Rental Cars

[TW1]

Calling all travel experts....

We'll be taking a trip out west this summer and I started looking into rental cars on the web. Just wondering if anyone knows of deals or discounts that may save a few bucks.

As always TIA!

[ripleysmom]

You could try here....

http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/

Also if you are a member of BJs, Costco or Sams, they usually have some type of car rental deals. Just go to their websites and take a look.

[bavaria]

I like sidestep.com as a start. Also head over to flyertalk.com, and go to the forum for each individual company. There should be a sticky listing discount codes for each one.

Some of the ones on mousesavers.com will save you money too outside of Orlando.

[tjkraz]

If you won't need the car for your entire trip, one of my favorite things to do is to rent a car just for the days you will need it. This is particularly easy if you're staying at the Boardwalk or Beach Club. The Dolphin resort has an Alamo/National rental desk. You can rent cars at MCO, Sanford or anywhere else, and return them at this desk. Then it's just a quick walk back to your resort.

They also have a rental / return desk at the Disney Car Care Center. If you are dropping off, they will drive you back to your resort in a shuttle van. If you are picking-up, they will come to your resort to get you.

Last spring we paid about $50 per day to rent a van for just our arrival and departure days, avoiding a weekly rate of around $250. Still haven't figured out what I'm doing for our trip next month, but we'll likely do the same unless we can get a great weekly rate.

[hemispheredancer]

The best rates I have found were through the Entertainment book. That is pretty much what I use. I have also checked Mousesavers to see if they have any codes but my E Book always beats those prices.

[Leftcoaster]

I use a combination of checking with my Entertainment Book and also Mousesavers.Com. My luck seems to be the opposite of hemisphere as I usually do best with Mousesavers.
Don't be afraid to pick up away from the airport as Thrifty, and Hertz both run shuttles very frequently and are close to the airport.
If possible, always sign up for the company's frequent renter program. That makes your time in line much quicker and the transaction much simpler.
I have rented from the Car Care center on property and the pick up and drop off was excellent.