I have rented in denver several times in the last 2 years and have reservations for Dec.
Im saving over $ 400 dollars this year by renting in Stapleton and returning to the airport ( 1 week rental on minivan)
Try hertz and Avis
Good luck

I just returned from my trip to Colorado. I flew into Denver and got a free airport shuttle to the Holiday Inn Denver Central. I then rented my car from a nearby Enterprise location after they came and picked me up. I returned the car in Boulder and took a Supershuttle (for $22) to the airport as I wanted to spend an extra day in Boulder. Hope this helps!

I have found Hotwire to have the very best prices on car rentals anywhere on the internet.

They will play a game with you when using their site. After you input your info the price selections will come up. Once you select a Vehicle Type a window will pop up with a new much lower price quote. After you have clicked on every possible car selection, all prices will have changed. This will continue throughout the renting process. I played around with Hotwire on several occasions, tracking their prices and you can get the price to go down as you stay on the site and continue making selections. You will eventually hit a limit but that price seems to fluctuate with the days. And the price can go back up but I have never found it to go up more than $1 or $2. I think they do this to get you to book NOW.

It takes a bit of time but is well worth it when you can get the prices to go down by as much as $15 a day. EX: Minivan started with a quote of $50.95 per day and dipped to $36.95.

Here is what I pulled off the site today. I realized you will be here 19 days after I set my dates but the prices only changed $1 or $2.

Please note on this site “All bookings are final. You cannot get a refund or change this reservation once your booking is complete.”

Rental cars available in Denver, CO (DEN)
Mon, 09/24/07 at 12:00PM - Sat, 09/29/07 at 12:00PM

Economy car Hotwire Discount Rate

Location Counter in airport; shuttle to car
Seating Seats 2 adults, 2 children
Cargo Holds 1 large, 1 small suitcase
Miles Unlimited
Models Chevy Aveo, Hyundai Accent, or similar
CarPrice019.95 per day*

Compact car Hotwire Discount Rate

Location Counter in airport; shuttle to car
Seating Seats 2 adults, 2 children
Cargo Holds 1 large, 2 small suitcases
Miles Unlimited
Models Chevy Cobalt, Ford Focus, or similar
CarPrice119.95 per day*

Mid-size car Hotwire Discount Rate

Location Counter in airport; shuttle to car
Seating Seats 5 adults
Cargo Holds 1 large, 2 small suitcase
Miles Unlimited
Models Pontiac G6, Chrysler Sebring, Toyota Corolla, or similar
CarPrice220.95 per day*

Standard car Hotwire Discount Rate

Location Counter in airport; shuttle to car
Seating Seats 2 adults, 2 children
Cargo Holds 2 large, 1 small suitcase
Miles Unlimited
Models Chevy Monte Carlo, Ford Fusion, or similar
CarPrice322.95 per day*

Full-size car Hotwire Discount Rate

Ref No. silkCarRefNum4:4730899063 Location Counter in airport; shuttle to car
Seating Seats 5 adults
Cargo Holds 2 large, 2 small suitcases
Miles Unlimited
Models Chevy Impala, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Taurus, or similar
CarPrice423.95 per day*

Luxury car Hotwire Discount Rate

Location Counter in airport; shuttle to car
Seating Seats 5 adults
Cargo Holds 3 large, 2 small suitcases
Miles Unlimited
Models Cadillac DTS, Lincoln Town Car, or similar
CarPrice527.95 per day*

Premium car Hotwire Discount Rate

Location Counter in airport; shuttle to car
Seating Seats 5 adults
Cargo Holds 3 large, 2 small suitcases
Miles Unlimited
Models Buick Lucerne, Mercury Grand Marquis, Ford Crown Victoria, or similar
CarPrice630.95 per day*

Minivan Hotwire Discount Rate

Location Counter in airport; shuttle to car
Seating Seats 7 adults
Cargo Holds 2 large, 2 small suitcases
Miles Unlimited
Models Chevy Uplander, Ford Freestar, or similar
CarPrice736.95 per day*

SUV Hotwire Discount Rate

Location Counter in airport; shuttle to car
Seating Seats 5 adults
Cargo Holds 3 large, 3 small suitcases
Miles Unlimited
Models Chevy Trailblazer, Ford Explorer, or similar
CarPrice838.95 per day*

* Rates are shown in US dollars. Total cost for Hotwire Discount rates includes applicable tax recovery charges and fees.
Helpful Tips Hotwire Discount Rates
When you book your rental car at a Hotwire Discount Rate: You'll always get a car from a major car-rental agency: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz or National.

Also, I have flown into Denver and rented from Hotwire. Avis was the company. Hotwire will select the company with the best price they can get. Shuttle service is right outside the luggage pick up area and a shuttle takes you to their company location. All car rental companies are lined up in a row down a street by the airport. Very simple, fast and great service with Avis. We got a 2007 Jeep Cherokee, very clean and smoke-free.

With the greatest respect for the other posts, I would not complicate your visit with trying to rent at the desk, no matter where you are. When we got to the airport, there was not one rep. from a single car rental company in sight. When I asked the very nice gentleman at the information counter he said if there wasn't anyone at the desk inside the airport it meant they are booked. Meaning, if we had waited until we got to the airport we would have been walking to Granby!! And, as other posts have said, don't rent at a hotel desk. It's too much of a gamble for what you might be charged and/or what car you might get even for a local ~ being from another country will only compound the difficulties.

Good luck ~ and welcome to the good ole' USA. You will love Co.

http://www.hotwire.com

One more bit of advice ~

NEVER opt for the rental company filling up the gas tank upon your return. ALWAYS fill it back up before you get to the airport.

There is a cluster of businesses approximately 2 miles south of the airport with competitively priced gas stations. You'd never know these are there it looks so barren out at the airport. We had to stop at the hotels right before you get to the airport and ask them where the gas stations were.
Even the gas station conveniently located at the airport will be much higher priced and for the US, our prices are high enough for us as it is. The car rental company will gouge you on their gas charge.

I agree about not opting for the fillup, but I don't think the stations at the airport are that exorbitant--particularly when you may have to get off the highway to find one. and I know Denver pretty well.
I have also not found that Hotwire "plays a game". I have rented from them and it was very straightforward.
Being a foreign driver may be the big catch in this with insurance requirements, etc. There could be a very big surprise if this person tries to go to Stapleton, for example, and rent.

I am not sure if this has already been discussed, but what about insurance coverage for the rental car? We always waive that extra expense. But, are you required to carry it, since your auto insurance might not cover the U.S.? That does add a significant daily fee.
>-

I have just rented a full-size car at the Denver airport with Advantage for $378 for 15 days including all taxes etc. We will be there starting October 2. Their website is: www.arac.com
Enjoy your stay
MLJ

Well Maureen is fully right. Being a foreigner forbids you to waiwe the insurance costs. You are then obliged to take the risk to oversuscribe insurance coverage when arriving at the renter's desk, notably because being tired by a long transatlantic flight your mind is not fully operative and your understanding of the language + accent make that you are temted to sign anything suggested provided that you can leave the desk and go to bed....
I have finally rented at the airport with Budget. I ll be charged roughgly 510 (700 usd) euros without PAI but LIS and CDW included for a Chrysler Sebring !
I did not dare to, as recomended by Coskier, go and check Stapleton hotels and renters because of tireness and language problem. Its not easy to write a correct english so imagine what you can understand when arriving after a 15 hours trip (Nice/London- stopover/Denver).....
So, whatever the cost, we made the choice to visit Colorado, here we go !
Thanks to all of you for your imputs.

I dont know the situation in France but we Belgians also order and pay our American rental car in Belgium.It's much cheaper.As already said Denver is a long way from the airport.You have a shuttle from the airport taking you to the car rental parking lots.Bon voyage et toujours prets à vous renseigner sur l'Amérique.Paul

You will LOVE Colorado and have a great trip.

Eze, it's too bad we don't have the great train systems you have in Europe. You will need to get a car here, but that sounds too expensive.

Are you sure you don't want to go with your original plan to stay in a hotel near the airport or downtown on arrival, then get your car in the morning near the hotel? If you're tired, it won't be good to be behind the wheel in a new city, either. It might be cheaper overall, too.
>-

Maureen, we shall stay close to the airport. We shall have a very short drive to the hotel. We shall take the car when arriving as due to jet lag there is a good chance that we shall be ready to begin our trip at about 2 or 3 am Denver time. We felt it would be easier to drive from hotel instead to take a shuttle back to the airport to collect the car.
Thanks vm for all your advices.
Thanks also to all those who gave me their recomendations.
Merci Paul pour le message, je vais tenter de demander à Budget de payer avant de quitter la France au lieu de le faire en arrivant, ce sera plus simple, surtout au niveau assurances !

I have rented in Denver many times, all for business.
Just a note on the above posts... The airport code for Denver is DEN, not DIA. Not sure if that matters to anyone, but as a travel professional I just feel compelled to make the point.
Also, just for those of you who don't know, Broomfield is FAR from Denver International.
I have been researching rates for a leisure trip next month and have found Hotwire to have the best prices.
I have not seen any price fluctuations, but I will try playing with it a little more before confirming anything.

Ah ha, I see, the 2 a.m. departure time makes the plan sensible.

Welcome to our part of the world. Colorado is special, as is your stunning Cote d'Azur. You must be getting ready to leave very soon.

Our weather this week in Denver is to be warming into almost summer-like temperatures.

Where will you visit in Colorado? It is all lovely, the people friendly. If you need help, people will be happy to assist you, and offer directions, etc.

Let us know if you need any other help.

Bon Voyage!
>-

Eze. for what it is worth, I think your price is pretty good considering all the problems of being a foreign national and the resulting insurance. Have a GREAT trip. The American West is a beauty to behold and there is really nothing like it anywhere else in the world. Bon Voyage!!

Gretchen and Maureen,
Thanks vm for your wishes.
Yes we are actively preparing our trip but before, we are going to spend a four days week end in Istanbul that we already know
(that s actually the reason why we fly back there)
Thanks one more time.