dcchi
Aug 6, 12, 10:08 pm
In an effort to get a cheap 2-week rental, I decided to drive all the way out to Rockford from the northern Chicago burbs (about a 1-1/4 hour trip each way), mostly on I-90. Difference was over $800 vs. a great deal of $275 for 2 weeks.
Relatively painless drive on the weekend. The airport is a very small regional airport. Turns out there are no flights on Saturdays, which is the day I was there. Rented a compact but was offered a wide array of choices, from Malibu to Camry to Focus to SUVs. (A lot nicer choices than I expected; I was expecting the MKE-type options of Impala Impala or Impala...okay, also possibly a Malibu...) Because of my plan to do a decent amount of driving, and because I had driven the rest, I chose the Focus, which is actually a relatively high trim (I'm guessing), with fog lights, moonroof, and other options I don't even normally get on larger cars. Front desk agent was extremely nice and courteous. The National counter is in the main (and only) airport building. The cars are on the right side of the building, if you are facing it..seems like they're probably 5-8 National parking spots. Everything is super close by.
Either way you approach the airport from the local highway (going there, I took 11th Street off of Route 20, but going back I took Route 2 [which is the recommended way according to the highway signs]; I'd recommend Route 2 as that is a nice large road, whereas the way via 11th street is a back road essentially that crosses a railroad track and light industrial area), there is a gas station literally within a couple of blocks of the airport that each had gas prices that did not seem to gouge you too much, so that is good for filling up just before returning the car to the airport.
Particularly during high (summer) season at ORD, and given the $8/day facility charge, I'd consider RFD as a potential option in the future again, if the price is right. The roundtrip drive is somewhat painful if dull, but at the right price, makes sense.
Relatively painless drive on the weekend. The airport is a very small regional airport. Turns out there are no flights on Saturdays, which is the day I was there. Rented a compact but was offered a wide array of choices, from Malibu to Camry to Focus to SUVs. (A lot nicer choices than I expected; I was expecting the MKE-type options of Impala Impala or Impala...okay, also possibly a Malibu...) Because of my plan to do a decent amount of driving, and because I had driven the rest, I chose the Focus, which is actually a relatively high trim (I'm guessing), with fog lights, moonroof, and other options I don't even normally get on larger cars. Front desk agent was extremely nice and courteous. The National counter is in the main (and only) airport building. The cars are on the right side of the building, if you are facing it..seems like they're probably 5-8 National parking spots. Everything is super close by.
Either way you approach the airport from the local highway (going there, I took 11th Street off of Route 20, but going back I took Route 2 [which is the recommended way according to the highway signs]; I'd recommend Route 2 as that is a nice large road, whereas the way via 11th street is a back road essentially that crosses a railroad track and light industrial area), there is a gas station literally within a couple of blocks of the airport that each had gas prices that did not seem to gouge you too much, so that is good for filling up just before returning the car to the airport.
Particularly during high (summer) season at ORD, and given the $8/day facility charge, I'd consider RFD as a potential option in the future again, if the price is right. The roundtrip drive is somewhat painful if dull, but at the right price, makes sense.