The great vacation planning escapade

Planning a kind of long getaway so have to be price conscious. We are already running up the bill by not arriving and departing from the same city. However, the room I got for $66 last time is $34 this time so there's some savings! For $34 I could look at the cooling tower for 3 nights. I don't particularly care for this place but anything 'nice' is $150+. (And don't forget the resort fee!)

More fun...
Looking up car rentals... $159/week on one computer, $700/week on the other computer. Same car, same company, same pick up/drop off locations.

Another hotel...rate goes from $116 to $147 if we want breakfast 'included'.

Madeleine said:

More fun...
Looking up car rentals... $159/week on one computer, $700/week on the other computer. Same car, same company, same pick up/drop off locations..

Click to expand...

I like 1Travel for cars, some surprising deals sometimes show up.

Sugar Bear said:

Madeleine said:

More fun...
Looking up car rentals... $159/week on one computer, $700/week on the other computer. Same car, same company, same pick up/drop off locations..

Click to expand...

I like 1Travel for cars, some surprising deals sometimes show up.
.

Click to expand...

What got me was we were looking at the same cars and my computer was showing ridiculously higher prices. Because I had searched for hotels, too? I don't know. But, we will be using DH's finds, not mine!

$25/person fee to book a plane on the phone.

Madeleine said:

Sugar Bear said:

Madeleine said:

More fun...
Looking up car rentals... $159/week on one computer, $700/week on the other computer. Same car, same company, same pick up/drop off locations..

Click to expand...

I like 1Travel for cars, some surprising deals sometimes show up.
.

Click to expand...

What got me was we were looking at the same cars and my computer was showing ridiculously higher prices. Because I had searched for hotels, too? I don't know. But, we will be using DH's finds, not mine!
.

Click to expand...

Honestly, with cars the codes online from places like Cost Club can really cut prices. Also, prices change often. So I book, check back and if the price goes down, rebook. Which is why I won't prepay.
I also use an opaque website for hotels in some cities, but I also use a decoder, so I know approximately what I'm getting. Recently my experience have been getting worse, but the prices are rather cheap.

Sugar Bear said:

Madeleine said:

Sugar Bear said:

Madeleine said:

More fun...
Looking up car rentals... $159/week on one computer, $700/week on the other computer. Same car, same company, same pick up/drop off locations..

Click to expand...

I like 1Travel for cars, some surprising deals sometimes show up.
.

Click to expand...

What got me was we were looking at the same cars and my computer was showing ridiculously higher prices. Because I had searched for hotels, too? I don't know. But, we will be using DH's finds, not mine!
.

Click to expand...

Honestly, with cars the codes online from places like Cost Club can really cut prices. Also, prices change often. So I book, check back and if the price goes down, rebook. Which is why I won't prepay.
I also use an opaque website for hotels in some cities, but I also use a decoder, so I know approximately what I'm getting. Recently my experience have been getting worse, but the prices are rather cheap.
.

Click to expand...

DH is in charge of the car. I'll tell him about the clubs.

Madeleine said:

Sugar Bear said:

Madeleine said:

Sugar Bear said:

Madeleine said:

More fun...
Looking up car rentals... $159/week on one computer, $700/week on the other computer. Same car, same company, same pick up/drop off locations..

Click to expand...

I like 1Travel for cars, some surprising deals sometimes show up.
.

Click to expand...

What got me was we were looking at the same cars and my computer was showing ridiculously higher prices. Because I had searched for hotels, too? I don't know. But, we will be using DH's finds, not mine!
.

Click to expand...

Honestly, with cars the codes online from places like Cost Club can really cut prices. Also, prices change often. So I book, check back and if the price goes down, rebook. Which is why I won't prepay.
I also use an opaque website for hotels in some cities, but I also use a decoder, so I know approximately what I'm getting. Recently my experience have been getting worse, but the prices are rather cheap.
.

Click to expand...

DH is in charge of the car. I'll tell him about the clubs.
.

Click to expand...

Also, check on hotwire. Frequently, I get a better price there any anywhere else, but you must prepay. Sometimes I'll reserve a car (no payment) from one of the 3 big name sites if it's a good price, then keep checking with hotwire. When it its the right amount, I'll do the hotwire. They only deal with the national chains.

Madeleine said:

More fun...
Looking up car rentals... $159/week on one computer, $700/week on the other computer. Same car, same company, same pick up/drop off locations..

Click to expand...

My dh has been booking car rentals on price line with great luck. Got a super deal last year in San Francisco for the larger car that we needed for 4 of us. Smaller cities (or less traveled places) don't have the deals like the bigger cities or tourist destinations.
I'm trying to book a multi-city International trip online and use reward miles. I'm being forced to call the airlines because the website won't do what I need (even though it says that it will). ACK!!!
Good luck!

Thanks for all the car rental tips! I just did 6 nights of hotel reservations.
If I was willing to pay for it, I could have guaranteed I got the room I wanted. I guess all getting a reservation means is that there might be a room waiting when you arrive.
Used my old person's card (AARP) to get a discount at a Hilton.
Could have booked the b&b package for $33 more. That's a pricey breakfast!

Madeleine said:

Thanks for all the car rental tips! I just did 6 nights of hotel reservations.
If I was willing to pay for it, I could have guaranteed I got the room I wanted. I guess all getting a reservation means is that there might be a room waiting when you arrive.
Used my old person's card (AARP) to get a discount at a Hilton.
Could have booked the b&b package for $33 more. That's a pricey breakfast!.

Click to expand...

Arizona Charlie's Sourdough Cafe usually has a $4 breakfast. You might need to join the slot club, though.
And one of my favourites, the Courtyard Cafe at the Orleans has Steak & Eggs for $8 and the regular breakfast for $7. Just be aware... the coffee can really set you back. We once went for the midnight special.... the Steak and eggs were $1.49 and my friends had the regular breakfast for $0.99. I had water, they ordered coffee... the coffee was $1.49. I think it's not $6.99 for the steak and eggs at midnight and $2.69 for the coffee

Now planning the sightseeing portion of the adventure. Got an absolutely fantastic app for national parks called 'oh, ranger!' Seriously, best one I found.
Planning to not drive more than 4 hours/day. Finding it difficult to get from the eastern side of OR to the coast. All the directions on Google maps say ' this route contains roads that are closed in winter'. As near as I can tell, 'winter' ends in June.

Madeleine said:

Now planning the sightseeing portion of the adventure. Got an absolutely fantastic app for national parks called 'oh, ranger!' Seriously, best one I found.
Planning to not drive more than 4 hours/day. Finding it difficult to get from the eastern side of OR to the coast. All the directions on Google maps say ' this route contains roads that are closed in winter'. As near as I can tell, 'winter' ends in June..

Click to expand...

The park we liked the best in that area was Bryce

Professor Pieixoto said:

Madeleine said:

Now planning the sightseeing portion of the adventure. Got an absolutely fantastic app for national parks called 'oh, ranger!' Seriously, best one I found.
Planning to not drive more than 4 hours/day. Finding it difficult to get from the eastern side of OR to the coast. All the directions on Google maps say ' this route contains roads that are closed in winter'. As near as I can tell, 'winter' ends in June..

Click to expand...

The park we liked the best in that area was Bryce
.

Click to expand...

Wrong direction... But, yes, gorgeous park!
I found an app for OR for weather and road closures. I think we'll be fine.

Car rental done! $649 all inclusive for 2 weeks, second city drop off.

Madeleine said:

Car rental done! $649 all inclusive for 2 weeks, second city drop off..

Click to expand...

Sounds like a good deal!

Silverspoon said:

Madeleine said:

Car rental done! $649 all inclusive for 2 weeks, second city drop off..

Click to expand...

Sounds like a good deal!

.

Click to expand...

Considering I was getting rates of $700/week!
I'm using my AARP card everywhere.

Madeleine said:

Silverspoon said:

Madeleine said:

Car rental done! $649 all inclusive for 2 weeks, second city drop off..

Click to expand...

Sounds like a good deal!

.

Click to expand...

Considering I was getting rates of $700/week!
I'm using my AARP card everywhere.
.

Click to expand...

Ahhh, one of the few advantages of getting older! I just can't bring myself to get an AARP card but perhaps I should reconsider for the $$$ benefits.

Silverspoon said:

Madeleine said:

Silverspoon said:

Madeleine said:

Car rental done! $649 all inclusive for 2 weeks, second city drop off..

Click to expand...

Sounds like a good deal!

.

Click to expand...

Considering I was getting rates of $700/week!
I'm using my AARP card everywhere.
.

Click to expand...

Ahhh, one of the few advantages of getting older! I just can't bring myself to get an AARP card but perhaps I should reconsider for the $$$ benefits.
.

Click to expand...

I usually forget I have it but most hotels have a line in the rez form for it.
In really not old enough. ;-)