Rental car tip thank you!

[scrapquitler]

I have to post to thank you budget boarders who give tips all the time...I often read them even if they don't apply to me, but every once in a while, one of them sticks in my mind and pops out just when I need it!

This was recently the case when we traveled to California and needed a rental car. We were doing a one way rental, picking up at LAX and dropping off a week later at SFO. I had followed the advice to compare rates, look into BJs/Costco, etc. I ended up reserving an economy car from Enterprise for $470 for the week about a month before the trip. It seemed high, but I only rent a car very rarely, so I wasn't sure. But that tip to look for rental car rates at the last minute popped into my head three days before our trip, so I double checked on the Enterprise web site, and I was able to get a reservation for a standard vehicle for the same days, pick up at LAX, drop off at SFO for $108 including all the taxes and fees!!! Oh, and when we got there, we got upgraded another level, I think. We ended up with a Ford Transit Van, which was ugly, but drove really nicely and gave us great views out the huge windows for our drive up the California Coast.

Now if only I could have figured out how to avoid the $58/day valet parking in downtown SF, I would have been all set! (yes, I could have paid $45/day to self park two blocks away, but at that point, what was another $13/day?? LOL) BUt the rental savings offset that, at least in my mind.

Thank you to all of you who give tips, even if they aren't the ones I need right now...they might help later, as they did in this case.

 

[kathy884]

Glad you checked at got the savings. Great job and a very worthwhile thing to do!

Checking again last minute has helped me on almost every trip to the NYC area when I am visiting relatives in New Jersey and flying into Newark. Sometimes I've even done the last minute pre-pay deals if savings seem significant. Rates in that area always seem to start out high. It's a place I travel to at least once a year, every year. Orlando seems to have lots of deals and is worth checking regularly even before last minute. Now gateway cities to places like Yellowstone, etc. I find that usually the first in advanced price I get holds and is my best deal if I am visiting at high season. Checking later for minivans I see most don't have any available or are charging rates 50% or higher than when I initially booked. For a sedan, though, that might be a different story.

 

[JulieNMM]

This is good info. Thanks for posting it. I will be sure to check a few days before our trip.

 

[PHXscuba]

Thanks for the reminder to recheck my rates! I just saved $38 on my minivan rental for a July trip in Texas. I will keep checking!

PHXscuba

 

[MINILvr]

I have had the price drop twice on my rental car for my trip to SFO later this month. Not a huge savings, about $16, but still a savings. I will continue to look for additional price drops until the day prior to departure.