mlgb

I think a Santa Fe IS considered a SUV. Often SUVs are not much more expensive on daily rates, you just have to check. If they're hauling golf clubs most other options aren't going to work.

Do you really need a car while in San Francisco? I might be inclined to just use public transport/Uber until you are ready to leave.

If you can pickup from a city location often the taxes and added fees are much less than from an airport location, but one-way rentals might not be possible.

Gretchen

I guess it is. I plugged in on Expedia the last 3 weeks of August on Expedia. There are all kinds of SUVs but the full size ones seem to be the ones he is getting huge amounts for. Many are $100 per day, one way drop off included.
AND an awful lot of people travel around to the beach carrying 2 bags of golf clubs and their luggage in less than a Suburban.

mlgb

I didn't see where he said it had to be a Suburban. Most sedans won't hold two golf bags and any luggage at all. Even Minivans have little luggage capacity these days.

I like the Santa Fe, I have a Tucson myself as a second car. I also like the forward visibility in the higher platform.

Odin

I think the answer to your problem is to use the correct booking method for your situation. If you keep looking at US websites for US residents, you will keep getting these really high prices. If I was in your position, I'd try a local travel agent in Singapore to get you the best rate and/or call Autoeurope/car rental company and ask which rate would be applicable to you as an expat. Many of the car rental websites/autoeurope etc ask you to select your residency.

expedia.com is the US site, expedia.com.sg is the Singapore site. Quick availabilty check on Expedia Singapore site shows a rate of SGD2043 (approx USD 1467) for a 3 week SUV rental with Budget, starting at SFO ending in DFW for August, including CDW (insurance), theft protection, 3rd party liability, unlimited mileage, free additional driver and the one way drop off fee. If you think this price is too good to be true, you can call Expedia SG and ask if you qualify, based on your SG residency/US citizenship.

Gretchen

I will mention one more time about the need for a SUV. He mentions an Explorer.
I guess the Santa Fe is called that. I had a Chevy Tahoe before this. I took the heavy mat from the Tahoe and put it in the back space (with back seats in place) of the Santa Fe. It fits within 2 inches on the side--same cargo space as the Tahoe. Just an FYI for original poster.
And of course, the seats can be laid down for only 2 passengers in the car.

mlgb

I agree that they don't need a large SUV, but when you book a SUV, you get whatever brand the particular rental car company has in that category. You don't have any choice. In fact, you often get upgraded to a larger or even different class whether or not you want it. Hence recently I wound up with a Mustang GT when I had rented a compact car for a 24 hour period when the Uber drivers were on "strike", just to get from my home to LAX. And had the cops following me for a few blocks, probably while they ran the plates. The boys across the street were super-excited just to see/hear it.

I know that Enterprise uses Hyundai, since I first drove a Santa Fe for a one-day rental (an upgrade I didn't ask for) and wound up buying the Tucson a few years later.

I agree it is worth checking with the non-US versions of various rental websites. Especially if you need to add insurance, which can nearly double your total cost.

We just were on a road trip in a Dodge Caravan minivan, which normally I like for comfort, but there was very little storage and it also acts like "slab-sided vehicle" in high winds.

Gretchen

I agree, but a lot of places seem to thave the Rogue which is pretty comparable. And upgrades.

I rented a minivan and found it to be a good drive, and with only two people they can put seats down and load up.

starrs

That's just the way it works.

Vendors have stopped added the "drop fees" of days gone by, but the daily rate of one way rentals are higher, creating the same effect. Our negotiated daily rates are almost always $34 but one day one way rates are almost always more than double that, and that's for business travel (not leisure).

I think your current approach is the best one possible, given the circumstances. Keep checking for constantly changing (non-negotiated) rates. Other than creating a loop trip as others have suggested, there's really no other good solution. Well, maybe a cheap flight between two cities, cutting out a long drive stretch and breaking the trip into smaller segments. Anytime you can create a loop in the plan, you'll save rental car $.

sludick

We're fans of breaking up a trip with a flight in between (e.e., 1 week in Sedona & SW, flight Phoenix to SLC, 1 week in Yellowstone/Tetons). Granted, we also like to plan long road trips, but that requires a distance between Points A and B that we find worth the road time, and it's part of the vacation vs. a pedal-to-the-metal experience. Is there any possibility of breaking this up into a couple of loops that would cover the parks, etc.?