October 2011 Car Rental Rates

[JimboCh]

Strange.......Pickup in Orlando and drop off in Orlando, they have cars(availability) but when I put the drop off in Ft. Lauderdale it says sold out? Same dates? Strange isn't it?

Dates are October 4th to October 9th

Same things happens for October 4th to October 11th?

Either there are cars there or there isn't?

 

[n2mm]

Well my trip is 4 weeks away and I'm really anxious for us mid- to late-October goers to see some of the great rates you guys are getting. Right now I'm looking at Alamo for $411 for a standard car, or National for $500 for a full size with the opportunity to upgrade on the Executive Aisle. Looks like alot of money....but it's a 2 weeks rental (plus 1 hour). While I like the price of Alamo, I keep telling myself it's only $50 more per week to go with National and the possibility of a larger vehicle. I'm holding a reservation with National right now. So waiting here....

 

[puffkin]

Well my trip is 4 weeks away and I'm really anxious for us mid- to late-October goers to see some of the great rates you guys are getting. Right now I'm looking at Alamo for $411 for a standard car, or National for $500 for a full size with the opportunity to upgrade on the Executive Aisle. Looks like alot of money....but it's a 2 weeks rental (plus 1 hour). While I like the price of Alamo, I keep telling myself it's only $50 more per week to go with National and the possibility of a larger vehicle. I'm holding a reservation with National right now. So waiting here....

What are your dates? My rates just started dropping this week after holding steady for months.

 

[n2mm]

What are your dates? My rates just started dropping this week after holding steady for months.

10/15 @ 11:00AM
10/29 @ noon

Yes, I've seen some movement, but my base rates are still coming in at $180-199, before disconts or fees.

 

[billwendy]

WHat are the cars like when you rent from the Car Center at WDW? We are hoping to pick up there and drop off at MCO?

 

[kimgeorg]

I've been renting out of MCO regularly (2-3 times a year) for at least 7 years now...usually with Alamo and sometimes National. I have always been able to get at least a mid size (but usually higher) for around $150 but usually much less. I have NEVER EVER paid more than $165 for a weekly rental. May was crazy cheap this year....I saw someone get a weekend rental for $2 (plus taxes, she ended up around $20 for a compact). We got a full size for $87.37 for 8 days and every vehicle in the row was a minivan or SUV. I am so spoiled by the cheap car rentals (and hotels) in Orlando and it always is a HUGE shock when we go somewhere else.

Are you saying that by reserving a full size at Alamo, I would have a good chance of getting a minivan? Minivan rates at Alamo are very high. I have a minivan reserved with Budget for $302 (with the travelocity code). I can get a full size for my dates from Alamo for $180. So if I have a good chance of getting a minivan, I just might take that chance. So you get to choose a vehicle out of a row at Alamo? I've only rented from Budget in Orlando and a vehicle is assigned to you with no choice given. Thanks to anyone that can help me sort this out.

 

[Zife]

Using the AW11Z rate code bumped up the cost $40 for me.

Weird how that works. I try your rate code, it puts my rental up, you try my rate code, it puts your rental up.

I wonder if they're somehow tied to car type or contract code?

 

[puffkin]

Are you saying that by reserving a full size at Alamo, I would have a good chance of getting a minivan? Minivan rates at Alamo are very high. I have a minivan reserved with Budget for $302 (with the travelocity code). I can get a full size for my dates from Alamo for $180. So if I have a good chance of getting a minivan, I just might take that chance. So you get to choose a vehicle out of a row at Alamo? I've only rented from Budget in Orlando and a vehicle is assigned to you with no choice given. Thanks to anyone that can help me sort this out.

We have been VERY lucky at Alamo over the years. Our last few trips we have had very cheap rentals (around $100) and have found mainly SUV's and minivans in the full size rows. In August, we had a higher rate because we were blacked out of the coupons/codes with our 4 day rental so it seemed to be a higher demand time period. That was the first time in a long time that the cars seemed to be in the right rows. I think if the rates are dirt cheap, there is definitely a possibility of vans popping up in the other rows. Alamo in MCO seems to have a HUGE fleet of minivans compared to the smaller cars so if it is a lower demand period you can get lucky it seems. But if you definitely NEED a minivan, I would probably hold onto your current reservation. We are a party of 4 so we can squeeze in a standard/fullsize no problem if need be.

 

[Zife]

But if you definitely NEED a minivan, I would probably hold onto your current reservation.

Seconded.

There was a big discussion about this on the National Emerald Aisle thread, and there was actually a National/Alamo/Enterprise employee saying the same thing. Even though you might get lucky, chances are, you won't. Then you won't have a large enough car for everyone...

 

[kimgeorg]

Thanks for your replies about the minivan issue. We are a family of 5 so we could fit into a full size, BUT for $100ish more, I think that knowing that we definitely have a minivan will be worth it for peace of mind. Besides, if we didn't get one, I'm sure there would be at least $100 of aggravation (he's touching me, she sneezed on me, . . . . . .)

 

[hurleysweety]

Rates dropped again!
$204 for standard size, Oct 15-24
7015504/AD2359FDF

 

[FigmentChick]

Thanks for your replies about the minivan issue. We are a family of 5 so we could fit into a full size, BUT for $100ish more, I think that knowing that we definitely have a minivan will be worth it for peace of mind. Besides, if we didn't get one, I'm sure there would be at least $100 of aggravation (he's touching me, she sneezed on me, . . . . . .)

Same here. That Travelocity code was awesome!!! Normally, the rate was about $983, but with that code I am paying $415 with taxes. Now, what I would love is that last minute deal that Alamo has up on their website. With that $175 per week deal, I can get a minivan from Oct 20th to the 29th for $277 with taxes.

The next 33 days are going to be torture.....I know I am going to keep checking two and three times each day.

 

[n2mm]

Same here. That Travelocity code was awesome!!! Normally, the rate was about $983, but with that code I am paying $415 with taxes. Now, what I would love is that last minute deal that Alamo has up on their website. With that $175 per week deal, I can get a minivan from Oct 20th to the 29th for $277 with taxes.

The next 33 days are going to be torture.....I know I am going to keep checking two and three times each day.

I know! I'm 4 weeks away today and check 2 times a day. There are often drops in the afternoon. Today Alamo is coming in at $373 while National is staying put at $500. (2 week rental -- 10/15-29).

 

[loveswdw]

Just rebooked with Alamo this time. Said I'd never use them again back in 1999. Guess its never say never! Went through Costco. Booked a premium for 10/14-10/24 for $255 total. That's pretty cheap for a premium. I had a premium booked through Budget for $300 so saving a little more.

I hope I'm not making the wrong choice going with Alamo. We rent from Enterprise here at home and haven't had problems with them. Since Alamo is now owned by Enterprise, I hope they've got their act together. Think I'll hold on to my Budget reservation until the last minute just in case!

 

[1tufgt]

Just rebooked with Alamo this time. Said I'd never use them again back in 1999. Guess its never say never! Went through Costco. Booked a premium for 10/14-10/24 for $255 total. That's pretty cheap for a premium. I had a premium booked through Budget for $300 so saving a little more.

I hope I'm not making the wrong choice going with Alamo. We rent from Enterprise here at home and haven't had problems with them. Since Alamo is now owned by Enterprise, I hope they've got their act together. Think I'll hold on to my Budget reservation until the last minute just in case!

Love Alamo at MCO and the ability to pick the car you want and not be assigned one. The new 2012's should be in the fleets now if not here soon so you should be getting a pretty new low mileage car.

 

[bbwhos]

With Alamo, I've been told that you can pick up any vehicle that is on the full size aisle, even minivans if they are there. But I'm wondering, if you pu one of those minivans how does alamo know that you didn't get it from the minivan aisle?

We only need a full size but I would hate to pu a minivan from the full size aisle and have Alamo come back later to charge higher saying that "you had a minivan, not a full size car."

 

[n2mm]

With Alamo, I've been told that you can pick up any vehicle that is on the full size aisle, even minivans if they are there. But I'm wondering, if you pu one of those minivans how does alamo know that you didn't get it from the minivan aisle?

We only need a full size but I would hate to pu a minivan from the full size aisle and have Alamo come back later to charge higher saying that "you had a minivan, not a full size car."

Don't know about Alamo, but for National, the "hang tag" indicates that it was on the specific aisle. You have to turn the "hang tag" in at the kiosk for them to process your rental.

 

[1tufgt]

Don't know about Alamo, but for National, the "hang tag" indicates that it was on the specific aisle. You have to turn the "hang tag" in at the kiosk for them to process your rental.

Yeah the vehicles on the Alamo side have hang tags also that you hand to the gate attendant.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Yeah the vehicles on the Alamo side have hang tags also that you hand to the gate attendant.

I think they also "scan" them in.

Just a warning don't "self upgrade" here. The last few times I have checked out of National we have all had to back up for the "self upgrade" folks. The agent told me what was going on. When the agent told them the "new" price they put the "upgrade" back and went to get what they booked.

The reason I think they scan them is I often get a car on the Aisle that doesn't have a hang tag, but they know it's an EA car when they "scan" the bar code.

 

[bbwhos]

Thanks. That makes sense with the tag. I do remember giving the gate attendant the tag when we leave. I have always just taken the Impalas because I knew they were full size as we reserved. I didn't want them to place something else in the FS aisle thinking they could upsell me that way. Good info to know. i will make sure we check the tag.