October 2011 Car Rental Rates

[leebee]

Mieuxmew, how many suitcases will you have? No chance of sticking one in the backseat between 2 passengers?

I just booked a back-up ressie at Budget for $217, including taxes and fees, but this is ridiculous for 4 days. I'm gonna try Priceline. It looks like the taxes and fees will make final payment about twice what you are bidding per day, yes? Still, if I can get a midsize for $10 a day for 4 days, even with taxes and fees I won't be anywhere close to what Budget wants, even with a very good discount code!

 

[mieuxmew]

We have always rented a car even when staying at Disney resorts. Having a car is very helpful. You always have a seat. No waiting. I also like being able to keep a few "just in case" items in the car, which I don't want to schlep thru the park (i.e. change of kids clothes, sweatshirts, rain gear). I rarely if ever need them, but nice to know they are there. Going from resort to resort for dinner is great. We usually try to leave the parks to go back to hotel for a swim in the mid-afternoon and often have dinner reservations at another Disney resort. We also like to take a trip to the Outlets. Also having a car makes quick trips offsite for forgotten items, snacks, adult beverages, etc possible.

This trip we are staying offsite. Got an excellent deal I could not pass up to stay at Marriott Cypress Harbour in a two bed/two bath condo, so a rental car is a must.

 

[mieuxmew]

I will have 3 suitcases, 2 small umbrella strollers and 2 booster seats. I might be able to put the third suitcase in the front seat and I can maybe fit in the back seat between the two kids. I am petite, so it may work.

Try Priceline. What have you got to loose. You don't have much to loose, other than a rejection and you can try a different car or bid another day. The taxes and fees seem fixed so bidding an extra dollar a day or so does not seem o affect the bottom line too much more. Maybe bid 12-13 dollars a day since you have a rental less than a week? You will see the final price before you agree to bid.

Let me know how you do.

 

[leebee]

Oooh, we stayed at a 2br/2ba at Cypress Harbor years ago; it's my FAVORITE Marriott timeshare resort. You'll love it!

I realized that my favorite part of DME is that I don't have to touch my suitcases, but this trip we will be doing carry-ons only AND DH will be along to deal with luggage, so I think a rental car is the only way to go... if I can find one that won't cost a small fortune. We are onsite at POP so won't have to pay for parking at the parks, which is NOT cheap. Once the DH is gone (DD started college yesterday so she's not here) and it's quiet, I'm gonna play the Priceline game!

 

[1tufgt]

Thanks for the budget code. I just booked an intermediate suv. I also used a costco 30.00 off coupon code. It didn't come off at reservation, I will have to call and find out.

What is the Costco coupon? I'm a member but can't find the $30 off coupon your referring to.

 

[leebee]

I will have 3 suitcases, 2 small umbrella strollers and 2 booster seats. I might be able to put the third suitcase in the front seat and I can maybe fit in the back seat between the two kids. I am petite, so it may work.

FWIW, we put 4 adults, 4 full-sized suitcases, and carry-ons in a mid-sized car last December. It wasn't necessarily FUN driving to the hotel, but everyone had a seatbelt and we fit... and had space for over $150 worth of groceries around the edges. I can't believe that you won't get the 3 suitcases in the trunk of a full-sized car; in August we put four in the trunk of a malibu rented at Alamo in BWI; backpacks went in the backseat with the third person. If you don't have space in the trunk for the umbrella strollers, put them on the floor of the backseat. I really thing with a full-sized vehicle, you'll fit!

 

[Melanie230]

We need to get a car from Hertz at the Hard Rock Hotel because we have an after hours return. It seems the best rate is when you are within 2 weeks of your vacation. Before taxes an economy car is $46 looking at 2 weeks from now that same car is $28. I think we will wait it out.

 

[1tufgt]

We need to get a car from Hertz at the Hard Rock Hotel because we have an after hours return. It seems the best rate is when you are within 2 weeks of your vacation. Before taxes an economy car is $46 looking at 2 weeks from now that same car is $28. I think we will wait it out.

I agree just looking at Alamo, if we were to arrive say Sept. 10th the rates are amazing cheaper than what they would be for late Sept.

My theory for rates being cheaper as you get closer is that the rental companies are needing to get vehicles out of the garage.

 

[mzozzietj]

Going to Disney 10/8-10/15 (8 day rental). Includes Columbus Day weekend, so I am running into blackouts on some coupons/deals. Just now tried Priceline. Minivan bid for $230 was rejected. My bid for full size $12 per day ($170.92 total with all fees/taxes) was just accepted with Avis. If I spend the next few weeks checking many times daily I figure perhaps maybe I could save a few more bucks (or not). My cheapest rental booked months ago was $225 for full size with Dollar. Hotwire locked in rate was $194.

Anyone used Avis at MCO before?

We've used Avis at MCO before and I thought they were great. They do assign you the car so you can't go out to an aisle and choose but other than that no complaints. We actually had a reservation for whoever was next to them in the airport (I forget) and the line was ridiculously long so I popped over there and asked what the best they could do was. He was about $5 more so we went with them and were in the car out of the airport in about 10 minutes... we would have been in the other line longer than that.

Speaking of which, does anyone know if there is a map of which car rental agencies are where in the terminal? We always feel like we are wandering for hours (more like minutes but feels like hours!) trying to find the agency we rented from. TYIA

 

[mzozzietj]

I agree just looking at Alamo, if we were to arrive say Sept. 10th the rates are amazing cheaper than what they would be for late Sept.

My theory for rates being cheaper as you get closer is that the rental companies are needing to get vehicles out of the garage.

I agree with this to an extent. If there is a lot of availability the rates do tend to drop around 2 weeks out. If it is a busy time however the rates can sometimes skyrocket. September is historically pretty cheap for car rentals but October is the start of the F&WF and has more MNSSHPs as well. Plus Columbus day week is also notably busier. I'd reserve something you can afford (that allows cancellations) but keep watching for something cheaper. If you get it, just cancel the first one.

 

[1tufgt]

I agree with this to an extent. If there is a lot of availability the rates do tend to drop around 2 weeks out. If it is a busy time however the rates can sometimes skyrocket. September is historically pretty cheap for car rentals but October is the start of the F&WF and has more MNSSHPs as well. Plus Columbus day week is also notably busier. I'd reserve something you can afford (that allows cancellations) but keep watching for something cheaper. If you get it, just cancel the first one.

I agree, it's best to secure something you have the ability to cancel if a better rate comes out.

I myself am still on the lookout for a better rate for Oct. 22 - 30.

 

[keishashadow]

I agree with this to an extent. If there is a lot of availability the rates do tend to drop around 2 weeks out. If it is a busy time however the rates can sometimes skyrocket. September is historically pretty cheap for car rentals but October is the start of the F&WF and has more MNSSHPs as well. Plus Columbus day week is also notably busier. I'd reserve something you can afford (that allows cancellations) but keep watching for something cheaper. If you get it, just cancel the first one.

President's day weekend a few years ago I got stuck with what was termed a midsize (pt cruiser which had very little trunk room) in lieu of fullsize we had booked @ MCO and had to grab it off Alamo aisle to boot.

Did get my rate adjusted but told they have a formula where they allow for a certain % of no-shows, apparantly more people show up to claim their res on the holidays @ MCO and they ran short.

 

[horselover]

Hotwire dropped their prices back down today. So, so tempting. I can get a midsize for $162.77 or a standard or full size for $170.48. My dates are 10/5-12. Those are some really good rates. Will they go lower as it gets closer? Maybe. It is a holiday weekend though so maybe not. I'll kick myself if the rate drops again & I'm prepaid, but that rate is really good.

 

[horselover]

Hotwire dropped their prices back down today. So, so tempting. I can get a midsize for $162.77 or a standard or full size for $170.48. My dates are 10/5-12. Those are some really good rates. Will they go lower as it gets closer? Maybe. It is a holiday weekend though so maybe not. I'll kick myself if the rate drops again & I'm prepaid, but that rate is really good.

Quoting myself. Nevermind! Thought about it while we went out to dinner & from 6:00 p.m. until I checked again at 9:30 those same rates above went up to $288.14 for the midsize & $304.55 for the standard & full. Next time (if there is a next time) I see a rate as good as $170 I'm just booking it.

 

[hurleysweety]

FWIW regarding Hotwire - I just checked and the rates have dropped again - between $12.95 - $14.95/day for compact-full size cars. For Oct 15-24, I'm getting rates as low as $196-$217.

 

[philliplc]

FWIW regarding Hotwire - I just checked and the rates have dropped again - between $12.95 - $14.95/day for compact-full size cars. For Oct 15-24, I'm getting rates as low as $196-$217.

i saw that also. good sign that emerald isle etc will eventually be dropping.

 

[horselover]

FWIW regarding Hotwire - I just checked and the rates have dropped again - between $12.95 - $14.95/day for compact-full size cars. For Oct 15-24, I'm getting rates as low as $196-$217.

Yes, I saw that this morning too. The rate is back to $170 again for the standard or full. I think I'm just going to book it. I hope I won't be kicking myself later, but that's a really good rate & I can live with it. It will save me $39 off what I already have booked.

 

[1tufgt]

i saw that also. good sign that emerald isle etc will eventually be dropping.

I've noticed Alamo's rates have dropped a little for the week of Oct. 22 - 30, before a van was 700+ but now it's down to 620's. Hope it's a continuing trend.

 

[mieuxmew]

Check Priceline name your own price. On Saturday I bid $12 a day for 8 day rental 10/8-10/15 and got $170 total including taxes and fees for full size. Reservation is with Avis. Price was lower than $195 on Hotwire and less than my lowest cancellable reservation with Dollar for $225. Usually I like to wait until 2-3 weeks before, but being a holiday weekend with blackouts on many coupons/offers I don't think I will do significantly much better. September rentals are historically always some of lowest rates offered, as it is hurricane season on kids just starting school. I could be wrong, but I have also seen rates skyrocket in the last few weeks too. Good luck!

 

[horselover]

Check Priceline name your own price. On Saturday I bid $12 a day for 8 day rental 10/8-10/15 and got $170 total including taxes and fees for full size. Reservation is with Avis. Price was lower than $195 on Hotwire and less than my lowest cancellable reservation with Dollar for $225. Usually I like to wait until 2-3 weeks before, but being a holiday weekend with blackouts on many coupons/offers I don't think I will do significantly much better. September rentals are historically always some of lowest rates offered, as it is hurricane season on kids just starting school. I could be wrong, but I have also seen rates skyrocket in the last few weeks too. Good luck!

Too late for me. I booked the Hotwire $170 rate. Ended up with Budget. I was hoping for Hertz, but I never get the company I'm hoping for when I use Hotwire. Good luck to all finding great rates of your own! Now to find a cheaper rate for my Christmas trip.