Washington DC Car Rental (Dulles, Reagan Airports)

[winger]

I cannot believe what I am seeing with some 'test' bookings for car rentals in May/June 2010 for 13 days - picking up at either Dulles or Reagan international. I see quotes ranging from $950 - $1300 for a full size.

I have rented 14 days full size from Maui and Oahu for approx $320 the past two years (April and Dec, respectively) . How can there be such a huge difference?

Should I expect DC car rentals to be so much?

[Talent312]

Perhaps you could use a taxi or public transport to find your way to a "city" lot where rentals are much less. Enterprise shows that in June of 2010, a full-size vehicle rents for $375/week at DCA, but in Alexandria, it goes for $250/week. Also, this far out, no one is interested in discounting, but you may be able to re-book at a discount 30-90 days out.

[Jimster]

I only use priceline when renting in DC. The only other time i got a good deal there was using my BJs wholesale travel club discount.

[SherryS]

Fly into Reagan Airport and take the Metro to an area where the rentals are less expensive (per Talent312). Are you sure you want to drive in the DC area??? The traffic is horrible!

[dive-in]

Originally Posted by SherryS

Fly into Reagan Airport and take the Metro to an area where the rentals are less expensive (per Talent312). Are you sure you want to drive in the DC area??? The traffic is horrible!

The OP doesn't say what the final destination is, but I wouldn't drive in in DC if I didn't have to. In addition to the pains of driving in DC there are also the issues of parking and the cost of parking. You can always take Metro to virtually anywhere, cabs, and/or rent a car for the day much cheaper.

If the final destination is to an outlying area, then just keep checking. The trip is a long way out.

[sfwilshire]

Car rentals can be scarce in the area. I was scheduled to fly into Baltimore a couple of weeks ago and had a $33 daily rate. I was able (by a fluke of overbooking) to switch my flights to Dulles en route. That had not originally been an option because the fare was double the price, but Dulles was much closer to my destination.

I arrived at Dulles to find the car rental rates outrageous. The first "discounted" offer they came up with was $114 a day. The agent said that all the rental companies were so busy at the time that they were going to run out of cars by lunch time and would be trying to force people to take 12 passenger vans.

The agent was a real sweetheart and finally finagled my rate down to something comparable to my original reservation (and kept me out of trouble with the travel office). The other two agents at the counter were grouches and I wouldn't have been nearly so lucky with either of them.

I have rented for reasonable rates at National from time to time, but as suggested by others, I usually just take the Metro from the airport and around town when that is an option.

Sheila

[Talent312]

Originally Posted by sfwilshire

... I was able (by a fluke of overbooking) to switch my flights to Dulles en route... I arrived at Dulles to find the car rental rates outrageous.

Lucky that you found a sympathic agent. Usually, the very worst rates are foisted by those who show up at a counter w/o a reservation, be it car rental, hotel or whatever.

I'm convinced that, given the uncertainties of travel these days, its essential to carry a net-book with a file stuffed full of discount codes for making on the spot reservations.

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"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men, gang aft a-gley." -- Robert Burns

[sfwilshire]

Originally Posted by Talent312

Lucky that you found a sympathic agent. Usually, the very worst rates are foisted by those who show up at a counter w/o a reservation, be it car rental, hotel or whatever.

I'm convinced that, given the uncertainties of travel these days, its essential to carry a net-book with a file stuffed full of discount codes for making on the spot reservations.

------------
"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men, gang aft a-gley." -- Robert Burns

Definitely good advice. I had tried to make a reservation through our travel website in the interim airport, but couldn't ever get it to go through. Bad internet service with our latest provider. That showed a rate of $44. By the time I arrived an hour later, the $44 was gone, even when the secretary back home tried it. She couldn't find anything much better than what I was offered.

Sheila

[winger]

Just booked a 13-day full size rental with Enterprise, pickup in Herndon (Dulles) and dropoff in downtown DC (Reagan). Cost including taxes and fees and 5% costco discount is $479. This is a huge improvement over pickup in Dulles and Dropping off in Reagan Airports (ranging $950 and UP) . Thanks, Talent312 !

I knew rates off airport were generally better, but never have I seen such drastic differences!

Now, I will try to beat this price between now and travel (July 2010). I may consider taking this as an opportunity to teach my 7 1/2 yo son. If he can find something less expensive, maybe let him keep the difference?

*** but, one issue comes up on how to handle one way rentals (meaning pickup and drop off locations not the same) with the Pricelines and Hotwires of the world. I guess I will figure this out as I go, unless anyone knows?

[JoeMid]

Winger - are you staying in DC at all?

[K2Quick]

Originally Posted by winger

Now, I will try to beat this price between now and travel (July 2010). I may consider taking this as an opportunity to teach my 7 1/2 yo son. If he can find something less expensive, maybe let him keep the difference?
[/color] [/b]

Definitely do this. I was listening to a travel one day on the radio and they said car rental companies jack up rates the further out you book. Their reasoning is that people generally book their car rental when they book their flights and hotels. The rental companies are counting on you not re-checking rates. The closer you get to the travel date, the more "perishable" the rental inventory is and, hence, the liklier you'll see deep discounts.

[winger]

Originally Posted by JoeMid

Winger - are you staying in DC at all?

I fly into Dulles. Shuttle it to Herndon to pickup the car in Dulles, drive to Williamsburg,VA for 13 nights, then to Washington DC to drop off the family and luggage at the hotel, then I to return the car, then metro or walk or bus back to the hotel. I will then stay 5-nights in DC (withOUT a car). Did you follow what I wrote (blame it on the coffee )?

[winger]

Originally Posted by K2Quick

Definitely do this. I was listening to a travel one day on the radio and they said car rental companies jack up rates the further out you book. Their reasoning is that people generally book their car rental when they book their flights and hotels. The rental companies are counting on you not re-checking rates. The closer you get to the travel date, the more "perishable" the rental inventory is and, hence, the liklier you'll see deep discounts.

Last two times I rented cars (Oahu and Maui), rentals started less expensive then gradually worked up for the next 10 months. one month from travel, I found better rates on Priceline.

Now, my possible dilemna with this DC/Williamsburg trip is whether Priceline and such (Hotwire, Yahoo, etc.) offers one-way rentals.

BTW, I just called Enterprise and applied the 5% CostCo - so price is now $479

[JoeMid]

Originally Posted by winger

Last two times I rented cars (Oahu and Maui), rentals started less expensive then gradually worked up for the next 10 months. one month from travel, I found better rates on Priceline.

Now, my possible dilemna with this DC/Williamsburg trip is whether Priceline and such (Hotwire, Yahoo, etc.) offers one-way rentals.

BTW, I just called Enterprise and applied the 5% CostCo - so price is now $479

Where does one way rentals come into it? Most car rental agencies allow returns in the same metropolitan area, I thought that was what you appeared to be doing.

[bobby]

I flew last week on the weekend to Dulles and first got bizarre, super high rates on orbitz, expedia and car company web sites. I put down $30 compact for Priceline and got the first try. (National this time)
After I booked, Hotwire kept sending me lower rates.
I go about 3 times a year, and generally pay $18-25, so this year is high. Especially since it was all on weekend days.

There are set fee Super Shuttles you might take to your destination, and only rent a car a few days.