Need MiniVan Help!

[annabelle]

I'm going crazy trying to find a decent rate for a minivan this June 18-27. Even with "codes" plugged in, I'm still getting $300-$400 rates. Is this average? Is there a secret to this?

 

[Carrieberry]

They are more expensive during the summer months since it is peak season for travelers. Book one now and then watch the rates, as it gets closer they will more than likely go down depending on how many are booked as the dates come closer.

 

[Maddle]

Part of the problem may be that you have a nine day rental, versus a week. Those two extra days are quite expensive.

Are you locked into a minivan? A full size car has a lot of room, and is significantly cheaper (about half on the Alamo site.)

Maddle

 

[annabelle]

No... not locked into a minivan... but it would be nice. We have 3 kids and will need room for 2 boosters + 1 car seat.... PLUS all our stuff.

Also, if it was just park hopping on the agenda, a car would be fine... but we're going to be driving to Anna Maria Island (after Disney) about 3 hours away... then back up to the Tampa Airport to drop off the car and fly out.

Hmmm.... at these prices, a full sized may have to do.

 

[JeffPort]

Try going to www.southwest.com and using the Car Reservation tool on their site. They are running a promotion right now with Budget that should give you a very competitive rate for your Minivan on those dates.

 

[cepmom]

If you have 2 boosters and 1 car seat, a full size may not fit the three seats all in the back seat. My MIL drives a Buick Lesabre (considered premium size) and it does fit three kids seats across the back , but it is very tight and a complete pain to buckle the seats in properly. I wondering if the full size would be even tighter? I would keep checking on the minivan rates ~ sign up for the car rental agencies newsletter and you may find an internet/newsletter only special. I've seen minivans as low as $189/week recently (although I would expect the price to be somewhat higher in June due to it being a more popular time to travel)

 

[vacationfinatic]

I just rented a minivan on southwest.com for $208 for 8 days. May 28th-June 5th. This is the cheapest I've found by far.

 

[annabelle]

$208?! I wish I could get my numbers to work like that! I just tried southwest.com and couldn't get the numbers to plug in right I guess.

Thanks for the tips about full sized cars. That was my fear... the seats either not fitting or being TOO tight for the kids to even buckle up right. In the middle of the 2 boosters, we'll have a Britax seat - which isn't the narrowest of seats out there too.

DH also mentioned about trying for a premium size... but I was also thinking SUV since the're about $80 less than a minivan. Would an SUV have a wider backseat than a Premium size??

I'm going to try to rework those numbers and codes at southwest... gotta get a good price and hoping for a minivan!

 

[cepmom]

I guess it depends on which SUV you end up with. We rented a Chevy Blazer for our last trip and at that time we had 1 backless booster and 1 high back booster and another child (no car seat) all in the back seat. They fit, but it was tight. I definately couldn't have fit a third car seat in, but I'm not sure how other SUV's compare.

 

[annabelle]

The cheapest I've been able to find a minivan is around $300-$400 still.

I've tried the Southwest.com site and plugged in the new costco code, I've tried the Alamo site with the Casino Guide codes... and I've tried the Dollar site with the the KISS2 code... nothing seems to be working! I've even tried walmart codes! I know my dates are more than a week... but not by much!

There are only a handful of companies that are allowing me to pick up at Orlando and drop off at Tampa (w/no extra fees): Budget, Alamo and Dollar.

I hate to ask this but can someone *please* help with my specific dates and times? pretty please?

Here's the info:
Pick up: Orlando 6/18 9 PM
Drop off: Tampa 6/27 noon
minivan

Thanks so much!

 

[PrincessDeb]

Annabelle, I'm having the same problem as you. No matter which code I use for Feb.25th at 9pm to March 5th at 2pm (8 days) I get over $300 for a full-size (I would prefer a minivan). I'm glad I'm not the only one with these issues! I figured I would call Hertz (since I'm a AAA member) right before we left to see if they would give me a better deal.

 

[antkim]

Is there a code you need to enter to get the minivan on southwest so cheap? I'm coming up with $350 a week with no code.

Kim

 

[vacationfinatic]

I didn't put in any codes. Maybe the rates are only good through their travel dates which is June 6th right now. Sorry I can't be of any more help.

 

[pauladrn]

Try priceline, we got a minivan for $29/ day for August from Hertz, our total is 372.15, we're renting for 10 days.

 

[DemoBri1]

I'm going crazy trying to find a decent rate for a minivan this June 18-27. Even with "codes" plugged in, I'm still getting $300-$400 rates. Is this average? Is there a secret to this?

Actually...for summer months with having the van for 9 days I'd say $300 is pretty darn good. We paid over $300 for 8 days back in November.

 

[Michelle2]

I plugged in the same dates as vacationfinatic and got the same rates they did for a minivan, also using no codes (southwest)...When I tried to extend it out though, it would not let me book past June 7. I think like their airline, they open up booking for 4 or 5 months. By clicking on the calendar for your book dates, it will show you how far in advance you can book. I would keep an eye on that, and then try again when your dates at the end of June open up...Don't give up hope yet, you may be just trying too early for their site. Which doesn't do me much good either since I need dates in early December!

 

[annabelle]

Thanks for the help everyone...

This rental thing is the last thing I need to do... got the airfare and hotel done... so I've got time for figuring out our rental situation.

Thanks again...

 

[poohbear7]

Is anyone else having trouble booking a minvan on the Southwest site ?
I'm getting as far a reserving and it's telling me the Budget site not available.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

As others have said, Southwest's site is giving amazing prices for Minivans through Budget. I just got a 7-day rental of a Minivan with Budget using Southwest's site, no codes other than my Fastbreak number (but I checked and it gave the same price without Fastbreak), for $220.85 -- and that includes ALL taxes, surcharges, etc. (base rate was $172.99)! I've never rented a minivan that cheaply before!

Annabelle, I just plugged in your dates/times on the same site and came up with a Minivan through Budget of $308.03 all-inclusive (base rate was $243.01), so if that's better than what you've seen or currently have you may want to go quickly to your computer and book it!

Hope that helps!

 

[annabelle]

Thanks for the heads up! Yes, $308 is the cheapest I've seen it so far. Maybe I'll jump on that. Sure love your price though which is great for a week. I just don't understand why it would cost close to $100 extra for a measley 2 extra days? Hmmmm....