One-way car rental for long US roadie?
#21
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.
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.
#22
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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.
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.
#23
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.
I like the Santa Fe, I have a Tucson myself as a second car. I also like the forward visibility in the higher platform.
Last edited by mlgb; Feb 18th, 2020 at 08:22 AM.
#24
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Just a quick update on this - I confirmed that the answer to my problem is just to book something, anything well in advance as a backup, then keep checking the rates. My best option in January was around $3800 with Thrifty (for a roughly 18-day rental from Denver to Dallas in July), with the main guys like Hertz and National quoting above $5000. Now, checking back a month later, National is still around $6000 for an SUV, but Hertz is down to $2600, so I grabbed that and it's goodbye to the Thrifty reservation. Things may still go lower in the coming months, but now we are at least in the land of sanity.
So the trick is to book something early for peak season, then keep checking back as the rental companies' "dynamic pricing" kicks in and they find themselves with fewer bookings than they need, and lo a behold, prices come down.
So the trick is to book something early for peak season, then keep checking back as the rental companies' "dynamic pricing" kicks in and they find themselves with fewer bookings than they need, and lo a behold, prices come down.
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.
#25
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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.
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.
#26
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.
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.
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.
Last edited by mlgb; Feb 24th, 2020 at 06:35 AM.
#27
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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.
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.
#28
I’m a heavy business traveler and have elite status on two of those three, but it makes no difference. I’ve seen car rental prices rise from $40 or so per day to over $100 in most cities in recent years, but most of my rentals for work are 3-5 days. I can’t stomach paying that for a 3-week trip.
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 $.
#29
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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.?
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