Rental Car Strategy

[FunruhCat76]

So I'm booked for airfare and hotels to come up to Kstate for OU weekend and Denver for Christmas (It's the closest airport to Garden City that I could find decent rates at). 

The only thing remaining is getting a car rented for each trip, and DAYUM!  ITs crazy expensive.  Right now I'm looking at like $300.00 for four days in KC??  What do yall do?  Are there any tips to get a better deal?  I've checked priceline...no dice.

[ChiComCat]

A) Sign up for Hertz gold, it should be free right now.  They usually charge for it and it will probably get you a free upgrade.  Even without an upgrade, you'll skip crazy long holiday lines.

B) Check PM, but holidays, especially in Denver, will still be crazy expensive and a pain to rent anything for less than a week or so.

[FunruhCat76]

Nice, I'll check it out.  So what you're saying is that I could reserve a compact and upgrade to a full size once I get to the counter at the airport?  Something like that?

[ben ji]

I think Costco has some ridiculously good rental deals. Not sure if you are a member but you might look into it.

[ChiComCat]

Nice, I'll check it out.  So what you're saying is that I could reserve a compact and upgrade to a full size once I get to the counter at the airport?  Something like that?

Something like that.  I haven't used the upgrade thing.  The most important feature though is you can grab your car and sign out at the booth when you leave.  Not wait in line for over an hour which is what the line will be holiday time in Denver

[Skipper44]

Have you checked what off airport prices are?  A short cab ride (or a bro picking you up a for a couple of beers) could save a bunch.  Sometimes you can even turn the car back in at the airport and save not only on the rental price but on the airport fees as well. 

Enterprise and Budget are about the only one in KC with off airport locations, not sure on Den.

[slobber]

National. Walk through and get your car and go. Does your company have any deals with car rental companies? Check that out. I rent my personal vacation cars through the company, but pay with my own cc. Save some money there.

Also, National is owned by Enterprise Holdings, which also owns Alamo Rent a Car and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

[Stupid Fitz]

At the very least ask for an upgrade. I know this doesn't help you on price, but almost all rental car companies will upgrade you to a better car if you just ask.

[Boom Roasted]

If you aren't over 25(no clue) and even if you are, the best discounts I have found are through USAA.  Go to their site and sign up(dont have to be military) then get a discount code through them for Budget(Avis affiliate).  Then log on to your southwest or whatever card for points you use and book through their site but use the USAA discount code.  Get the best price and the extra points all at once.

Even better if you can do this at a non airport location if you aren't in a rush.

[puniraptor]

i guess if you drive over the golden gate bridge you need to pay $2.00 online or else the rental car company will charge you $8.95 two months later

[Emo EMAW]

i guess if you drive over the golden gate bridge you need to pay $2.00 online or else the rental car company will charge you $8.95 two months later

Ya eff that.  I hate that BS.

[Mikeyis4dcats]

Sometimes Avios have ridiculously low redemption rates.   I did a Ford Fusion in Dallas for the Cotton Bowl for 9,000 Avios for 4 days.

[kitten_mittons]

So I'm booked for airfare and hotels to come up to Kstate for OU weekend and Denver for Christmas (It's the closest airport to Garden City that I could find decent rates at). 

The only thing remaining is getting a car rented for each trip, and DAYUM!  ITs crazy expensive.  Right now I'm looking at like $300.00 for four days in KC??  What do yall do?  Are there any tips to get a better deal?  I've checked priceline...no dice.

At off-airport locations at enterprise, the price should be around $25 a day with no mileage limit in surrounding states.