Topekans...I need your help!

[Fausto]

Now that the basketball schedule is locked in, I've had the idea of flying back for the November 11th weekend in my mind for some time and am just now trying to get everything planned out.  Air?  Check.  Allegiant flys into Topeka.  Perfect!  Car?  Umm, here's the problem...

The flight I want to book gets into Topeka at about 7:15 pm.  I have yet to have found a rental car company which is open past 6 pm.  Yikes!  I am hoping your eyes, ears and knowledge are better than my Googling.  Does anyone know how I could go about renting a car that late in the night?  I need a car to not only make it over to Manhattan, but to visit relatives down in the Wichita/Hutchinson area.

Any help/knowledge you can provide is greatly appreciated.

[KSU176]

Hertz is at the airport you might try them?

[Saulbadguy]

Didn't you ask this same question a year ago? 

I'll check it out on Monday, Fausto.

[michigancat]

My wife used to work at National in Manhattan, and they would seriously put the keys underneath the floormats if someone wanted to pick a car up late.  If you call ahead, I'm sure they'll work something out for you.

[Dirty Sanchez]

I was looking at renting a car from Hertz in Topeka awhile back while my car was in the shop. If I had done it I would have needed it on Sunday evening.  They would have been willing to drop the car off at the shop for when I was ready to pick it up.  Just make reservations ahead of time. Should be no problem. 

[Fausto]

My question last year was who all had pick-up points at the airport.  Hertz is the only one.  We could get to any other location I am sure, but the issue now when we call to get something set up is that the plane arrives too late.  Perhaps we're just not speaking to the right people when they pick-up the phone.  All we continue to get is that they'll be closed by the time we need to pick the car up.

I guess I've gotten entirely used to the Las Vegas 24-hour lifestyle.  It seems like there should be some way around this.  Leaving the car at a dealership, renting from a dealership...something!

[Dirty Sanchez]

Are you talking to the national hertz people or the local ones?

[Fausto]

local.  I think.  I didn't make that phone call.

[Dirty Sanchez]

Might try one of these straight from the Topeka phone book

Alamo: 888-426-3296
Avis: 800-831-2847
Avis local: 785-232-2676 or 785-234-2470
Bluestem Auto Rentals: 357-7605
Dollar: 800-800-4000
Enterprise: 800-736-8222
Enterprise local: 233-0200 (closest to airport), 234-2222, 267-0550
Hertz:  267-4468
Lewis Toyota: 273-4554

Virtually all are on the south third of town. 

[Fausto]

Thanks for the efforts Dirty!

Bluestem looks like just an RV rental place, does anyone know otherwise?  We'll make sure we look at every angle here.  Airfare into Topeka at $89 is just too reasonable and we have a bunch of people from LV interested in flying back for games throughout the year, but are having problems with finding a rental car because of this issue.  It's gotta be worth the money for someone to work with us.

[Trim]

Isn't the Allegiant flight from LV to Wichita just as cheap?  You'd have a further drive to Manhattan, but you said you had to go to Wichita/Hutch anyways and you may have more rental car options in Wichita.

[Fausto]

Allegiant to Wichita would be about $100 more round trip per person.  There are a couple positives with Topeka, the cost, being immediately closer to Manhattan for Saturday and the way the flight is set up (vs. Wichita) I can spend more time at work so I am not slammed when I get back Tuesday.  Obviously, the positive to Wichita is I've done the trip a couple of times before and know my options.  I've never flew into Forbes Field, but my understanding is it's not much of an airport.  Of course, living here my perspective has changed.  McCarran is huge.

[Saulbadguy]

Forbes isn't much of an Airport at all.

Fausto - I found this little blurb on Hertz rent-a-car website:

Rental Services Provided By:
Topeka HLE, 2861 South Kansas Avenue
Meets scheduled commercial flights. Shuttle van will take you to the servicing location. Please call upon arrival - 785-267-4468.
Additional Information:
After Hours - Commercial flights arriving after 1800 or on Saturday please pick up rental at Million Air Aviation, Forbes Field, Building 613.

I would contact them and see if they can work something out.

Hertz phone # : 785-267-4468

[Fausto]

Thanks...

I think we have figured out how to rent through Hertz due in good part to the info you provided Saul.

[Saulbadguy]