• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $23,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $23 Million dollars
  • Wish you could meet up with other TUG members? Well look no further as this annual event has been going on for years in Orlando! How to Attend the TUG January Get-Together!
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

national or thrifty @ rdu

midwest6

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2005
Messages
139
Reaction score
5
I'm getting the same deal for a full size car from both of these. Which would be your choice & why?
 

sfwilshire

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
4,158
Reaction score
252
Location
Clinton TN
Resorts Owned
Tristram's Landing, Tree Tops Gatlinburg, Mystic Dunes, Sheraton Vistana Spas & Fountains
I'm not even sure where RDU is, but National has been my favorite company through the years. No nasty restrictions on where you take the car. Every reservation has been to the penny what I was quoted. My free Emerald Club membership seems to give me prices close to the lowest, particularly with the free spouse extra driver. I like walking right to the Emerald aisle and picking out the car I like best.

Sheila
 

dukebigtom

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Messages
215
Reaction score
12
Location
Middletown, DE
I'm and Emerald Club member and member of several other rental car agencies. Of late, I have been doing Priceline.com for rental cars and have had great success.

My process is to reserve through one of the big companies (National, Avis. Hertz, Dollar, etc.) so I have a car locked in at the lowest published fare using coupons, membership perks, etc. These reservations can be cancelled till last minute.

I then go to Priceline.com as I get nearer to the actual trip and name my own price. I have not paid more than $15/day for mid or full size cars in more than a couple years on personal travel. Be aware that once your bid is accepted, you are booked and there are no cancelations. You also don't know which company you will get until your bid is accepted. But, so far, I've had only National and Hertz accept my bids and the end result is always savings of at least $100/week. Usually more. That results in extra spending money. I just do not start bidding until I am close enough that I am pretty sure the trip is really going to happen, so not to have to worry about cancellation. Once I get accepted at Priceline at MY PRICE, I cancel my other reservation made directly with the other agency. You do have to stand in line to get your car, no Emerald Aisle or frequent flier miles, but for the savings, it is worth it to me. This may not be for everyone. It took me a while to try it, but now, for personal travel, I use it every time.

BigTom
 

Laurie

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
3,081
Reaction score
829
Location
NC
I've always preferred National to Thrifty - like Sheila, they've been my favorite company too. They've had better policies about extra drivers, sometimes allowing one at no extra charge with a broader definition of who qualifies, ie extra driver doesn't have to be legally married spouse, a domestic partner qualifies - they get my loyalty for that, if all else is equal. Sometimes they offer better deals regarding different pick-up and drop-off locations. In general they seem to operate more like a mid-range company than a dirt-cheap company. I can't explain it beyond that, I just like them better. I think National recently merged with Alamo, who I haven't cared for as much.

Sheila - RDU = Raleigh-Durham NC.
 
Last edited:

Aussiedog

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2007
Messages
662
Reaction score
4
Location
North Carolina
If everything else is equal ---

I believe that the National lot is closer to baggage claim than Thrifty, so you may spend less time in the bus.

Ann
 

midwest6

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2005
Messages
139
Reaction score
5
Thanks for all the advice, I am not an emerald club member, but it looks like you can print out a temporary membership number until you recieve your card.
Am I correct?
 

Debbyd57

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
399
Reaction score
0
Location
Greensboro, NC
We have had great cars and rates from National and almost exclusively use them wherever we go. They have great cars unlike many of the others. Debby
 
Top