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One big issue for you is your planned pick up and drop off locations. It’s rather convoluted, but rental prices can vary significantly between locations. Sometimes, picking up or dropping off at an airport is more expensive than in-city, because airports tack on lots of fees. Sometimes the airport is cheaper, because it is more competitive. Most rental offices are franchises, not owned by the parent company, so there may be different pricing structures.

So, when you price rentals, look at different offices. You might find a better deal at an office farther away, even after you add on that Uber ride or train ticket to get there, plus the hassle of trying to figure out what to do with the dog while you are collecting the car

Another thing to look at. For long-term rentals, companies sometimes want you to turn in the vehicle and get a new one after a month, so they can service it. This won’t affect the price, but it does give you an opportunity to look at two rentals instead of just one. That would probably be more expensive, as you are going to have one-way drop off fees for not returning the car to the same place you rented it—but, you never know, you might get lucky.

Edited by nutraxfornerves

Nutrax
The plural of anecdote is not data.
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11

To follow with what nutrax said about a different location. After banging around on the Hertz site for a couple minutes, here is one possibility. The rate I got for 7 weeks starting mid July from Princeton was about US$3300. (All the rates I will cite are total including all taxes/fees and the additional insurance on a 'full-size' sedan for a resident of Netherlands picking up on Fri July 13.) Looking at Union Station in DC, it was a bit less at $3000. Same with Pittsburgh. However at the local HLE/Pickett Street in Alexandria, VA, it was only $1842. This location is about a $10 taxi ride from the Alexandria Amtrak station, which is the next stop after DC Union Station. So, conceivably, you could take Amtrak from Princeton to there. I believe that's about 2.5-3 hours. But, the car is $1200 less. I live near there and have used them in the past. They are reliable, have always been given a fairly new car in excellent condition. Rates at the local Hertz branches (HLE) are often much less than other locations.
This or something like it could work for you. Find places within a couple hours or so on Amtrak route from Princeton and check there.

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12

Actually, Hertz gave the same price of $1800 at their Aberdeen MD office. That's half the time/distance on Amtrak. Their office is only a mile away from the station. They'd probably come and pick you up.

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13
In response to #11

Thanks for your trouble! Unfortunately, we can’t travel by train (No dogs allowed...)

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14

Well ... one of you just goes and gets the car, and drives back to get the other plus dog! And $1,800 for almost 50 days in a big car is going to be hard to beat.

And does anyone have experience with Cheap Tickets for car rental?

This is generally not a review forum ... I expect you'll find plenty of them elsewhere.

Good luck with it ... a long drive at a crazy time to places not especially dog-friendly ... but it's your choice.

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15

The Amtrak site says they do take dog on the Northeast Regional. Anyway, Hertz at Philly Amtrak is also same price $1800. Even closer. 40 minutes. I'd do that. Go alone to Philly and drive back to Princeton.

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16

Good sleuthing tomjinva!

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17

With Hertz, consider joint the Hertz Gold Program, as it allows you free upgrades and preferential treatment/priority for car rentals. Just today I was upgraded from a Full Size to a SUV at no charge as I had Gold Status, and they openly had 1 Full Size car, and I didn't like it...

Also, consider Enterprise, as many of them have contract rates with Body Shop/Car Repair and auto dealerships, and if you tell them its longer term, they may offer you that same rate.

You can also play the car rental agencies off each other to meet a price on a given class car. Last week I had a Full Size car for a week for $205 including taxes, as Hertz has a special, but the Enterprise is close to my home...


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18
In response to #17

Hi MrMoto,
Thanks for the tips! I'm definitely going to look into the Gold Program thing. I've already talked to Enterprise but I think I'll go for Budget or Hertz as they have a bigger size cars (which is very handy with the big dog-kennel) and lower one trip drop off fees!
Thanks!

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19

Some info on additional driver fees and which companies waive them for spouses:

https://www.autoslash.com/blog-and-tips/posts/all-about-additional-driver-fees

(For that long of a trip, it's good to be able to switch things up as needed)

If you don't already have an auto club membership that has a reciprocal agreement with AAA, it can be useful for both hotel and attraction discounts and for occasional good discount offer from Hertz (and the € 15.00 option here should get you the travel discount stuff https://www.anwb.nl/lidmaatschap/bestellen?loslid=true#!/ )

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