September 2014 car rental watch

[keliblue]

Checked Costco just know and Budget rates have come down a bit at least under $300 for a 9 day rental sept 11 thru 20

 

[kg66]

Joining in with you to wait and watch. We are still on the fence of "Do we fly and rent a car as we are staying off site, or do we just drive down"? We have that magic number it has to work out to. Haven't found the deal of a flight yet, so I wait

 

[auger]

Welcome!! Hope things work out for you to get your flights and rental!
We have been in that boat many times over the years, and almost always ended up driving.

Ever since we got the SW Visa, we have flown.
It's been almost two years now, and we kick ourselves for not having done it sooner.
Haven't had to pay for a flight yet!
I just wish we lived a bit closer to a SW airport!!

 

[mcurran]

Joining in with you to wait and watch. We are still on the fence of "Do we fly and rent a car as we are staying off site, or do we just drive down"? We have that magic number it has to work out to. Haven't found the deal of a flight yet, so I wait

For our family coming from Michigan with a 1 yr old and 4 yr old, our drive to Disney would include a hotel each way because 20 hrs in a car each way with young kids is too long and not fair to the kids or us parents! I don't count car rental in our magic number at all.

Driving:
Gas cost ($205 each way using actual mpg and est. $3.75/gal gas. = $410 roundtrip)
2x hotel stays (1 day each way - est. $100x2 = $200)
food (@$50 each driving day x4=$200)
oil change ($25)
and a $100 bill for misc. unknown wear and tear
TOTAL: $935

Our alternative flying cost:
$660 round trip for 3 tickets (1 yr old flies free)
$40 daily parking at airport
$20 gas to/from airport
TOTAL: $720

I understand my calculations not including car rental are flawed and my reasoning doesn't apply to all, but my personal opinion is you can't just treat a long car trip the same as a quick flight - there is an opportunity cost/trade-off there that at least I take into account by negating the rental costs. If I can save 3 days of travel (going from 2 days each way to 1/2 day each way) then my rental car cost is worth that small piece of sanity for the family.

 

[keliblue]

Welcome!! Hope things work out for you to get your flights and rental!
We have been in that boat many times over the years, and almost always ended up driving.

Ever since we got the SW Visa, we have flown.
It's been almost two years now, and we kick ourselves for not having done it sooner.
Haven't had to pay for a flight yet!
I just wish we lived a bit closer to a SW airport!!

Ditto we average at least 2 round trips with our points every year. The problem now is SW is opening up flights to Cancun in August..hmmmm Disney World or Cancun whats a girl to do

 

[auger]

Hahaha!!! Decisions, decisions!!!

 

[playnascar]

I am hopping to find a good deal on renter from sept 15-21

 

[MegEliz]

Has anyone bought tickets from UndercoverTourist.com and then used the discount with Alamo to rent a car? We are going to be booking a mini van (as there are 4 adults and 2 kids) and this is by far the best deal we have found. It came to $570 for 11 days including all taxes, fees and two car seats. It's definitely worth checking out. I haven't booked yet but I think I will if I can't find a better deal.

 

[mcurran]

Has anyone bought tickets from UndercoverTourist.com and then used the discount with Alamo to rent a car? We are going to be booking a mini van (as there are 4 adults and 2 kids) and this is by far the best deal we have found. It came to $570 for 11 days including all taxes, fees and two car seats. It's definitely worth checking out. I haven't booked yet but I think I will if I can't find a better deal.

As info, you can put car seats in checked luggage and they fly for free. This would save you a lot of excess charges.

 

[kg66]

Good morning all, hope everyone enjoyed their Easter Weekend. Over a few drinks in the hot tub this weekend, hubby gave me the OK to book the flight and car rental I think it was my reasoning that 1 breakdown on the trip would throw us over budget, and timing. Plus the last time we drove down 2 years ago, we were seconds behind a fatal accident and swore we would never drive again. Too much fatigue even if we split it up over 2 days each way. So now to watch for the best deals
Thx for the welcome

 

[Befferk]

I'm at $222 w/National for 8 days, Sept. 26 - Oct. 4 with the KLM code, midsize.

 

[MegEliz]

What's the KLM code?

 

[Ranger111]

What's the KLM code?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2878667&highlight=awesome+code+national

A tip for you as you are brandnew on this board....

The rate often starts out looking very good compared to other rates when you look months in advance.

however, as your date approaches, often it will not drop much -- or at all -- and other codes will often drop quite a bit.

Finally, you could have found the code information yourself by using -- KLM code -- as your search term using the search function at the top of the board.

 

[kg66]

On the transportation sticky, someone posted a link to carrentalsavers...has anyone used them before? Their prices seem good..just wondering. Same as others no need to use CC to hold, only at pick up...

 

[jrj]

On the transportation sticky, someone posted a link to carrentalsavers...has anyone used them before? Their prices seem good..just wondering. Same as others no need to use CC to hold, only at pick up...

Hi kg66

Yes, we've used carrentalsavers for both business/personal travel and have never had an issue

Have a great weekend

 

[kg66]

Great thanks jrj, I booked a standard for $189 for a week through them with Payless .

 

[jrj]

Great thanks jrj, I booked a standard for $189 for a week through them with Payless .

Great to hear keep checking back we found that rates sometimes dropped, closer to our pick up date

 

[kg66]

That's what I planned to do as I've heard so many say the same thing...but I thought this way I have secured a vehicle for my dates, and a price drop would def be a bonus!
Thanks again

 

[pskelly]

Able to get mid size suv through National for $263 using KLM code and $30 off coupon code for our trip.........not to bad at all, but will keep looking as we get closer.

 

[Befferk]

Able to get mid size suv through National for $263 using KLM code and $30 off coupon code for our trip.........not to bad at all, but will keep looking as we get closer.

What is the $30 code? The ones I found said they would expire before my trip.