Car Hire - California in August - Who with & best time to book

sjw64

Hi

We (wife/me) are flying out to do the ‘circuit’ of San Fran/LA/Vegas/Yosemite/San Fran in Aug for three weeks and obviously I need to book a car. Is now about the right time to be booking it and if so, who with?

I’ve looked at Kayak & several comparison sites but the best price for a compact(ish) size car is direct with Enterprise coming in at about £340 for 3 weeks and that is with picking it up in Fisherman’s Wharf as opposed at SFO (more ££). I don’t mind picking it up in a local office away from the airport as we won’t be using for the first few days while we look around San Fran.

Thanks

michele-p

Hi, don't get the car until the day you need it, as parking is expensive, and you won't need it in San Fransisco.

Try http://www.economycarhire.com/ based in Norfolk, we've used them many times

We booked before Christmas for June on East Coast, and used http://www.tripwheels.com/ who are also UK based, if you call them and speak to Ellie in person she's very helpful. They came highly recommended by some of my husbands work mates (more than one).

If you have time try a day tip to the Napa Valley the day before you leave, it's North of SF, going over the Golden Gate bridge. We loved it, went to one of the vineyards for a tour. Yum.

visidigi

I've repeatedly used these guys...

http://www.usrentacar.co.uk/

Very good service, always do the platinum package to get the fuel and the full insurance. I use Dollar and signed up to their express service (free) which these guys put on your booking and it means you miss the huge queue and get served in minutes with no hard sell.

We've just paid under £350 for a full size for two weeks with airport location pickup and dropback in a few months time (although this was booked before the dollar dropped)

Message them if Dollar isn't showing, they will advise you when the rates will be loaded.

PeacefulWaters

If you book it with your flights you get ATOL protection.

gracie10

We are doing a 3 week trip in July/ August this year and have booked through Expedia. Think we paid about £550 for full size four door.

Murphy_The_Cat

sjw64 wrote: »

Hi

We (wife/me) are flying out to do the ‘circuit’ of San Fran/LA/Vegas/Yosemite/San Fran in Aug for three weeks and obviously I need to book a car. Is now about the right time to be booking it and if so, who with?

I’ve looked at Kayak & several comparison sites but the best price for a compact(ish) size car is direct with Enterprise coming in at about £340 for 3 weeks and that is with picking it up in Fisherman’s Wharf as opposed at SFO (more ££). I don’t mind picking it up in a local office away from the airport as we won’t be using for the first few days while we look around San Fran.

Thanks

I'd also suggest an additional 'what' to hire.

That route, without deviations is about 1400 miles. I'd be giving very serious consideration to renting a standard or a fullsize for your holiday. Renting a compact really wouldn't be adding any value at all to your break.

It needn't cost you any/much more either. Especially if you don't rent whilst you're in San Fran and use public transport. Alternatively, the additional rental from a compact to a standardt/full size is very modest.(if you can get an intermdiate SUV at the same rate, give that some thought as well -- being higher up is something that most people seem to like).

I've used US rentacar several times and their service is goood - but check how competitive they are.

This year, I've found the UK branches of hire firms to be competitive (as have you with the Enterprise quote).

Check out Alamo Brits, as their 10% discount and free additional drivers is an attractive bonus.

Pay close attention to each rental companies 'extras' as they can differ greatly i.e prepaid fuel option, standard, gold & platinum options, sat bav, extra driver ets.
If you have any loyalty programmes (e.g Avis, aaadvantage) make sure thay you register them to get your miles/points.

Finally, consider the 'pay now' or 'pay on arrival' options. Depending on who you use, the differnce can be as much as 10% -- plus, it negates the effect of having an eager salesman from talking you into upgrades that will cost more per day, plus the many and varied taxes that will apply.

PeacefulWaters

I must second the point about car size.

Paying an extra £3 or so a day to stretch out a little more is well worth it.

I've done Fiat Panda in Italy. That was not worthwhile money saving! We defied geometrical principles to fit both luggage and people in that vehicle.

EssexExile

Alamo are doing 10% off USA hire at the moment anyway & if you find you've got it wrong you can cancel up to 7 days before pick up with full refund.

photome

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

I'd also suggest that additional 'what' to hire.

That route, without deviations is about 1400 miles. I'd be giving very serious consideration to renting a standard or a fullsize for your holiday. Renting a compact really wouldn't be adding any value at all to your break.

It needn't cost you any/much more either. Especially if you don't rent whilst you're in San Fran and use public transport. Alternatively, the additional rental from a compact to a standardt/full size is very modest.(if you can get an intermdiate SUV at the same rate, give that some thought as well -- being higher up is something that most people seem to like).

I've used US rentacar several times and their service is goood - but check how competitive they are.

This year, I've found the UK branches of hire firms to be competitive (as have you with the Enterprise quote).

Check out Alamo Brits, as their 10% discount and free additional drivers is an attractive bonus.

Pay close attention to each rental companies 'extras' as they can differ greatly i.e prepaid fuel option, standard, gold & platinum options, sat bav, extra driver ets.
If you have any loyalty programmes (e.g Avis, aaadvantage) make sure thay you register them to get your miles/points.

Finally, consider the 'pay now' or 'pay on arrival' options. Depending on who you use, the differnce can be as much as 10% -- plus, it negates the effect of having an eager salesman from talking you into upgrades that will cost more per day, plus the many and varied taxes that will apply.

If you use alamobrits
sign up to alamo insiders, then link your booking to your insiders account, you can then check in online and print of a voucher which will let you go straight to your car without queueing anywhere

photome

EssexExile wrote: »

Alamo are doing 10% off USA hire at the moment anyway & if you find you've got it wrong you can cancel up to 7 days before pick up with full refund.

How would your quote and a quote through Alamo brits compare

Murphy_The_Cat

photome wrote: »

If you use alamobrits
sign up to alamo insiders, then link your booking to your insiders account, you can then check in online and print of a voucher which will let you go straight to your car without queueing anywhere

I missed that bit :beer:

Plus, you'll also be able to selct the car/SUV that you like, from the class of car that you've backed, which has a value all of its own