Price for a rental car for a week

DisneyPhD

DisneyPhD

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Hi, this May will be our 1st time renting a car (we normally do a town car to go to WDW, it is so convenient.) We are flying into Orlando, but are driving to Vero Beach for the lengh of our stay (6 days.) and need a rental car.

I was thinking it would be around 20$ a day, but all the prices I am getting are for a total of 250 for a week. (about 200 for the car and 50$ in "other" tack on expenses.) I am only only looking for a mid sized car (no geo metros please, we need to fit 2 adults and a pre-schooler in the car, but nothing fancy either.)

What kind of prices do people normally get? Any places you like the best? I am thinking about Avis or Hertz because I think they are in the airport. Any hints for good prices. We have AAA and the enteratinmant book, but so far they don't seem to help much. I looked at expedia so far.

Is renting a car much harder and takes up more time at the airport?

Thanks for the help.
 
C

cloudboy

Well-Known Member
The $20 rate, when you can get it, is usually only for something like a Metro or Aspire or something. $250 doesn't sound too bad to me, but check around. Hertz gives you a little better AAA discount, but all the car rental agencies offer at least something through AAA.

Hertz takes a little longer for a rental since you have to take the bus over to their location, but it is not that bad. You probably take a little longer than taking a town car or shuttle, though. But you make up for that with the time you save having your own car.

I personally go thorugh National - they have the program where you figure what class of a car you want, check in, and then go into the lot and pick from whatever is available in that class. Plus they are right in the Airport in Orlando.

Best rates usually come from the companies own web site. If they don't have a spot for a AAA discount usually assume 10% off the basic rental rate. Yes, taxes in Orlando are astronomical. That's how they can keep building their mega-sized roads.
 
DisneyPhD

DisneyPhD

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thanks cloudboy, I think I will look into National, I think there was some free upgrade stuff in the entertaiment book. I wonder if they would do both the AAA discount and upgrade. It is worth asking. I may see if MS from DVC has anything better too. I just thought that seem like alot, but what can you do.
 
C

cloudboy

Well-Known Member
Most places will combine the AAA discount with other discounts. Not all, but most.

It also depends on the dates. Weekend rates are usually much cheaper, but if you have a weekend surrounded by a day on either side it sometimes gets pricey. Check and see if you are actually getting a weekly rate, too, or just 6 days at the daily rate. Sometimes the extra day will actually lower the cost, if you have a way of doing that.
 
DisneyPhD

DisneyPhD

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Ok, I checked out the national web site and with a discount code from enteratinment book it came out to 217 for the week (6 days really, but weekly rate.) That is for a full size car, 185 a week (current deal) - 20 for coupon and 50$ in taxes and fees. Or we could do a smaller car with a free double upgrade and it come to the same price.

This isn't counting the AAA I didn't see place for it on line, but I am planning on asking about it when we get the car. Depends on who helps you I think.

Thanks for the help, this rental car thing is new for us. I never realaized what at deal the town car services are. I like the fact they are in the airport at orlando, I will miss having someone meet you at the baggage clam with the sign and help you from there:lol:
 
DisneyPhD

DisneyPhD

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Now I have a new silly newbie questions. Our flight gets in at 9:45. Should I put the pick up time at 10:00 or 11:00? If I put 10:00 and we aren't there will they pentilize us, or if I do 11:00 do we have to wait until 11:00 to get it if we are ready before?

Also how far out of the airport it is? Oh so many questions. Thanks
 
barnum42

barnum42

New Member
This is from a UK perspective, but we use the same hire depots so it should ring true.

I've never paid for anything more than a compact. I suspect they don't have any, because I have always had a free upgrade. This is from the eight trips when I rented a car.
 
C

cloudboy

Well-Known Member
Put in 10:00. Rounded is enough. At Orlando they aren't very picky about the time. come to think of it I have never had any problem with the time think. They know people fly in and sometimes get delayed or miss flights and so on.

By how far, do you mean the rental counters? First you have to go down to the lower level of the airport. Some of the rentals (National, Avis, and I think Budget and Fox) are right there - you go up to the counter and the cars are in a garage adjecent to the terminal. For Hertz you pick up a bus at the terminal and it takes you to the rental counter - it's about a 10 - 15 minute ride.

If you are talking about to WDW, it takes you about a half hour, give or take finding your way, to WDW. It's not in Orlando precisely but Lake Buena Vista. The people at the counters will be helpful in giving you a map and directions anyway, but you may want to plot out your route using map quest ahead of time.

And don't get attached to any specific kind of car. You may get exactly what you reserved, or they may be out and you get something better. Once I rented a compact - got to Hertz and their entire lot (and it's a BIG lot!) Was nothing but Minivans. Apparently that is all they had at the time.

P.S. There are a couple of gas stations right up Semoran Boulevard to get gas before you return the car.
 
figmentmom

figmentmom

Well-Known Member
I know a lot of people don't like Budget, but it usually has the lowest prices for weekly rentals, and their kiosk is right there at the Orlando airport. You might want to check their rates.
 
J

JoKenna

New Member
Budget

Planning for Oct. 04, already booked car for 8 days, Ford Escape small SUV, $327 all said and done........earlier the better...rates change almost daily with fluctuation in inventory......
 
DisneyPhD

DisneyPhD

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thanks for the advice. I hadn't thought about mousesavers for info on car rentals. There is a lot there. A few years ago I was looking to rent a car and the price I got from AAA was around 120 for a week. We didn't end up doing it because they watned 40 extra dollars for 3 exrtra hours, and I didn't want to go and sit at the airport for 6 hours with a baby if I didn't need to. I guesss the prices have just gone up.
 
S

scratchboat

New Member
Using the right codes and coupons you ought to be able to rent a mid-size or full-size four door for $20/day INCLUDING TAXES & FEES from either Avis or National. Make your reservations directly from the respective company's website. For Avis make sure the "Check Lowest Rates" button is selected - do not enter any rental codes "AWD" field. Then enter MUWA015 in the Coupon Code field (get coupon here: http://www.avis.com/AvisWeb/html/br...utlet&awd=D136001&acct_id=3259&coupon=MUWA012) Avis is running a promotion called "Doubles" mention this promotion to the Avis personnel at the airport and they will double the value of the coupon to $30! http://www.avis.com/AvisWeb/JSP/US/en/deals/us_doubledouble.jsp?LINK_ID=1366&AD_ID=3142

To save with National use this contract ID: 6600330 and get similar $15 off coupon here: http://www.nationalcar.com/servlet/DocHandler/directlinks/index_vacation_outlet.jsp (no coupon doubling, though).

Both of these companies are right in the terminal - so no airport shuttles are needed. I have full-size reserved with Avis for the second week in May for about $135/week AFTER doubled coupons!
 
JaSnake16

JaSnake16

Member
If your choices were between Hertz and Avis, just remember that these are the two most expensive car companies, but they also rent out the cleanest most well kept cards. im leaving Sunday and this is the first time Im renting from Hertz.
 
phlydude

phlydude

Well-Known Member
I always use National's Emerald Club and look for the car with the lowest amount of miles on it from the Emerald Aisle. Then I check the windshield washer fluid. If it's low, I know to stop on the way to the resort and pick up a gallon (those FL bugs leave a mess on your windshield when your doing 75 down the BeeLine!!
 
DisneyPhD

DisneyPhD

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thanks for the replies. We wound up renting from National (very convenient in the terminal). We got a full size car for 6 days for $140 with tax. They had a free upgrade online plus we had a $20 coupon.
 
C

chiq

New Member
weekly car rental

I rented a Budget full size 4 door for a week at the end of June for $140 including taxes & fees. I used a coupon code that I got from http://www.budget.com/partners/smarterliving.html. Smarter Living is the website and it links to Budge and gives the code. I booked this about 2 weeks ago. I also joined their frequent renter program so I can check in and out easily. Good luck!

2 weeks to go!
 
Gail Hayden

Gail Hayden

New Member
DisneyPhD said:
Hi, this May will be our 1st time renting a car (we normally do a town car to go to WDW, it is so convenient.) We are flying into Orlando, but are driving to Vero Beach for the lengh of our stay (6 days.) and need a rental car.

I was thinking it would be around 20$ a day, but all the prices I am getting are for a total of 250 for a week. (about 200 for the car and 50$ in "other" tack on expenses.) I am only only looking for a mid sized car (no geo metros please, we need to fit 2 adults and a pre-schooler in the car, but nothing fancy either.)

What kind of prices do people normally get? Any places you like the best? I am thinking about Avis or Hertz because I think they are in the airport. Any hints for good prices. We have AAA and the enteratinmant book, but so far they don't seem to help much. I looked at expedia so far.

Is renting a car much harder and takes up more time at the airport?

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
Not sure when you are going, but, I have two cars booked. One for 8 days and one for 10 days. (yes, I am going to use two cars). Both are for full size and both are from Alamo in early Sept. 8 day reservation, total is 142.49 the ten day, same scenario is 182.39. That includes all taxes and fees. Shop around alamo dropped their rates again yesterday.
 
phlydude

phlydude

Well-Known Member
We changed our reservation up. I was able to get a SUV from Thrifty for $236 after taxes for 8 days. It beat National's rate of $292 for the same period. I guess I am subject to the upcharge in rates for going over popular tourist time!

I booked my car for my Dec trip for 8 days and I got a deal from Alamo for an Impala for $188 after taxes. I haven't been able to match it anywhere else.

It just goes to show, you have to keep your eyes open and search around.
 

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