So frustrated....

[buyerbrad]

We have a March Break Trip booked for March 11-20th, but I was searching around today for cheap flights before Xmas. Found 2 great deals: a flight into Tampa (Dec 19th - 24th) for myself, wife, DD 3 and DD 3 months for $450 roundtrip total for all of us, and a 2 bedroom suite for $66/night. HOWEVER, the cheapest rental car I can find is $400+. This is a deal breaker based on the current Canadian Dollar.

Rant over.

 

[sunflare]

Car prices go down the closer you get... I'd try starting in December. I have the best luck a week or so before my trips.

 

[kj2mom]

Is a compact too small? I just entered your dates into carrentalsavers and Alamo came up $243.55 for compact (Nissan versa or equivalent, 5 people 2 bags).

 

[shm_helene]

I got a really good deal on a car rental by buying my tickets through Undercover Tourist.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Is a compact too small? I just entered your dates into carrentalsavers and Alamo came up $243.55 for compact (Nissan versa or equivalent, 5 people 2 bags).

Might be too small for a family with multiple car seats.

Maybe keep looking. Might be a good time to cash in reward points if you have any that would apply: like your airline, cc, car rental membership....

 

[Mickfarland4]

I know you mentioned Canada but, maybe you can stack discounts for the rental car. We use our BJ's travel along with coupon codes from retail me not. It has shaved over $100 before based on one week rental.

 

[2Gma]

We've always used Orbitz for rentals. We have found for all of our trips that usually the companies rotate their specials each week or so. Example: one week Alamo is having lowest price on mid size SUV and then next week Budget is having the lowest price on mid size suv. try a comparison site, hopefully you will find one in your budget!

 

[beck00]

We have an 8 passenger minivan through Alamo for Thanksgiving week. Months ago, I originally booked it at around $600. It kept dropping as we got closer, and I got it to $260 two days ago.

 

[NYHeel]

Check Costco travel. They have excellent car rental rates in Florida. Plus, you can always try Priceline. I've had success with the name your own price.

 

[buyerbrad]

Has anybody used any of the off-site locations that provide a shuttle to them?

 

[scrapquitler]

Has anybody used any of the off-site locations that provide a shuttle to them?

I only did that once, and won't ever do it again.

When we were on our way back to MCO from dropping off the rental car, we had to wait almost an hour for the shuttle to take us to the airport. It wasn't too much fun sitting around with two kids and all our luggage waiting that long.

On top of that, all the rental places we've used at the terminal allow you to pick your own car (pick any one on row B, left hand side), and at the off-airport car rental place, we didn't get any choice of vehicle. I had rented a minivan, and they were out of them so they 'upgraded' me to a SUV -- and I ended up with an Armada. It was like driving a tank around town for a week, and it was very difficult for 5'2" me to get a baby in an infant seat into the back seat of the vehicle that was so high. I was unhappy enough about that, but then when I realized that it only got about 11 MPG for gas, I was even more unhappy.

 

[jalpert]

Hey, so, same as you, went to rent a car from the airport and drop off to the airport, prices were crazy. $450 for a week crazy.

However, I found if we pick up the car from the Disney car care center, then return at the airport, the rate was $250. Factor in a $50 cab fare to cab to the car care center and we still save $150.

Maybe check the rental car center at the Swan or the car care center, return to the airport, then Magical Express to your resort (or cab to the car rental if you're staying offsite) and see if you can swing it that way

 

[jlsmith376]

There should be a March car rental deal watch thread on the transportation board. I always subscribe to the deal watch thread for our trips and it has been a tremendous help. It seems like this far out rates are always around $400 but when you get 6-8 weeks from your trip prices will drop significantly.

 

[jlsmith376]

Here's a link to the March thread.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/ma...-promo-code-rate-watch.3451248/#post-54604041

 

[buyerbrad]

Lots of terrible reviews for the offsite car rental places.

Also, that Alamo price has now gone up too

 

[buyerbrad]

Finally!!!!

Roundtrip flights for $130 and a Midsize car for $280. Florida, here we come.

 

[Baklava]

Yay! Have a great trip!

 

[Meaghan]

Great! Have a wonderful trip!

 

[soniam]

Does Mousesavers provide rental car deals through their newsletter? We usually have good deals through our employer or from other memberships.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Car prices go down the closer you get... I'd try starting in December. I have the best luck a week or so before my trips.

Not always. Sometimes they just go up.