Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM I just rented a car for our trip next summer. Pick up 8-12 and drop off 8-18 at SNA through Thrifty for $66.00. No hidden secret charges...$11.00 per day, end of story. We just got the compact car. There's only three of us, and we're only using it to go from the airport and back. Considering a one-way taxi ride is $35.00 plus tip, it is about the same price to rent a car, so what the heck?
Originally Posted By mickeynewe How the heck did you get that rate? Please share! What am I doing wrong??? Is it because it is Thanksgiving week? Ugh!
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM I suppose it could be the Turkey Day thing...who knows? I just went to Thrifty.com...no funky codes to plug in or anything. Maybe I got such a good deal because I'm rented so far in advance? Plus, I'm just getting the itty bitty car...I think it was the "economy" car. Holy crud...I just put in Turkey week, and it says $283.49 for the week! That's nuts.
Originally Posted By mickeynewe LOL..that is what I mean Mollysmom! If I could get one for your rate, it would be a total done deal! But, I don't want to shell out an extra $600 to fly & for a car just to save the 7 hour drive. I just can't justify it to myself. If we were only going to DL, and not Hollywood, then I would go for it and just take a taxi. But, we really need the car rental.
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM A 7 hour drive isn't too terribly bad...it's a 19 hour one for me, so I fly even though I hate it. However, I see your point about Turkey week driving...between traffic or maybe crummy weather, that 7 hour drive could turn into twice that. What about flying down, taking a taxi to and from the airport, and just renting a car for the day that you are going to Hollywood? I am assuming that we're talking just one day or so. When I stayed at the BWPPI, they had a car rental place right there and they would bring a rental right to the hotel. Just a thought...why rent a car for a whole week when you may REALLY only need it one day?
Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819 I've been having a hard time finding a deal on a rental car, also. I have been spoiled getting them so cheap, I guess! This past summer I paid $202 for two weeks from Thrifty at LAX. (a BEAUTIFUL full size Chrysler Pacifica.) For only 6 days in Dec. the price is coming up over $200 for the economy car! (SNA) I had checked out Hotwire and the price was about $135. I was nervous about going through them, but now that I've read on here that no one has had problems, I'll probably book through them. Last year at the same time I only had to pay $65 for the same amt. of time. I was hoping for that kind of deal again. My hotel cost a lot less last year, too. This inexpensive Christmas time trip has gotten to be a lot more expensive! lol Mickeynewe, I have always had to pay a fee to return the car at a different airport when I have flown into one and out of another. Maybe that's why your fees are coming up so high...????
Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819 Out of curiosity, I searched the same dates for LAX instead of SNA and the same car that was $240 at SNA for 6 days was only $64.80 at LAX. I am paying extra to fly into SNA, too, so I only have myself to blame for the extra $$$$ on the car, I guess! I wanted the convenience of not taking the shuttles at LAX, with the kids and all of the luggage, etc... and it looks like I am going to have to pay for it!
Originally Posted By mickeynewe At 4Disnee's suggestion, we added another night on to our hotel. So we will be staying later on Thanksgiving, enjoying our Club 33 meal without the stress of having to worry about the drive home, and we are just planning on getting up around 3 or 4 am to make it out of the LA area before traffic hits. Hopefully the rest of the drive home won't be too bad on I-5. Just as a backup plan, I'm going to go price LAX airfare and car rental. We can always go to Hollywood from there.
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM Ok, mickeynewe, check this out. I really like using sidestep.com to compare prices. I just went there to check out the car rental prices for Turkey day week. I put in the pick up at SNA on the 19th, and drop off at SNA on the 25th. I don't know if those are your dates, but I figured "close enough". Here's what I found... Fox 116.50/week Payless 136.00/week Thrifty 189.99/week Rent4Less 109.00/week You can also go direct to Rent4Less.com to get these rates, and check out prices on upgraded cars...these prices are for economy. There is also a spot on the web site where you can input a different spot to pick up than you drop off. I think that was an issue for you. Anyhow, go check out sidestep, and then jet over to rent4less, and see if that helps at all.
Originally Posted By mickeynewe Thanks Mollysmom! You're such a big help...and not afraid to kick me in the pants when I need it, too!...LOL
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I must caution you I just had a crazy experience with Fox. All of the car rental listed above with the exception of Thrifty are NOT at the airport, they are a couple miles + from the airport in the outlining industrial area. I didn't rent this vehicle, I just rode to the airport with a relative who did. It took them forever to shuttle us back to the airport and they were not busy. They were also very unprofessional. So, you will need to tack on more time to your leave time from DL to allow for this transportation. Sometimes saving a few bucks is just not worth the hassle when on a 'vacation.'
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM True, Lisann22. She had gotten a previous price from Thrifty, though, of almost $300. and this site showed Thrifty at $189.00.
Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819 Does anyone know if I book through hotwire if I could end up with Fox or Payless? It does say a major company on their site, but I sure don't want to end up taking a shuttle...that's my entire reason for flying into SNA, to avoid one!
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM Oh, I have NO problem kicking you in the butt if you need it, and I hope that you will kick mine if I need it, too.
Originally Posted By mickeynewe LOL...don't worry, I've got your back (side) covered and my boots ready if you ever need me!
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I'm not talking 50% in price. I can understand that. I'm just saying when you tack on the time you lose catching the shuttle, returning the car, finding the place, etc. Sometimes it's not worth it. Your time and stress is worth something too. How many times do you work really hard for a deal and then never take advantage of it? How many times do you not do something you really wanted to because you have to leave early cause you "got a good price?" How many times do you drag your family to eat somewhere because it's cheaper but they are tired and cranky due to the distance or time waiting cause we got to get the deal? I'm not saying ANY of you are doing this I'm just saying be realistic and factor it all in when looking for deals. Make sure to ask yourself will I really use it? Will it really be worth it in the long run? We sometimes drive ourselves crazy for $50.00 bucks and then waste it away in other areas. Just food for thought. As I try to be thrify and wise with my money too.
Originally Posted By Wendithepooh Don't forget that sometimes rentimg for 7 or 8 days is cheaper than 6.Make sure you plug in the extra days just in case.I'm sure the rental place won't mind having it back a day earlier so they can rent it and get extra money.Just a thought.Good Luck
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Hotwire.com does NOT use Fox or Payless They use Avis, Budget and Hertz. You will get a car from one of the three... Priceline uses Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz and National.
