Why are Car Rentals in Orlando so Expensive?
Jan 4, 2010, 7:36 am
#31
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Central Florida, US
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 634
Absolutely correct! Please refer to my previous post (#4) from last year. It is a trifecta of Presidents' Day, Speed Weeks at Daytona and the beginning of Spring Break/high season for some. My suggestion would be to make the best deal you can, now!
Jan 5, 2010, 7:42 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,171
I just rented a midsize at MCO for 1/12/10 to 1/17/10 through Hotwire and got Hertz.
Car daily rate: $15.95
Rental days: 5
Subtotal: $79.75
Tax recovery charges and fees: $42.31
Total price: $122.06
Immediately went to WN's website and entered all the same info, under the Hertz link for "special offers"(includes 1.5 RR credits).
Got this:
Base Rate $204.74
Drop Charge $0.00
Mileage Charge Unlimited
Tax (6.50%) $15.61
PRIVILEGE FEE IF PICKUP IS WITHIN 48 HOURS OF FLIG $19.55
Rental Surcharge $12.45
Facility Fee $2.30
ENERGY SURCHARGE $1.03
Approximate Total $255.68
By the way, what on earth is a "privilege fee if pickup is within 48 hours of flight"?
And if I'd booked yesterday, it would have been $2 a day less on Hotwire, but I got distracted and forgot.
You will note that 1/18 is a holiday Monday, which I imagine should be affecting rentals that weekend.
So MCO car rentals are not that expensive, it seems to me. Not sure why I bother any more with anything but Hotwire/Priceline.
Car daily rate: $15.95
Rental days: 5
Subtotal: $79.75
Tax recovery charges and fees: $42.31
Total price: $122.06
Immediately went to WN's website and entered all the same info, under the Hertz link for "special offers"(includes 1.5 RR credits).
Got this:
Base Rate $204.74
Drop Charge $0.00
Mileage Charge Unlimited
Tax (6.50%) $15.61
PRIVILEGE FEE IF PICKUP IS WITHIN 48 HOURS OF FLIG $19.55
Rental Surcharge $12.45
Facility Fee $2.30
ENERGY SURCHARGE $1.03
Approximate Total $255.68
By the way, what on earth is a "privilege fee if pickup is within 48 hours of flight"?
And if I'd booked yesterday, it would have been $2 a day less on Hotwire, but I got distracted and forgot.
You will note that 1/18 is a holiday Monday, which I imagine should be affecting rentals that weekend.
So MCO car rentals are not that expensive, it seems to me. Not sure why I bother any more with anything but Hotwire/Priceline.
Last edited by toomanybooks; Jan 5, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Jan 6, 2010, 8:15 am
#33
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: DL - Plat, Marriott - Plat, Hilton - Diamond, SPG- Plat, National- ES
Posts: 1,857
I just got a National car for $98 all inclusive for five days starting tomorrow. Using a combo of the Last Minute Specials and $20 off a weekend rental. Full Size.
Jul 14, 2010, 5:18 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,404
Because I might get Alamo.. and considering how cold it is in Atlanta I am certain that "Hexx" has NOT frozen over and I swore that until it did I would NEVER rent from them after a horrid experience several years ago. (the ONLY travel related company I have EVER said that about)
I just got a National car for $98 all inclusive for five days starting tomorrow. Using a combo of the Last Minute Specials and $20 off a weekend rental. Full Size.
I just got a National car for $98 all inclusive for five days starting tomorrow. Using a combo of the Last Minute Specials and $20 off a weekend rental. Full Size.
As far as Florida car rentals go, it's still a strange game. I rented from FLL this week, and the rates have actually been pretty expensive. Well over $30/day for a compact, before all the crazy taxes. But Alamo had a sale a couple a couple days out (the sale vanished quickly) reducing the compact price to $19/day, and then I used a coupon. But I did have to settle for a worse car than I would have wanted. Heck, this compact doesn't even have power door looks -- every pax needs to lock their own door. I feel like I'm back in the '70s! A midsize was like $15/day more, so I passed. No cheapo rates available on priceline this week for my rental.
