The Official December 2009 Car Rental Thread

[habg1]

Thrifty is Offsite you have to use a shuttle to get to them. We just returned from MCO. I know this first hand.
Only Alamo/ National/ Dollar/ Budget and a couple others are onsite for pick up at airport.
I used thrifty in the past and have never been thrilled with them. It just matters if the cost is low enough to be worth using them.

Keep checking Alamo last minute deals each week on their website. Use walmart codes and costco codes along with coupon codes to get the best prices.
Southwest has some good car deals too, remember to add coupon and corporate codes in the boxes at the bottom when price checking with them.
Check out the deals page on SW too and copy the codes to add when price comparing.

Are you 100% sure? On the MCO website it says Thrifty is on site. I have reservations through Thrifty and when I called they said they were inside the terminal now.

Anyone rent a car lately from Thrifty, onsite? I'm getting nervous now.

I really don't want to be screwing around at 8pm with a shuttle.

 

[DebbieB]

I heard all the car rentals at MCO are moving onsite. Not sure which ones have completed the move to date.

 

[keishashadow]

Are you 100% sure? On the MCO website it says Thrifty is on site. I have reservations through Thrifty and when I called they said they were inside the terminal now.

Anyone rent a car lately from Thrifty, onsite? I'm getting nervous now.

I really don't want to be screwing around at 8pm with a shuttle.

did you call the number listed on your reservation & ask?

 

[robinb]

{shrug} Even if Thrifty is still a shuttle ride away it's not a big deal. I'd ride a shuttle any day to save some money.

 

[cjnix29]

Thanks for this thread guys! My oldest son and I are joining my in-laws for a portion of their Nov/Dec vacation. We're landing late on 12/2 and don't want to have to deal with Magical Express. Anyway, I was able to get a Magicard (based on info from this thread!) and get a great deal at Thrifty. One question - some websites say that Thrifty has a counter onsite and that the cars are onsite, but wdwinfo.com says that they are offsite. Anyone use them before and know??

It just makes a difference to me since we'll be arriving late on 12/2 and hope to get into the car fairly quickly.

Thanks!!

Did you try hotwire? Fantastic rates right now for right around your dates. Wished I had waited to book with them. For my dates, it is $116 for a compact for the week.

 

[robinb]

Did you try hotwire? Fantastic rates right now for right around your dates. Wished I had waited to book with them. For my dates, it is $116 for a compact for the week.

Don't forget that Priceline almost always beats Hotwire when it comes to hotels and car rentals! If you're getting a good rate at Hotwire, try over at Priceline with a starting bid of 40% off the HW price. Make sure to compare the final pricing with taxes and service charges!

 

[agnes!]

Also, check out the rates for bigger cars. Don't make the mistake of thinking that a smaller car for fewer days is always cheaper...often it *isn't*. Sometimes the rental car co. is running out of compacts so they discount the bigger cars to move them off the lot *and* you don't have to always scrimp on the days. Fool around with your parameters a little bit...you might be pleasantly surprised!

For instance, let's say you just need a car for a day so you can do some shopping or maybe take a day trip to the coast... Well, you can sometimes get a better class of car for more days at a cheaper rate...a small car for a single day isn't always less $$$ .

agnes!

 

[torquelover]

Thrifty is Offsite you have to use a shuttle to get to them. We just returned from MCO. I know this first hand.
Only Alamo/ National/ Dollar/ Budget and a couple others are onsite for pick up at airport.
I used thrifty in the past and have never been thrilled with them. It just matters if the cost is low enough to be worth using them.

I was at MCO in June and rented from Thrifty and they were definitely onsite. B side, just across from the terminal. I can't imagine that you would have missed them, since as you leave the terminal and enter the garage, they are listed on the signs right beside the other onsite rental companies. Did they leave this location recently?

BTW, I was unhappy with the condition of my Thrifty minivan on our last trip. A quick scan of the other vans parked by mine did not seem to be too much better so we just dealt with it for the week. In June, Thrifty was not set up like Alamo/National where you get to pick your car from a line-up. We went with Thrifty as they were running a $199/wk special on a minivan that would have otherwise been $500-$600 the same week from Alamo/National. I did call Alamo twice to see if they would price match, and was unsuccessful.

 

[Disneychix]

I just got a fantastic rate on Hotwire for 11/30-12/5. Full size car for $168 (includes taxes).
I was getting stuck with discounts from other agencies because I do not have a Saturday night stay. Most of the coupons you need to keep the car over a Sat night.
I saved $60 and got a bigger car from my previous booking.

 

[habg1]

I was at MCO in June and rented from Thrifty and they were definitely onsite. B side, just across from the terminal. I can't imagine that you would have missed them, since as you leave the terminal and enter the garage, they are listed on the signs right beside the other onsite rental companies. Did they leave this location recently?

BTW, I was unhappy with the condition of my Thrifty minivan on our last trip. A quick scan of the other vans parked by mine did not seem to be too much better so we just dealt with it for the week. In June, Thrifty was not set up like Alamo/National where you get to pick your car from a line-up. We went with Thrifty as they were running a $199/wk special on a minivan that would have otherwise been $500-$600 the same week from Alamo/National. I did call Alamo twice to see if they would price match, and was unsuccessful.

Thanks for the confirmation that Thrifty is onsite. I called Thrifty today as well and asked them more than once if they were off site or on site. She probably thought I was nuts.

we got an awesome rate for 12/23 - 1/2/10 thru Thrifty. $399.00 total for a full size. I guess a Dodge charger, or similar. I hope the car is not junk then. My husband makes them write every nick, scratch, dent, stain down as we leave the garage.

So, with thrifty you don't go down an aisle and choose? It's our first time w/ Thrifty.

For the price, we'll take what we can get for the 11 days.

 

[CouchTater]

I got an intermediate size through Enterprise 11/28 -12/5 for $162.00 using Car Rental Savers.

 

[missnanse]

Thanks for the confirmation that Thrifty is onsite. I called Thrifty today as well and asked them more than once if they were off site or on site. She probably thought I was nuts.

we got an awesome rate for 12/23 - 1/2/10 thru Thrifty. $399.00 total for a full size. I guess a Dodge charger, or similar. I hope the car is not junk then. My husband makes them write every nick, scratch, dent, stain down as we leave the garage.

So, with thrifty you don't go down an aisle and choose? It's our first time w/ Thrifty.

For the price, we'll take what we can get for the 11 days.

Did you have any special codes you used. i need 12/20- 1/1 and it's $800.00
I'd appreciate your help. Thanks

 

[habg1]

Did you have any special codes you used. i need 12/20- 1/1 and it's $800.00
I'd appreciate your help. Thanks

Let me get my confirmation from my suitcase, because I can't remember...lol

 

[jadejazzkayla]

I got an intermediate size through Enterprise 11/28 -12/5 for $162.00 using Car Rental Savers.

what enterprise codes did you use? i checked car rental savers website and couldn't get enterprise to come up and i couldn't get any other car rental places to come close to your amount.

was your quote of $162 your total inclucing taxes and fees?

thanks.

jade.

 

[habg1]

Let me get my confirmation from my suitcase, because I can't remember...lol

Okay, there was no code/coupon on my confirmation. So, I guess I didn't. But I think the rate they gave me over the phone was more, so I booked online.

I booked way back on May 14 2009.

Dec 23rd - Jan 2nd Full size Charger, or similar.

1 week @ 203.43 unlimited miles
3 extra days @ 32.99/day unlimited miles
Tax, blah, blah, blah

Total - $399.31

Pick up Orlando International Airport(MCO)

Sorry I couldn't help you out.

We knew we were going at Christmas way back then, DVC members. So we have to plan early.

I got great airfare too. Non stops, Jetblue, 4 people, $856.00 from NY.

Don't mean to brag, sorry.

 

[viluvsdisney]

I just got a good rate using your code and coupon. Any idea where the 5007160 code is from? Will I need to print a coupon to use it?

National

 

[robinb]

Did you have any special codes you used. i need 12/20- 1/1 and it's $800.00
I'd appreciate your help. Thanks

Go to post #211 on this thread and choose the "2125 WEST LANDSTREET ROAD" location. It's about 10 miles from MCO and you will have to take a cab there. You can return to MCO at no additional charge. An intermediate is $340 plus tax (about $400 with tax). Not the best rate, but half of what you're getting now!

 

[EMom]

Help me......I have been a slacker on this. Is somewhere between $250-$260 (all taxes, etc.) a good price a mid size for 11 days in December?

Thanks!

 

[EMom]

I have not been following this thread the way I should have and time is getting close, so I decided to reserve a car today. I think this sounds good. I compared it to what we paid two years ago at Alamo, and the big difference seems to be that the fees and taxes have gone up.

Two years ago, in September, we rented from Alamo for 10 days. We had two discounts and paid $171. That was for a midsize. Breaks down to $17 per day, more or less.

This December, I've just booked a midsize for 11 days at Alamo for $214 with two discounts. That's a little over $19 per day.

Both figures include all taxes and fees. I think $214 is a pretty good deal for 11 days. All I know is, I don't think I'm going to spend a lot of time looking for a better deal. I'm too busy planning the trip.

 

[robinb]

I have not been following this thread the way I should have and time is getting close, so I decided to reserve a car today. I think this sounds good. I compared it to what we paid two years ago at Alamo, and the big difference seems to be that the fees and taxes have gone up.

Two years ago, in September, we rented from Alamo for 10 days. We had two discounts and paid $171. That was for a midsize. Breaks down to $17 per day, more or less.

This December, I've just booked a midsize for 11 days at Alamo for $214 with two discounts. That's a little over $19 per day.

Both figures include all taxes and fees. I think $214 is a pretty good deal for 11 days. All I know is, I don't think I'm going to spend a lot of time looking for a better deal. I'm too busy planning the trip.

$219 isn't a bad price at all!