Keep checking the prices, they do come down, often just before the actual trip as they know there inventory and needs better.

My husband just asked a random question. Is there any issue with seeing the view on the coastal highway in a regular car? There won't be guardrails at the same height as the windows?

Steviegene, you can indeed go through the toll gates without prior arrangement and you will be billed by the rental agency later. That's fine if you don't mind paying three to four times more money than arranging it properly on your own. It's a vacation, so if you don't mind paying $20 or so for a single $6 toll, go for it.

what you want is a "one time payment account" , once you have the car you go to the web site and fill in the info. ONLY fill in dates oyu kmow you will have the car!

https://www.bayareafastrak.org/vecto...TPAccount.html

And as Neopatrick said, if you do NOT set up the account the car rental agency will do it for you and it will cost 4 times as much.

You can see fine from any sort of car. The guard rails won't really be in the way at all. We're you wondering if you needed a tall SUV? If so, not at all necessary.

janisj thanks!

Thanks all. I have booked the car and will work on the toll situation. appreciate all the help so much!

Airport car rentals are always more expensive. Two words: captive audience. Just like the food and beverage and snack prices are jacked up. The $10 heat lamp pizza. You have no choice so they charge a premium.

My experience renting in a big city is the paperwork, errr, mainframe computer data entry work takes forever so there is usually a long wait. I mitigated that by showing up 15 minutes before opening, that way I'm 1st or 2nd in line, rather than worst case 1-2 hours. And I'm a Zipcar member.

Also, there's supply. Even though you reserved a car, garages are smaller in a city and you may not get the exact car you want, especially later in the day. I've had to drive away with a much bigger car than I wanted, a gas guzzler, because I had no choice.

Returning can be a pain too. Long queue.

Saving $700 is huge, I would still go for the city option but know what you're getting into and plan for the worst so as not to start your vacation off in a bad mood.

And if my SO isn't one for hassles, I'd live him/her at the airport with the bags, pick the car up myself, than drive back to the airport and pick him up. Assuming traffic isn't godawful. He/She could watch a movie, read a book, stress free.

In this case, you don't want to leave SO at the airport - it's a half hour (each way) out of your way.

The BART fare from the airport to Powell St is $8.65 per person $3.20 if your are a "senior").

Just an update on this for anyone who references the thread in the future.

We easily took a cab ($40) into the city. Saved almost $700 over renting from the airport.
There was a huuuuuuuuge line at the Alamo rental agency. However, we got lucky! I had joined ALAMO INSIDERS (for free) before the trip. This entitled me to cut the line!

All around a no-hassle rental from Alamo for a great price.
Thanks all