Crazy rental car rates!

[PhilharMagician]

I have been checking on rental car rates through Alamo and I have been in shock at the rates for October. The current rate for our 15 day rental is $584 for a full size, but if I rented it last week in September say starting on the 24th I was quoted $221 for thew same length 15 day rental. I looked out to the first 2 weeks of December and we were quoted the same $221. I also checked a shorter 1 week term and drop at WDW Dolphin and that was $425! Is there something I am missing about October, I did not think it a big travel month? We have never had rates this bad in October. I can literally book a 15 day term over Thanksgiving week and it is $150.00 cheaper.:shrug: I keep checking daily to see if there are any changes, but at this point we will be doing a one way towncar rental with a grocery stop and ME on the way back to the airport.

 

[Disneydreamer23]

I have been checking on rental car rates through Alamo and I have been in shock at the rates for October. The current rate for our 15 day rental is $584 for a full size, but if I rented it last week in September say starting on the 24th I was quoted $221 for thew same length 15 day rental. I looked out to the first 2 weeks of December and we were quoted the same $221. I also checked a shorter 1 week term and drop at WDW Dolphin and that was $425! Is there something I am missing about October, I did not think it a big travel month? We have never had rates this bad in October. I can literally book a 15 day term over Thanksgiving week and it is $150.00 cheaper.:shrug: I keep checking daily to see if there are any changes, but at this point we will be doing a one way towncar rental with a grocery stop and ME on the way back to the airport.

we have a mid size oct 29 thru nov 12 14 days and we paid 430.00 through allamo

 

[Huglife]

Check Hotwire. I use it every time. They have amazing deals and I've never had a problem.

 

[Magical Dreamer]

Check daily as the pricing constantly changes.......

I usually book at a comfortable rate and modify if I see the rate come in lower.

 

[PhilharMagician]

Check Hotwire. I use it every time. They have amazing deals and I've never had a problem.

I already checked, and they are $678 for a Economy car. Alamo direct has always been the cheapest for us and after looking at all the other car companies and searching on Hotwire, Orbitz and Expedia I am finding that the rates at Alamo are either the best or within a couple dollars of the rest. Just not the typical $200 - $300 range we always pay for 2 weeks

Check daily as the pricing constantly changes.......

I usually book at a comfortable rate and modify if I see the rate come in lower.

Yeah, I used to always book my car rental early knowing I can change or cancel. In my mind if I don't book then the price could go down with a lack of demand?? I don't know if that is true, but that is the philosophy I use. I also wait because historically the rates trend down except for peruiods around holidays or special occasions. Every time I booked early it wasn't until the last few weeks before I departed that I got me best rate.

This is what has me puzzled about Orlando in October. This is not even close to the traveling peak of the year.

 

[ddrongowski]

I have a full size suv from national 9 days for $212.38, this includes the prepaid fuel.

 

[COProgressFan]

Check daily as the pricing constantly changes.......

I usually book at a comfortable rate and modify if I see the rate come in lower.

Car rental prices are crazier than prices for flights. The same car from different companies or different days can cost you $10 a day or $75 a day. It's just nuts.

The good thing about Orlando is there are lots of companies and lots of competition. During peak periods, though, prices can be high.

My approach is the same as others -- book a car at a reasonable rate if you can find one. Keep checking rates until it gets closer to your dates. I too, have had very good luck with both Hotwire and Priceline when renting cars in Orlando.

 

[COProgressFan]

This is what has me puzzled about Orlando in October. This is not even close to the traveling peak of the year.

I agree it's strange, but I do know that October is generally a busy month for conventions in Orlando, that could explain some of it.:shrug:

 

[PhilharMagician]

I have a full size suv from national 9 days for $212.38, this includes the prepaid fuel.

What time frame and did you use a coupon? I just ran it with a BJ's wholesale club discount and it was $975 for 9 days from Oct 15th. :shrug:

 

[ddrongowski]

What time frame and did you use a coupon? I just ran it with a BJ's wholesale club discount and it was $975 for 9 days from Oct 15th. :shrug:

October time frame, but I am a Executive Emerald Club member. You could always join the club (I believe it is still free), and rent a midsiz. Then just take a full size or larger from the Emerald Club aisle, and still only pay the midsize rate. Orlando normally always has full size cars as the smallest on the aisle.

 

[wdwmagic]

Try kayak as well

 

[jharvey]

I rent cars every week for business. This is only a thought, but if you rent one way you can see an increase of $200+. So I could run an estimate for a week, with pre-paid fuel for $250 if I return it to the same place I rented. A one way for the same rental runs the total to nearly $500.

 

[Plowboy]

On a related note, we rented a full size on Maui a month ago at a rate of $170.00/wk all inclusive. All summer long I checked rates every couple of weeks and dang if the rates didn't continue to drop as we got closer to trip time. I must have re-booked at least 4 times. :sohappy:

The moral of the story: Caveat Emptor!

 

[Kerby626]

I have a week with Alamo picking up in Orlando and dropping in Pensacola It is $185 for the week for a full size car

try id code 7015135

coupon code AD2724FZA
rate code AK18

 

[drp4video]

KEEP CHECKING. When we went September 3-10, the first rate I got was $534. I checked daily, and ended up with a compact for $152.00 which was upgraded for free to a midsize when I got there. Try to stack codes and coupons.

Mousesavers.com has a lot of codes, try them all. Alamo generally seems to work best for me in Orlando.

Interesting when I got to the rental counter in Orlando, there was a long line and I spotted a Kiosk, went over, used it and got my contract, no wait.Don't know why other's were not using it. Then I got to the garage and they were out of compacts, so the lady said just take a midsize. Went I left the garage, my contract said compact so I told the man at the booth that they were out of compacts and I was told to take a midsize. Without batting an eye he said no problem, happens all the time, and just passed me through. He never checked with anyone. Does this mean you can rent a compact, grab a midsize all the time? lol They don't seem to care.

 

[PhilharMagician]

Try kayak as well

Thanks Steve, but I already tried Kayak and the rates were all higher than Alamo direct. Even the local car rental companies were more.

I rent cars every week for business. This is only a thought, but if you rent one way you can see an increase of $200+. So I could run an estimate for a week, with pre-paid fuel for $250 if I return it to the same place I rented. A one way for the same rental runs the total to nearly $500.

Yeah that is true in some cases, but I can say that I have picked up a car at Orlando International Airport and dropped at the CCC or WDW Dolphin and there was no additional costs. Unfortunately that is not the case this October, but It was in December 2010 and October 2009.

 

[PhilharMagician]

October time frame, but I am a Executive Emerald Club member. You could always join the club (I believe it is still free), and rent a midsiz. Then just take a full size or larger from the Emerald Club aisle, and still only pay the midsize rate. Orlando normally always has full size cars as the smallest on the aisle.

I typically don't use National because the prices seem to be higher, but I do not belong to the Emerald Club. As far as the cars, Alamo and National are tha same company with differant colors and use the same cars. I have access to coupons for 2 car class upgrades, 25% off and other discounts and it is still crazy high.

Did you say that you reserved a Midsize and you are getting a Full Size SUV for 212 including fuel? A mid size to Full size SUV? That is one heck of a discount! That is like a 6 class upgrade. I will have to look into the Emerald Club and see what it is about.