[ungere]

Does anyone have any great tips for getting the best deal for a car rental? Going to FL for Christmas and our friends can't pick us up at the airport so we'll need to rent one but just for the day - not the whole visit. We won't return it to the same place we pick it up because it's an hour drive from the airport to their house. Don't want to break the bank on a 1 day rental? Help!!! Thanks!

[marguerite2]

If you only need to get to their house, could you use a car service? They pick you up right outside the baggage area and drop you at the door.

We've about an hour from our airport and we've used a shared van car service many times. The one we use guarantees no more than two other stops. The price is excellent and they have a AAA discount.

If you do a browser search for the airport name and car services, you may find something reasonable.

[NJ Teacher]

When I have rented a car, I have been able to get a discount using either my union card or AAA membership. I have rented from different companies, but have always had the greatest success with Hertz. They may be a little more money than some of the others, but my reservations have always been reliable with them. It is generally more expensive to rent at the airport, so if you could return the car to a site that isn't an airport, that might cut some costs as well. A one day rental shouldn't be too bad. I also try to rent the smallest car I can and many times, they upgrade you at no extra cost because they don't have that car available.

[ungere]

My research is finding us a rental at approx $75 for the day. This seems ridiculously high. Am I off-base?

[h0kie]

How big a car do you need?

I can rent a mid-size car here for a day for less than $50.

[ungere]

Not big. I'm wondering if it's because we are picking it up at the airport and dropping it off at a different location. Nothing seems to be cheaper than $70 or so. It's discouraging after spending so much on plane tickets!! Where are you looking hokie?

[h0kie]

I always use Enterprise. It's the only one nearby.

[Smurfette]

If you are dropping it off at a different location it will always be more expensive. I usually book rentals on Orbitz.

[h0kie]

These are the rates I got picking it up here and returning the car an hour and a half away.


Intermediate: $29.44
Standard: $31.39
Full Size: $32.26

For $70, I can rent a full size SUV.

ETA: Prices were the same when I changed it to airport pick up and returning an hour away. Maybe it's just more expensive where you're going?

[ungere]

Yah maybe. I'm wondering if Tampa, FL at Christmas is the reason it's higher. I'm looking into shuttle options now.

[Zia]

Renting from the airport location is the most expensive way to rent a car! They have to include different/higher taxes. Get an Uber or a shuttle.

[GraceKrispy]

I would also look into shuttle service. Renting a car at the airport is expensive. Dropping it off in another location is often more expensive. Is there any public transportation that goes from the airport to their house (or close to it)? That would likely be the cheapest. Next cheapest would be a shared shuttle or car service. Have you asked your friend for some suggestions for cheaper transportation from airport to home?

My son flies into Tampa often and uses Super Shuttle to go to St Petersburg. He says it is reliable and reasonable.

[angelajw]

It really depends on where you are. We rented a car in DC for only $22 a day, lots of competition and most people use mass transit so they wanted our business. In South Dakota and Colorado springs the same car was $75 a day. At home in rural Oklahoma it's $50 a day. We used uber to return the car in Colorado rather than drive the motor home into town Uber was only $13 and you can request a minivan.

[ungere]

Thanks everyone! Looks like we can do a shared shuttle for $68. That might be the best we can find. I appreciate it.