TPA car rental 5 days.

[Jimmydee]

Prices are high but priceline says bids were accepted in the last week for $12-$18 range. However, every time I bid it gets denied and the suggested bid is about $30 a day. Started bidding $12 for intermediate and went up to $18. No luck. Get emails from hotwire that says cars going for $9. Of course that is not for my time frame of Oct 15-20. Any suggestions?

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

I don't believe either service is giving you examples of purchase for your exact dates, and unfortunately rates for your dates are somewhat higher.

Using our Car Rental Checker, what is the best rate (both daily listed rate and all-in total rate) you're able to find thru conventional booking channels?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Jimmydee]

Best rate is $54 per day and over $400 for the total. Both sites PL and HW did not give exact dates but they list prices that are a lot less than I have seen quoted. Have you seen rates drop within a day or two of the rental date? I can wait especially if it gets better. I see prices on HW for tomorrow and the next day at less than $5 per day for 5 day rentals. I might just wait and take my chances.

[Romelle]

Sometimes you can dodge that extremely high rate if you start your rental later in the day or give it back earlier. I've seen even a few hours make a difference.

For that matter, if your plans allow, sometimes it is advantageous to start the rental a day later or give it back a day earlier, using cabs or public transport for the remaining time.

You can get an idea what might work if you play with the times for the direct purchase rates on a few different sites.

Romelle

[thereuare]

I have seen rates get better last minute and i have also seen them get much worse last minute... there is no way to know how it will play out (the car rental companies don't know either, they are currently pricing based upon their 'best guess' of inventory/demand based upon historical trends)

With the above noted i suspect the rates you're currently seeing are not high due to the length of time before your stay, but more likely do to some event taking place during your date range that is causing an increase in demand for cars.

Also, i haven't looked but i suspect the $5 deals you're referring to are for compact/economy vehicles and not for the intermediate car class you are bidding on... the deals on compact/economy cars are usually better than higher class vehicles since 1)rental companies typically carry more of these cars on their lots and 2) if somebody books a compact and all they have left are intermediates they can easily upgrade the customer for free, but not the case the other way around.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know whatever you decide to do for this trip or if we can be of further help.

[Jimmydee]

Tried again today up to $18 for compact, intermediate, full and standard. All rejected.

[thereuare]

Best rate is $54 per day...

Tried again today up to $18 for compact, intermediate, full and standard.

You're only at about 1/3 of prevailing rates which does not give you a very high probability of success.

HOTWIRE has a compact car starting at $39/day... at current rates on PRICELINE you're likely looking at least $30+, more likely in the $33-$37 area.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know whatever you decide to do for this trip or how we can be of further help.