Renting a Minivan, but not at the airport?
June 16, 2015 2:28 PM Subscribe
I am taking a family vacation to Cape Cod. I have to pick up my 90 year old grandmother at North Station after arriving at Boston Logan with a family of four.
We have a minivan on hold, for more than $1200. for the vacation which is ten days long.
The only lower price I can find is either off airport or through FlightCar. I was excited by the idea of Flightcar, but then thought better as I really do not have confidence that if something happens to the vehicle it will be remedied quickly on the road.
So, my only option as far as I can tell, is to try and get a rental outside the airport. But my mind boggles when I think abou tthe logistics. I have two kids in tow and after our flight (which we do once or twice a year), we really need to get to our destination asap.
But we are also picking up two other travellers at North Station, one of whom is ninety years old.
Is there some way, an easy way, that I can make this happen?
We have a minivan on hold, for more than $1200. for the vacation which is ten days long.
The only lower price I can find is either off airport or through FlightCar. I was excited by the idea of Flightcar, but then thought better as I really do not have confidence that if something happens to the vehicle it will be remedied quickly on the road.
So, my only option as far as I can tell, is to try and get a rental outside the airport. But my mind boggles when I think abou tthe logistics. I have two kids in tow and after our flight (which we do once or twice a year), we really need to get to our destination asap.
But we are also picking up two other travellers at North Station, one of whom is ninety years old.
Is there some way, an easy way, that I can make this happen?
Enterprise will come pick you up. I think you still have to go back to their nearest office and complete the check-in (unless technology has eradicated that step) but they tend to have little storefronts scattered around.
posted by Lyn Never at 2:49 PM on June 16, 2015
posted by Lyn Never at 2:49 PM on June 16, 2015
Priceline has great deals. Enterprise seemed to have better prices outside of the airport, which seemed odd I'd thought that the best price would be at the airport.
posted by sammyo at 2:50 PM on June 16, 2015
posted by sammyo at 2:50 PM on June 16, 2015
Have you considered Zipcar? At the time I checked, they have a Chrysler Town and Country minivan available at 35 Northampton Street in what looks like Cambridge or Somerville, available for $88 per day. It's still expensive for ten days, but not $1200. You can reserve it and take a cab to that location.
I don't do Zipcar anymore, since I don't rent cars in that way too often, but it was neat when I did it. They mail you an RFID access card, which you use to unlock only the car that you've reserved. The cost of gas is included; they include a Wright Express card in each car which you can use like a credit card at most gas stations.
posted by tckma at 2:52 PM on June 16, 2015
I don't do Zipcar anymore, since I don't rent cars in that way too often, but it was neat when I did it. They mail you an RFID access card, which you use to unlock only the car that you've reserved. The cost of gas is included; they include a Wright Express card in each car which you can use like a credit card at most gas stations.
posted by tckma at 2:52 PM on June 16, 2015
hotwire.com is almost always your best bet for car rentals.
posted by standardasparagus at 3:00 PM on June 16, 2015
posted by standardasparagus at 3:00 PM on June 16, 2015
And yes, you'll find your best rental deals outside the airport. Logan has some ridiculous taxes on rental cars that you won't be charged if you rent elsewhere in the Boston area.
Taxi from airport to Zipcar location, then take the Zipcar to North Station and pick up your elderly traveling companion, then off to Cape Cod!
posted by tckma at 3:01 PM on June 16, 2015
Taxi from airport to Zipcar location, then take the Zipcar to North Station and pick up your elderly traveling companion, then off to Cape Cod!
posted by tckma at 3:01 PM on June 16, 2015
Rent a cheap car at the airport, go pickup the cheaper minivan the next day and return the airport one.
posted by blue_beetle at 3:57 PM on June 16, 2015
posted by blue_beetle at 3:57 PM on June 16, 2015
Sometimes offsite rentals will come pick you up from the airport. (I did this on Maui, which is not Boston, but it worked like a charm there. )
This was the sort of place I went with. It looks like there's an airport option.
posted by leahwrenn at 4:39 PM on June 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
This was the sort of place I went with. It looks like there's an airport option.
posted by leahwrenn at 4:39 PM on June 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
One option is to take the Silver Line from Logan Airport to World Trade Center. Reserve your minivan from this Enterprise location and have them pick you up at the MBTA station.
The Silver Line is a bus route that stops at each terminal. Signs in the arrival area point you to the bus stops.
North Station is a 15 minute drive from the Enterprise location.
Of course, you will have to check car availability/pricing, confirm that Enterprise will pick you up and decide if this arrangement is worth the hassle.
posted by Talk To Me Goose at 4:50 PM on June 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
The Silver Line is a bus route that stops at each terminal. Signs in the arrival area point you to the bus stops.
North Station is a 15 minute drive from the Enterprise location.
Of course, you will have to check car availability/pricing, confirm that Enterprise will pick you up and decide if this arrangement is worth the hassle.
posted by Talk To Me Goose at 4:50 PM on June 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
I like Talk To Me Goose's suggestion. The Silver Line is easy to do, and I have found that Enterprise is one of the most flexible car rental companies doing business in New England. Just pay attention to office opening and closing times.
posted by brianogilvie at 5:29 PM on June 16, 2015
posted by brianogilvie at 5:29 PM on June 16, 2015
There are also car rentals right near the Aquarium, which I used to use when I lived downtown and didn't have a car... Easy-ish subway ride, not too expensive via cab, or get a water taxi. Or there are car rentals at Haymarket, a short walk from North Station. Just take a cab.
posted by mskyle at 6:36 PM on June 16, 2015
posted by mskyle at 6:36 PM on June 16, 2015
Response by poster: thanks, great tips. I gonna investigate them all!
posted by silsurf at 6:42 PM on June 16, 2015
posted by silsurf at 6:42 PM on June 16, 2015
If you're a Costco member, check out costcotravel.com. I see a minivan for less than $800 for a random 10 days in July (picking up at BOS).
posted by AwkwardPause at 6:49 PM on June 16, 2015
posted by AwkwardPause at 6:49 PM on June 16, 2015
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posted by catspajammies at 2:39 PM on June 16, 2015