TOT - Car rental @ SFO

[princessfionasmom]

The kids and I are visiting DH in CA while he's on active duty with the military from July 1st to July 8th. I am having a hard time finding a good deal on a rental car at the airport. All the rates I'm finding are way too expensive. Anyone have any tips on how I can get a decent rental rate at SFO? Any good discount codes out there for SFO?

Any help is greatly appreciated!
TIA
Carmel

 

[tlenzendorf]

I've always gotten good rates thru there from Thrifty. Sign up for their Blue Chips rewards program and see if that gets you anything better.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I got much a better rate in town - Alamo with codes from Mousesavers. No extra fees (except sales tax) and no upcharge to return to SFO.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Relevance to how much is "too expensive" would be beneficial. The rate you are getting might be a great rate, just appears to be very high in comparisons to other locations. Additionally you are crossing 4th of July which is going to result in SKY HIGH rates due to a lot of traveling (more so this year because of when the holiday falls too).

 

[PlutoPony]

Relevance to how much is "too expensive" would be beneficial. The rate you are getting might be a great rate, just appears to be very high in comparisons to other locations.

Agree with this. I've been watching summer rates in SFO and in general they are definitely higher than Orlando. Right now the best I'm able to get is $50/day midsize for a 4 day rental at the end of July.... and it's just come down from a steady $65/day.

Have you considered Priceline?

 

[got2travel]

Do you really need a car? Most hotels in SF charge $20 and up per day for parking, if they even have parking available. There is a good public transportation system in the city between the cable cars, Muni, BART and busses. And BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit http://www.bart.gov/guide/airport/index.aspx) runs from the airport through the city (and on into the East Bay, Oakland/Berkeley area).

If you are staying in San Francisco proper, I wouldn't see any reason for a car. If you are staying in other areas of the Bay Area, then you might need a car, but consider getting one off airport. Or renting from Oakland airport, which you could take BART to. Or look at Hotwire and Priceline.

 

[princessfionasmom]

Thanks for all your help.

Yes we really do need a car, DH is in Petaluma for training so we have to drive up to him when we get there. We are not staying in San Fran just flying into there. I'm getting rates for a compact car for apx $39/day which I thought was high. Total for a week is close to $500 for the week . You are right, I am just used to cheaper rates other places. I've never rented a car there before, well I've never been there before either.

I will do as you all suggested!
Thanks again!!!!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

The rate you mention is not horrible, even more so considering the week you are going. Additionally, the taxes are probably a significant part of your total, which is not abnormal for CA.

 

[princessfionasmom]

I did priceline and got an economy car for $30/day worked out to $282 for the week 62% off the published rate. I'm so excited. I can upgrade to an intermediate for an extra $3 a day which I might do because DH is tall and economy might be too small. Just glad I'm not spending $500 for the week.

Thanks everyone!