florens

We will spend 7 weeks in the Denver area in March-April 2022. What is the best strategy to rent with Avis? Would it make sense to contact the DEN office to negotiate a custom rate or is this not possible at all? Currently rates are astronomically high. Is it too early to look at them or is this due to the rental car apocalypse?

Dates: 3 March until 17 April, looking for Groups E, F, G or W.

AutoSlash

Calling them is probably not going to be worthwhile. The best strategy is to book a pay-later rate now and track it with AutoSlash. There really isn't any value in waiting to book since you can reserve now without having to give your credit card. Rates are certainly likely to drop in the coming months, but even if they don't, by reserving ahead of time (for free), it's a hedge just in case rates rise.

By tracking the price with AutoSlash, you'll be notified anytime a better deal comes along, and since you've booked a pay-later rate, you can just cancel your old reservation without penalty and then re-book at the lower rate. Rinse, repeat.

You never know when prices will drop--sometimes it's just for a day or two. We check pricing on your reservation every day so you don't have to bother. The longer your time horizon, the more likely you are to save.

Hope this helps!

IAHtraveler

Agree with everything Autoslash notes. I'd also suggest reserving at an off-site location or two. Should be much lower than DEN due to airport fees. And who knows what local offices could close in the next 10 months. Better to have a few reservations (not prepaid/free cancellations) to be safe.

florens

Hm ok. Though booking now is pointless, even refundable pay later rates. I have no intention of paying $5k for 45 days...

AutoSlash

The point is to put a stake in the ground so you can be notified when rates drop. You can either search every day yourself or have AutoSlash do it for you. Imagine the scenario where the rate drops from $5K to to $1K for a few days and then it goes up to $2K and never comes back down. Unless you were diligently checking rates every day, you just left $1K on the table. Just sayin.

Tanic

Take a look at Avis in Castle Rock (C4K). Very reasonable base rates and it is outside the DEN 25 mile perimeter in which neighborhood locations get hit with the airport fees.

Just rent a one day one way from DEN to C4K.

florens

Thanks I will keep checking this location too, but it is also over $120/day for a small Group C car which I am simply not willing to pay.

Tanic

I am getting aprox $27/day all in for group C from avis.com at C4K. $29/day for group E. That is without any AWD or discounts.

In a different direction, Avis Boulder (WVC) has similar pricing and is also outside of the airport fee zone.

AutoSlash

It's possible/likely that the OP is seeing different prices since his point-of-sale is Europe and Avis is likely showing insurance-inclusive rates.

florens You might want to check pricing on an OTA website like Priceline as it appears that the rates are much more competitive than direct from Avis. See here for an example with Avis and Budget is a bit less expensive.

garykung

Why not buying an used car instead?

florens

Indeed this is the difference. Though when checking with my POS for earlier dates I get decent rates, hence why I thought maybe it was too early not to look at booking direct. Given the current situation and uncertainty, I want to avoid using an OTA to book as dealing with them can be a nightmare.

I'll monitor rates regularly now.

gavcuk

Denver pricing for Avis (including Castle Rock) has suddenly gone through the roof in the last week.

I was looking at April 6th to 23rd and the prices have risen by 60% since I began looking 10 days ago. I thought about trying another office like Grand Junction but they are all affected it seems.

AutoSlash

And prices are likely to go much higher in the coming weeks. Demand is not slowing down (summer travel season hasn't even started yet) and new cars are not rolling off the assembly line (that darn semiconductor shortage). You think prices are high now? You ain't seen nothin' yet.

gavcuk

But that isn't true if I look to alter my itinerary to LAS-PHX. It seems somewhat specific to DEN.

florens

True. I booked a Suburban for a month next year oneway from LAX to PHX at a very decent rate.