I'll be up in Seattle/Tacoma for a splash job next week.....and I will have time to visit my daughter. I'm going to rent a car, but I have very little experience doing this.....
So far, I see that Alamo wants over 300 bucks for a economy rental from the 20th thru the 29th.
ANY suggestions/advice would be very helpful!! Thanks heads!
A:)
Posted by FranCisco Vargas (Member # 145) on :
Yo Adrienne, I rented a car over out the way once sorry I can't remember the name of them and yes it is more expensive then it was here in Fresno. But then again the Seattle area is more metropolitian, so they charge more. Include it in your splash. Have fun, I hear the weather is nice out that way.
Posted by Jim Doggett (Member # 1409) on :
Hi Adrienne,
Try Thrifty ( thrifty.com ). They always seem to have the best rates, any time I've shopped them.
Regards,
Jim
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
A -
Hi there! If at all possible, don't pick up and drop off at an airport. In town places are always cheaper.
Also, call Costco, I know you have a Costco card! :-) They have great specials - here they are through Avis. The Avis office here let me use a coupon from Costco plus gave me another discount on top of it when I rented a couple of months ago.
Love, Kimberly
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
Oh...and one more thing. Most places give you additional discount for making the reservation on-line. Usually 10%.
Posted by Cheryl Lucas (Member # 1656) on :
Hi Adrienne,
I usually check out the rental companies online first, to get a feel for what cars and rates are available. Then I check out the yellow pages and phone the companies direct. Also, I usually call a company that doesn't have a huge ad. You may be suprised to find that some are running an inhouse special which is not reflected online.
Some companies offer a discount if you have AAA Insurance.
The last two times I've rented, I've used Thrifty. Always a nice clean, brand new car! In my area, they are located near, but off the airport property and provide a shuttle to and from.
Good luck and by all means, have fun! Cher.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
A, I did a quick search on thrifty's site and found rates as low as $200.. ironically enough, Dollar rent-a-car is owned by thrifty and they're $130 more! hehe.
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
Thanks Cher, some ideas i hadn't thought of...
Looks like all of the main ones, including Thrifty are going to run me 300+
I do have AAA as well as Costco.
The difference from renting out of the airport was only 20 bucks, and it will cost me at least that just to get a shuttle to it....unless THEY offer a free one?
Mike, where did you find that???
Here's my itinerary: Arriving SEATAC at 9am June 20th Leaving SEATAC at 7pm June 29th
Heck, maybe I'll forgo the whole idea and just get a taxi.
A:)
[ June 13, 2002, 07:25 PM: Message edited by: AdrienneMorgan ]
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
A, I used one of the off-airport locations, plus if you drop the car off earlier you can avoid one of the extra day charges.
Either way, I think $300 for 9 day rental isn't a bad deal. I used to spend about $250 on a 5 day rental through Dollar when I flew from St Louis to Las Vegas every January for a big electronics show held there every year, and that was including extra fees for being under 25 years old at the time.
I dunno about taxis.. figure every trip costs ya $10 between the fare and a tip.. might be worth the $35/day rental cost to have your own wheels.
Posted by Jean Shimp (Member # 198) on :
I never take out the insurance they try to sell you on the spot - to cover any damages to the car. My auto insurance covers that. I buy the full tank of gas they offer instead of worrying about returning the car with a full tank.
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
A -
Being trapped without a car doesn't sound bad in the beginning but trust me it gets old quick. I thought the same thing when I went to NJ in January. The first week, I had no car - it was a total drag - then the second week, I got the car and thought - damn! I should have done this the day I got here. Just to be able to run to the grocery store or get out and get some fresh air.
Posted by Cheryl Lucas (Member # 1656) on :
Jean reminded me of something, I don't pay for the insurance either, Visa Gold card covers the insurance. The rental companies will tell you that ultimately, you are responsible, in the event of an accident, until Visa's insurance pays the bill.
Here, at our airport, shuttle service is free to the parking lots and nearby car rental companies. Our local Enterprise car rental advertises they'll have someone pick you up and drop you off.
The last two times I rented from Thrifty, I drove an Intrepid, 7 days, for less than $210.00. Ahhhh, nice ride!
Posted by Brad Ferguson (Member # 33) on :
Where I worked until just a few weeks ago, I was sent on out-of-town jobs almost every month. When the boss sent me to Las Vegas on a job last year, he didn't rent me a vehicle. He said, "You're staying right accross the street from the job. You don't need wheels." He was right about accross the 'street.' But he didn't know the street was seven lanes. I pulled a 65-lb. tool box accross this 'street.' If I had not have installed lawn mower wheels on the tool box, I would never have made it alive. The odds were not good as it was. I had to take a cab to buy a screw driver at WalMart. I called it our 36-dollar screw driver.
He pulled this trick again in central Florida. I decided to walk for a beer after work. A trucker told me the bar wasn't far, but he must have meant dog miles. It was dark when I arrived, thirsty and desparate. After four beers I felt good enough to forgive the trucker, but walking back to the motel was rendered impossible. The cab ride back, though, cost only eight dollars. I think.
Brad in Kansas
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Hahahahaaa....Brad...next time the boss says no car, just say: 1. "Then I am not going!" or 2. "Then you won't mind the taxi expenses?" or 3. "#%@%&% you, I QUIT!"
Posted by John Cordova (Member # 220) on :
Hi Adrienne,
I've had really good experiences with Enterprise. Also, if you can, pick-up an "Entertainment" coupon book, it's a fundraiser book and they have really good coupons in it. When my wife and I went to Vegas last year, we used a coupon for 35% off + the lady at the counter let me use another coupon for a free upgrade. This book costs $35 but it paid for itself the first time we used it. It contains coupons for meals from fast food to 5 star restaurants, to car washes, to dry cleaning, movie tickets, hotels (this one is really good too), the list goes on. I looked on their website and they have a special now for $10 plus shipping. If I didn't already have one for this year, I would jump on that. Here is the address good luck, have fun!! http://www.entertainment.com/start.cfm?start=true&dom=www.entertainment.com/home.cfm Posted by John Cordova (Member # 220) on :
P.S. on my previous post...
When you go to their site, you can find out where you can get one in your area. Either call or type in your location.
I also forgot to mention, the coupons for the restaurants customized are for your locality. All the merchants are in your town or surrounding towns.
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
for a economy rental from the 20th thru the 29th.![[Smile]](smile.gif)