Rental cars, how many days in advance?

[Grant]

I have never really rented a car before, someone else always seemed to take care of that.

However, I am renting a car for my Biloxi trip next friday. I was wondering is it important to reserve in advance? I hadn't finalized the exact departure date so I haven't booked yet?

Does price increase like airlines?

Any feedback is appreciated, I should stop being lazy and just finalize my plans and book the car.

[doctor_al]

I'm told it's more like hotel rooms than airline tickets, i.e., likely to drop the closer you get (assuming it's not peak demand). Main thing, IMO, is to avoid the gouging that happens when you do a walk-up rental (without reservation).

Myself, I've never noticed a change, but I rarely rent more than a day or two.

For our Dec trip I rented the car with Dollar about a month ago. Checked last night and the rate was up by $75 for the week rental.
I usually book and then keep checking if it goes down I re book and cancel the original. I have found that the sooner you book the cheaper. But I am sure now that I've said that it will be just the oposite.

[GREGRIO]

All the suggestions I got when I wanted to rent last Vegas
trip, was to reserve one from your hotel...NOT from the airport.
You pay airport tax at McCarran.
I reserved one from the RIO, $40. per day

Greg is right renting from a hotel is alot cheaper. We are going to Vegas in Dec for 10 days. But only renting a car for 7 of the days out there. Will pick up the car at Ballys and then return it to the airport when we leave. Have done this two or three times and it works great. Give us three days in Vegas to check out all the casinos then pick up the car and head out to either Laughlin or where ever we want to go. Come back to Vegas usually for a day or two then drop car off at airport and head on home.

[doctor_al]

Originally Posted by Grannyvegas

Will pick up the car at Ballys and then return it to the airport when we leave. Have done this two or three times and it works great.

That's a great trick. I've done that the last few trips, get a rental even just for the last day. At $30 or so, that's the cab ride to McCarren, everything else is a bonus.

As far as not renting from the airport -- it's true about the fees, but I did a check the other day, and the base rate from the airport was significantly lower, even came out less after fees. So the moral is, as usual -- do your homework.

[Grant]

Good info guys and gals.

I am going to book mine tommorrow. It is a little different for me because I am renting the car locally just so I don't have to put the miles on my car and get better gas mileage. I have continually been checking and the rates have stayed the same.

I will do a few more searched but I think enterprise is the best rates so far. And they will pick me up. :wink: