Help for CO rental car deal???

[volklgirl]

OK Colorado ladies.....

I've been searching and searching to find a reasonable price for a rental car from DIA from 4/1/09 to 4/11/09. We need AT LEAST 2 Grand Cherokees (or equivalent) and would prefer 1 GC and 1 Yukon/Suburban as we have 7 people and gear. The cheapest I've been able to find is $931 each for the GCs and nothing less than $1100 for the Yukon/Suburban (that's $1800-$2000+ for the 10 days!!).

Anybody got any "in"s that can get me a better deal? We do have AAA available, too.

HELP!!!????!!!!

 

[itri]

Yikes! I think you're probably running into jacked-up rates thanks to spring break. I unfortunately don't have any ideas for you at the moment. Although I could be convinced to cut you a deal on a Grand Cherokee, as long as you don't mind raisins and cracker crumbs in the backseat and can provide me with alternative transportation!

 

[Christy]

Actually, spring break is earlier--we are in CO March 14-22 and that is when coupons aren't good, lessons aren't discounted, condo prices are jacked up, etc. After the 22nd everything is priced normally again. My rental car was reasonable though. I think that full size SUVs are always expensive. I've heard people complain about paying $1000/week before. I think Hotwire generally has great rental car deals but I think an SUV is still a lot.

I wonder if it might be cheaper to split into 3 groups and rent smaller vehicles? Skis will fit inside a compact, I'm told, with the seats down, or you can rent ski racks.

 

[Robyn]

It doesn't necessarily matter when spring break is in Colorado, we get tourists from all over for spring breaks and they tend to run early March through Easter which is April 12th this year so I do think that is playing a part. Easter break is also big for the skiers from Mexico.

You might think about a van as well.

 

[Robyn]

Another thought would be to take CME up and rent a car for a day or two if you need to. Summit County has a great free bus system.

 

[bklyn]

Get minivans instead.

 

[Jilly]

My CAA/AAA price is $600 for a Ford Explorer for the Diva Summit. Maybe something a little smaller? I'm still looking too.

 

[ski diva]

We're renting a small SUV from E-Z Rent-A-Car for $365. (before taxes; taxes and fees are another hundred. :( ). We've rented from this company before in Florida, with no problem.

 

[Jilly]

I was wondering about them. Saw them on Travelocity.

 

[slowjo]

I am heading to DIA from 4/2 to 4/14. The SUV prices do seem quite high. I have a reservation for a full size car for 12 days for $333. You could just go that route and get 2 cars with ski racks on the roof. You shouldn't need 4WD at that time of year.

I have gotten good deals in the past by checking each rental company site often and looking at the "specials" or "hot deals" tabs. As it gets closer to your dates, the rental companies will come down quite often. I know Alamo has 10% off if you pre-pay. Also, you could try priceline and make an offer. Offer half the daily rate you are being quoted and see what happens. Good luck.

 

[volklgirl]

We'll be out there at the same time?! Where are you skiing???

 

[slowjo]

We are staying in Vail from the 2-9 in Lionshead. We will ski Beaver Creek a couple of those days but mostly Vail. Then we are moving to Frisco area (no room yet) from the 9-14. We plan to ski wherever those days. I would like to try Copper one day but with the Colorado pass we will probably stick to Vail Resorts.

What are your plans?

 

[Robyn]

You shouldn't need 4WD at that time of year.

Um, don't count on this. I've seen Vail Pass close for bad weather/road conditions in mid-May.

 

[volklgirl]

This is why we're requiring SUVs ('Specially given the dump we got at A-Basin on Mothers Day last year). I'm not buying chains and I'm also not risking losing ski days if the chain law goes in effect. 4WD means skiing regardless.

slowjo-
We're staying in a non-resort condo in Beaver Creek (right on the creek I believe), but some of us are on major budgets, so we got the Gem Card and we'll be skiing all the little places plus day trips to Steamboat and Monarch, I think. Some of don't want to travel that far, but this is hubby's first time in CO...Monarch is free in April on the Gem Card, and Steamboat is a must-do as far as I'm concerned and the Pow Pow Platter makes that affordable, too. As it gets closer, I'll be posting in the DOD area with plans and cell # - maybe we can hook up for a day (or even just for dinner?).

 

[Robyn]

FYI - Chain laws are for the trucks/commercial vehicles. If it's bad enough for passenger vehicles to need chains it will close the road.

 

[slowjo]

VG-for sure we should get together. Keep me posted.

 

[Christy]

FYI - Chain laws are for the trucks/commercial vehicles. If it's bad enough for passenger vehicles to need chains it will close the road.

I read a number of threads about rental cars and Summit County ski trips on epicski, and the consensus there was that a front wheel drive car is all you need. The general opinion was that they do a great job keeping roads clear, and if it's so bad you'd need chains, like Robyn said, they're probably going to close them.

Another thing I learned in those threads is that all rental SUVs are NOT 4wd. I had no idea they even made non-4wd SUVs, but apparently they do for rental fleets. If the website doesn't explicitly say 4WD, you have to call and make sure. Some companies will not guarantee you a 4WD--you take whatever SUV they give you.

 

[Robyn]

Well, non 4wd SUVs are made for more than just rental fleets. There are many people in areas where weather doesn't dictate a need for it and a person won't be taking it off road but people want the space and/or look. But Christy's got the right idea. I lived in Colorado through 3 winters wthout AWD and was just fine.

 

[Christy]

Well, non 4wd SUVs are made for more than just rental fleets.

Shows you how much I know about cars.