Car rental question

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

For the last four months I have been checking Hotwire and Priceline for a Florida car for DW and her entourage for two weeks from now. They have been very stubborn, not feeling my pain.

Yesterday I got an email from Hotwire saying an Economy was now $22.75/day. I have been bidding $19.

I opened it up and the price is $28.95/day, higher than it has been.

What?

I got it today on Priceline. 20 bucks/day.

10 days before pick-up date.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Costco has dropped their prices again. I was trying to rebook a reservation I have in Florida for end of October. Problem is, our Costco card just expired and I can't book the reservation. I renewed the account online, but it must take a bit of time for it to go through. Just hoping prices don't go back up again before I can grab the lower price.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I got it today on Priceline. 20 bucks/day.

10 days before pick-up date.

Hotwire dropped to $21.95/day 6 days out.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Hotwire dropped to $21.95/day 6 days out.

I am so glad this popped up. My rate went down about $50 for the week with a pick-up on Saturday. Thanks!

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I am so glad this popped up. My rate went down about $50 for the week with a pick-up on Saturday. Thanks!

One day out, Hotwire went up tp $22.95.

[Dancingfish Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dancingfish]

I don't know if this will help you at all but one trick I have learned over the years is that the Airport is the worst place to rent a car. It is usually much much cheaper (up to 50%) to take a taxi to a rental company off the airport grounds and rent there. And for some large airports there is no added time because they were going to shuttle you anyway.

On the airport property the add higher taxes, and add fees that you will not see just a few blocks away.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Thanks! In St. Louis, all the car rental places are off-airport, as it happens. Now I u derstand why!

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I don't know if this will help you at all but one trick I have learned over the years is that the Airport is the worst place to rent a car. It is usually much much cheaper (up to 50%) to take a taxi to a rental company off the airport grounds and rent there. And for some large airports there is no added time because they were going to shuttle you anyway.

On the airport property the add higher taxes, and add fees that you will not see just a few blocks away.

But, be careful what time of day your pick-up and drop-off are, especially before booking on a non-refundable site. If the less expensive location is closed when you need to pick-up and drop-off, so sorry!

Also, bear in mind the cabbies absolutely hate short trips. They have to wait in line and then have to take whatever comes up when it's their turn or go to the back of the line. So, be thoughtful enough to tip them $10, at least, for that one-mile trip to an off-site rental company.

Or, better, yet, just deed them one of your unwanted timeshares.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Hotwire is still at $22.95 5 1/2 hours before pick-up time.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Also keep the integrity/customer service ratings of the agency in mind. We switched from Budget to Dollar/Thrifty at the airport last week after Budget started piling on extra charges before we signed the contract. We only ended up saving a small amount with the switch, but when we had a problem with a tire a few days later in a remote location I was very sorry we hadn't kept the Budget rental. Long story that I won't bore y'all with, but driving the long distance back on the donut was no picnic, and I'm waiting for the credit card bill before beginning the payment dispute...

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

If you have a problem with a rental done through Hotwire or Priceline, although the rental company provides their customer assistance program for you, you will likely be unable to use any future you receive.

As an example, on DW's summer rental last year, late night she got a car with a confsuing fuel gauge. Confusing until the Low Fuel light came on ten miles after she picked it up, going over the "Skybridge" in Tampa Bay. She got a $50 credit on a future rental, but only if done direct through the rental company.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

If you have a problem with a rental done through Hotwire or Priceline, although the rental company provides their customer assistance program for you, you will likely be unable to use any future you receive.

I can't see Dollar/Thrifty giving me much of a future, but I didn't use Priceline. Prices were not much better on Priceline and taxes were really high, so we opted for flexibility at the airport and the ability to cancel.