PSA: When renting cars, check every few days for price drops, they can be signifigant

[john dough]

(I have posted this before but it is well worth repeating)

A month ago, I found I will need to travel on business and made a reservation for a rental car, my rate was $350 for the week (including taxes/fees/etc.).

2 weeks ago, I checked the rates and found they had dropped (same car, same place, same time) to $230, so I modified the reservation to reflect the new rate.

Last week, same car/time/place dropped in price to $180 for the rental (modified again).

This morning, same car/time/place dropped in price to $125 total. I think this is as low as it will get, as there is a time period where, the closer you get to the pickup date, the rate actually reverses and gets higher. Needless to say, not spending the extra $225 is a good thing (that saving alone will pay for all of my meals, and then some, on this trip).

[The UnDoug]

Does modifying the reservation run the risk that someone else will reserver the car while you modify?

In other words, do you have to cancel the reservation and re-reserve? Or are you able to somehow take advantage of the price diff. without "letting go" of the car?

[john dough]

Not in my experience. I do not cancel anything first, just make a modification. An easier way to do this is to make a "new" reservation and if the price is lower, I put in all my details and then cancel the more expensive one. I have done this for 5+ years and have not once "lost" a reservation.

I rent with Dollar most of the time, as the cars are in relatively good shape and they cost a TON less than Avis, Hertz, Enterprise or the other nationals.

[Stephanie]

Same PSA goes for checking airfare on Southwest & for checking prices on hotel rooms.

I recently booked a r/t flight on Southwest during their Click 'n' Save sale & two weeks later, it was available for a lot less (like half the price). At least now I have credit to use toward a future flight.

The hotel room I'm currently in would have cost me $50 more a night had I not kept checking back after I booked the room in August.

Another travel PSA - always book through the hotel's website (not through some 3rd party). I've always gotten the best deals by going through the hotel website itself.