reservation screens don't work very well on National's website, and it's next to impossible to try and recover your original rate. Probably best to avoid them, make a new reservation, and cancel the old one.

 

[Candlelady]

Thanks for all the replies.
Well, I went and modified the reservation, changed the EA contract code for the Disney contract code. Price went from $429 down to $346, a nice savings for a 2 week rental of full size car. Doesn't seem to be as low as others have posted but it's still a good deal. The only thing I find strange is now the ressie says I will receive Emerald Club Counter instead of Isle. Anyone know why this could be? Darn it! I wanted to pick out my own vehicle, not be assigned one.

 

[DebbieB]

Even if you go to the counter, you will still be able to pick out your car. They just mark your folder with the size aisle and you go out to that aisle and pick. I would ask if you could also pick from the Emerald Aisle since you are a member.