Las Vegas rental car pick up/drop off airport/in town
Feb 7th, 2011, 10:02 AM
#1
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Las Vegas rental car pick up/drop off airport/in town
I'm evaluating the hassle factor of picking up/dropping off a car at LAS airport.
We will be in Las Vegas for a meeting at MGM, then rent a car for the weekend, ending up at LAS to fly home. I wanted to check if any of you have any helpful insights about pick up/drop off rental cars with the offsite airport car rental facility.
My husband and I will arrive on different days and take one of the shuttles or a taxi to the MGM until we need the car.
I found a good deal with Avis ($21/day with one day free so, about $14/day for 3-day weekend). It is only available at LAS, so I'm thinking I would have to take a taxi to the car rental facility or shuttle to airport/shuttle to rental facility to pick up? Anyone done this? Big hassle?
Otherwise, I will pay more, pick up from a rental facility I can walk to from MGM, return to airport, and ride the shuttle from there.
I know there are some cheap offairport car rental companies too that we would have to drop off, then ride shuttle to rent-a-car center, then shuttle to terminal. I definitely think this one is too much trouble for a 3-day rental.
We will be in Las Vegas for a meeting at MGM, then rent a car for the weekend, ending up at LAS to fly home. I wanted to check if any of you have any helpful insights about pick up/drop off rental cars with the offsite airport car rental facility.
My husband and I will arrive on different days and take one of the shuttles or a taxi to the MGM until we need the car.
I found a good deal with Avis ($21/day with one day free so, about $14/day for 3-day weekend). It is only available at LAS, so I'm thinking I would have to take a taxi to the car rental facility or shuttle to airport/shuttle to rental facility to pick up? Anyone done this? Big hassle?
Otherwise, I will pay more, pick up from a rental facility I can walk to from MGM, return to airport, and ride the shuttle from there.
I know there are some cheap offairport car rental companies too that we would have to drop off, then ride shuttle to rent-a-car center, then shuttle to terminal. I definitely think this one is too much trouble for a 3-day rental.
Feb 7th, 2011, 10:10 AM
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I've never found the off-site car-rental pick up place a hassle. I used it for the first time during my most recent trip to Vegas, and it was fine. It took me much longer to reach the one at DFW.
I guess the question is if you really need a car at all. If you're attending a meeting and don't plan on eating off-site or visiting lots of other places in Las Vegas, maybe it's better to do without. The hotel shuttles are cheap, and you could probably take 3 or 4 taxi trips for the price of a car rental.
I guess the question is if you really need a car at all. If you're attending a meeting and don't plan on eating off-site or visiting lots of other places in Las Vegas, maybe it's better to do without. The hotel shuttles are cheap, and you could probably take 3 or 4 taxi trips for the price of a car rental.
Feb 7th, 2011, 10:13 AM
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Check with the MGM and see if they have a rental car agegency in the hotel. I know the Golden Nugget and the Strausphere have Budget agents right in the hotels. I bet most others do as well. Sorry I can't help with the airport shuttle, we took a cab to our hotel and rented the car there during the middle of our trip, and returned it several days before we left.
Feb 7th, 2011, 10:54 AM
#4
The rental car shuttle is very convenient from just outside baggage claim to the rental car complex. If you rent from Fox you have to ride the regular shuttle and then transfer to the Fox shuttle across the driveway. I got a real bargain with "name your own price" (Priceline $13/day). We got a car from National that was brand new on Christmas Eve.
If your hotel has a rental car agent it would be good to know if you would save money by just having the car just the time that you needed it.
If your hotel has a rental car agent it would be good to know if you would save money by just having the car just the time that you needed it.
Feb 7th, 2011, 03:59 PM
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We only plan to rent the car when we are done at the MGM and leaving town for the weekend and ending up at the airport, not back at the hotel
I'm glad to hear the off-site car-rental pick up/drop off place is not a hassle. I haven't been to LAS since it was opened. I'll just be sure to add in 10-15 minutes to the return time.
The MGM does have Dollar and other hotels in the area have other companies. The price difference is at least $35 additional to rent at someplace like the Venitian that has Avis or Hertz (we get good discounts and service with them) and return to airport. More like up to $80 more for Dollar at MGM, so we will pass on that convenience.
I've used Priceline for cars before, but not sure I can beat the $14/day with Avis.
I'm glad to hear the off-site car-rental pick up/drop off place is not a hassle. I haven't been to LAS since it was opened. I'll just be sure to add in 10-15 minutes to the return time.
The MGM does have Dollar and other hotels in the area have other companies. The price difference is at least $35 additional to rent at someplace like the Venitian that has Avis or Hertz (we get good discounts and service with them) and return to airport. More like up to $80 more for Dollar at MGM, so we will pass on that convenience.
I've used Priceline for cars before, but not sure I can beat the $14/day with Avis.
Apr 24th, 2011, 10:54 AM
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Follow-up.
I ended up with a lunch with a friend and dinner with relatives my first day in LV.
So, I did rent a car for a day from the airport, riding the convenient shuttle and straight to my car with Avis Preferred Service.
I returned the next day and traded paperwork for a weekend rental with free day. The agents told me I was a topic of conversation, but they understood the plan for the savings. I paid a total of $125 including taxes and fees for 4+ days.
They did give me some Avis advice:
When they ask for your flight to track your arrival, they also clock out your Preferred car about 45 minutes after actual arrival. I didn't plan to head directly to the car rental. Instead I was making phone calls, using the Internet etc. in the airport, then going to get the car and meet my friend for lunch. When I picked up the car Avis had started my 24-hr clock based on the flight, so I had less than 24 hours of use. So if meeting up with others or otherwise not wanting rental period tied to plane arrival, I would just leave that off the reservation.
Also, they warned me that they had tightened up on return time and were not supposed to give any grace period.
I ended up with a lunch with a friend and dinner with relatives my first day in LV.
So, I did rent a car for a day from the airport, riding the convenient shuttle and straight to my car with Avis Preferred Service.
I returned the next day and traded paperwork for a weekend rental with free day. The agents told me I was a topic of conversation, but they understood the plan for the savings. I paid a total of $125 including taxes and fees for 4+ days.
They did give me some Avis advice:
When they ask for your flight to track your arrival, they also clock out your Preferred car about 45 minutes after actual arrival. I didn't plan to head directly to the car rental. Instead I was making phone calls, using the Internet etc. in the airport, then going to get the car and meet my friend for lunch. When I picked up the car Avis had started my 24-hr clock based on the flight, so I had less than 24 hours of use. So if meeting up with others or otherwise not wanting rental period tied to plane arrival, I would just leave that off the reservation.
Also, they warned me that they had tightened up on return time and were not supposed to give any grace period.
Apr 24th, 2011, 06:38 PM
#8
The 2011 Mazda2 that I picked up on Dec. 25 had less than 800 miles on it. My 14 day rental was less than $350.
The clock started when the rental agent clicked the mouse and the rental agreement came off the printer for me to sign.
National/Alamo doesn't play any "free day" games.
We had our choice of at least 10 cars in the economy/compact row.
They all had the key in the drivers door lock.
I'll continue to use Priceline.
The clock started when the rental agent clicked the mouse and the rental agreement came off the printer for me to sign.
National/Alamo doesn't play any "free day" games.
We had our choice of at least 10 cars in the economy/compact row.
They all had the key in the drivers door lock.
I'll continue to use Priceline.
Apr 25th, 2011, 06:35 AM
#9
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With the Preferred status, the contract is printed and waiting in the car--no agent, no signature necessary. So, they print and place the agreement in the car in advance so you can just walk to your car and leave. Most of the time this is great. No waiting in line, no "do you want to buy a tank of gas?" etc.
I was thinking the gate guard noted the actual time you leave the lot, but he just checks your drivers license and the contract vs. the car VIN. So, a lesson learned for me.
Avis still provided usual good service. Car was ready. When I returned and talked to the desk agent about the contract time, grace period, closing one contract and opening another for the weekend, etc. he recorded the return and check out times for the cars to ensure I did not get charged for a late return. He was the one that told me that corporate used to allow Preferred 45-60 minute grace period on return, but that they had tightened up. I guess too many people just used it as a given rather than a courtesy.
We give most of our business to Avis and Hertz because we have preferred status with both, USAA discounts plus spouse drives free, USAA credit card so no questions about insurance coverage, plus a history of good service when we have encountered problems. In fact, a couple of times we have pointed out windshield dings or other damage upon return that we didn't notice when renting that could have been our fault, but we haven't been charged. We sometimes use Priceline and other ways to get cheaper, but only for short, simple rentals. We hate standing in the rental lines, being questioned about insurance, gas, etc., and being concerned about unexpected charges after the rental.
I was thinking the gate guard noted the actual time you leave the lot, but he just checks your drivers license and the contract vs. the car VIN. So, a lesson learned for me.
Avis still provided usual good service. Car was ready. When I returned and talked to the desk agent about the contract time, grace period, closing one contract and opening another for the weekend, etc. he recorded the return and check out times for the cars to ensure I did not get charged for a late return. He was the one that told me that corporate used to allow Preferred 45-60 minute grace period on return, but that they had tightened up. I guess too many people just used it as a given rather than a courtesy.
We give most of our business to Avis and Hertz because we have preferred status with both, USAA discounts plus spouse drives free, USAA credit card so no questions about insurance coverage, plus a history of good service when we have encountered problems. In fact, a couple of times we have pointed out windshield dings or other damage upon return that we didn't notice when renting that could have been our fault, but we haven't been charged. We sometimes use Priceline and other ways to get cheaper, but only for short, simple rentals. We hate standing in the rental lines, being questioned about insurance, gas, etc., and being concerned about unexpected charges after the rental.
May 29th, 2011, 04:04 PM
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tomfuller, that's great news about car rentals with Priceline. I've used Priceline for many hotels but never for cars. We're not heading to Vegas until October, but I've started looking at my options. Now Priceline comes into the mix. With prices the way they are now, and what you're quoting, I'd save a bunch. Thanks for the tip!
Jun 1st, 2011, 03:42 PM
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We have rented cars all over the US, and multiple locations in Europe and Las Vegas has got to be the most user friendly car rental system we have encountered anywhere!! Especially since they opened the car rental center. Multiple shuttles from the airport, walk in, find the right counter, and out to the garage and your car. A couple of turns out of the center, and you are on LV Blvd. heading to the strip. The reverse is just as quick and easy-we were there last week.
($114 Sun-Fri sub-compact with Budget)
($114 Sun-Fri sub-compact with Budget)
