Re: renting a car in Seattle, WA

What are my options other than renting a car at the airport? I hear the airport taxes are much higher. The quote I have right now is $296 for one week but after taxes it's $417!!!

We will be a party of 8...does anyone know the closest Hertz to the airport (they seem to have the 8 passenger Sienna van we want to rent).
If it means spending a fortune getting downtown to another Hertz then we'll just rent at the airport but if there's another Hertz down the street then we'll figure it out.

Any ideas?

Airport or downtown are your choices, unfortunately.

Downtown is about $25 or $30 by cab; you could dispatch part of your posse in the cab and have the others wait at a (shuttle-accessible) airport hotel for the hour or so it would take to get downtown, get the car, and get back.

Note that airport taxes are high but not the whole picture. County-wide, rental cars (and hotels and restaurants) have a supplementary tax imposed on them to pay for baseball and football stadiums owned by, and in the service of, billionaires. Resistance is futile.

Don't know what they would charge, but Burien Toyota, which is close to the airport, has rentals. I believe they will also provide a shuttle to the airport. Check out their website
http://www.burientoyota.com/en_US/
or phone at:
866-438-8696

Have you tried Hotwire or similar? I've been able to get great rates through the prepay/discount websites. I'm sure they figure taxes in there, but I recall significant savings. And, you can preference what type of car (van) when choosing also.

If you have to rent from Hertz, then it's not the right option. But if you just want a vehicle that can hold that many passengers, you can preference it.

Thanks, I'm checking out burien toyota.

I am getting 2 Hertz dealers on International Blvd.with different rates...one has an airport tax (17801 International Blvd.) and one doesn't(19707 International Blvd.).

Aren't they both near the airport?

I appreciate the help

The numbering system is on a grid, so 19707 would be about 20 blocks south of the other, which isn't very far. You can mapquest both and see they are near the airport. One must be in the taxed zone.

Please let us know how this turns out. I live in Seattle so never need this for myself, but to help other posters here as the question comes up often.

In the past seems people either sucked it up and rented at the airport, or came into downtown. If there's a way to get around the airport tax, only 20 blocks away, that certainly sounds viable.

I swear by Hotwire.com. They only deal with Avis, Hertz, or Budget, but the prices are way below what you'd get if you booked directly with any of those. If Hertz is the only one with the van, then that's what you'll probably get.

The Seattle airport is just not terrifically convenient to much, so you could easily end up spending the difference on cabs.