Need advice on cheapest one way car rental -Orlando/Tampa

[Andrea_loves_Disney]

Hello Budget Board friends!
I am pricing one way car rentals (pick up Orlando, drop off Tampa) for next weekend and I am finding a $125 drop off fee!! Crazy! I cannot pay in advance because I am not absolutely sure we are going... I have tried Dollar, Enterprise, Budget, Alamo... All pricing around $300 and up for a 3 day rental intermediate car (including all those fees, tax etc.) Yikes!! Advice anyone?

 

[Bete]

I'm not sure what you are trying to do, but I would check into a bus trip there. Maybe, Mears would be a good choice. I know they go to Busch Gardens in Tampa. Maybe, you could take a cab from Busch Gardens to the exact place you need to go to. There may be other destinations that Mears does, as well to Tampa. This is a short commute.

 

[sarah4770]

What about priceline? Not sure if they do one way rentals, though.
I am having the same dilemma. So far the cheapest I have found is alamo at 225 a week, but for 3 days the price is outrageous.

 

[uromac]

Have you tried joining National's Emerald Club? When using mousesavers discount codes (depending when your leaving), etc.. which you can use, plus coupons, etcs.. you can usually a decent price for a rental car.
I have never had a drop-off fee using National through their Emerald club site, and just tried a dummy ressie and did not have a fee for a weeked drop-off - so it should work for you too.

Give it a try - plus you get to choose your own vehicle, my family favorite part !!

Hope this helps -Good luck!!

Melissa,

 

[Marionnette]

Definitely look at priceline. I went to rentalcars.com and entered mco/tpa and the dates oct. 29 to oct. 31. Its coming up with a total of one hundred seventy seven dollars for the weekend thru priceline. You will pay more if you need insurance or if your under twenty five. If your talking about the coming weekend (oct 22 to oct. 24) then the price really rises. Probably b/c its so late in the game. Unfortunately you will have to commit to paying for it ahead of time if you want to book a good price at this late date.

 

[5boyz]

What are your dates?

 

[5boyz]

Hello Budget Board friends!
I am pricing one way car rentals (pick up Orlando, drop off Tampa) for next weekend and I am finding a $125 drop off fee!! Crazy! I cannot pay in advance because I am not absolutely sure we are going... I have tried Dollar, Enterprise, Budget, Alamo... All pricing around $300 and up for a 3 day rental intermediate car (including all those fees, tax etc.) Yikes!! Advice anyone?

Depending on your dates I got Alamo...mid size Oct 29-Nov 1 from MCO to TPA for $110.62.

 

[Andrea_loves_Disney]

Hey thanks for all the replies!!
I still can't come up with anything much cheaper! My dates are Oct 27 and return on 31Oct. I joined Emerald Club and I was able to apply a $20 coupon, but it still came up $286 total. I can't pay ahead (priceline) because I am not positive we are going... I will keep trying. Any other advice still appreciated!!

 

[littlezar]

My girlfriend google'd and found a coupon code for Hertz in July and got a really good deal on a one way unlimited mileage rental from Wrights Patterson, OH to Norfolk, VA.

 

[5boyz]

Hey thanks for all the replies!!
I still can't come up with anything much cheaper! My dates are Oct 27 and return on 31Oct. I joined Emerald Club and I was able to apply a $20 coupon, but it still came up $286 total. I can't pay ahead (priceline) because I am not positive we are going... I will keep trying. Any other advice still appreciated!!

Ok I checked Alamo for your dates Oct.27-31. I put pick up MCO drop off TPA 12 noon both times (dont know real time or location). I got for a mid size (is that same inter) $168.00

 

[robinb]

Check Budget and Travelocity code X474200. I get $219 with taxes. You have 3 problems that are conspiring against you (1) you are booking a one-way rental, (2) you are keeping the car for less than 5 days and (3) you are picking the car up on a Wednesday.

If the amount spent on this car is a make or break, you can save some money by booking a car for ONE day for $42 with taxes (Alamo, code "IG" for last minute rental specials) and then returning it to the airport for a 3-day weekend rental using the $24 per day code off of Budget's website and you get an Intermediate for $97 for 3 days dropping off in TPA.

 

[undertheradar]

While this is a budget issue, I would post over on the transportation board. There is a lot of good advice over there.