YYC / Calgary car rental headaches
May 3, 2022, 7:08 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
YYC / Calgary car rental headaches
So first travel plans for about 2.5 years. Visiting family in Calgary in July for a month. Need to hire a car (with two toddlers, so need two car seats). We get in late (around 11PM) and am struggling to find any options. Seems most car rental places at the airport are closed and getting offsite near where we are staying (North West Calgary) doesn't seem an option.
I've searched around but without any luck.
Am I missing something or am not searching correctly?
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
I've searched around but without any luck.
Am I missing something or am not searching correctly?
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
May 3, 2022, 8:16 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: YEG
Programs: Table scraps from Aeroplan and AmEx Plat
Posts: 901
If the places that are open late are significantly more expensive than the ones closing early, what I would do is get a hotel near the airport for the first night, many have free shuttles and regularly cost $100 or less per night. Take shuttle back to YYC and pick up the car in the morning.
Or are the car seats an issue?
Or are the car seats an issue?
May 3, 2022, 11:24 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,187
If the places that are open late are significantly more expensive than the ones closing early, what I would do is get a hotel near the airport for the first night, many have free shuttles and regularly cost $100 or less per night. Take shuttle back to YYC and pick up the car in the morning.
Or are the car seats an issue?
Or are the car seats an issue?
Or just pay the ripoff high rate for one day then switch it out the day after you arrive.
May 4, 2022, 11:01 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 2,120
I would strongly suggest calling directly, often "closing times" at airport are subjective to flights still arriving. Even the website SAYS closed, there may be someone there to meet the flight if cars have been prebooked. This is definitely true for northern BC/Alberta, even in the Before Times.
May 4, 2022, 7:44 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
I would strongly suggest calling directly, often "closing times" at airport are subjective to flights still arriving. Even the website SAYS closed, there may be someone there to meet the flight if cars have been prebooked. This is definitely true for northern BC/Alberta, even in the Before Times.
Prices also are so out of whack!!!
May 7, 2022, 6:17 am
#6
Join Date: May 2021
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC 35K
Posts: 12
Indeed they are. One suggestion, having recently booked a car for a summer long weekend trip to Calgary. The rental prices at YYC were astronomical, but were about half the price at nearby off-site locations. I figure an uber to and from the rental place is well worth the headache to save several hundred dollars. That might not work with your late arrival, but even an airport hotel + taxis could work out to be a cheaper option.
May 14, 2022, 8:41 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: +61
Programs: SQ*PPS, QF-WP1 & LTG, VA-Gold, Marriott*LTT, Hilton*Gold, Accor*Platinum
Posts: 5,735
My suggestion:
* Stay the night at the airport hotel (or hire a taxi with two car seats to get you to your house)
* Take an Uber / ride with parents to the off-site car agency (I've had good success with Avis at North Hill, or Hertz downtown). if you need discount codes for either drop me a PM.
* Stay the night at the airport hotel (or hire a taxi with two car seats to get you to your house)
* Take an Uber / ride with parents to the off-site car agency (I've had good success with Avis at North Hill, or Hertz downtown). if you need discount codes for either drop me a PM.