A head's up for anyone renting a car

[ripleysmom]

Alamo has some pretty amazing rates on SUVs. I booked a Equinox for 9 days for $137 including taxes using a link from Costco. A Trailblazer would only have been $211. :worship: :cheerlead

Using a link from Vacationoutlet.com was an extra $10 because their coupon was for $15 (instead of Costco's $25).

[Stimpy]

WOw, that is a great rate! When are you traveling? Thanks for the heads up! I'll have to go check it out. Did you just go through costco.com?

[Colorado Belle]

Hey Ripley's mom....
I am definitely going to go after that rate in May.
Tried alamo direct and got it down to $150, but I like your deal better!
Thanks for the tip!

[Debbie in Seattle]

About 99% of the time, we find Costco's rates to be the best-also, the 2nd driver is free vs some companies that charge.

[Stimpy]

Well I tried and it seems the week we are going in November is already booking well...no real discounts. The cheapest I could get was over $200 for compact!

Thanks anyway!! :goodvibes

[Debbie in Seattle]

Well I tried and it seems the week we are going in November is already booking well...no real discounts. The cheapest I could get was over $200 for compact!
****************************************

If I find a 'decent' price, I'll book it and then keep looking until the time of our trip. I did that our last trip and saved $135!!!

[ripleysmom]

We're going 8/18-8/27. I used this link....

http://www.alamo.com/index.do?source=costcotravel&action=hotDealsTemplate.do&msg=affil_costco_offer

[Stimpy]

Thanks. Maybe I'm just too early for good discounts .... there's still hope! :clappingh

[SueOKW]

OK - what am i doing wrong???

My emerald aisle National rental mini van is over $500. (we were going to drive down, changed mind, so i ordered this a little late.)

same car, same time period with alamo is $200

this is a duh moment.

is alamo on site? 0h - and i see that yes, it is...

why such a huge difference???wow!

thank you so so so sososososososososo much. that's one reason why this board is good - - there's no way i would have found this anywhere else.

[tjkraz]

I'll add my thanks for this thread. I had separate reservations for our arrival and departure days, and was able to get the entire week for only $80 more. That's a small price to pay for avoiding two trips to the rental desk at the Dolphin, and the convenience of having a vehicle at our disposal for the week. :jumpingbe

[ripleysmom]

That's how I feel about it too. I'd much rather pay a little extra and have the car available.

I'm glad to be able to help.

[jaysue]

OK - what am i doing wrong???

My emerald aisle National rental mini van is over $500. (we were going to drive down, changed mind, so i ordered this a little late.)

same car, same time period with alamo is $200

this is a duh moment.

is alamo on site? 0h - and i see that yes, it is...

why such a huge difference???wow!

thank you so so so sososososososososo much. that's one reason why this board is good - - there's no way i would have found this anywhere else.

Those types of price differences drive me crazy especially when "emerald" guests are supposed to be "valued" customers (sure we are valued because we pay more :headbange ?)

Example - albeit this is way ahead of when I need to reserve - National Emerald Aisle Mid size SUV (Think Chev Equinox) is about US$660 for Dec 28 to Jan 6 whilst Budget is about US$465 for the same type of car, same spousal driving rights etc.

Caveat Emptor

Cheers
jaysue

[jaysue]

FYI on National Emerald Club - when I used the standard Emerald Club Contract ID 5007125 I get a base rate of $432 for an intermediate from Dec 28 to Jan 6 - when I use the Amex contract ID 5125601, the base rate is $206.91

:whistlebl :whistlebl :whistlebl :whistlebl

cheers
jaysue

[jnrrt]

You know, for National, you sometimes even get a better rate if you're not logged in as EA. You can book any rate you can find, as long as it's for mid-size, or log in and book any rate using any code, and call them and have them add that it's for EA.

[jaysue]

You know, for National, you sometimes even get a better rate if you're not logged in as EA. You can book any rate you can find, as long as it's for mid-size, or log in and book any rate using any code, and call them and have them add that it's for EA.

Now that is even nuttier - so much for valued customers :grrrrr: :grrrrr: :grrrrr:

I just changed all my National ressies to the Amex code and other similar offers (4 of 5 of them oustanding across North America were less expensive than the EA code and the 5th was the same price)

Cheers
jaysue

P.S.
Thanks for this thread all, it saved me a cool $450 !!! A good chunk of that will be going to our Foster Parents Plan kids in Egypt and Bolivia thanks to the kind sharing people on this board! :grouphug:

[SueOKW]

P.S.
Thanks for this thread all, it saved me a cool $450 !!! A good chunk of that will be going to our Foster Parents Plan kids in Egypt and Bolivia thanks to the kind sharing people on this board! :grouphug:

cool! maybe I won't spend my savings on beer... I'll save it for our Make-A-Wish Walk in July (Cleveland Zoo - - c'mon along all you Ohio-ans!)

Sue

[jaysue]

cool! maybe I won't spend my savings on beer... I'll save it for our Make-A-Wish Walk in July (Cleveland Zoo - - c'mon along all you Ohio-ans!)

Sue

Sue, if Make-A-Wish has a Canadian chapter we will match you dollar for dollar up to $100 in donations

(Canadian Govt Tax law only allows deducation of donations to foreign organisations w/o Canadian offices against foreign income)

Cheers
jaysue

[SueOKW]

Does anyone still have this link??

Sue

[ripleysmom]

Which link are you looking for? www.costco.com or www.vacationoutlet.com