Hertz - Denver Downtown HLE vs. airport rental

There was a thread I found from 2004 about advice for avoiding airport rental surcharges. Since that was awhile ago, I thought I'd start a new thread, specifically about DEN.

I rent frequently from DEN airport, but the airport concession fees (or whatever they're called) and generally higher rates are getting annoying. So, I am looking into using Denver Downtown HLE instead.

For example, one trip in March I am arriving Sunday morning, and leaving the following Saturday morning. Some comparisons (using a Ford Focus as the basis for the example):

If I pickup from the airport Hertz right after flight arrival that Sunday morning (about 10am), and return to the airport, it is $422 all in for the week.

If I chill in the airport for a couple hours and wait to pickup the car until noon Sunday at the airport Hertz, and return to the airport at the same time (next Sat AM), the rate drops to $386 all in.

If I rent from DEN downtown HLE and return there, it drops to about $175 all in. In this case, I would have to take the RTD skyRide route AF to/from downtown (a reasonable trade-off for the HLE rate). Opting for a return at the airport takes this $175 rate to $286.

Note that all of these examples are using the United Airlines CDP and PC#974643 for the free double upgrade. Also renting a higher class (for a better upgrade) results in a roughly equivalent increase in rates among pickup choices, but still a significant discount at the HLE).

Who has frequently rented at the DEN downtown HLE by taking the skyRide bus, has it worked out for you? Have you had any trouble with extremely early morning returns at this HLE (after hours key drops) to jump the skyRide to make an early morning flight?

Does it all seem like too much work just to avoid the airport taxes and fees? Any other DEN strategies or general comments welcome.

Thanks.
Jim
Hertz Gold

Wow! I was thinking of the same strategy for a ski trip in March also: Sun p-up,Sat rtr, using that code, but going one class up just in case for more room as they'll be 4 of us. It looks like that location and the dwntwn Marriott are the only 2 open on Sunday; maybe the Marriott runs a shuttle out there that u might be able to catch; we're planning on having somebody local pick us up as I can't see paying up to 100$ extra at a/port. Ironically, Avis has neighborhood locations also with better rates but there are blackout dates around time we want the car.

Who has frequently rented at the DEN downtown HLE by taking the skyRide bus, has it worked out for you? Have you had any trouble with extremely early morning returns at this HLE (after hours key drops) to jump the skyRide to make an early morning flight?

Does it all seem like too much work just to avoid the airport taxes and fees? Any other DEN strategies or general comments welcome.

Thanks.
Jim
Hertz Gold

I can't comment about the HLE, but I live in Denver (originally from Omaha) and use SkyRide to get to/from the airport a few times a year. SkyRide is great and easy to figure out. They are usually on time (weather delays happen). The schedule is listed here: http://www.rtd-denver.com/

I hope this helps you out a little bit.

I booked the UA dble upgrade/w500 miles(PC974643) for weekly rental(in this case 5 days) in the chevy classic/Toyota Corolla class(one up from Ford Focus I think). The Renaiisance is near the old Stapleton a/port 3801 Quebec St. I'm returning the car to DEN. Total cost, including ski rack ($40) is 235.08. There are several hotels in the area and hoping to grab a shuttle.Even if I have to take a cab for $25 it's still cheaper than DEN p-up. ^

The Renaiisance is near the old Stapleton a/port 3801 Quebec St. I'm returning the car to DEN. Total cost, including ski rack ($40) is 235.08
...
cheaper than DEN p-up. ^
Thanks, the Ren HLE is closed Sunday (for my p/u) according to Hertz.com. So I will in fact use the downtown HLE for both p/u and d/o at about 1/2 the cost of using Hertz DIA: $200 for week at HLE as opposed to $375 at airport. I did try to price off-airport pickup with airport dropoff, but for whatever reason this time the rates came up the same as regular airport service ($$$).

Thanks also to cohusker re: SkyRide, their weekend schedules fit nicely with my flight schedule, and only $14 r/t. I can live with a 60 minute bus ride to save 50% on the car.

Update: the SkyRide route AF bus ride from DEN airport to downtown was painless (40 minutes). $8 (o/w) sure beats other methods.

The busdriver dropped me off 1 block from Hertz downtown... just had to walk down one street. Got a Ford 500 for a compact rate.

After casual conversation about my trip (told him I was flying out of DEN), he changed my return so I could drop at the airport for no extra charge for what previously would have been an extra charge ^ . Don't know if that was because I'm Gold or he was just being helpful. He seems to have a rather small lot with meager inventory, so hopefully that doesn't impact his fleet too much. Their problem, of course, not mine.

So all in all very worth it.