bennnie

Does anyone have any suggestions on savings on rental cars in the Phoenix area? Taxes and fess seem to add at least $100 to a weeks rental. I got was seemed like a great rate for a intermediate SUV $212/wk but with fees the total came to $315. Are there savings to be had if we rent the car from a hotel locaton away from the airport?

travleis

Have you tried priceline?
I don't use priceline for hotels, but have used it several times for rental cars in cities with outrageous rates (and fees/taxes).
It can easily save you 25-50%.
PHX is one of the worst airports in the US for fees...but not THE worst.

OliveOyl

We've had the same problem but our $300/wk SUV at the airport became a $500/wk rental with fees and taxes when we turned it back in.

We are renting again for a week next month but are using an Enterprise location in Chandler where our daughter lives, so no hassle to get there, whereas it would be for someone picking up a car and heading out immediately to Sedona or the GC. If you are interested, they are located at 1461 North Arizona Avenue. Telephone # 480-899-2953

We've done the Chandler rental before...infinitely cheaper!

bennie

Olive Oyl - I took your suggestoin - sort of. I found an off airport site for Budget. The difference was about $75. Of course I have no real concept as to where I selected other than it was an address in Scottsdale. I think I'll try to figure this out once we get closer to the trip and pick a hotel for our first night.

Thanks

MarciaK

We just rented at car at Phoenix airport with a drop off in Las Vegas. The fees, taxes and drop off fees were outrageous! I heard that Priceline is good, but you have to return the car to the same location or city? We got the best price through our AAA memebership with Hertz. Good Luck.

Kathygo

I got a better deal using Priceline vs.
AAA/Hertz. Even so, yes, the Phoenix Airport fees, charges, taxes are horrid.

milkeway4

I need to rent a car in Phoenix also for 2nd week in December. We fly into Phoenix and drive up to Sedona. We will want a luxury car, Lincoln, volvo, jaguar, etc. Does anyone know of a rental place in Phoenix (Off airport to avoid excessive taxes) and has a shuttle to the airport to pick us up and take us to the rental office?
Thanks a bunch!

Judy24

To bennnie: Just a suggestion on something you might want to consider regarding the rental car airport on-site versus off-site issue.

We're also going to be in Scottsdale & I tried running the numbers different ways. I also found I could save roughly $75 for the week by going off-site. However, I then had to figure out how to get to the off-site pick up. If you have relatives/friends in the area who can pick you up at the airport, which I assume is what OliveOyl is doing, that's great. But if not, then you're faced with a cab or shuttle bus. We'd been warned by friends that a taxi would be very expensive, and the airport shuttle bus charges by the person. I think it was something like $12 per person, not quite sure. So for two people, for a round trip, I was already looking at close to $50, and then had to deal with loading luggage on and off, stopping at every hotel on the way, and making sure I got the schedule right when it came time to go back to the airport. I ultimately decided that with my initial $75 saving now dropping down to be only around a $25+ savings, it wasn't worth the hassle. Obviously, you may decide differently, but I just wanted you to be aware of all the considerations.

bennnie

Thanks Judi. I guess I was hoping to stay at a hotel near the airport for our first night. One that would have a free shuttle. And then see if we could figure out the closest rental car place. But you are right about paying the extra if it all becomes too much of a hassle. Our trip won't be until June 2004 so I have plenty of time to fathom this out.