Need help finding a cheap car rental rate PLEASE

[riu girl]

Was orignally going to drive to WDW now considering flying due to an inexpensive flight.

Will fly into MCO Dec. 18 or Dec. 19:

1. Needs suggestions on cheapest transportation from MCO to WDW (2 adults, 2 kids one way)

2. Dec. 23 leave WDW (to travel to other areas of Florida) and need to locate a cheap economy rental near WDW and then will drop it off at MCO airport Dec. 31.

Am having a hard time finding a cheap car rental rate (looking at 400 - 500 plus tax) for Dec. 23 - 31.

Can anyone give me any advice on how to find a better rate. If this is going to be the rate we will have to pay, we will have to drive to Florida as originally planned.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Suzy V.

 

[Kevenswife2]

You might try Thrifty and use code AU02 (that's a zero). It's been giving great rates on econos and minivans.

I went to Thrifty and put in your info. To use the code I had to break up your stay into two reservations from MCO (the code is only good on a weekly rental). I did not see a Thrifty place close to Disney, but there might be one. When I booked my rental, I found it to be comparative in price to a towncar transfer...and provided much more freedom.

Dec 18-23, econo, $105.52 grand total
Dec 23-31, econo, $136.12 grand total
_______________________________

Grand total $241.64 !!!

I don't think you can beat that! You would have to call Thrifty and see if it's okay to do a double reservation like that. They might have a way so you won't have to go back to MCO to return and then rent the car again.

I heard of many people receiving a free upgrade from Thrifty.

Just an idea, which I hope helps you.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by riu girl
Was orignally going to drive to WDW now considering flying due to an inexpensive flight.

Will fly into MCO Dec. 18 or Dec. 19:

1. Needs suggestions on cheapest transportation from MCO to WDW (2 adults, 2 kids one way)

2. Dec. 23 leave WDW (to travel to other areas of Florida) and need to locate a cheap economy rental near WDW and then will drop it off at MCO airport Dec. 31.

Suzy:

I also suggested Thrifty on another thread, but now I read that you will be coming in on the 18th and not the 23rd. Why would you pay for a one-way transport which would cost at least $100USD for 4 people when you could just rent a car from the airport cheaper?

The Thrifty code will still save you $$, but it will be a bit more of a hassle for you. The great code is only available at the airport and only for rentals of 4-10 days. Your holiday is 12-13 days long, so you'll have to make 2 separate reservations. You will have to rent the car (an economy for $79 USD base or $105 USD including taxes per week) for the first 6-7 days and then drive back to the airport to swap cars for the second 6-7 days.

We are in the same boat (12/17-1/2) and the savings is worth it to me to take 90 minutes out of my day to drive to the airport and back. I'll be saving more than $150 USD over my next best rate.

If you want to play with more rental car car rates, check out: http://www.mousesavers.com/rentalcar.html . National has the most convenient rental facilites for WDW.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by Kevenswife2

Dec 18-23, econo, $105.52 grand total
Dec 23-31, econo, $136.12 grand total
_______________________________

Grand total $241.64 !!!

I don't think you can beat that!

Kevenswife2,

Great mind think alike ... but I can beat it !

Dec 18-24, econo, $105.52 grand total
Dec 24-31, econo, $105.52 grand total
_______________________________

Grand total $211.04 !!!


Edited to add:

You were right . Suzy wants to leave Orlando on the 23rd so she won't be around to pick up a car on the 24th. That actually makes it less of a problem then, to just swing by the airport on her way out.

 

[Kevenswife2]

Wow Robin, you're gooood! You did get the rate cheaper. I only used those dates as that's how she divided it. I never thought of trying it your way. Even though she can't return the car on your date, that was very smart of you to try your dates and get the rental down even more.

HERE'S A PAT ON THE BACK. And yes, great minds do thing alike.

 

[riu girl]

Thanks so much for all the great info. I have been on the internet for hours trying to find a cheap rental and this is by far the best price.

Thanks again for all the help. You DIS'ers are the best.

Suzy V.

 

[riu girl]

I'm actually leaving the Orlando area ont he 23rd (to go to the Northwestern coast (Panama City)) so have to split the rental this way I think (Dec. 18 - 23) and then Dec. 23-31. I don't understand how it gets cheaper by splitting it on the 24th. Any suggestions? Is it because they use the 79 US/week fee for less then one week and then I have to pay extra for the second part of the reservation since it is more then a week.

Please advise, people in the know (obviously NOT me).

have enver rented a car in my life!

Suzy V.

 

[robinb]

Thanks Kevenswife2!

Originally posted by riu girl
I'm actually leaving the Orlando area ont he 23rd (to go to the Northwestern coast (Panama City)) so have to split the rental this way I think (Dec. 18 - 23) and then Dec. 23-31. I don't understand how it gets cheaper by splitting it on the 24th.

The reason why it's cheaper to split on the 24th is because the rate is $79 per 4-7 days and $19 for every extra day 8-10. Your first rental period, 12/18-12/23 is 5 days for $79. Your second rental, 12/23-12/31 is 8 days at $79+$19 for the extra day. If you split on 12/24 you would have one 6 day rental at $79 and one 7 day rental at $79. The extra $19 comes out to $30 when taxes, etc are added.

Since you are an international visitor, make sure you check your car insurance for coverage while renting a car. For instance, here in the US, my insurance covers car rentals but it does not cover car rentals in Europe. If you need to buy insurance from the rental car company you could easily double any rental car quote. Make sure you have *proof* of insurance when you pick up your car. You may want to ask over in the Canada forum for more general advise about renting cars.

 

[bavaria]

I tried Hotwire on a hunch in Sep, got a midsize at $11/day from Hertz for 10 days. Best deal I think that I have ever had for that size car...

I don't usually like anything prepaid since I change my travel so much, but I got it last minute and it was perfect! (My friends FILLED the trunk with groceries in preparation for hurricane Jeanne's arrival - glad that I went with the bigger car!)

I usually like the challenge of trying all the sites, but Hotwire was so easy that I will probably try it again....

 

[Kevenswife2]

Suzy,

If you need to purchase insurance, I suggest trying NovaCar for your rental. I went through them last year. They're based in Northern Ireland and seem to be geared towards those who are traveling to the US. I found them on Mousesavers and they saved me quite a bit of money for my last minute, holiday trip.

Prices include FULL INSURANCE, taxes, fees, and a $6.00 booking fee. When you make your reservation, 15% is immediatly charged to your credit card as a deposit to hold the reservation. Balance is due at pickup. Cars are from Alamo, which is a quick walk straight across a street to the garage. You even get to pick your car. We paid for an econo but was upgraded to a compact.

An econo for Dec 18- Dec 31 would be $410.95 (That is for a 2-door. I paid for a 2-door last year and asked if that was what I had to get. Everyone kept saying, "Well, that's what you paid for" but their tone was as if they really didn't care. Got upgraded to a 4-door compact at the garage anyway.)

I know, $410.95 sounds like a lot compared to Thrify's price BUT it might be comparative if you need insurance added onto Thrifty's price AND you wouldn't have to hassle with returning and then re-renting your car in the middle of your vacation.

If link doesn't work (never done this before) let me know. You can also go to mousesavers.com, look under rental cars, look under Alamo and click on Nova Car to get there. That's how I found it last year...now I have it bookmarked.

http://nova02.powerapps.net/quoteworld/formquote.php3?PAGE=23&COUNTRY=17&AFFILIATOR=12

 

[riu girl]

I just booked with Thrifty using the AU02 code and got a decent rate. Two weeks total $241 US including tax and fees. I did have to split the reservation to get this rate (Dec. 18 - 23, Dec 23-31) but this is ok since we will be leaving WDW on Dec. 23 to go to the beach for a week so can swing by the airport on the way out of town.

I checked with our car insurance company and they will cover the rental car during our holiday. NO charge since it is part of our policy. So happy about that.

Again, thank you so much. You have no idea how much I appreciated this info.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by riu girl
I checked with our car insurance company and they will cover the rental car during our holiday. NO charge since it is part of our policy. So happy about that.

Again, thank you so much. You have no idea how much I appreciated this info.

Happy to help!

Make sure you take proof of your insurance for US rental cars and read up a bit on Thrifty. They may try to bully you into buying insurance. I had no problems renting from them last time, but others have. It's better to be prepared.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=554297

Have a great time! I'll be picking up my economy car from Thrifty on 12/17 .