Should I go to Priceline for car rental?

[jjnb7709]

Hello! I'm new to the boards and would appreciate your help. We're headed to Disney 5/7-5/11 and so far, I can not find a good deal on a rental car. I'm leaning toward Priceline at this point. If I do use Priceline, will there be a specific pick-up and drop-off time? I know with plane tickets, you have no control over the times...so I'm wondering if it's the same way with rental cars? And what kind of rate can I hope for on a standard size or up (there are only 3 adults and my DS). Thanks in advance for any help you can give!

 

[gobo2]

Hi
I did priceline for our last trip in Jan 01 because there were 7 of us and we needed a mini-van. I think I specified pick up and drop off time according to my plane tix.
I can't remember which company it was because my family picked it up and returned it.I got a great price (wish I had bid lower!!) and had no problems. The van wasn't as new as rental cars I had used in the past but it got us around.
The only negative was that the company was not right at the airport like some but the shuttle did not take up too much time.
I would definately do it again.
I can find out what company it was if you would like.
Good luck

First WDW visit 1996 DL
1997 CB
1998 CS
1999 baby
2000 Westgate Lakes
2000 DL & BWI Concierge
Jan 2001 OKW

 

[Lynn CC]

We used Priceline and got reservations with National for 10 days (that we used last month, with no problems at all )


We arrived at MCO 3 hours before our car was scheduled and they gave it to us, no problems at all! It was very fast too.

When I went to Priceline to bid, I got $15.00/day for a mid-size.
It came back a YES with National!
I then joined Nationals EA CLUB for free and we got to pick out any car off the Emarld Aisle Lot.
I also got to skip the long line inside the terminal. We just gave the attendant in the parking lot our EA card, she said just bring it back with a full tank, and we drove off!

I will use Priceline again for a rental!
Good Luck

<IMG WIDTH="275" SRC="http://disneyclipart.simplenet.com/Mouselaneous/Everything_Else/MKK.gif">

 

[mdmbdumont]

Not sure if I would buy anything from Priceline as the stock market is not putting much value in this company. It has abandoned several strategies to get into new markets, but continues to burn cash....

JMHO <IMG SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif" alt="confused">

Michael

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I got a full size in Feb. for 15.00 per day.
Worked out, with taxes and surchages and priceline's fee to be about 140-145. per week. This was from Alamo and I was able to use the Quick Silver counter.

Gail

Offsite - 88
CBR - 89 & 90
PO - 91
OKW-92,OKW-93,OKW-96, OKW-97 2X'S,OKW-98 2X's
OKW-99 2X'S,OKW-00 2X's OKW-01 1X
Jamaica-SandalsInn 98&00

 

[dhudson1]

I don't understand why you won't use Priceline just because the stock price is down. Your reservation is still with the car rental company, who pays Priceline. I don't see any risk at all.

If there is one, I would like to know.

<font color="#FF0000"><font face="Comic Sans MS"><font size="3"><center>Darryl</font>
<font size="1"><marquee>71 Offsite, 72 Offsite, 81 Offsite - Honeymoon, 83 Offsite, 84 FW Tent, 85 Poly, 90 Offsite, 91 Offsite, 92 Offsite, 93 CBR, 94 Offsite, 16 ASM, 98 CBR-Bought DVC @ BWV, 99 BWV & OKW, 00 OKW & FW Cabin, 01 BWV in July</marquee></font></font></font><IMG width="150" height="122" SRC="http://members.aol.com/robert1958/private/Disney.jpg"></center>

 

[TravelSheryl]

I have no qualms whatsoever in spending my travel dollars with Priceline because my reservation is prepaid to the end provider, evidenced by the confirmation number supplied directly from the provider. And it's actually the customer who pays Priceline who pays the provider, not the provider paying Priceline.

 

[RoseNJ]

We used priceline last year for our rental car and yes, I was skeptical at first. So, once I got my confirmation from Priceline I called the rental car company and they showed my reservation, paid in full, in their computer. Even if priceline has financial problems down the road, your reservation is already paid and that shouldn't affect you. P.S....We got a SUV for $22 a day last summer... save well over 50% off the best deal we could find!

 

[jjnb7709]

I've been playing with Priceline now - not having any luck so far on getting accepted. So, I'm wondering - trip is 5/7-5/11 - should I wait until closer to then? Do you get a better deal from Priceline if you wait - i.e. Do my odds increase closer to my trip? I've seen people on these boards come back with $15/day for full size, etc. but I'm not getting accepted for that so I'm wondering how to do this more effectively.
By the way, thanks for your replies to original post!

 

[Lewisc]

Also try hotwire
They give you the price and you have 30 minutes to accept.

 

[mickeyinmay]

I bid $16 per day for a standard car for April 28-May 5, my bid was accepted at Hertz. I say keep trying priceline. It saved us almost 50%!!

 

[queenvic]

Here's another question along the same lines. Can you specify the type of car you want. In other words, if I don't want to hope that EA at National will have a mini-van available when we get there, could I bid on a mini-van with Priceline? Or is the type of car as much of a guessing game as the proveder? Also, do they have any bonus money for rental cars like they do for hotels and airline tickets? I've used Priceline before for hotel reservations, but I've never tried them for rental cars.

'86 - Offsite
'89 - Offsite
'98 - Offsite
May 00 - Swan/Dolphin
July 00 - Boardwalk
Nov 00 - DxL
Mar 01 - Disneyland (first time)
May - 01 BWV

 

[DownNeckBoy]

You can and must specify the type of car you want and then you bid in that price range. I have used Priceline numerous times and have no complaint with them. However, research is key with Priceline. Different car rental companies have different ideas of what an intermediate, full size, etc. car is and you should have this in mind before you bid. My final suggestion is that you bid aggressively if you truly wish the best deal. In other words, if you bid $18 per day for an intermediate car, and it is rejected, I would then bid $19 and slowly up the price until I get to the point of no return. Good Luck!