Originally Posted by
mmhardky
Hi everyone.
I just made a reservation for a convertible (class U) at Hertz Hilton HLE for a fraction of the LAX price. It's for July and it's for 19 days.
Obviously, I expect them not to have a convertible available when I'll get there.
My question is:
1. Can I let them give me ANY car category they have in the lot (even a compact), let them charge me the original price of the reservation, then drive up to LAX and actually get it swapped for what I paid for, meaning a convertible (class U)? Or do they really have to give me a (class U) car in the first place, to have it swapped for another class U car? I presume it's the latter... Once I had this happen to me in Las Vegas Marriott, where they gave me a hard top Camaro, and I swapped it for a Mustang convertible 2 days later in a different Hertz location, but that was a "class U against class U" situation.
2. If LAX won't have any convertibles (someone here says they are "sold out for months in advance"), can I try and hunt a convertible down in some other L.A. (or outside L.A.) Hertz locations?
3. Also - if swap at LAX is not an option - is it a feasible stratedy to plan a few days in L.A., take whatever car they give me at the Hilton, and wait for a few days for them to stock in a convertible?
Many thanks for any kind of advice. Regular price at LAX for a convertible is like 400% higher, no matter what rental company. Even a compacts are ridiculously expensive. If this whole "Hilton Hertz" operation fails, It might ruin our whole trip.
My plan B is to make a refundable reservation for a reasonably priced mid-size sedan (I have yet to find a good offer).
My plan C is TURO, but I don't have any kind of experience with it (and I heard it's not the safest of options for european tourists like me).
Did you read my post #33?
I just did this “trick” with Marriott LAX office. First they gave me a U-Star which was all banged up. I took the car, drove to LAX Hertz and talked with a manager. Don’t! Expect them to have any cars when we get into the summer and they are sold out, I’m pretty sure I was lucky with the GT upgrade, but only because it was April and they weren’t so busy.
As said, i negotiated myself into a Mustang GT upgrade, with almost 47k on the clock, on Texas plates, so they have really been around to pick up some used cars just to have a rolling fleet.
If you decide to get a car from either Marriott or Hilton, expect it to be a worn out car (mine had a great smell of weed 😩😩😩
and depending on your negotiating skills, you can be lucky to swap cars and get a better one. But if you at first rent a U-Star, they should at least give you this.
regards Martin
Ps. Turo is fine, but A: The first price you see should be doubled, then you have the right price when insurance and fees adds up. I wouldn’t do Turo unless you want a specialty car. B: The mile limit is often very low, so if you’re road-tripping a lot, you’ll run out of miles on the contract fast.