The Official January 2010 Car Rental Thread

[traveljunkie2]

hsmamato2 - Just call National, give them your res. # and ask them to add your Emerald club #. You should get another 10% off your res. I did this when I booked through orbitz. Even if they don't give you the additional discount, you will get a free additional driver.

 

[Pisces]

I checked Hotwire last night and got a full size for $168 with taxes! The rate actually was lower than when I chose the initial price for the full size. The rate went down $2 per day on the next page. It is with Hertz, but for that price I will take the shuttle! I had a reservation through Dollar for the Lock 'n Go for $218, which I thought was pretty good, but this way I know I will be getting a full size. My dates are Jan 15-24.

 

[debbs0723]

I looked on hotwire last night as well and saw a full size for $168 for nine days. For those of you who have done this before is that about as good as it gets or should I hold out using all the codes, etc?

Thanks,
Debbie

 

[TrustedTraveler]

Hotwire is pretty darn good, but my experience is that the best deal is by bidding on Priceline, not just selecting from the deals shown, but the set your own price bidding process. Here's the thing: you bid low and before you confirm it shows you the total price all fees, taxes, etc. I started really low, $28 a day for a minivan mid January. It was rejected so 2 days later I tried again at $30 and got it! $210 a week was about half the published price for that week.
Bid really low with a number you would be happy with and try it.

 

[Disney4nonah]

I checked Hotwire last night and got a full size for $168 with taxes! The rate actually was lower than when I chose the initial price for the full size. The rate went down $2 per day on the next page. It is with Hertz, but for that price I will take the shuttle! I had a reservation through Dollar for the Lock 'n Go for $218, which I thought was pretty good, but this way I know I will be getting a full size. My dates are Jan 15-24.

THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP!!! I zoomed over to Hotwire and got the car for $107.32, we rented an economy, becuase it's just me and my DH.
$7.95 X 7 = 55.65
taxes and fees = $51.67
TOTAL $107.32

mY DH WAS SO HAPPY, he did not want to spend over $200 this time....he snapped that card out so fast!!!

Your right the price changed as we changed pages and became a dollar cheaper... I'm ok with taking a shuttle for that great price!!!

Thank you

 

[lokalstar]

Have been bidding on a minivan for a few weeks now at MCO trying like $24-$27 a day for 10 days between January 23 - February 2nd.

Well today I tried $28 a day and it accepted my offer. Got Alamo so I'm happy about being able to pick my minivan. Total with taxes and fees is $402.40. Not bad for 10 days.

Hoping I won't regret booking this and being stuck with it. It works out to $196 a week so I don't recall ever seeing anything better than the $199 a week special for minivans they had about a year ago.

 

[MapleGirl]

I used Priceline for our trip 1/5-1/11 for $97 including all taxes and fees. I chose a compact and bid $7/day. The rental is at Hertz. I'm a little bummed that we'll need to take a shuttle, but I'm pleased with the price.

Anyone know where I can find a free additional driver coupon?

 

[hsmamato2]

I'd like to know this too,if we book w/Priceline(I'm liking the prices you're getting) is it just for the one driver?

 

[perdidobay]

I just checked my reservation with National for Emerald Isle service w/ $20 Entertainment coupon Jan 22-31 and my cost has dropped from $299.00 to $223.00. I'm glad to see the rate finally dropped. I will keep checking it just in case it drops some more.

 

[Them!]

I just checked my reservation with National for Emerald Isle service w/ $20 Entertainment coupon Jan 22-31 and my cost has dropped from $299.00 to $223.00. I'm glad to see the rate finally dropped. I will keep checking it just in case it drops some more.

My national for 1/4-12 stay the same but I found an Alamo rate for a Malibu for $176 for the full 8 days. Used costco for extra driver an a double upgrade coupon from Mousesavers.

At least these rates are going in the right direction! I am glad for all of you getting the good hotwire/priceline offers too!

 

[DSTPDISNEY]

yesterday booked with hotwire for 1/23-1/31 for intermediate for $142 total, car is with Alamo. best i have found before that i was doing the reservation, cancel, reservation, cancel dance with Thrifty everytime I found a better price. This price beats my best price with Thrifty by 50 bucks

 

[jlovesee]

Everyone who is using Alamo check your rates mine just dropped from $170 to $146 w tax. from 01/23-01/31 for a compact. Using $30 off alamo coupon (AD2123JMC) and the AP discount.

Jennifer

 

[hsmamato2]

so.....if using Hotwire, you get just one driver,right? and you don;t know the company till you add your cc? I got a good rate of 8.95 per day a midsize car total for 2 weeks is 239.00- I can't seem to do better than that,but am hesitating b/c you can't cancel....

 

[DSTPDISNEY]

if you asked me that is a good rate, i would book it. its gonna be with a good company, and it will tell you before you book if the car is at the airport of if you need to be shuttled

 

[OTRGal]

if you asked me that is a good rate, i would book it. its gonna be with a good company, and it will tell you before you book if the car is at the airport of if you need to be shuttled

I just looked into booking with Hotwire. I got a favorable rate, but I didn't see where it said that the rental was at the airport or if I need to be shuttled. It says the rental is at Orlando Int'l (MCO), but it doesn't say if a shuttle is needed or not. I didn't dare to book. I really don't want to do a shuttle. Can anyone with more experience with Hotwire advise me on this?

Thank you.

 

[irisesareblue]

It is just my step daughter and myself so I booked a compact Car from Alamo from January 2nd to 10th inclusive (8 days)

The total is $247.00 with taxes and charges included. I'm a happy camper! What I've found with rental cars is that I just show up at the desk and I turn down any upgrades - normally, they give us a mid-size or larger vehicle anyway because compact cars seem to be in limited supply in most locales (mainly because no one books em). Not sure if this is the case in Orlando but if we only get a compact car, I'll still be happy with the price.

 

[sillyyankee]

Hello - feel like i am giong bonkers looking at all the car rental sites....i may try priceline shortly too. Before i do, anyone have experience with E-Z rent-a-car?
reserved a full size for $155 ($211 with tax)

Feeling ok about price as my other ressies are:
National: $273.39 total with tax (midsize)
Enterprise: $485.72 total with tax (minivan)
Alamo: $249.89 total with tax (standard SUV @ WDW)

so now that i typed it all out, i know what i am giong to do, unless someone tells me a horror story about EZ rental.

Thankyou!!

 

[DSTPDISNEY]

if it says the rental is at MCO it is. The only one hotwire deals with that isn't is hertz as far as I know. it will say car and counter at airport or something like that

 

[OTRGal]

Thanks for the great Hotwire info, DSTPDISNEY. I just booked with Hotwire for 1/30-2/6 and got a price of $163.34 with Alamo. I guess I can now cancel my reservation made through Alamo for $255.48 - that's a savings of more than $90! I'm so pleased.

 

[hsmamato2]

so...where is Hertz at MCO? I booked with Hotwire ,got a fullsize for 2 weeks for a total of 229.00- too cheap to pass up...... thanks for all the advice!
I'm hoping Hertz isn;t too far away,though we don;t mind a quick shuttle ride-