My husband and I will be travelling to Seattle in a few weeks and need to rent a car. We're planning a day trip (all day) driving down to Mt. Ranier and then possibly across to Mt. St. Helen's and up the Pacific coast. It's been years since I've rented one. Can someone recommend a good agency - or point me away from ones that aren't so good?

Thanks!

have always used enterprise, booked a cheap car, than asked for the upgrade when you go to pick up the car. have saved hundreds on a weeks+ plus rental that way.

We have had good luck with Enterprise as well.

Hertz has been the most consistently good one for me. I would steer clear of Avis.

I have had good rates and luck with Avis. Enterprise, not so much.

Another vote for Enterprise. I've also had decent luck with Budget.

TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE experience with Hertz!

Last car i rented was from Alamo. It was a nice clean car and looked like they took care of it.

when i was picking up the car, agent asked if i was interested in an upgrade....I responded "only if it is free" - Sorry can't do that......

There was a slight delay, and i mean almost non-existent, with the system, so then as he gave me the information to pick up the car,..."I have given you a free upgrade due to our delay in serving you today......"

THANK YOU.....

I think they did not have any mid size available, so they tried to get me to request the upgrade so they could charge more.

Enjoy your trip......

Hertz doesn't rent Big Wheels?

I don't pay too much attention to the company... I go by the car I want to test drive or just have a little fun in that I would not normally have or get, and then pick the company with the best deal at the time that has that type of car.

Must you always flame me?

You are so flamable, it is hard not to.

<----- flame retardant

you make it so easy....but I will refrain.

I rented from Hertz in Germany and here. Maybe I had good offices and people.

My one experience with Enterprise was good. My one experience with Avis was bad...may have been more to do with the local office than with the company.

I fly to Seattle every summer. I would usually choose the agency that gave me the best price. I've used Hertz, Avis, and Dollar at SeaTac. All about the same, no complaints. The past two years I've rented from Enterprise off airport, since it is so much cheaper. Good experience with them.

We've had good experience with Enterprise, not only on vacations, but when we have a car in the body shop, and for renting vans to move kids. In Phoenix, we had arranged for what I thought was a large SUV, but when the four of us arrived with luggage and golf clubs, it wasn't going to work. They upgraded us to something enormous. I think it was a cruise ship with wheels. No extra charge.

Funny you say that SF. In May we were in FL staying with relatives. We wanted to take a side trip and called the Enterprise that was down the street and got a quote-called the Enterprise at West Palm Airport (about 20 min away) and they quoted $100 less. Same car, same timeframe. We called the local office back to get a price match and they refused.

Enterprise, since we have a contract with them at work and those savings transfer to personal use. Have also been very pleased with both Thrifty and Budget. Only use with Hertz was bad...sat at the airport for 3 hours waiting on a car to come back in...this was in Nashville the day after the CMAs, no rental companies had cars. I asked the guy at Hertz what was teh use of me reserving a car and stating the pickup time if they wouldn't honor it. He copped an attitude that resulted in a letter to their corporate offices from me, which ended up with a week free rental. I wrote back and said I wouldn't use them ever again, free or not, and sent the voucher back. They ended up refunding my rental charge from Nashville, still won't use them.

Seattle is beautiful, and I also went to Mt. Ranier. Drove up to Sunrise Point and then hiked about 3 miles up the glacier. It was in late may and stayed light until almost 10:00 PM

Thanks for everyone's recommendations and we're very excited about this trip. Neither one of us has ever been to the Pacific Northwest. Hoping to see wildlife from the safety of my car (ha). There are mountain lions and a few grizzly bears up there which makes me nervous. Yes, I'm a little silly.

Vote here for Enterprise and Alamo. Have used Thrifty once and it was a good experience.

Here in my hometown, I've always used Enterprise and had good luck. I used Alamo last fall when I rented a car at SeaTac. They were super friendly and easy to deal with plus they didn't require a credit card hold.

I have had terrible experiences with Avis and Hertz. Alamo and Thrifty have always been ok as well. But I usually rent with Enterprise, because they usually have the best rates, particularly if you're willing to take the shuttle from the airport to a nearby "offsite" location (i.e. not right at the airport terminal). I have consistently saved $40 - $50 off a week's rental this way, but always check both the airport and the offsite location's prices because every once in a while the airport is cheaper!

I have also been extremely lucky with booking the cheapest economy car and asking for a free upgrade if anything at all goes wrong (a ten minute wait, computer glitch, bad weather) and usually get upgraded free just for asking, effectively saving $hundreds.

Good luck and have a super trip! The Pac NW is such an amazing area; I could see myself living in the Seattle area one day.

I have always done the small econo and then get the free upgrade, only once did I get stuck with a econo and had to pay for the upgrade.

twiceI got bumped up to a 4x4 truck, which was awesome. Once to a monte carlo (Had fun with that one) and once to a mini van, which worked out great cause the family was with me. Would have been tough getting them all in that Aveo.