Las Vegas - Using Amex points: have to choose between Hertz, Avis and Enterprise at LAS

We're traveling to LAS at the end of April and will have our 15 month old son and "grandma" in tow. Figure best vehicle for us is a minivan. Plan to use Amex points for rental certificate but it eliminates the ability to use other discount codes or coupon numbers. The Hertz rate using the AMEX cdp is $81, Avis and Enterprise are much cheaper but are the savings worth it? Any and all suggestions are welcomed...

We've rented from both Hertz and Avis at LAS quite a few times. I think they are comparable and I usually use Avis because I can get a much lower rate. Try to sign up for their Preferred program, or if you use Hertz, their Gold program, to expedite picking up your car. Forget Enterprise.

If you go with Hertz the Gold program may not save you much time when picking up the car. Because you need to turn in the AmEx certificates, they'll reserve the car as a standard (=counter service) rental. You can still go to the Gold booth for (hopefully) faster service, but the car and contract won't be waiting for you.

I've never had a problem with Hertz in LAS and haven't used Avis there. I'd go with Hertz if the price difference isn't too much, otherwise Avis.

For sure..don't go with Enterprise. You most likely will get a 1989 car with 200,000 miles on it. As far as Hertz goes, if you get the gold service..which should be free thru AMEX, I don't think you will have to turn in your certificates until the end of the rental. But call 1800-654-3131 (hertz) to make sure.