gregorygarver.com

daniseb · Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 4

We are preparing for an 8 week vacation to CA, and we're having trouble finding the best deals on car rentals. We need a mini-van for the duration of the trip, and have heard of some people getting great deals like $99 a week. Do you have any ideas for us? The least expensive I've found was $224 a week... Can you top that?I have used Cheaptickets.com, Priceline.com and Orbitz.com to check on $'s for the rental this week. Southwest is what we're flying, so I wonder if maybe we should just book through them to get the RapidRewards... Hhmmm.....Here's where I'm at. I drive an Excursion diesel, so driving a mini van is cake for me. Wink

(I took my drivers test at 16 in a Ford Club Wagon, not cool though) I found a mini van in San Jose, CA for $1923 from Enterprise for the full 8 weeks. BUT we are having to drop it off in Portland, OR and I have to rent another mini-van for $496 in San Jose to finish our trip north. So, if anyone can beat $2419 for pickup in San Jose CA, drop off in Portland OR 8 weeks later, let me know! Thanks!

JacobW6961 · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 4

Try off-site companies (ones that you need to access by shuttle rather than renting at the airport). Use available discounts, such as your AAA card. Sometimes companies will also offer internet-only rates.

AmericanGirl · Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 3

It really depend upon where you are going. For example, in Orlando you will usually get the best prices from paylesscarerental.com. However, if you are only going to an airport with the big franchise car rental companies, then I usually do best with Thrifty or Dollar.

argus · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 6

I've always found good prices with expedia.comI do believe they have some sort of price match gaurentee

Thomas2SellRealtor3661 · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 6

Thrify, Budget and Alamo are some pretty good priced ones. You just have to look around. If I can be of some assistance, let me know, I am a certified travel agent!

cronos51101 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 6

No, I don't, and MSN today had an article on how ALL the car rentals in general do you in anymore.I was with Budget, on a business trip, and got stuck in traffic a while back, and since I was a few minutes late getting the car back in, they charged the hourly rate which raised the price by 250%...little clause in their contract.Might try "rent-a-wreck"!!Vans have always been very expensive, so good luck on getting a deal there.Might find a dealer who would be willing to rent some van that is not selling real well. Sitting on the lot.And I had a friend who offered to rent me his mobile home, nice one, cheaply once when he was too busy to go anywhere, and wanted it run to keep the battery up and the engine free.Biggest cost to me might have been the 3 mpg on diesel!! A van may not be that bad, but it will be heavy on the gas!!Good luck, and have a great trip.