rental car $500 a week? HELP!

[TLuvsD]

Try the Entertainment Book coupons, it has saved us a lot of money.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

I just checked the price though my Account with Alamo
Dodge Caravan
Pickup at San Antonio Airport Feb 1, 2013 12:00 pm
Drop off San Antonio Airport Feb 7, 2013 12:00 pm

Total Price $361.21

Found this on the Alamo site

Free Day with 5-Day Rental: Offer valid at participating Alamo locations in the US and Canada; not valid in Manhattan, NY. To redeem a free rental day, rent a Standard size car or higher for a minimum of five days. Rental must include a Saturday overnight stay. Here are a few other things you should remember: Make your reservation 24 hours ahead of time. Sorry, this offer cannot be combined with another and it is not available for one-way rentals. And obviously, you have to meet standard rental qualifications. The free day is prorated against the base rate for the length of your rental. Some things that might cost you extra include taxes, government charges, recoupment fees, multiple airport fees, refueling, additional driver fees, drivers under age 25, one-way rental charges and option items (e.g., CDW Waiver Savers® up to $30 per day). Remember to check your insurance policy and/or credit card for rental vehicle coverage. Don't forget, availability is limited. This offer may change without notice. Unfortunately, blackout dates may apply, and this offer is void where prohibited. Valid for rentals December 31, 2012 through February 2, 2013.

Does that include all the fees? I will PM you because I also see good rates for beginning of feb.

 

[ToodlesRN]

I always book through Alamo using Costco codes and coupons. Then everyday I check for price decreases and modify my existing reservation or add a new one and cancel my old one. I have a 4 day trip coming up and my first ressie was $125 and its all the way down to $64 already. When you book no credit card info is needed.

 

[searlproudbottom]

I looked for a deal for you though Alamo at the end of March but found nothing.
I know that car rental agencies that are away from an airport are cheaper.
Like Toodles said keep checking every day. Keep checking in at Flyertalk under codes every day. And Googleing discount codes every day. you will find a discount code if you are persistent. Check in at Slickdeals too.

 

[searlproudbottom]

When I was looking for a rental car it took me a couple of weeks but I finally found a Cadillac STS for 8 Days picking it up from Alamo at Disneys Car care center for $338.25 including all Taxes and a free tank of gas. Be persistent.

 

[travelcoupons]

What's your travel dates? People can plug in random dates but that means nothing as rates vary from day to day.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

What's your travel dates? People can plug in random dates but that means nothing as rates vary from day to day.

March 22 San Antonio airport
March 29 return

 

[MMCD]

I need a minivan also in San Jose/Oakland/SF area. I would like to know more about the Hertz AAA voucher. I have AAA.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

I need a minivan also in San Jose/Oakland/SF area. I would like to know more about the Hertz AAA voucher. I have AAA.

I keep looking and cannot find anything on vouchers

 

[eeyorethegreat]

Have you tried an SUV that seat the number you need? I find that in my experience the SUV is cheaper because everyone wants the mini van.

 

[anniemck]

Rental rates also have a lot to do with what is going on in the area at the time. I know that we will be going out to SAT for my soon to be Son In Law's Air Force Graduation from Basic, and we have decided to drive rather than fly. It will cost about the same in fuel for 3 of us to drive than it would be to fly, and then we would still have to rent a car for the 7 that would be there total. We can instead just use my Expedition and bypass the rental all together. AND, I get to throw in a trip to New Orleans on the way back since we have never been there.

 

[anniemck]

ALSO, if you have more than 1 driver, check and see about getting two smaller cars, might be cost efficient.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Beware: We Pricelined a mini-van last summer to move my daughter to California for college. When we went to pick it up, they were out. They gave us a higher class of car, but it was a gas guzzler and wouldn't hold all of her stuff. We ended up leaving her bike and some other things having to purchase new things in California. All in all, a costly endeavor.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Beware: We Pricelined a mini-van last summer to move my daughter to California for college. When we went to pick it up, they were out. They gave us a higher class of car, but it was a gas guzzler and wouldn't hold all of her stuff. We ended up leaving her bike and some other things having to purchase new things in California. All in all, a costly endeavor.

That is terrible

If you secure a mini van you should get a mini van or a large SUV that holds the same amount of people and stuff.

For the person who said try to get an SUV, large suv's are more expensive than mini vans but I do check just in case there is a weird deal.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

Don't worry yet. You are still WAY to far out to find any really good deals.

I plugged your dates/location into the costco travel site and the rates for minivans were sky high. Plugged in the same info but for a closer date range in Feb and the total price of a mini van with all the fees was just over $350.

 

[anniemck]

Beware: We Pricelined a mini-van last summer to move my daughter to California for college. When we went to pick it up, they were out. They gave us a higher class of car, but it was a gas guzzler and wouldn't hold all of her stuff. We ended up leaving her bike and some other things having to purchase new things in California. All in all, a costly endeavor.

This happens all the time. I actually worked for Alamo in the olden days, and the problem is they overbook all the time. OR, people decide to upgrade once they arrive. Or, people decide to keep the vehicle out longer, and even more often people decide rather than returning it to where they pick it up, they will return it to another location. The agency itself does not know what is reserved for that day until you walk in the door for your reservation most times.