What am I doing wronge?

[tink1765]

I can't get a minivan rental for any less then 299.00 a week, even with all the specials and codes I put in. Is November a hot month for car rentals? I reserved a Full size with EA for a total of 171.33. That still sounded a bit high compared to all the bargains that everyone seem getting.

 

[TravelSheryl]

Thanksgiving week is a very busy time. Is that the part of November you are checking?

Rates will fluctuate a lot between now and then, depending on advance bookings.

 

[CarolMN]

I think it is just too soon. I am also looking for a minivan for late November/early December and have been unable to duplicate the good rates people have been reporting for the summer. Car rental companies will lower their rates if their inventory isn't booking. I think they use the same type of "yield management" programs that the airlines and hotels use. I plan to keep checking every so often and hope that sooner or later those rates will come down. Good Luck to you, too!

 

[Scotch]

If you don't want to do the priceline/hotwire way, you might consider this: I frequently reserve cars at least 6 months out (for peace of mind) when I find a decent rate. (By the way, I often price the rentals with the various club discount codes I have and compare them with the rates you get with the rental car's special "online" deals -- very rarely have I found savings through the coupons, with the exception of AAA's Hertz deals.) Then I check the different car rental co.'s web sites regularly, say once a month -- when I get closer I check more often, say once a week. The rates ALWAYS change, even with same rental car company. (Car rental rates are like airline tickets. Different rates for same cars all the time.) Sometimes the rates go up and sometimes they go down. When I find a better rate, I simply make another reservation and cancel the first one. I do everything online and print out the confirmations/cancellations for my records. Some might think this is a hassle but it doesn't take that much time and I enjoy checking and rechecking to make sure I have a good deal. I've had weekly rates decrease by as much as $50 on one of our trips. Sometimes I end up just saving a few bucks a day -- but they add up over many days.