AUGUST 2017 Car rental watch

[robinb]

So I had a minivan booked on Alamo using the old (now expired zoom zoom code) for around 250 for aug 18-36. My reservation has been updated now reflecting $863. Ugh! Now I'm hoping rates drop again soon.

That's weird. Did you touch the reservation? I haven't heard of companies going back and updating a rate once you have a reservation.

ETA: What was your original rate?

You can get a minivan with the Costco code for $575 for your dates with Enterprise. Or, for $584 with Sixt (offsite rental) through Car Rental Savers Florida booking tool. I would grab something now and work on getting a lower rate.

 

[mcurran]

That's weird. Did you touch the reservation? I haven't heard of companies going back and updating a rate once you have a reservation.

ETA: What was your original rate?

You can get a minivan with the Costco code for $575 for your dates with Enterprise. Or, for $584 with Sixt (offsite rental) through Car Rental Savers Florida booking tool. I would grab something now and work on getting a lower rate.

No I didn't touch reservation. In fact I only noticed when I opened my email and MY EMAIL now reflects a higher rate. I thought my rate confirmation contained a HARD CODED TEXT for rate but it is HTML link to Budget. Totally bizarre.

I have sub 500 rate from a month or so ago but it's nothing to write home about.

 

[TamaraQT]

No I didn't touch reservation. In fact I only noticed when I opened my email and MY EMAIL now reflects a higher rate. I thought my rate confirmation contained a HARD CODED TEXT for rate but it is HTML link to Budget. Totally bizarre.

I have sub 500 rate from a month or so ago but it's nothing to write home about.

If you have a confirmation under the lower rate then I would call Budget for them to honor it. Good Luck....Fingers Crossed.

 

[ascardino]

Hi ... Joining this thread. Just booked my airfare for August and need to rent a car. We are flying in the night of 8/15 and going on a cruise 8/21-8/25 flying home on the 25th. Trying to decide whether to rent for the entire stay and drive from the port to MCO or rent till the cruise starts and then use transfers from the port to MCO.

Any thoughts, best place to start looking and with what codes?? Btw I am a Costco member.

TIA!

 

[TamaraQT]

Today I ran my rates and they are UP to $870!!!!! How is this possible??? When are we going to start seeing them drop? GEEZ!!!!

 

[mcurran]

Today I ran my rates and they are UP to $870!!!!! How is this possible??? When are we going to start seeing them drop? GEEZ!!!!

Ouch

I'm patiently waiting for good news too. Makes me really consider using MDE, something that as a control freak and paranoid about needing a car for something makes me cringe.

 

[elle101me]

Today I ran my rates and they are UP to $870!!!!! How is this possible??? When are we going to start seeing them drop? GEEZ!!!!

Yes, my quote was over $800 too!! I checked my email for last years rate. I paid $405 for the same 2 weeks that I currently have booked for $424. I have a feeling that I'm going to have to be happy with that rate.

 

[anorman]

Yes, my quote was over $800 too!! I checked my email for last years rate. I paid $405 for the same 2 weeks that I currently have booked for $424. I have a feeling that I'm going to have to be happy with that rate.

Relax. Usually, in my experience, the lowest rate can be found approximately 5 weeks before travel dates. There is lots of time before then.

 

[donnaf516]

My rate is over $800 today to. Im sure we'll start seeing the downward trend soon.

 

[frannn]

I have a Costco discount question. I booked standard at 383 for 13 days before my Costco membership expired in March. The rates are over 600 now. Do I need to rejoin Costco to use the old reservation?

 

[pigletto]

I agree with @anorman, we have some time yet before we see rate drops. We just got back from a Universal trip on Wednesday, and I followed the April and May threads. Things didn't start to really go low until people got a few weeks out from their dates. It's changed in recent years.

We are going August 25th to Sept 4th. So I need an 11 day rental. My brother and his girlfriend decided to join us which is great, but it pushes us to 6 people instead of family of 4, and into the dreaded minivan category. I dislike having to be so specific on the rental category but it is what it is (two cars not an option ).

When they accepted our invitation I booked a minivan through Costco for $444 just to have something. It's since more than doubled. With exchange that $444 will end up costing this Canadian $610 . So I will be following along with the rest of you. I have to get that much lower.

 

[disneyholic family]

i just did online check in for my alamo reservation for august...
i saw that the rates have doubled and had a heart attack, so did online check in and it kept my original rate (thank god!!!!)

 

[TamaraQT]

i just did online check in for my alamo reservation for august...
i saw that the rates have doubled and had a heart attack, so did online check in and it kept my original rate (thank god!!!!)

Online check-in??

 

[TamaraQT]

Yes, for those of us traveling in August, we do have plenty of time for rates to drop. They say the last 2 weeks of August is somewhat a low peak season and rates should be better than what others see in July and first 2 weeks of August. Of course I am hopeful there is truth to that since I am traveling for the last 2 weeks of August. Well 8/18 - 9/2. But that is part of a holiday weekend, so this should be interesting. Anyway, I am watching the June and July rental boards to get an idea of rate drops they should be seeing soon. That will help me get a better idea too.

 

[MIChessGuy]

I would not expect to see my rate boosted beyond what was stated in a confirmed booking I already made. If any rental car company tried to pull that, it would be the last time I ever did business with them.

But speaking of August, I have been seeing sky-high rates for my one-week trip to DLR. (I guess this is technically a WDW forum, so please forgive the California intrusion.) I wasn't really sure what to expect anyway, not having been to DLR since 1984, but it's close to $300 now which is definitely too high. As others have mentioned here, it helps to be patient as things tend to get more reasonable within a few weeks of departure.

 

[SBWB48]

Online check-in??

Doing the same here with June and July threads and our trip starts the same day!

 

[lilluv117]

Yes, for those of us traveling in August, we do have plenty of time for rates to drop. They say the last 2 weeks of August is somewhat a low peak season and rates should be better than what others see in July and first 2 weeks of August. Of course I am hopeful there is truth to that since I am traveling for the last 2 weeks of August. Well 8/18 - 9/2. But that is part of a holiday weekend, so this should be interesting. Anyway, I am watching the June and July rental boards to get an idea of rate drops they should be seeing soon. That will help me get a better idea too.

I've gone the same time of year for the last few years and the rates tend to drop around 1 month-2 weeks before the trip.

Last year my dates were 8/25-9/7 and I got the lowest rate on 8/17. I paid $228.47 for a midsize car - round trip to/from MCO. We ended up getting a minivan from the midsize aisle. I see I also had a ressie for a full size same dates booked on 8/17 for $246. These rates were from Costco so they included an additional driver. If you don't need the additional driver, Alamo rates are usually slightly less. But as you can see, the best rates didn't happen until very close to our trip. I also notice I had a compact car booked in April for $218. I am a Costco travel site stalker. Lol!

 

[disneyholic family]

Online check-in??

yes, you check in - you don't pay, and you don't have to give a credit card..
you just give your drivers license info, and airline info
and you're checked in...and it preserved my incredibly good rate for the minivan that we're renting for 3 weeks..

 

[lilluv117]

yes, you check in - you don't pay, and you don't have to give a credit card..
you just give your drivers license info, and airline info
and you're checked in...and it preserved my incredibly good rate for the minivan that we're renting for 3 weeks..

I've always had my rates locked in just from having the reservation. I see the prices fluctuate but whatever rate I booked under is the rate they charge me. Is this not the case?

 

[TamaraQT]

I've always had my rates locked in just from having the reservation. I see the prices fluctuate but whatever rate I booked under is the rate they charge me. Is this not the case?

I think that is what the poster means by online-check in...they are completing a reservation. I don't think the system allows you to check-in online until 24 hours before your pickup time. Unless this is something new I am not aware of. So if it is another method of getting a better rate, then please share the procedure and info.