Van Rental Depression

[Princesca]

So a couple of weeks ago, I priced out vans, and after much research, decided that Alamo was the best for us. I found a minivan for the dates we'd need (10 days) for just around $404. Well, I checked today, thinking I will book in the next day or two, and prices are now over $900!!!



Is this just bad timing on our part? What could make the price double?! I put in the same Entertainment.com codes that I used before...

 

[sk!mom]

How long until your trip? If it's a while, wait. They can fluctuate quite a bit. It is possible, that others booked and now there isn't as much availability so prices spiked. I always book as soon as I see a price that I can live with.

Try Hotwire, I used them for Orlando in August and Denver last month. No other site was even close to their prices. I don't rent vans though. Prices can be much higher when you move beyond a full size car.

 

[Princesca]

Yeah - though I'm afraid to wait too long, because it is late April when we need it. After most people's spring break, but still...

I just found it cheaper on Hertz. But it's still higher than it was.

 

[3pletprincesses]

last August, I found the best rates a few weeks before our trip. With Alamo for 8 days we ended up paying a little under $200 for a 8 passenger mini van. Keep checking daily if you can. Prices go up and down all the time. Onceyou see something better, book it and worse comes change the reservation need be. Also on the transportation board you often see people posting codes, try those and you might save a bundle. I'm pretty sure i saw a post for April.

I just checked with budget and bcx X474200 you can get a minivan for $472 tax in for 10 days around April 21

 

[tlh0726]

When you see a rate that you can live with you book and keep looking.
If you find a better deal you just cancel what you already have.

Been burned a few times, by looking, getting distracted, and then when I went back. WOW!!!

 

[Princesca]

Wow, I went to Budget and put that code in, and the price was awesome! Then I noticed the kicker...

150 free miles, then .25/mi after that.

I subscribed to the Transportation thread though. Thanks for the tips!

 

[3pletprincesses]

Strange, I don't get the same info as you. I get unlimited free miles .


Rate ( USD )
360.00 car
0.00 options
112.11 taxes & fees
$ 472.11 TOTAL

2C rate terms
10 day 0 hour rental unlimited free miles 1 day 1 hour minimum rental required



If not, try X474200. It gives me the same rate

 

[dgr1973]

last August, I found the best rates a few weeks before our trip. With Alamo for 8 days we ended up paying a little under $200 for a 8 passenger mini van. Keep checking daily if you can. Prices go up and down all the time. Onceyou see something better, book it and worse comes change the reservation need be. Also on the transportation board you often see people posting codes, try those and you might save a bundle. I'm pretty sure i saw a post for April.

I just checked with budget and bcx X474200 you can get a minivan for $472 tax in for 10 days around April 21

I just used this code to reserve a minivan for a week in June for 302.84 including all taxes and unlimited miles!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

 

[angierae]

I noticed the other day when pricing out a rental that Enterprise varies by location - if I put in that I'll pick it up at the airport location, I get unlimiited miles. If I put in that I'll pick it up at the location by my house, I am limited.

 

[leebee]

When you see a rate that you can live with you book and keep looking.
If you find a better deal you just cancel what you already have.

Been burned a few times, by looking, getting distracted, and then when I went back. WOW!!!

BOOK IT is my mantra with rental vehicles. The prices bounce around like crazy, without rhyme or reason. If you find a rate you can live with, book it. Most rental car agencies won't ask for a credit card to make a reservation. I usually won't make a reservation if they ask for a credit card number, in case I forget to cancel! Check mousesavers.com for coupons, codes, and info on how to stack these.

BTW, it's courteous to cancel any reservation you won't be using once you find a better rate.

 

[puffkin]

Once you get burned like that you always learn to book a rental when you see a price you can live with and then cancel it if you find something better. Most companies/deals do not require a credit card, so it is silly to not book as soon as you see something. Hopefully you learned for next time! They literally change within minutes sometimes!

 

[MineMail]

OT: Online stores that play games with the pricing drive me crazy. I checked the price of something online with championusa.com over the weekend because they were offering free shipping. The item was still at full price ($45) and I didn't need it right away, so I'm waiting for a good sale.

This morning, I get a sales email saying they have great discounts this week, bla bla bla. I followed the email link, then used their menu to find the item and it was on sale for $17! Great!

However, I accidentally clicked on last weekend's email in my inbox while sorting messages and reopened the site from that promo link. The item price went back to the original $45. I guess I only had one shot to buy. Haven't been able to get the site to bring up the deal again.

I can wait - it isn't a necessity, but this is one of the reasons I rarely shop online. I always feel like there's a secret promo that, if I knew the code, I could get the discount. Hate it!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

There is no reason not to book a car rental as soon as you see a good price. There's no penalty to cancel if you find something better (unlike airline tickets).

 

[njmomtoone]

last August, I found the best rates a few weeks before our trip. With Alamo for 8 days we ended up paying a little under $200 for a 8 passenger mini van. Keep checking daily if you can. Prices go up and down all the time. Onceyou see something better, book it and worse comes change the reservation need be. Also on the transportation board you often see people posting codes, try those and you might save a bundle. I'm pretty sure i saw a post for April.

I just checked with budget and bcx X474200 you can get a minivan for $472 tax in for 10 days around April 21

Where is the code from? Is a paper coupon needed?

 

[KelnRon]

Alamo has last minute deals and Tuesdays are when they post them. My husband has been stalking the site daily for a week or two. Our $600 rate a few months ago has slowly gone down! We re-booked this morning @ $187 for a mini van for 8 days! We leave in 2 weeks. No code needed, just last min. specials and being an Alamo Insider.

 

[jujube]

Go to Budget, check where it says use and offer code and type this X474200. I have an SUV for 8 days in April for $357, including tax.

 

[njmomtoone]

Go to Budget, check where it says use and offer code and type this X474200. I have an SUV for 8 days in April for $357, including tax.

Where is this code from? Do you need a coupon or ID to use it?

 

[jujube]

Where is the code from? Is a paper coupon needed?

It was posted on the DIS transportation board. Someone called Budget and they were told that nothing was needed because this is a general public code.

 

[dgr1973]

It was posted on the DIS transportation board. Someone called Budget and they were told that nothing was needed because this is a general public code.

Thank goodness because it is saving me a ton on our minivan in June!!

 

[bpesch]

Rental cars are like flights, book them when you see them because odds are, they are going to change. And not always for the best. Keep looking. It may change again in your favor.