joesorce

See if you can find a "South San Francisco" area hotel for the first night. The Avis local office in South San Fran has a good rate to Santa Barbara downtown. At Avis downtown SB you can get a good rate to San Diego. You'll just have to figure out your timing/ dates.
Actually it looks like direct South San Fran to San Diego isn't bad either, the local Avis office will pick you up at your hotel.

tracys2cents

South San Francisco is down near Burlingame/ Airport area and you won't have to deal with the city traffic in the morning. The hotels there might have airport pickup shuttle, and Avis will pick you up in the morning with advance notice (so will Hertz).

Thrifty and Dollar are the same company/same owners. I agree that if the price is nearly the same, go with Avis.

richmond706

I know y'all are getting sick of me and this rental car thing.
I appreciate your suggestions!

The Burlingame and outlying locations including that Marriott CLOSE AT NOON ON SAT AND CLOSED SUNDAYS - Avis and Hertz both. (we land 6pm Sat)
so...only options are the airports or get downtown to a location that opens on Sunday in the midst of the parade festivities.
I am trying a split as suggested for switching out rentals in Glendale/LA where we will visit relatives and compare. Just for fun I see that the only rental car places open on July 4th to turn ours back in in San Diego IS the airport.I am pulling my hair out now.

I did find out that AAA members can get the Hertz gold plus Rewards card for free instead of $60 so I signed up and will see if it helps.

I can't even remember now how I found that one good Thrifty deal. I will hunt it down again.

richmond706

I found it. Expedia has Thrifty with around $700 full size one way to San Diego 6/23 - 7/4 but only from the Oakland Airport.
I am assuming it would be worth sending my husband over there on public transportation to save a few hundred. I hope I am not missing any find print b/c other companies have been increasing since I looked 2 wks ago (I am assuming b/c of all the people starting to book for the parade weekend.)

Dukey1

If all else fails, HERE is what worked for me in California. I simply asked at the Hertz counter if they had ANY cars that needed a return to Southern California. They did. I got one. NO drop off fee was charged.

joesorce

Check the price that comes up on Thrifty.com
If they add a drop fee that Expedia does not, you might be missing some "fine print".

joesorce

Thrifty.com says $630 for a Ford Taurus which includes the $250 drop charge. I would book it but check other sites in a couple of weeks as rates do change often.