What am I doing WRONG??

[SB in KY]

I am looking at rental car rates for 12 days (7/29 - 8/10) pick up and drop off at MCO...last night the best rate I could find even using coupons and codes was over $500 (with taxes and fees) for a compact car!! A couple of weeks ago they were running about $340 and I was waiting to see how much they would drop from there...ouch!

We will drive anything from anyone but certainly prefer in terminal companies...I just can't see paying that much. What am I doing wrong?

 

[MrMarv]

If you're a member of the Auto Club, you can rent a compact for $164.69 a week from Hertz Local Edition in Orlando.

Their offices are closed on Sundays and only open a half-day on Saturdays (8 AM-2 PM or thereabouts), but the amount of $$$$ you'll save is pretty substantial, as you can see.

 

[1gr8mouse]

Just keep checking, I just booked with Alamo for 7 days midsize SUV for $248. I used the walmart code and the $20 special code from the ALamo site. Our trip is Aug 10-17. I think you could get 12 days for $300-400.
I think I will get a better rate than that also, just keep checking.
Good Luck.

 

[goofy4tink]

Rates seem to have gone up...I have a compact booked through Budget on Aug 10, picking up at MCO, and returning it to Tampa Intl on Aug 19 for $254. I've tried finding something less expensive for the past two days and everything I get is much higher. Maybe when I get closer to my travel dates the rates will come down a bit.

 

[PinkTink63]

I have been checking frequently also and I did find some rates for 12 days for us in Aug. for about $323-331. Try Avis and Dollar and go directly to their sites not using orbitz or travelocity, etc. Dollar worked out cheaper not using a code and using their city special.
Do you have to pick up at MCO or can you use ME and pick it up at WDW?
I swear, there is no rhyme or reason to the whole car rental thing!

 

[englishteacha]

Try Dollar rental car with the Orlando Magicard code on the mousesavers page. The trick is to enter it under the corporate ID section, not in the promo section. Thrifty has a Magicard code, too, but they're offsite. They are about $11 cheaper than Dollar for our dates (8/11-18). Total including taxes for an economy car at Dollar: $171. Total for same at Thrifty: $160.

 

[cocowum]

Keep checking. We have a MidSize SUV (Alamo) for 15 days for $313. Using entertainment club contract id and coupon. I checked prices eveyday for about 6 weeks. This is the lowest price I could find. I'm still hoping I'll find something cheaper. lol.

 

[Ishy]

Thrifty is offsite but I am a bluechip member and love hopping on the shuttle and signing and driving and their great prices. A poster above is correct... orland magic-card from mousesavers (if you see the thanks ishy - thats me) give you rates for compact 120 a week - tho the extra days kill ya - it is not so bad out of orlando - if you want to feel better - just check the rates out of Tampa! I am renting for 10 days out of Tampa and dropping off in Orlando... the rates have gone up dramatically and I am very happy I am using the magiccard rate --- inlcudes a second driver and unlimited mileage - so its a great deal.

the past few years, the rates in Orlando/thrifty have historically dropped as my trip approached.. but I dont think that is the same for Tampa rentals.. so I will keep checking - you should too.

I have waited much longer in lines at the airport. I have never waited for a car from thrifty. I tell the shuttle driver my name and my car is waiting for me when I get there. it is sign and drive. truely. If your bluechip (free to join).

good luck

 

[SB in KY]

Thanks for all the responses...guess I will keep watching and hope rates keep coming down! The best I could find using all the good advice here was $336 at Thrifty for a compact or $360 for same at Dollar. Here's hoping we can all do better!!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

try promo code with Dollar: KISS2
good luck!

 

[bennythepug]

we are having the same problem....12 days is tough

 

[kaytieeldr]

Somewhat inconvenient, but...
A rental car week is between five and seven consecutive twenty-four-hour rental periods.
You might want to try pricing two back-to-back six day rentals. The inconvenient part comes when you have to return one rental and start the next. It can take a few hours out of your day. You may find your best pricing is with a single company, or you may have to rent from two different companies.

 

[Patita]

I checked your dates in Thrifty using the Orlando Magic card and it's $214. With taxes it's $277.36

 

[PinkTink63]

we are having the same problem....12 days is tough

Us too! We usually get a two week rate, because it is cheaper!

 

[SB in KY]

Patita:

What code are you using for Orlando Magicard...the one I am using gives me a base rate of $260...I am using 004M001010. Do you have a different one?
Thanks

 

[Patita]

Patita:

What code are you using for Orlando Magicard...the one I am using gives me a base rate of $260...I am using 004M001010. Do you have a different one?
Thanks

Yes, I used that, but today it gives me $260.00 too

 

[MrMarv]

The price for a twlve day rental is the same as it would be for a fourteen day rental, so going through the ordeal of back-to-back six day rentals wouldn't be necessary.

 

[MrMarv]

You can now rent a mid-size car for any Hertz Local Edition office in Orlando for just $142.99/week with your Auto Club membership.

That rate is good through the end of the year.

 

[bab31]

that is a good rate, but not at airport?

Priceline uses the 5 major car rental agencies...consider using priceline. go to hotwire...check to see what the rate is...then go to priceline and bid about 40% less as a starting point and just getting use to the site. You probably wont get the rental for that. It gives you the opportunity to rebid on a different class of car at that point- you need to change two things from your orriginal bid. Then after 72 hours you can rebid. and go up a buck per day. Keep doing that until you get your car rental, But be sure that is the amount you want to pay for that rental. And that all info is entered correctly, once accepted there is no turning back.

I pick up my full size care in SFO tomorrow for 6 days for $113...$15 a day from Avis

 

[SB in KY]

bab31...I am a Priceline junkie too!! But so far I have not had any luck on car rentals for this trip...I will keep trying because in my experience rental cars thru Priceline can be booked REALLY eraly (like 6 months ahead) cheap or about 3 or 4 weeks ahead, with out much available in between.