Expert Tips for Finding the Best Deals on Rental Cars in Phoenix and Tucson

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Discussion Overview

The thread centers around participants sharing their experiences and tips for finding rental car deals in Phoenix and Tucson. Various strategies and personal anecdotes are presented, highlighting different approaches to securing favorable rates.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions using a travel website to combine flight and car rental bookings for potential savings.
  • Another participant shares their experience with a travel agent who consistently finds the best deals, specifically mentioning a rental from Hertz.
  • One user notes the benefits of having an entertainment card or a Sam's Club membership for securing better rates.
  • Another participant reports a positive experience with Enterprise, highlighting an upgrade they received on a rental car.
  • One participant typically rents from Dollar and looks for city specials, often securing a mid-size car for around $150 a week.
  • Another user mentions using Priceline to name their own price, consistently paying under $150 for eight days of rental.
  • A participant who works for Alamo and National Car Rental suggests checking Enterprise for competitive pricing, especially since they are often off-airport.
  • One user expresses a preference for Enterprise over Avis due to a smoother rental process.
  • Another participant advises checking AAA for better rates and additional bonuses like free gas.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the best methods for finding rental car deals, with no clear consensus emerging on a single best approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal experiences and preferences regarding rental car companies and booking strategies, reflecting a variety of approaches based on individual circumstances.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants planning travel to Phoenix and Tucson may find the shared experiences and tips relevant for their rental car needs.

Karen
Karen
Gold Member
Messages
297
Good Morning Cheffers,

A week from today I will be traveling to Phoenix and Tucson for a week (yippee, warm weather)!

I've been driving myself crazy looking through all sorts of websites trying to find the best deal on a rental car. So I thought I would ask my cheffer friends what their experiences were with car rentals. It will just be my mom and I going, so we don't need a really big car, just something to fit maybe 4 people (visiting relatives) and a couple of suit cases.

I'm just looking for opinions on the best deals and thought someone might know of a website that I haven't tried yet!

Looking for any advice!

Thanks bunches!
 
book on a travel website and combine your flight with the car rental. If you have AAA or an entertainment book, you can do very well.
 
I just got back from Phoenix... it was 85 degrees, sunny and we even got in some pool time. I am old fashion and still use a travel agent, and I swear, I don't know how she does it but she gets the BEST deals. I even sometimes check the sites, but she always comes in with the best pricing. She got us a car from Hertz, something that looked like at PT Cruiser but was something called an HRT (or something like that). Plenty of room for 4 and your stuff.

If you have time, check out Pizzeria Blanco. It was rated the best pizza by Food Network and it was awesome. Thin, crisp, the owner makes all the pies, the place only seats 40, it's only open from 5-10 and closed on Mondays, but it was worth the 1 1/2 wait.
 
Do you have an entertainment card or know somebody who does? What about a membership to Sam's Club.

I got an AMAZING deal on a rental car through my E-card through Enterprise a few years back. Rented a mid-size car and they upgraded me to full size. Can't say enough about the whole experience.
 
I usually go through Dollar and look for the city special. I can usually get a mid-size for about $150 a week.
 
I always name my own price on pricline. I never pay more than $150 (total)for eight days. I just booked our car for our annual Florida getaway for $146
 
Check Enterprise. They are mainly off airport but will pick you up if need be. The fact that they are an off airport company typically allows their rates to be lower. I work for Alamo and National Car Rental. We are owned by Enterprise. Between those 3 companies, Enterprise beats the price every time.
 
I love Enterprise as a company, when I rent thru work I always choose them over Avis. They are nicer and I find you can rent with them, with little hassle.

Careful with the travel websites, although I always use Priceline for hotels, they are not easy to "change" if you make an adjustment to your trip.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #9
erinb said:
I always name my own price on pricline. I never pay more than $150 (total)for eight days. I just booked our car for our annual Florida getaway for $146
Click to expand...

Hi Erin,

When you name your own price, how long does it take before you know if your price "won". I want to make sure I have this locked in and confirmed before we leave next week.

Thanks,
Karen
 
If by chance you have AAA you should see about going through them. Last two times we used them it was a much better rate than going through the car rental company directly and they usually also have additional bonuses to offer. For instance, last trip they also included a free tank of gas and at the time gas was $3.60 per gallon which was a nice savings.
 
Karen said:
Hi Erin,

When you name your own price, how long does it take before you know if your price "won". I want to make sure I have this locked in and confirmed before we leave next week.

Thanks,
Karen
Click to expand...

They give a decision within minutes of submitting your offer.
 
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