Best way to rent a car at LAX?
Jan 21, 2001, 2:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA
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Best way to rent a car at LAX?
First, I am Avis Preferred, their best rate for Feb 4-6 is about $200! Does this seem high for a intermediate car? Hertz is more. Enterprise is only $80 but I have no idea where they are.
Jan 21, 2001, 3:05 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: New York, NY
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Posts: 206
All the rental companies at LAX are "off airport". They're all about five minuets away. Trick is how long they take to process your rental. The bigger guys will take you less time at the counter and have more frequent buses. As an Avis Preferred, you'll spend zero time at the counter. Try throwing different discount numbers at them (AAA, AMEX, your airline FF#, etc.). $200 does seem steep for that period. Perhaps make a cheaper reservation as a back up and see if Avis doesn't come down in a week or two.
Jan 21, 2001, 3:06 pm
#3
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 6,084
Check http://www.travelnow.com/cars/index.jsp , you'll find Thrifty @ $27.89/day, Alamo @ $38.99, Dollar @ $39.99, etc. for an intermediate size car. Avis shows $63.99/day.
Jan 21, 2001, 3:24 pm
#4
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Avis is quite expensive at LAX. I've paid $55/day generally. I would try another company. I have gotten some good rates with Thrifty although I am not ready to recommend them.
Jan 21, 2001, 8:12 pm
#8
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If you go to Travelocity, you can find cars for less than $20 day from the minors and from less than $25 day for more recognized rental agencies like Enterprise for intermediate cars. But even at Hertz I am showing less than $40 day.
I don't value Hertz, Budget or Avis enough to pay double for a car. I have rented from Payless and been more happy with the service than Alamo. All depends on the individual staff and the location.
I don't value Hertz, Budget or Avis enough to pay double for a car. I have rented from Payless and been more happy with the service than Alamo. All depends on the individual staff and the location.
Jan 22, 2001, 11:38 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: New York City
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Posts: 2,127
Have you tried Hotwire?? They have launched car rentals on a "beta" site at: http://beta.hotwire.com/index.jsp
I found the two day rental for $67 total
I found the two day rental for $67 total
Jan 22, 2001, 3:37 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: FLL
Posts: 1,679
Enterprise is on a side street half a block from Century Blvd. (the wide street that connects the 405 with the terminal loop road). It's almost across the street from the ARCO and McDonalds. Enterprise has a bus.
I used Enterprise once when the other rates were sky high.
I used Enterprise once when the other rates were sky high.
Jan 22, 2001, 8:34 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: SAN Diego (Hillcrest); formerly LEXington, KY; still like the nym
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Don't know about Avis.
The best way to rent a Hertz car at LAX is at the LAX Marriott. It books as "El Segundo" rather than "airport" so you miss a bunch of airport fees. The hotel shuttle takes you there for free, and faster than to the Hertz lot. If you're not #1 Club Gold, there's little line, so that's faster, too.
Rate quoted on line is $25 first day, $58 additional days for an intermediate car (first day's a weekend day). I used AAA discount (10%). If you can arrange to drop it off within 49 hours of pickup you only pay for two days.
Good luck. Tell us what works best.
The best way to rent a Hertz car at LAX is at the LAX Marriott. It books as "El Segundo" rather than "airport" so you miss a bunch of airport fees. The hotel shuttle takes you there for free, and faster than to the Hertz lot. If you're not #1 Club Gold, there's little line, so that's faster, too.
Rate quoted on line is $25 first day, $58 additional days for an intermediate car (first day's a weekend day). I used AAA discount (10%). If you can arrange to drop it off within 49 hours of pickup you only pay for two days.
Good luck. Tell us what works best.
Jan 23, 2001, 12:52 am
#15
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I've always found Hertz to be the most convenient and the fastest - if you join the #1 club gold. Which you can do for free if you ask for the United Hemispheres magazine, small business special