Hertz - Best #1 points redemption value

While I can usually maximize redemption value in airline and hotel programs, Hertz points are still a bit of a mystery. What are the best rewards in #1 program?

This probably isn't quite what you're looking for, since it's very specific, but the absolute best use I've discovered is for a one-day non-peak coupon used in NYC in the summer over the weekend. A mid-size then can easily run $120, which at 450 points (you get 50 points back for redeeming online) is a value of almost 27 cents a point.

The 1-week off-peak Prestige rental at 5000 points is a pretty good use as well; not as good as the one-day non peak NYC rental but this can easily be pretty spendy so a nice way to burn points.

Don't ask me what I'm going to do with the 1500 points I have expiring at the end of the year though, haven't figured that one out yet.

The best deal I got was for a Hummer H2 on the Big Island Hawaii. They wanted something like $300+ / day. 1 week came to ~$3,200 all in, but I used 5,000 points instead.

Here are some photos (about 1/2 way down the page) (http://www.thaitum.com/photos_public/hertz) We drove it all over the island. Lots of fun.

I pretty much save my points to use only for 1 week non-peak prestige awards and only if the car is over $100 / day or more. I have to think about it otherwise.

The 200 point weekend day awards are also a great deal, though I don't think you can use those in NYC and they only do the special occasionally.

which at 450 points (you get 50 points back for redeeming online)

How do you book reward rentals online? I have been fustrated by the fact that I have call in to request the reward coupons. It that what you got the 50 points back for or did you already have the coupons and just made your reservation online?

Jetlagjunkie's question is mine as well - can you book reward rentals online?

Jetlagjunkie's question is mine as well - can you book reward rentals online?

You can redeem you hertz award pts online and a certificate would have to be mailed to you. Once you have the cert, then make your reservation using the pc# that is on the cert. And for redeeming online, you would earn 50 additional pts to your acct.

I'd say the best I've done is the 200 point (250 - 50) off-peak weekend rentals. I used two of those to get about $70 off a rental, or $.175 per point. I don't accumulate enough points to turn in 5,000 at a time.

I think we get into the same discussion here that people hit with airline tickets -- do you compare the points to a premium seat you wouldn't pay for or to something that you were going to pay for anyway and got complimentary. The credit I noted above is one I would have paid for without the certs, whereas the $3,200 for an H2 noted above is something I would only redeem for.

You can redeem you hertz award pts online and a certificate would have to be mailed to you. Once you have the cert, then make your reservation using the pc# that is on the cert. And for redeeming online, you would earn 50 additional pts to your acct.

So Hertz still has no way to do an online redemption? Still mailing those certificates?

Yes, but every time I've done it I've received the certificates in 2-3 days, which is really impressive when you know how bad my local USPS service is.

So Hertz still has no way to do an online redemption? Still mailing those certificates?

That's correct. The easy way to redeem pts is to call the 800 reservation line have them make the res for you and they can also redeem your pts at the same time. No certificate necessary.