The Official January 2010 Car Rental Thread

[Phil'sFrontier]

I just booked a full size for Jan 8-21 for $550 through Expedia. No codes/specials.
I found with trying different codes, rental sites; that you aren't going to do much better than what a company like Expedia can offer. At least I can't really. I am finding the closer I come to the date, the cheaper the rates are becoming.
We booked with Thrifty. Budget was around double the price a month ago, now it is within 150 dollars so I will keep checking.
This rate works out to around 30-35 dollars a day.

 

[n2mm]

My rate is still the same. I've got a full size reserved with National Executive Aisle for 10 days (1/21-30) and my TOTAL is $213. I think this is a good price and I'm happy with it. That is $21 a day including all taxes and fees. Before the taxes and fees my sub-total is $148 ($14 per day). I'm using the code 5007160 and the $40 coupon.

 

[hsmamato2]

I'm still thrilled with my rate- hotwire seems to beat anything I've seen elsewhere- and we never get a full size car,we always go compact.....

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

I'm still thrilled with my rate- hotwire seems to beat anything I've seen elsewhere- and we never get a full size car,we always go compact.....

I really thought about a small car, but with our DD8 being pretty tall(I think she is around 4'6 I didn't want her to have to squish in the back. Then you add our luggage, which on the way down might no be that much(2 suitcases, 3 carry-ons), I expect on the way back with my wife's great skill of shopping we will have 6 suitcases and 3 carry on.

 

[debbs0723]

I really thought about a small car, but with our DD8 being pretty tall(I think she is around 4'6 I didn't want her to have to squish in the back. Then you add our luggage, which on the way down might no be that much(2 suitcases, 3 carry-ons), I expect on the way back with my wife's great skill of shopping we will have 6 suitcases and 3 carry on.

This is one reason I booked with hotwire for the 9 days with a full size for $168. nobody was even coming close to that on a full size and the lowest I had gotten was $188 with national for a standard. I still have at least one child in a booster seat and with luggage and all I didn't want to take the chance. The deciding factor was finding out that an Impala was considered full size. That is the size of my DHs work car and quite frankly I didn't want to spend 9 days in something smaller than that. I slightly regret jumping the gun and booking so early because we did get Hertz (offsite) but in the big scheme of things the extra time to the agency won't kill us. We aren't in a rush on the day we arrive or leave. I think I'll take the advice and send DH to get the car while the girls and I take restroom breaks and go get our luggage and meet him curbside when he is ready.

 

[sillyyankee]

Thank you for the pirceline info!!!

I just booked 7 days full size/standard for $131.52 TOTAL! Yipee!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[farmertim]

Hotwire has full size for 12.95/day. We booked for 1/30 thru 2/7 (8 days) for 170 total with taxes and fees. Rental company we got was alamo. Seemed like a pretty decent price.

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

I slightly regret jumping the gun and booking so early because we did get Hertz (offsite) but in the big scheme of things the extra time to the agency won't kill us. We aren't in a rush on the day we arrive or leave. I think I'll take the advice and send DH to get the car while the girls and I take restroom breaks and go get our luggage and meet him curbside when he is ready.

I think you could rebook with any penalty if you like.

 

[vallamen]

Thank you for the pirceline info!!!

I just booked 7 days full size/standard for $131.52 TOTAL! Yipee!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

good rate! Just curious, What company did you end up with?

I have a 7 day +1 hour rate with Alamo for $146 for a midsize....Which I am happy with, but would consider doing priceline for a significant decrease.....don't want a shuttle though!

Thanks,
Val.

 

[disneybride96]

OMG! Thanks so much for this thread!

Through Hotwire, I got a midsize car....Jan 16-23 for only $113.64! Not only that, but it was Hertz, which we prefer!
WOW!

 

[Them!]

OMG! Thanks so much for this thread!

Through Hotwire, I got a midsize car....Jan 16-23 for only $113.64! Not only that, but it was Hertz, which we prefer!
WOW!

I am glad you got Hertz. That is a great rate. I checked my 8 day rental and it is $137 for a midsize car. I am still holding onto my Nat'l rental. I am worried that I will get Alamo via Hotwire and not have the free extra driver.

December is flying by! We are leaving Jan. 4. WooHoo!!!!

 

[webworm]

I just booked a full size for Jan 8-21 for $550 through Expedia. No codes/specials.
I found with trying different codes, rental sites; that you aren't going to do much better than what a company like Expedia can offer. At least I can't really. I am finding the closer I come to the date, the cheaper the rates are becoming.
We booked with Thrifty. Budget was around double the price a month ago, now it is within 150 dollars so I will keep checking.
This rate works out to around 30-35 dollars a day.

A full size with Thrifty for your dates and free additional driver is $466.77 using Orlando Magic Card corporate code 004m001010. Budget is $381.44 total and includes free driver using costco code W852802 and coupon MUGZ029 for $30.00 off. Note total will show $411.44 since $30.00 coupon is deducted upon rental. They never ask for Costco membership card. You can find link from Costco website under travel to book.
Signup for free Emerald Club membership with National and book a midsize for $365.96 including taxes and then go directly to Emerald Isle and pick any available car for no additional charge. It will be at least a midsize but there are always several full size vehicles as well. Sign up through mousesavers.com for free membership.

 

[DVC-Don]

Right now I have a full size car booked with Enterprise for 10 days in January for a total of $311.38. Months ago I started at $525 with Budget. Nothing special, I just keep checking every couple of weeks.

 

[nascargirl]

I have a full size car with Alamo out of Sanford from 1/10-18 for 218.58

 

[Them!]

My National EA rate 1/4-1/12, 8 day rental dropped a bit from $186 to $165 today. I used the 5007160 Continental air code plus a $40 off coupon that National emailed me.

I tried to modifiy my old ressie to get new price but ultimately had to cancel the original and rebook for the savings.

Less than 2 weeks to go!!!!

 

[DVC-Don]

Right now I have a full size car booked with Enterprise for 10 days in January for a total of $311.38. Months ago I started at $525 with Budget. Nothing special, I just keep checking every couple of weeks.

Just rebooked with Dollar at $265. And that's for 11 days, I mis-counted the days in my first post.

 

[Dr. J.]

So excited, just booked National for 10 days minivan for $375 which was $125 cheaper than dollar with orlando magic code and my husband and I both can drive. Yay!

 

[DutchsMommy]

I'm pretty happy too - have a National minivan for $348 all in for a week using $40 coupon and code when booked with mastercard. The rate before all taxes and stuff was $270.50 (incls the $40 coupon) which I think is pretty darned good - too bad about taxes and surcharges but hey, what can you do?!

 

[canadian_mouse]

Has anyone tried using:

http://www.carrentalsavers.com/florida-car-rental.html

I have a 10 day mid-sized from Alamo for $233 all taxes and fees included. That rate includes an entertainment book coupon that I added myself.

 

[Dr. J.]

Tried above link and my rate was much better.