We're planning to be in Vancouver/Victoria end of November and was hoping to rent a car in Vancouver and take it on the ferry to Victoria and drop it off there. But the rental rates are very high--6 days rental is almost US$400! Is this normal? Does anyone know of a cheaper way to get a rental car?

Those one-way rentals are normally (always?) much more expensive than when you return to the pick up location. I had a good rate from Enterprise at YVR earlier this month but you have to put up with a shuttle to and from the airport.

Last June we rented a car at Calgary Int. Airport and dropped it off 2 weeks later at Vancouver Int. Airport. We found that Alamo had the best rate at that time including the drop-off charge.

Rates vary from company to company, and there are often better deals on some of the travel discount web sites.

Check with your credit card company; that may provide insurance via the card so you don't need to pay extra insurance to the car rental company.

And car size affects price; there areno long distances involved on this trip, so perhaps a smalelr car than the one you priced would be just as conmfortable, and easier to park, too.

Can you all tell me the exact places or websites you went to book cars from? I've tried online websites and have chosen the cheapest car, and even dropping it off at the same location as pick up and it is still so expensive. I guess I'm trying to figure out if this is normal for renting in British Columbia.

Here's a tip: In October 2001 we bought the "Entertainment Book" good for one year)www.entertainment.com for our hometown (Washington DC) and then used the Budget (there are other rent-a-car and travel coupons as well)while on travel to Seattle/Victoria in August 2002. In Victoria we rented from Budget for 2 full days over a weekend for US$67 minus a $10 coupon = US$57. In Seattle we rented at Budget on 4th Street for 3 full days over a weekend for $94. including a one free weekend day coupon, and we were allowed to drop off at the airport without penalty on the Sunday we returned home, so we save shuttle charges from town back to the airport as well. Between restaurants at home and travel away from home, we saved the book's $40 purchase price several times over.
Don't forget to ask if the rental companies you call have AAA, AARP, or Hotel/Airlines connections that will drive the price even lower.

Getting a good rental car rate is getting as challenging as getting good airfares or hotel rooms. I ususally put in "discount car rentals for ___ " (whatever city or airport)in a google search. There are always entries that search several different car companies. Then I call the least expensive and have been shocked by how much I can save between one company and another. And it's not always the same co. from one trip to another. Someone always has a special. Be patient.