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Tampa car rental
Can anyone recommend a decent cheap (ish) car rental place in Tampa, preferably near the airport. Cheers -- suebo Posted via http://britishexpats.com |
#2
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Tampa car rental
Can anyone recommend a decent cheap (ish) car rental place in Tampa,
preferably near the airport. I wouldn't book from an el cheapo outfit--they are too likely to force you to take hidden coverages, or hassle you over a scratch on the car--and then also charge you big bucks for days that the car is in the shop! The major companies (Thrifty, Budget, National, Hertz, Avis, Alamo) often overlook trivial things, and are worth the dollar or two a day that they apparently cost more. Searching for the car rental at www.orbitz.com or www.travelocity.com is pretty reliable EXCEPT that often if you go to the websites of the car companies themselves, you can get a better deal. The best way to search those, I'm finding, is to use www.sidestep.com --the problem with Sidestep is that you install the program on your computer, and then it automatically opens up anytime you do a car, hotel, or flight search at ANY site. The BENEFIT to this is that you have an instant "second opinion"--and that it searches the supplier websites directly for air and car. I just booked a National car where Orbitz and Travelocity said the best deal was $29 a day, but Sidestep quoted National at $25 a day (Orbitz and Travelocity quoted National much higher). One click, and Sidestep immediately jumps you to the National website, where you simply book it there (they did not require prepayment, and they did not ask for a credit card number--though you have to be careful that some car websites may ask for a credit card and charge you for a day if you do not notify them of cancellation). Also, if you want the smallest and cheapest be sure to specify an Economy car, because most websites will default to Compact car (or bigger), which will cost more. |
#3
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Tampa car rental
Thanks Doug, I have used Travelocity before and didn't have a problem (on flights). I will check all my bookmarked web sites and check out companies direct too. I definitely don't want a compact car, but don't want to be paying $40/50 per day either. Cheers -- suebo Posted via http://britishexpats.com |
#4
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Tampa car rental
Check out "off airport" locations, and you might avoid those nasty airport
surcharges. "suebo" wrote in message ... Can anyone recommend a decent cheap (ish) car rental place in Tampa, preferably near the airport. Cheers -- suebo Posted via http://britishexpats.com |
#5
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Tampa car rental
We rented our car from Orbitz down in Miami... did you check them??
"Sandy Stenhouse" wrote in message ... Check out "off airport" locations, and you might avoid those nasty airport surcharges. "suebo" wrote in message ... Can anyone recommend a decent cheap (ish) car rental place in Tampa, preferably near the airport. Cheers -- suebo Posted via http://britishexpats.com |
#6
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Tampa car rental
Thanks for the info. I just checked, Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity. THey are all pretty much the same price - $140-$190 for a week. A bit cheaper than I expected. But after you add insurance realistically you have to double it. Cheers -- suebo Posted via http://britishexpats.com |
#7
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Tampa car rental
But after you add insurance realistically you have to double it.
If you rent with a gold or platinum (or higher?) credit card, your CDW insurance should be covered by the card (double-check with your credit card company). Then again, check with your current auto insurer to be sure that they don't ALREADY cover your rental (mine does). And if neither of those work, why not buy some CHEAPER insurance than what the car company offers with a company like: http://www.travelguard.com/products/...ertificate.asp Travel Guard International, a leading U.S. travel-insurance specialist, sells a $25,000 Collision Damage Waiver for only US $7.00 per day plus a policy fee of $3.00. You can get a $35,000 CDW for $9.00 plus the $3.00 policy fee. These rates are bargains compared to the prices charged by rental-car firms. |
#8
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Tampa car rental
Thanks Doug, I have 2 Platinum cards, so will check it out Cheers -- suebo Posted via http://britishexpats.com |
#9
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Tampa car rental
Also try the comparison sites to see if you can get better coverage
for cheaper. http://www.quotetravelinsurance.com |
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