Rental car - advice needed

JenMJM · May 2012

We are going to San Fran and Napa in July and need to rent a car. I've tried Expedia to price search. Is there any secret to finding a better deal on a car?

We're sharing the car with another couple, and we're nervous to try priceline on the chance that they stick us with a smaller car - we're all 5'9"+ and need room for luggage for a weeklong trip.

Or is there NO secret and am setting my hopes too high? Thoughts or advice, please!

stebbe81 · May 2012

I use hotwire all the time for renting cars and have never had an issue. They let you pick which class of car you want so that should help. Other than that I have also booked through the airline and costco before to try to save some money. Good luck.

TaraW1979 · May 2012

I also recommend Hotwire.com as well. I am using them for my trip to Charleston, SC this week and their price was $40 lower than Expedia and Travelocity.

subdola · May 2012

I always use carrentals.com, especially when you are a month or more out, you should be able to find some really good deals. You can reserve a car with major companies without putting any money, or even a credit card number down, which is huge for me. The key to getting the best deal on this site is being flexible in terms of rental location. For example, instead of renting something right from San Francisco, try a city/town just outside the city limits and you might find that the price drops substantially. You can always cancel your reservations with them for no penalty if you find a better deal later.

JenMJM · May 2012

subdola:
I always use carrentals.com, especially when you are a month or more out, you should be able to find some really good deals. You can reserve a car with major companies without putting any money, or even a credit card number down, which is huge for me. The key to getting the best deal on this site is being flexible in terms of rental location. For example, instead of renting something right from San Francisco, try a city/town just outside the city limits and you might find that the price drops substantially. You can always cancel your reservations with them for no penalty if you find a better deal later.

Would these places pick you up from the airport or do you use a taxi?

Earls_Bride · May 2012

subdola:
I always use carrentals.com, especially when you are a month or more out, you should be able to find some really good deals. You can reserve a car with major companies without putting any money, or even a credit card number down, which is huge for me. The key to getting the best deal on this site is being flexible in terms of rental location. For example, instead of renting something right from San Francisco, try a city/town just outside the city limits and you might find that the price drops substantially. You can always cancel your reservations with them for no penalty if you find a better deal later.

Big ditto for all of this!

Earls_Bride · May 2012

JenMJM:

subdola:
I always use carrentals.com, especially when you are a month or more out, you should be able to find some really good deals. You can reserve a car with major companies without putting any money, or even a credit card number down, which is huge for me. The key to getting the best deal on this site is being flexible in terms of rental location. For example, instead of renting something right from San Francisco, try a city/town just outside the city limits and you might find that the price drops substantially. You can always cancel your reservations with them for no penalty if you find a better deal later.

Would these places pick you up from the airport or do you use a taxi?

Most rental car companies are AT the airport, some you have to shuttle to in the airport area. They will give you the info...

subdola · May 2012

JenMJM:
subdola:
I always use carrentals.com, especially when you are a month or more out, you should be able to find some really good deals. You can reserve a car with major companies without putting any money, or even a credit card number down, which is huge for me. The key to getting the best deal on this site is being flexible in terms of rental location. For example, instead of renting something right from San Francisco, try a city/town just outside the city limits and you might find that the price drops substantially. You can always cancel your reservations with them for no penalty if you find a better deal later.

Would these places pick you up from the airport or do you use a taxi?

It depends on the place...if you need something right from the airport, then (sorry I can't remember who right now) the reply about most places being at the airport is correct, and there's usually a shuttle of some sort. If the airport places are too expensive, you can always take the BART to somewhere just outside of San Francisco or Oakland, and rent from a suburb. If you go with Enterprise they'll come pick you up from wherever, but you could also take a cab if you needed. Which airport are you flying into? I might be able to suggest some suburbs that would be easy to get to from wherever you are flying into, I used to live north of San Francisco and have rented from lots of different places in the last 10 years around there.

subdola · May 2012

Ok, I just did a search for an arbitrary week in July since I don't know your dates, but searching for July 10-17 in San Bruno, there are tons of options. There are rental cars from right in San Francisco proper for as low as $22/day.

Here is the BART map http://www.bart.gov/stations/index.aspx It's incredibly easy to use it from SFO, and it's cheap. If you went up just one station, to San Bruno, you can get a car from Enterprise for $27/day for a intermediate size 4 door sedan, they list Toyota Corrola or Nissan Sentra as the model. For a few dollars more you can get a full size, an Impala, Ultima, or Charger are the models. They would come pick you up at the BART station, and drop you off there when you return the car. It's not more than 10 minutes on the train from that station to the airport.

Hope that helps!

JenMJM · June 2012

subdola:

Ok, I just did a search for an arbitrary week in July since I don't know your dates, but searching for July 10-17 in San Bruno, there are tons of options. There are rental cars from right in San Francisco proper for as low as $22/day.

Here is the BART map http://www.bart.gov/stations/index.aspx It's incredibly easy to use it from SFO, and it's cheap. If you went up just one station, to San Bruno, you can get a car from Enterprise for $27/day for a intermediate size 4 door sedan, they list Toyota Corrola or Nissan Sentra as the model. For a few dollars more you can get a full size, an Impala, Ultima, or Charger are the models. They would come pick you up at the BART station, and drop you off there when you return the car. It's not more than 10 minutes on the train from that station to the airport.

Hope that helps!

I JUST saw this - you are amazing!!!! Thanks!

AudreyJackson · June 2012

I got a free car rental from my travel rewards

, check this out http://thesmartbusinesstraveler.com/business-reward-programs/

Rental car - advice needed

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