AlGore-08.com
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Tue Jun-28-05 07:37 PM
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What's the cheapest (cost effective) rental car company? |
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Hi Lounge Lizards one and all! :hi:
I'm traveling on business in a couple weeks and I need to get a rental car at my destination. What's the cheapest - - and by that I mean most cost effective - - rental company? Obviously I won't know exactly how much gasoline I will use during the trip, but I do want to know exactly how much I'm going to pay for mileage, and what the other fees are up front?
And I don't care if the car is small or ugly - - I'm looking for cheap!
Thanks for your help!
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Shoeempress
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Tue Jun-28-05 07:38 PM
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1. I find enterprise to be inexpensive, but are rarely at the Airport. |
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Surf the web and compare, the various companies may have specials.
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GOPisEvil
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Tue Jun-28-05 07:39 PM
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2. Alamo offers free mileage. |
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I've had good luck with them in the past. National has been pretty good for me too.
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Skink
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Tue Jun-28-05 07:39 PM
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3. You're guarenteed to spend 3 times as much on gas. |
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But stay away from Enterprise. Unless 500 dollar a week rentals are your thing.
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democracyindanger
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Tue Jun-28-05 07:41 PM
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see if they have any deals. And be sure to fill the tank up just before you drop it off.
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jedr
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Tue Jun-28-05 07:42 PM
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5. I use National (Alamo) but; |
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go to expedia or travelosity etc. will let you compare.
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trotsky
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Tue Jun-28-05 07:42 PM
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Consistently the best pricing in the various cities I have visited.
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Der Blaue Engel
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Tue Jun-28-05 07:42 PM
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7. I use Priceline and bid ridiculously low |
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on the really nice cars, raising my bid a bit each time I'm declined and lowering the class of the car until I get to economy class...works every time. (And it almost always turns out to be Alamo.)
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gmoney
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Tue Jun-28-05 07:49 PM
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8. I did pretty well on Priceline |
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Rented a car in Tampa for a week for about $140 from Avis. Let them refill the tank (their formerly outrageous gas rates now seem quite reasonable -- $2.25 a gallon) and it was very smooth. The car even had XM built in so I could listen to Air America. The only downside was that I left my Afghan Whigs CD in the CD player, so if you end up with that same car, mail the disc back to me please.
I guess if possible, minimize the number of days, because they go by 24-hour periods, so look at turning it in a couple hours early, or even shaving off days you won't be using it. (I could probably have gotten away with a 3-day rental, but it was a pretty good deal at the weekly rate.)
Also, check your credit card statement stuffers or google "rental car discount codes" and some of the coupons can actually save you a pretty good amount of money.
When I say I rented on Priceline, I did go with a published rate, not that "make an offer" thing, but who knows? Maybe if you find a published rate, knock off 20% and make an offer, you might get lucky.
Also, check with your insurance company to be sure you're covered in a rental, so you can confidently turn down their supplemental insurance. Also, check with your credit card company because they may include supplemental insurance as a perk if you have a "Gold or Platinum" card.
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Midlodemocrat
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Tue Jun-28-05 07:50 PM
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they will give you a good idea of the costs of each car company.
Also, sometimes the airlines have coupons.
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Jeff In Milwaukee
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Tue Jun-28-05 08:04 PM
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10. I've used Alamo in the past... |
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faily cheap and unlimited mileage.
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DU
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Tue Apr 23rd 2024, 06:45 PM
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